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2023’s Best Meditation & Wellness Retreats In The UK To Book Now
Learn from mavens of mindfulness in these havens for headspace
By | 2 months ago
Overdue some time out, or looking to start the New Year right? Luckily, 2023’s wellness retreats are coming in thick and fast, and you don’t have to travel across the world to enjoy them – there are plenty of staycation opportunities for uninterrupted zen. From luxury farmhouse getaways to walking weekends, these are the best meditation retreats and wellness escapes right here in the UK.
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The UK’s Best Meditation & Wellness Retreats 2023
Gaia House
When? Throughout the year.
Where? South Devon
What? If you’re looking to reduce the noise in your mind, Gaia House is your best bet. One of the largest meditation centers in Europe, it offers silent meditation retreats in the Buddhist tradition, but all faiths are welcome. Set in the peaceful South Devon countryside, retreats range in length from two to seven nights, with different names such as Pathways to Happiness and The Heart of Wisdom and Kindness. Though guests are asked to refrain from engaging in all forms of verbal and written communication throughout the retreat, you can speak with the teachers when appropriate. During your stay you can enjoy picturesque strolls around the grounds, and vegan/vegetarian meals throughout.
BOOK: Check out the schedule here. gaiahouse.co.uk
Mindful Walking Retreats
When? Ongoing
Where? Sharpham House – Totnes, Devon
What? Located on the banks of the River Dart, Sharpham House’s walking retreats will take you on long, meditative walks around the beautiful Devon countryside. A more active trip, the retreat involves daily 7-8 mile walks, many of which are very hilly, so organisers specify you’ll need good fitness levels. With breathtaking scenery and periods of silence, these walks help develop appreciation and respect for the natural world, and encourage guests to explore their creativity. There are also guided meditations and relaxation sessions throughout the retreat, and you’ll be treated to delicious vegetarian food, all sourced locally and sustainably.
BOOK: From £460 for four nights. sharphamtrust.org
Breathe Bend Believe Yoga Retreat
When? Throughout the year
Where? Hassocks, West Sussex
What? Ranging from mini retreats that can be done between school drop and pick-up to annual weekend retreats, these mini yoga breaks extend the peace that an energetic yoga practice can bring you and help you to carry it through the day and take it away with you. Connect with likeminded people in Briony’s beautiful home and enjoy a bitesize chunk of rest and relaxation. Read our full review of the Breathe, Bend, Believe retreat here.
BOOK: From £69 | bookwhen.com/breathebendbelieve
Men’s Mental Wellness Retreats
When? Dates June and October 2023
Where? Bedruthan, Cornwall
What? Ex-rugby player and plant-based fitness fanatic Anthony Mullally, has partnered with sustainability-minded Cornish hotel Bedruthan to offer new resilience workshop retreats specifically focussing on men’s mental wellness. Employing cold and heat exposure, the body will be put into a stressful state in order to then encourage adaptability and calm as a response to anxiety.
BOOK: Two nights arriving Friday 16th June or two nights arriving Saturday 28th October. Call reservations on 01637 860 860 to book. bedruthan.com
Rewilding at English Historic Estate Retreat
When? 24–28 August 2023
Where? Broughton Hall – Skipton, North Yorkshire
What? If you’re looking for a serene retreat framed by moorlands and meadows, head to Broughton Hall in Skipton, North Yorkshire. Back by popular demand after a successful run in both 2021 and 2022, Balance Holidays’ ‘Rewilding at English Historic Estate Retreat‘ encourages guests to let go of their old self, teaching new skills to promote a wild, connected and empowered version of themselves. Led by lifestyle coach Tony Riddle – also known as The Natural Lifestylist – the retreat includes a range of movement activities (wild swimming, barefoot woodlands walks and runs, forest bathing and tree climbing) as well as restorative, lesson-based activities (mobility, movement and flow activities, breathwork and sound healing).
BOOK: balanceholidays.com
Image (c) Elliot White
Cornish Gems’ Yoga & Wellbeing Retreat
When? 8–10 September 2023
Where? Rosilian Hall – Flushing, Cornwall
Holiday home provider Cornish Gems have teamed up with wellbeing practitioner Alicia Ray on a brand-new luxury yoga and wellbeing retreat on the Cornish coast. The exclusive three-day retreat – taking place in September – will be hosted at Rosilian Hall, a luxury waterfront residence in Flushing, right on the banks of the river Fal. Using an engaging mix of restorative wellbeing practises, guests will receive guided tuition to enjoy a variety of indoor and outdoor yoga, sea swimming, mindfulness, meditation, sound baths and breathing workshops – all accompanied by a delicious and nourishing menu prepared by a private chef using locally sourced and seasonal ingredients.
