by Anna Hann
posted on 5 March 2024
Much as a far-flung desert island escape is an appealing way to get away from the daily grind, the truth is, you don’t have to venture all that far to give your wellbeing a boost.
Mental health charity Mind recommends simple steps to help your wellbeing, including connecting with friends and enjoying the great outdoors. With this in mind, we’ve rounded up six places across the UK where you can try mindfulness, get active, or be utterly pampered. Because when it comes to boosting our wellbeing, one size doesn’t fit all.
Devon’s Dartmoor is one of only a few places in England where you can legally go wild camping. This vast, weather-beaten landscape is ruggedly beautiful and the perfect place to feel the freedom of wide-open skies, challenge yourself to hilly hiking trails and find spots for wild swimming.
Pitch your tent for a remote night under canvas, then rise before dawn to witness the sunrise. Wild camping is an opportunity to slow your pace and appreciate the world around you, perhaps even practising a little mindfulness as you go.
Head to Scotland to witness its world-famous wildlife. Some of the most incredible marine life, including minke whales and puffins, are found off the shores of the Hebrides. This part of Scotland is known for its birds of prey, too, including where golden eagles are sometimes spotted circling the skies.
Take a road trip to the largest island of the Inner Hebrides, the Isle of Skye, and take the Old Man of Storr circular walk for incredible views of the landscape. Gaze skywards, and you might spot a sea eagle, Britain’s largest bird of prey. You’ll feel more connected to nature on and off the trails in these parts. And instead of watching nature documentaries, you can catch a live performance.
There are some pretty fancy spa hotels in the New Forest. Tucked into gorgeous landscapes, they’re the kind of places that have your back if you need some lavender-infused pampering or even a spot of mindfulness. Paired with some nourishing food, a spa break can be the ultimate mind/body reset.
Gorgeous Lime Wood is one of the region’s most celebrated spa hotels. It has special retreats based entirely on your wellbeing, including discussing your diet and promoting positivity, health, sleep, and stress reduction with a personal wellness plan designed to build a healthier lifestyle.
There must be something about the sound of babbling brooks or the rhythm of crashing waves – so often, they’re the soundtracks on mindfulness apps like Calm. But instead of listening on your phone, experience the real deal. On an island nation such as ours, you’re never too far from the sound of water, whether by heading to the coast and listening to the roar of the ocean or a fast-flowing river.
Cornwall’s beaches are some of the very best in the UK. Stay on the beachfront and book a room overlooking the awesome Watergate Bay beach. Take a surf lesson or a beach yoga session for the complete experience.
If you want more yoga than a one-off session, head to Yorkshire for an immersive weekend at The Tree Relaxation Retreat, which blends yoga sessions with meditation, holistic treatments, and healthy food. The goal is to depart feeling more refreshed, restored, and rejuvenated from when you arrived. And what better location than the glorious North York Moor National Park, where the raw and beautiful scenery provides the perfect backdrop to your escapism?
Boosting your wellbeing doesn’t have to be a solitary plight. While the sound of the crashing ocean can help calm a busy mind and the pure tranquillity of a forest at dawn can soothe our souls, it’s often the people around us that can help ground us when we need stress relief and feel-good feelings.
Gather your favourite people and escape in a seven-seater or minibus, if only for a day’s countryside walk and pub lunch. Or maybe it’s time for that long overdue family staycation or time to catch up with old friends.
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