The Salthouse unveils £5 million luxury spa as Northern Ireland’s greenest hotel completes wellness destination

New Salt Spa combines panoramic coastal views, natural wellness rituals and sustainable luxury on the Causeway Coast

The Salthouse Hotel has unveiled its long-awaited luxury spa following a £5 million investment, completing the final phase of the award-winning North Coast destination’s transformation into one of Ireland’s most distinctive sustainable wellness retreats.

Sitting above Ballycastle with clean views across the Atlantic towards Rathlin Island, Fair Head, the Glens of Antrim and, on clear days, Scotland, the new Salt Spa has been designed to offer guests an immersive wellbeing experience enveloped by the surrounding coastline while remaining true to the hotel’s founding sustainability principles.

The opening marks another significant milestone for The Salthouse, which launched in 2019 as Northern Ireland’s first carbon-neutral hotel and has since invested millions of pounds in expanding its luxury accommodation and visitor offering.

The Salthouse estate comprises 24 hotel bedrooms, 24 Luxury Sea View Suites, six eco lodges, the Eco Farmhouse, two restaurants and the new Salt Spa, employing around 140 people following the creation of 30 additional jobs through the latest expansion.

The spa has been designed to offer something different from the traditional hotel wellness experience, combining world-class facilities with one of the most dramatic coastal settings anywhere in Ireland.

At its heart is an outdoor heated infinity pool overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, with panoramic views stretching across Ballycastle, Rathlin Island, the Glens of Antrim and Scotland.

Inside, guests can experience a comprehensive thermal suite featuring an indoor vitality hydrotherapy pool with floor-to-ceiling sea views, a sauna, steam room, sanarium, Himalayan salt room, experience showers and relaxation beds.

Outside, the experience continues with two Scandinavian-style cabin saunas, four copper seaweed mineral bathing tubs and outdoor relaxation areas where guests can unwind while immersed in the natural landscape.

Treatments have been developed around natural wellbeing, with a menu including massages, facials, salt and oil scrubs, floatation therapy, seaweed mineral immersion experiences and Rasul cleansing rituals. Premium natural GAIA skincare products are used throughout the treatment experiences, reflecting the hotel’s commitment to environmentally responsible luxury.

The spa also incorporates local elements, including natural earth salts and locally sourced seaweed used within the signature bathing experiences.

Carl McGarrity, Director of The Salthouse Hotel, said the new spa completes the vision that first inspired the business.

“From the very beginning, we wanted to create something that offered genuine luxury without compromising on sustainability. The Salt Spa is the culmination of that vision.

“Our location is unlike anywhere else. Whether you’re relaxing in the infinity pool or sitting in one of the outdoor seaweed baths, you’re looking out across one of the most spectacular stretches of coastline in Europe. Nature becomes part of the wellness experience.

“We wanted to create more than somewhere to have a treatment. This is somewhere people can completely switch off, reconnect with nature and spend quality time, whether they are staying with us for a weekend or visiting for the day.”

Unlike many destination spas, The Salt Spa is open for both overnight guests and day visitors.

Thermal spa access is included for all hotel guests staying in the main hotel and Luxury Sea View Suites, while specially created day packages combine access to the thermal facilities with lunch or afternoon tea, making the experience accessible to local residents as well as visitors to the Causeway Coast.

To celebrate the launch, the hotel is offering 20 per cent off Salt Spa gift vouchers for a limited period, with additional introductory offers planned over the coming months.

Sustainability is the backbone of the development. The Salthouse continues to be powered by its own on-site renewable energy infrastructure, including a 225kW wind turbine and 150kW solar array, while its wider environmental credentials include electric vehicle charging points, low food-mile menus, a no single-use plastics policy, CO₂ monitoring systems and carefully selected sustainable materials throughout the property.

The opening of the spa follows a period of sustained investment at The Salthouse, including the recent addition of 24 Luxury Sea View Suites and the Eco Farmhouse, together creating one of Northern Ireland’s fastest-growing luxury hospitality destinations.

Carl McGarrity believes wellness and sustainability are becoming increasingly inseparable for today’s travellers, adding:

“People want to know that they can enjoy an exceptional experience while making responsible choices. Sustainability isn’t something we’ve added on, it’s the foundation the business was built on.

“Everything we do is with sustainability at the forefront of our thinking, from the renewable energy that powers the hotel to the products we use in the spa and the local ingredients featured across our restaurants.”

The Salthouse’s food offering complements the wellness experience, with guests able to dine in the hotel’s original restaurant, known for its locally landed seafood and seasonal menus, or enjoy relaxed dining at The Lookout Restaurant.

Bookings for the Salt Spa are now open through The Salthouse website.