BOOK: cornishgems.com
The Cold Water Therapy Programme
When? Ongoing
Where? Three Mile Beach, Cornwall
What? Did you know that the NHS now prescribes surfing to help improve confidence, resilience and self-esteem? Off to Cornwall we go. Launching this November, Three Mile Beach’s new three-night Cold Water Therapy Programme will reinvigorate and restore through surfing lessons, coasteering and Wim Hof Method workshops with Soul Sweats, championing the power of water and breathwork alongside hot and cold therapy, yoga, sound healing and meditation. Set among golden sands backed by dunes, it’s an idyllic setting for a chilly swim.
BOOK: From £403 per person, based on six people sharing a three-bedroom beach house and includes three nights’ accommodation, including a full day workshop with Soul Sweats, a two-hour private surf lesson and a three-hour guided coasteering session. Available for individuals and private groups. threemilebeach.co.uk
Wild Calm Retreat at Cabilla
When? Ongoing
Where? Cabilla Cornwall
What? If you are looking to slow down and restore your vitality amid ancient and undisturbed nature, this retreat is for you. The retreat is designed to ensure that visitors have a ‘unique experience of energetic restoration, introducing an awareness to the chakras with daily activities including heart led yoga, reflective meditation, walks in the temperate rainforest, bathing in woodland pools, stargazing and experiencing a sound bath’. Held in The Barns at Cabilla Cornwall, the retreat includes three vegetarian meals a day, with hot drinks and refreshments also provided.
BOOK: cabillacornwall.com
Soul Revival
When? Ongoing
Where? The Mandrake, London
What? Having launched the world’s first spiritual wellness concierge last year, this year The Mandrake launches the Soul Revival package to guide guests from lockdown into the light. From in-room bespoke energy healings to sound baths and cacao ceremonies, the hotel is hosting the best practitioners in their fields such as Eddy Elsey (Shaman), Urmi Sound (sound healers), Andréa Araré (shaman), Maria Lodetoft (Sound healer).
BOOK: themandrake.com
Somercecil Retreats at Badminton Estate
When? Ongoing
Where? Badminton Estate, Cotswolds
What? Having grown up in the Cotswolds and Cornwall retrospectively, Bella Somerset and Gaby Cecil discovered from a young age the importance of spending time in nature. This inspired them to launch Somercecil, a retreat series at Badminton Estate – where Bella was lucky enough to grow up. The retreats are themed around three pillars: movement, nature and connection: think morning runs, yoga, walks and e-bike adventures, alongside activities like foraging and massages. On the food side, you can expect seasonal vegetarian dishes made using homegrown produce straight from the pesticide-free garden veg farm. You’ll be spending time in the beautiful Dower House, a stone’s throw away from Badminton Deer Park.
BOOK: Private retreats are also available. somercecil.com
Horwood House X Aromatherapy Associates
When? Ongoing
Where? Horwood House Hotel – Milton Keynes
What? Mental Health UK reports that one in five Brits don’t get enough sleep, so Horwood House is partnering with Aromatherapy Experts to launch their new ‘Deep Relax Day and Stay package’. With full access to the spa, a delicious two-course lunch, and a 60-minute Aromatherapy Associates Deep Relax Body Treatment, this package is ideal for wellness warriors looking for a great night’s sleep.
BOOK: From £237.50 per person. horwoodhouse.co.uk
Rudding Park in Harrogate
When? Ongoing
Where? Rudding Park Hotel – Harrogate, North Yorkshire
What? Pick your meditation hot spot from the UK’s very first Rooftop Spa Garden or Rudding Park’s designated Mind and Sense Zones. The spa aims to re-capture Harrogate’s spa town heritage by drawing natural waters from the grounds of Rudding Park. The Roof Top Spa and Garden has also been designed (by horticulturalist Matthew Wilson) to capture and reflect the beauty of its natural surroundings. The new Woodland Glade – a secluded area in the gardens – allows guests to experience treatments whilst connecting with nature, inspired by the Japanese tradition of forest bathing. Sounds like the perfect spot for some soul-searching (followed by steam room-lounging), to us.
BOOK: ruddingpark.co.uk
Glass House Retreat
When? Ongoing
Where? Essex
What? After years of visiting retreats, passionate advocate for healthy living Joy Jarvis noticed many were pushed for space, and decided it was time to create something new. Enter Glass House Retreat, a purpose-built spa, detox and weight-loss centre set in the heart of the luscious Essex countryside. Packages range from two to seven days long, all offering spa and gym access, plant-based cuisine and various different wellness treatments. A typical day here involves a morning walk, two fitness classes and a raw food lunch, followed by a cookery demonstration from Head Chef Miguel Gouveia. Afternoons, meanwhile, are spent exploring the retreat’s spa facilities – which include a salt block sauna, cryotherapy chamber and heated pool – and enjoying relaxing treatments. Less than an hour’s drive from London, it’s perfectly located for city dwellers looking to escape from the city and invest in a little R&R.
BOOK: glasshouseretreat.co.uk
Featured Image (c) Min An via Pexels.
