10 of the UK’s best outdoor yoga and activity retreats
Adventure Yogi yoga retreat, Bannau Brycheiniog
Immerse yourself in the lush hills, heather-capped mountains and river valleys of the Bannau Brycheiniog national park (formerly known as the Brecon Beacons) with a three-night retreat that combines nature’s restorative powers with yoga. Located on a historic country estate, accommodation is in comfortable converted farm buildings – including the old grain silo, ideal for two, with the grounds perfect for restorative strolls. The package includes two guided hikes, delicious vegan food, paddleboarding down the River Wye or walking into the nearby book lover’s town of Hay-on-Wye.
Four-day retreat (various dates) from £649pp full-board; adventureyogi.com
Yoga and surfing, Cornwall
Get ready for an all-action weekend with this two-night break in a private woodland camp, where yoga sessions are paired with time in the waves of Newquay’s Towan or Fistral beaches. There are surf and yoga classes each day, and you can take a dip in the campsite’s natural pond, or have a go at axe-throwing. Beginner surfers are as welcome as experienced tube-catchers, and accommodation is in shared bell tents, with a campfire in the evenings.
Two-night breaks from £289 B&B; cornishwave.com
Yoga, yurt and lake, East Sussex
Create your own yoga retreat at Freshwinds Camping Holidays, a small, family-run site near Hastings. Book the Yoga Yurt by the lake, and choose from a half- or full-day retreat with paddleboarding or swimming alongside a yoga or qigong class. Classes are available, with time to explore the footpaths and cycling trail that crisscross the surrounding AONB. Campfires are allowed on site and there is a large camp kitchen and hot-water showers.
Two-night breaks from £150. Half/full-day retreat £65-£80pp; freshwindscamping.co.uk
Ananda yoga retreats, Lake District
Choose from day retreats, weekends that combine yoga with sound disciplines, including crystal bowls or an autumnal retreat that celebrates “letting go” at Ananda’s two Cumbrian bases in Grasmere and Coniston. Ashtanga, kundalini and yin yoga are on offer, with classes taught by acclaimed teachers. There’s also a chance to try paddleboarding, wild water swimming or hiking – and plenty of time to explore the bucolic lakeside scenery.
Three-night retreat from £490pp; anandayogaretreats.com
Wild yoga journey, the Highlands
The spectacular landscape of the Cairngorms national park provides a backdrop to this two-night wild camping retreat that combines mountain walking with mindfulness and yoga. The distances covered range from 10-15km a day, with information about the history and geology of the landscape, alongside one-to-one yoga guidance. The maximum group size is six, with all equipment provided and plenty of great veggie food.
Four-day retreat (30 August- 1 September) from £520pp full-board; wildrootsguiding.scot
Yoga, meditation and paddleboarding, Somerset
Choose from a shepherd’s hut, yurt or wooden cabin for this three-night retreat, set in woodland, with a lake for wild swimming or paddleboarding. The stay offers daily vinyasa, yin and meditation classes, SUP yoga and vegetarian feasts. The core ethos is the celebration of nature, and every retreat includes a “surprise workshop”, celebrating the natural world.
Three-night retreat from £595, based on three sharing a yurt, full-board; thewildtimes.co
Summer Jam, Kent
Join Flow Yoga for this bucolic three-day retreat at Chafford Park in Kent, a rambling country estate with 300 acres of wild meadow and ancient woodland. There’ll be a range of yoga offerings, from dynamic to soothing meditations and aromatherapy, with therapists on hand to smooth out stressed bodies. In between, you can get out and about cycling and wild swimming. Enjoy delicious campfire feasts from Chafford’s Kitchen’s Di Bella, along with a chilled rosé to toast the sundown; afterwards sleep under the stars in their prettily furnished bell tents pitched in the wildflower field. Or for a roof over your head, enjoy the 16th-century Long Barn House with comfy en-suite rooms.
Three-day retreat from £465pp, 28-30 June; flowtunbridgewells.com
Yoga and meditation, the Highlands
For those looking for something longer than a weekend, Dhanakosa Buddhist Centre offers a range of longer spiritual retreats, which brings together traditional yoga with Buddhist meditation and periods of silence. There is free time to explore the countryside around Loch Voil and the village of Balquhidder, with hearty veggie food provided throughout (help with washing up is expected). There is no set price – Dhanakosa operates on a donation basis, and guests pay what they can afford.
A week, full board, suggested donation is from £520pp; dhanakosa.com
Yoga and wellbeing, Norfolk
This two-night retreat is an ideal escape. Four 90-minute yoga sessions are bookended with healthy meals and snacks, with a sound meditation session on the Saturday afternoon, outdoor sauna and hot tub. Bespoke massages are also on offer. Inside the elegant farmhouse, the six rooms are stylish and comfortable, while the courtyard is the perfect spot for a drink before supper.
Two-night retreat, (21-23 June and 4-6 October) from £450pp full-board; thenorfolkfarmhouse.co.uk
Yoga and Ayurveda, Herefordshire
A great introduction for anyone looking to understand more about the Ayurvedic lifestyle, this two-night retreat includes three hours of yoga and meditation per day, with activities including cookery demonstrations and talks. The pace is slower and more reflective than some retreats, with a gentle schedule including time to take part in sharing circles and countryside walks.
Two-night breaks, full-board, from £385pp; plantationvilla.com.
