Wilderness Adventure In Scotland
Anyone looking to run away from the year we’d rather forget? A wilderness camping retreat on a remote Hebridean island should do it. Wild at Arts Scotland runs a range of creative wild retreats, including peregrinatio – or ‘holy voyaging’, a re-enactment of a tradition carried out by Celtic missionary monks who would cast themselves adrift and put their faith in the wind and the sea to guide them to where they need to be. Don’t worry, you won’t be shipwrecked, but instead simply spend time in nature in the beautiful, remote Inner Hebrides with experienced retreat leader, Chris Goan. Expect wildlife hikes, poetry writing and ‘purposeful silence’. It’s definitely ‘no-frills’, with no toilets, running water or catering, but what it lacks in creature comforts it more than makes up for in pure, primal adventure and reconnection.
Woodland Retreat in Devon
Overlooking the Dart Valley, Sharpham Estate in Devon is relaunching its retreats programme this Easter. Running from one to five days,there are plenty of options to choose from, including a ‘Nature Connection’ retreat where you will not only do what it says on the tin – reconnect with nature – but also with your ‘true authentic self’ too. You’ll stay in your own cosy bell tent in the woods, plus there’s meditation and relaxation sessions on the banks of the river, ‘nature sensing’ activities to help you tune in to your surroundings and lots of delicious, home-cooked vegetarian food around the campfire. A little bit Swallows and Amazons, it’s just the tonic for helping yourself again.
Yoga, Pilates and Meditation in Somerset
Set in a 17-bedroom, secluded farmhouse in Somerset nestled in a rural valley, this is a spectacular place to book in for a weekend of Yoga, Pilates and meditation to stretch your body and quieten your mind. The luxury lodgings will ensure you feel pampered and relaxed, while the three classes a day, plus workshops, talks and guided walks will keep you busy, stimulated and allow your mind to forget the ‘hustle and bustle’ of the daily grind. You’ll be ready to reset and apply your new-found zen when you return home.
Rewilding in Cornwall
If you’re feeling more battery chicken than free as a bird, this rewilding weekend in Cornwall will help you to reconnect with nature, find balance in your everyday and enjoy the simple pleasures of rustic living. Set in the grounds of a 300-year-old stone cottage and only accessible by boat or a hike through the woods, it’s the perfect setting to let yourself slip away from the ‘noise’ of everyday life. There’s forest hiking, wild swimming, yoga, torch-lit canoeing and feasts around a firepit. Run by mental health clinician, Katy Griffin, there’s also evidence-led workshops to help equip you to tackle your stress and anxiety back in the ‘real-world’ although you may never want to leave.
Yoga and hiking in the Lake District
If you’re suffering from insomnia, a weekend of Yoga and hiking in the Lake District will soon have you sleeping like a baby. The itinerary has you start the day with an energising flow, before setting off for a five-or-six hour hike through the Lakes, then returning home for much-earned homemade cake and tea. There’s another yoga session to stretch off your legs before dinner and an early night. Tailored for all fitness levels and ages, it’s the perfect trip to kickstart your 2021 fitness in beautiful surroundings.
Spa Weekend In Kent
If you’re looking for a rural pampering retreat, Green Farm in Kent runs a range of spa weekends focused on rest and rejuvenation in nature. Their ‘Singing with Nightingale Retreat’ sees participants enjoy a campfire dinner, followed by a night-time walk to listen to nightingales sing. Accommodation is in a restored medieval house and barn with hot tubs nestled in the walled garden, and ESPA treatments can be booked to help you truly switch off.
Kayaking in Pembrokeshire
One for those who have missed that adrenaline-high from adventure sports, this one-night retreat in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park will have you take to the water for four-to-five hours each day, taking in the bays, caves and wooded estuaries of the stunning coastline. Once back on dry land you will cook up your sea-foraged supper on an open campfire before wild camping on the beach under a canopy of stars. Truly life-affirming stuff.
By Lydia Mansi
Updated May 2021
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