‘We were inspired, recharged and nourished by nature’: readers’ favourite wellness trips | Health and fitness holidays

Winning tip: Wild swims and yoga, north Wales

With Eryri national park (Snowdonia) on the doorstep and guided wild swims available, north Wales’ Tawelu Retreats offers options to explore the outdoors or go full hibernation with the retreat’s yoga classes and meditations, plus a sauna and hot tub. The chef cooked up filling, comforting veggie food and gorgeous chai and hot chocolate. Even getting lost running up the Welsh fells and nearly missing my hot shells massage didn’t trouble my stress levels. It’s women only, four days from £650.
Laura King

Serenity and vegetarian food in Japan

Staying at a shukubo (Buddhist temple guesthouse) in Koyasan, Japan, was calming yet insightful. Here we observed monastic life in beautiful, tranquil surroundings. We were served shojin ryori, traditional Japanese Buddhist meals that were vegetarian – dishes that were not only tasty but eye-catching, too. We meditated, learned origami and participated in a Goma fire ceremony. This early morning ritual is believed to have a powerful cleansing effect spiritually and psychologically. The ceremony was very emotive. We slept in a traditional Japanese room, simple but very comfortable. Overall, a great retreat in which to switch off and experience spiritual enlightenment as well as a new culture.
Reshma

I found inner peace in Devon

The Sharpham Trust, sitting above the beautiful River Dart in south Devon, is a mindfulness charity which holds retreats to promote the belief that we could all be showing more compassion towards each other, the planet and ourselves. Sharpham was a much-needed MOT on my zest for life after years of burnout. Saying no to people had felt impossible, and it had worn me down to exhaustion. Sharpham marked a dramatic shift to finding an inner peace that had hitherto eluded me. The prices are accessible, you’re given your own room (a retreat rarity), and the food is wonderful. A truly beautiful experience.
Liv

Well, well, wellness in Spain

Not far from Alicante and the brilliant Sierra Helada natural park is a wonderful wellness centre, La Crisalida Retreat. Mindfulness, yoga, workshops, meditation, guided walks. Too energetic? There is no pressure to join in. You can laze on your sun bed next to one of the pools, or walk into the village for a mooch around the market and an ice-cream on the stunning beach. You can arrive and leave any day and it is open all year. Shared and single rooms are available.
Victoria

Digital detox with stargazing, Cumbria

Do you have an unhealthy relationship with your phone? Retreat like it’s 1999! A luxuriously renovated 1872 vicarage, outside Sedbergh, Cumbria, is the perfect setting for a digital detox. A few days of self-care, self-love and no tech in sight. Meticulously curated days offer the right mix of activities and rest. Twice daily yoga sessions, guided walks, sound baths, stargazing around the fire pit, talking circles and shared freshly prepared meals around the dining table will wean you off doom scrolling. The small group of like-minded guests allows for great bonding and meaningful connections. The four-day detox retreat is from £545.
Josette

Running wild in Argyll and Bute

On a regenerative farm in Auchgoyle, Argyll and Bute, Wild Running and Wellness Retreats have curated an unforgettable experience. The trails were adventurous and exciting, leading us through ancient woodland, across beaches and over hills. The wildlife and landscape were further brought to life by Katharine and David’s infectious passion for – and knowledge of – their local environment. Between runs, we were rejuvenated with delicious homecooked meals and snacks in the stunning farmhouse, and activities including yoga in the ecolodge, wild swimming, a wood-fired sauna, art class and coffee tasting. We left feeling inspired, recharged and fully nourished by nature.
Kate Lloyd

River, salmon, Iceland – that’s all I need

My solo salmon fishing break last summer in Iceland was a perfect way to unwind after a stressful year at work followed by a tense divorce. The area was peaceful, quiet and beautiful – full of long days blessed with pale sunlight until dusk turned into dawn. Basing myself in the Mýrarkvísl River valley in the north of the country, all I needed was some warm pullovers and a couple of fishing rods. Days spent in nature with the cool waters trickling along, salmon and trout biting, and my fellow fishers encouraging me with some friendly advice. We even got together to barbecue dinners later on under the midnight sun.
Joe

Writing retreat, Shropshire Hills

You go to an Arvon retreat wondering if you’ll write. You come home knowing you’re a writer. During a week at the Clockhouse, in the Shropshire Hills, I took off my watch, put away my phone and spoke as many words to others in a week as I’d normally manage in 10 minutes at home. I slept when I was tired, I ate the organic, locally prepared meals only when I was hungry. For a week I lived in my head and in a world shared only by the characters of my novel. And I loved every moment. A four-day retreat costs from £660 at the Clockhouse.
Nikki

Miles of mindfulness in northern England

Last June I walked the Dales Way (an 80-mile route from Ilkley to Bowness-on-Windermere) and I did it alone. For mindfulness, self regeneration and sheer pleasure, the walk through some of the UK’s most stunning countryside and beside some wonderful flowing rivers was an experience I’ll always treasure. I walked over five days, staying in some really quaint pubs in tranquil villages, averaging about 15 miles a day at a really steady pace. Accommodation cost about £500 for some great B&Bs.
Paul Thompson

Nature retreat in the Thames valley

Sadhama retreat on the Hardwick Estate in the Thames valley north of Reading is the perfect getaway. There are a variety of events throughout the year. I attended Sweat and Serenity (£299, bring your own tent) in May last year and it changed my life for the better. The retreat included a sweat lodge cleansing ceremony, Siberian outdoor sauna, meditation, gong bath and morning swims in a clean stretch of the River Thames.
Meliz Toros