A Day at the Kohler Waters Spa

It’s not hard to treat yourself in St Andrews. From five-star hotels and restaurants to boutique stores, this small town can be unexpectedly dangerous for students on a budget — especially for those with a penchant for the finer things in life… 

But indulgences are sometimes necessary. As two student journalists who have spent most of the past four years chasing down sources and frantically filing stories in lecture halls, we felt our final article for The Saint called for a little rest and relaxation: a trip to the spa. 

Just a stone’s throw from West Sands is the Old Course Hotel, home to the highly rated Kohler Waters Spa — the perfect place to rewind. 

Spa Facilities 

We hadn’t expected to start our day of wellness with a shot, but there we were knocking back a curious green concoction at 11am. Good thing it was only lemongrass and kale. 

Renovated just two years ago, the spa’s interiors had us feeling zen right from the get-go. From muted relaxation sounds to the calming mood lighting, every detail is carefully considered. The changing rooms are filled with crisp, fur-lined white robes, endless fluffy towels, and Dyson hair tools — you can be assured we took full advantage of the opportunity for a bouncy blow-dry. 

Robed up and ready to go, we obviously had to slip into the rippling swimming pool first, looking up to see birds flying through the glass cupola. One pool dweller was clearly doing it right as she floated round with a glass of wine in one hand and an Emily Henry novel in the other. And if getting wet isn’t your thing, you can easily sleep soundly for the entire duration of your spa day on the plush loungers dotted around the pool. 

The sauna and hydrotherapy room was next on the agenda, with the spa offering two saunas, a steam room and, of course, an icy plunge pool. Think Wim Hof, but significantly less wild. 

Espuro Foam Steam Room 

Have you ever experienced hot rain in Fife? The answer is probably no. But at Kohler Waters, you now have the chance. 

Our absolute highlight was the Espuro Foam Steam Room, the only one of its kind in the UK. The experience promises a 15–20-minute sensory immersion of light, sound, and fragrant plant-based foam — or in other words a bubble bath for adults. We settled into the aromatherapy experience, which included cascading clouds of warm foam. After submerging ourselves in the bubbles, monsoon-like rain began to shower from the ceiling. A true experience of a Tropical downpour without having to leave the East Neuk. 

Treatments and Lunch

Soon it was time for our spa treatments. We each chose between a 50 minute massage or facial, both of which left our skin feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. Afterwards, we enjoyed the relaxation room, where we slurped strawberry infused water and nibbled on some dried coconut flakes — the perfect way to recover from the stress of the semester.

Back in our gorgeous fur lined robes, we set off to the spa cafe for a one-course lunch complete with a glass of non-alcoholic Prosecco – we’re on the job, remember. After deliberating over a delicious range of colourful salads and healthy brunch options, we decided on a classic caesar salad and a smoked salmon platter, topped with caviar. Light, nourishing and beautifully presented – the cuisine was a much needed reset from some of the dire dishes we had been scraping together from our end of semester fridge. 

Till Next Time 

After a day that had already felt like Christmas, the spa handed us each a gift bag containing Bamford candles to take home, the smell of which still takes us straight back to Kohler Waters. But we couldn’t leave without one more treat — an iced latte at Herbs, the Old Course’s newest country club inspired eatery. Lounging in a striped deckchair, with the Fife sun beating down, we both had one thought in our head: ‘we could get used to this.’ Though that thought was quickly followed by another: ‘we might need to switch professions.’

There are few things in life more indulgent than a full day dedicated to detoxing, declogging and — of course — debriefing. The Kohler Waters Spa certainly lived up to these expectations. 

Kohler Waters Spa also offers a 'Wellness Wednesdays' offer, where University of St Andrews Students receive 20% off the full treatment menu, with every treatment including two hours’ access to the beautiful spa facilities. All you need to do is bring your student ID along on the day of your visit.

This article was sponsored by The Kohler Waters Spa at The Old Course Hotel in St Andrews. Saint writers Tilly Frain-Bell and Zainab Haji enjoyed the Indulge package which included two hours access to the spa facilities, a 50-minute facial or 50-minute massage, lunch in the Spa Café and a gift from their spa therapists. 

Photographs by Tilly Frain-Bell and Zainab Haji