Ste. Anne’s Country Inn & Spa, widely regarded as Canada’s favourite destination spa, is branching out with its new sister property, The Dorset Manor. Located in the historic town of Port Hope about 90 minutes outside of Toronto, the Dorset was previously owned by Ste. Anne’s founder Jim Corcoran (when it was known as the Hillcrest) until 2004. Over the past couple of years, however, the unwavering popularity of Ste. Anne’s had Corcoran re-evaluate his options in terms of expansion, and he decided to reacquire the Port Hope property earlier this spring. Ste. Anne’s signature style and old world charm has been reinstated – yet the Dorset manages to carve out its own unique identity.
Balcony at Dorset Manor
While Ste. Anne’s is located on 500 acres of rolling countryside, isolated from the “real world”, the Dorset is located on fourteen acres of wooded grounds on Dorset Road, a centrally-located street in Port Hope. Where Ste. Anne’s has a main inn comprised of 16 guest suites, as well as five separate guest cottages (and accommodates several more day spa guests), the Dorset has only nine guest rooms in a single Victorian-style manor. But like Ste. Anne’s flagship property, there are no televisions or telephones in the antique-laden rooms, enabling guests to achieve a total sense of relaxation. And, to provide extra comfort, Corcoran provides guests with a welcome note along with his personal cell phone number should they have any questions or concerns during their stay. One would be hard pressed to think of another proprietor of a world famous destination spa who would do the same.
The smaller, more intimate set-up of the Dorset lends itself to a certain ease and accessibility for guests moving from one appointment to another, whereas the sheer expanse of Ste. Anne’s provides a palatial view but requires more lead time in between activities. Ste. Anne’s offers a number of exercise classes and outdoor activities during the day while the Dorset has yet to introduce any (a small exercise room is currently being built). In the meantime, guests are able to lounge by the outdoor saltwater pool, or borrow one of the spa’s bicycles for a ride around town. Indeed, one of the most distinguishing features of the Dorset is its proximity to the centre of Port Hope, where some fabulous shopping for antiques, crafts and high-end curios is just minutes away. The town’s Main Street is considered to be the best preserved nineteenth century street in Ontario – it could easily provide the backdrop for a period piece movie set (the Dorset’s PR rep, Katriona, confirms this fact by noting the number of major motion pictures that have been filmed there).
The gorgeous staircase
Of course, a major draw at both Ste. Anne’s and the Dorset are the spa treatments which feature Aveda products. The treatments take place in an authentic stone, secluded area of the Dorset basement, which gives it a cavern-like quality. Many of the experienced service providers at the Dorset come from Ste. Anne’s, and the selection of treatments is taken from the Ste. Anne’s menu of services, of which there are dozens to choose from. Two perennial favourites are the Botanical Resurfacing Facial, which begins with a foot scrub, followed a facial application of a formula made up of shitake mushrooms, sage and bamboo; or, for some more thorough bodywork, there is the Caribbean Therapy treatment, which includes a foot bath, an all-over dry exfoliation, a warm body masque application, an aromatic moisturizing skin wrap followed by a shower and massage.
Another choice feature that remains consistent between the two locations is the spa cuisine. Chef Christopher Ennew strikes the perfect balance between taste and nutrition in each of the day’s three meals, as well as the not-to-be-missed afternoon tea. For breakfast, a light French toast with raspberry compote is a great way to start your day, while lunch could include a mushroom soup followed by a thin-crust pizza. The aforementioned tea features Ste. Anne’s signature teas along with a wide array of crudités, cucumber and cheese sandwiches and pastries. If you are counting calories, be sure to factor in one of “Nan’s” scones served with Ste. Anne’s tea cream and homemade strawberry preserves. For dinner, a starter may include a Caesar salad, made up of crisp romaine lettuce lightly tossed with the spa’s signature vinaigrette and encased by a delicate phyllo and a pancetta crisp (in lieu of the salad’s traditional croutons). Some mains worth sampling include the grilled salmon served with a pear, cranberry and port chutney, and the whole wheat rotini pasta with charred vegetable medley. Portions throughout are just right, leaving diners sated, but never stuffed. And to recreate the memories of the meals at home, Ste. Anne’s has released two cookbooks for sale in the spa’s retail shop.
Of course, neither Ste. Anne’s nor the Dorset is the destination spa for those looking for an intense workout regime. Rather, they both honour the simple but proven philosophy that celebrates tranquility, relaxation and healthy but delicious meals. To this end, the Dorset Manor succeeds in providing a sweet alternative to fans of Ste. Anne’s who are seeking some refuge from city life.
Travel was subsidized and photographs were provided by the Dorset Manor.
