When we visited the Scarlet in September it had just opened on the 1st of that month and unsurprisingly had one or two creases left to iron out. However the moment we entered the lobby we were struck by the startling impact of its design. A huge window draws your eye in watery stages to the outdoor swimming pool and then the Atlantic Ocean beyond. A deliberate and inspired touch designed to blur the boundaries between the inside and outdoors.

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The room we stayed in was Indulgent, both in description and name. Complete with balcony and magnificent sea views, our room had been designed with an emphasis on open living and inclusiveness. Central to the room was a circular seating and TV area. Situated around this were the separate areas such as the bed and shower, all cleverly separated by the use of low or curved walls.

The toilet was in a room of its own, and there was a collective sigh of relief on that score. The deep free-standing bath was to be found in main area near the television which might be one inclusive step too far for the more modest resident. No fridge or tea making facilities was also something to get used to but I was won over by the compelling eco- reasons nicely explained in a hotel information book in the room.

The adjustable choice of mood lighting was fabulous and available in all bedrooms, with choices ranging from ambient to just enough light in the toilet to see by at night.

There are many different spa journeys and treatments available at the Scarlet, but I opted for the ‘Short Journey’ which included an Ayurvedic consultation to determine my dosha (body type). This was followed by a Marma Abhyanga massage using natural oils designed to match my dosha.

All sound in the tented treatment room was muffled so it was easy to get lost in the relaxing music and the powerful massage. Afterwards I was taken into another quiet room filled with gently swinging cocoon-like ‘pods’ that were attached to the ceiling. After a bit of a struggle I climbed into one to relax post-massage.

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As well as the spa we tried the indoor pool, the aroma steam room and one of the two log fired seaweed hot tubs that commanded amazing views of the beach and ocean. The outdoor pool is chemical-free and filtered by reeds so it looked more like a large pond which was visually stunning but very different.

We nipped into the small sedate library for a quick game of pool before going into the restaurant for dinner. The food was excellent and very grown-up too. We left with full tummys and a smile on our faces, an outcome that Michelin Award-Winning Head Chef Ben Tunnicliffe said he wanted for all diners.

The Scarlet is certainly unique and inspirational, quite unlike anywhere else I have stayed before and it is virtually impossible not to relax there. Perhaps this is helped by the conspicuous lack of noisy children and frantic parents.

High Season: Rooms start at £270 B&B/£315 Dinner B&B for a ‘Just Right’ room to £395 B&B/£430 Dinner B&B for an ‘Indulgent’ room. There is a minimum two night stay at weekends.

The Scarlet Short Spa Journey costs £60 for 60 minutes.