Antidotes to our world
In short: For romantics and comfort lovers, this 17th century Cotswold stone house is set in the quiet village of Barnsley, and is the former home of garden designer Rosemary Verey . It’s surrounded by her serene and pretty gardens, and has a thoroughly modern and beautifully quiet spa in the grounds with an outdoor hydrotherapy pool. [...]
In short: This is a very easy place to relax – as a B&B guest in one of two farmhouse rooms, or self-catering in a cottage, yurt or your own tent. Hosts Julie and Richard are friendly and laid back, and you can book relaxing hot stones treatments, therapeutic massage and reflexology with capable local [...]
In short: This is a privately-owned, peaceful and civilized health spa an hour’s drive from London with an unpretentious, holistic approach to health. It’s set in 47 pretty acres, and adjoins 700 acres of National Trust land. Your base is a gorgeous manor house which the poet Alfred Lord Tennyson rented in the 1860s, and a less attractive [...]
In short: I’m not really into dedicated fitness breaks, but I love love love the highly inventive Wildfitness holidays, created in 2001 by all-round athlete Tara Wood, who’s warm, funny and lovely to be with. Tara’s team use outdoor, natural surroundings to get you fit so you feel as far from an urban gym as you possibly can, and somehow [...]
In short: This is a rare treat. A comfortable, 400-year old house in the Lincolnshire countryside where two expert ayurvedic practioners offer bespoke retreats lasting 3, 5 or 7 days. Andy and Laura Shakeshaft are genuine, normal & full of integrity, and have created a real haven of calm. Cleanse body & mind with daily oil [...]
In short: Reclaim Your Self was set up by down to earth and dynamic massage therapist Julia Sampson, more affectionately known as Jools, and offers affordable healthy holidays that combine yoga, healthy eating and holistic therapies in cleverly-picked locations around the world. Run by a small team of expert therapists, teachers and chefs, the holidays often include coaching and activities such [...]
In short: This beautifully renovated, wooden-floored 17th century water mill is the eco-friendly family home of Melissa Kendall, an expert on nutrition and sustainability who runs healthy holiday company Jiva Healing. Come for juice fasts, healthy eating breaks, yoga weekends, fitness breaks and other breaks, or book your own private retreat for your family or friends [...]
Mmm, I’ve always loved making marks with my feet in the sand and collecting shells and things. Maybe I should sign up for one of these? Environmental artist Helen Grove-White of the Creative Arts Retreat runs residential courses in Land Art, an art form for anyone who loves nature – especially city folk who are in dire [...]
In short: Tilton House is a large and lovely white-painted Georgian house set at the foot of the South Downs National Park. It offers a range of creative and holistic breaks during the weekends, and relaxing B&B and self catering during the week. It’s the former home of economist John Maynard Keynes and his Russian ballerina wife, [...]
The annual Winter retreat in Sibford, Oxfordshire run by the London Buddhist Centre starts tomorrow – you can go for the full ten days, the first five days (Dec 22- Dec 27) or the second five days (Dec 27- Jan 1). It’s open to everyone, including those new to meditation and to Buddhism, and is [...]
