Our guests often comment on how well they sleep during their stay with us. It is not just the quality of our mattresses and pillows, nor the quiet tiredness at the end of a satisfyingly creative day. No, it also has to do with the sound of the River Rosaro gushing by, and the cascades of water that tumble through arches at the end of the millstream. The reason? They produce what the scientists call ‘white noise’ or ‘pink noise’ which a number of studies have shown to produce better sleep.
White noise contains in equal measure all frequencies across the spectrum of audible sound. It is sometimes referred to as broadband noise: many people liken it to static comes from un-tuned television. Pink noise is similar but subtly different and has been likened to the noise of a waterfall.
A recent well researched fact-checked article in on the Sleep Foundation website quotes a number of studies that show that such noises can help you sleep better. One found, for example, that adults fell asleep 38% faster listening to pink noise. It has to be said, however, that some scientists question the quality of the research and call for more studies. And no-one really knows whether these noises actually affect brainwaves or merely mask disturbing external noises.
We are not here today, however, to report on a Watermill evidence-based scienttific trial but rather to pass on the anecdotal evidence of our guests, many of whom tell us that at the Watermill they enjoy the best sleep they have had for ages.
And we thought we migt try a little experiment. You could make a continuous loop of the Watermill sounds above and play it at night. Let me know how you get on.
Better still, come and see (and hear!) for yourself. The river at the Watermill cascades are waiting for you.