Soundbaths come to our Lake District spa

Low Wood Bay Resort & Spa is striking a soothing new chord for guests with the introduction of a musical relaxation experience designed to calm both body and mind.

The spa team has launched its new ‘harp sound bath’ service, inviting guests to unwind in its tranquil relaxation lounge while listening to the gentle melodies of a live harpist.

The restorative harp sessions aim to deepen relaxation for spa guests, allowing them to step away from the pace of daily life and reconnect with a quieter, more restful state.  After using the spa’s indoor and outdoor thermal facilities, participants in the sessions can lie back, close their eyes and settle into the immersive atmosphere of live harp music.

The spa’s sound bath experiences are being led by Lakeland musician Gareth Wilkins, performing on a traditional Scottish clarsach harp known for its warm, resonant tone.

During each session, Gareth creates a continuous flow of music, intuitively composed to support deep rest and the gradual release of physical tension.  Guests are encouraged to settle comfortably and effortlessly relax to the gentle tones of the harp.

The experience brings together the calming presence of live acoustic harp music with the restorative atmosphere of the spa environment, creating a tranquil space in which guests can fully switch off and unwind.

Tell us a bit about yourself…

I’m a Lake District–based musician who has lived a nomadic life for the past decade — moving between landscapes, communities and creative spaces. That sense of movement and simplicity shapes the way I work. 

I’m inspired by the rhythm of the fells and water, by silence as much as sound, and by the way music can transform a room when it is played with presence rather than performance.

My work is about creating environments where people can step out of the pace of daily life and experience time differently — slower, more spacious, more present.

What is involved in the harp sound bath sessions?

The emphasis of the sessions is on rest rather than any particular technique.  The live harp creates a calm, receptive atmosphere where they can simply arrive, settle and unwind.

Each session begins with a short introduction, allowing guests to arrive in the room. Participants then lie back with blankets and cushions as the tones of Lady Harp unfold and settle through the space.

What are the main benefits of a soundbath session?

While each person’s experience is unique, many guests report reduced stress, improved sleep, clearer thinking and a deep sense of relaxation. This is not performance, but restoration — an invitation to simply allow the body and mind to settle in their own time.

If guests leave feeling lighter, clearer or simply more rested than when they arrived, then the session has done its work.

How long have you been playing the harp? Do you play any other instruments?

I’ve been a professional musician for most of my working life, beginning with piano over 35 years ago. I later completed two music degrees across classical, jazz and folk disciplines, which continue to shape my work.

I have been playing the harp for the past decade, alongside traditional instruments such as the concertina. While my background spans multiple genres and instruments, the harp meditation sessions bring these strands together in a distilled and focused way.

In many ways, these sessions represent a culmination — where decades of musical training and a long-standing interest in balance and attentive listening come together in their most refined form.

What is it about the Lake District, nature and the scenery that inspires these sessions?

Spending time by the lake, you see it shift from mirror-still to windswept movement in moments. Water levels rise and fall. Light shifts. The landscape is dynamic — sometimes gentle, sometimes powerful — yet entirely at ease in its own nature.

Being in that environment invites presence. When you’re attentive, you notice more. You move more carefully. You feel more connected to what’s around you.

The harp meditation sessions are not an attempt to replicate the landscape, but to reflect something of that quality — steady, responsive and quietly alive. They offer a way of finding your footing again — rediscovering the steadier calm that already exists beneath the surface of a busy day.

Is health and wellbeing an important part of your lifestyle?

Yes — because what I offer only works if I live it.

The quality of attention required to hold a room, to listen deeply and to play with presence depends on how I move through my own life. Time outdoors, physical movement, rest and reflection aren’t separate from the work — they are what make the work possible.

For me, wellbeing isn’t a concept or a trend. It’s a steady relationship with balance, and a quiet commitment to integrity — so that when someone places their trust in the space, they can simply rest.

What would you say to someone new to this experience?

If you’re new to it, there’s nothing you need to prepare for. Come as you are. Lie back, close your eyes if you wish, and let the harp do the work.  You don’t need to concentrate or try to meditate. Simply listen, allow yourself to hear, and see what happens.

The spa plans to run regular harp sound bath sessions so that more guests can experience the calming acoustics of live harp music as part of their visit.