Six of our best wild wellness retreats

Perched in 16 acres of wildflower meadows in Devon, the beautifully renovated Hay Barn is somewhere to disconnect, tune in to nature and slow right down. The Southcombe Barn site backs on to Dartmoor National Park, where you can walk for miles, dangle your feet in the stream and watch wild ponies wandering past. The owners have created an artistic hub and wellness retreat on site that offers massages, reiki, healing and forest bathing. There’s even a contemporary art gallery up at the main house to get the creative juices flowing. The Wild Spa sauna is complimentary to all guests, and the pair of romantic outdoor wood-fired tubs are a must for deep relaxation with spectacular valley views.

If you don’t associate glamping with unadulterated luxury, The Spa at Ravendere Retreats is here to change your mind. With a design so incredible it could feature in any interiors’ magazine, it sets the standard for rest and relaxation in the heart of nature. Spend a ridiculously indulgent few days padding between the outdoor sauna, infinity pool, stone bath and loungers until you can barely remember what day it is, nevermind your own name. If you can tear yourself away from your woodland sanctuary (and there’s no judgement here if you don’t), the dramatic North Devon coast is less than a mile away. When you eventually return home, and back down to earth, you might wonder if it was all a dream. Only the deep sense of contentment you’ve brought back will convince you otherwise.

In between beautiful Bath and historic Wells, Little Oak in Somerset is one of two secluded yurts on a peaceful two-acre paddock. Once you’ve fed the chickens and met the incredibly cute pygmy goats, there’s nothing left to do but relax and you’ve come to the right place – the owners have designed the camp as somewhere to escape the stresses of modern life. Michele offers crystal healing, sound baths, flower essence consultations, Indian head massages and even non-religious handfasting and wedding ceremonies. If you arrive with any niggling aches and pains, book a tailored massage with Dan. He honed his sports therapy skills with the Bath Rugby team and can quickly banish any knots of tension.

A luxurious treetop sanctuary for two, as you ascend into the pines at Pomeroy in Somerset, you’ll leave the world — and any cares — below on the ground. Forget queuing up in bathrobes with other spa guests, here you’ve got your own private Finnish sauna on the deck waiting to cocoon you in nourishing warmth, whenever the whim takes you. There’s a double outdoor shower to rinse off in afterwards and a romantic copper tub for two with views over the rolling fields. For an extra treat, book a massage and order one of the celebration packages packed with mouth watering goodies. If you want to wear yourselves out ready for the next round of relaxation, take out the vintage Dutch bikes and explore the vast expanse of countryside on the doorstep before scampering back to your leafy sanctuary.

The wild, dramatic scenery of Cornwall is a tonic for frazzled nerves at the best of times so a stay at Chui Treehouse is the cherry on top of your clotted cream ice cream. Owner Alex and her team of therapists offer a range of holistic treatments and wellness activities at Wrinklers Wood including couples’ massages, facial treatments, Reiki, Reflexology, Yoga, Pilates, Mindfulness and Meditation. In between experiences there’s no need to exert yourselves, just head to the hot tub out the back in a little orchard where you can soak for hours listening to the birds sing. Built in the canopy of an ancient oak wood, Chui Treehouse is a gorgeously chic little nest with a skylight above the kingsize bed designed for late night stargazing before you drift off into a relaxed slumber.

Yaffle is part of a thriving community that invites you to participate in the ongoing care of Wilderness Woods during your stay. You might not find spa treatments here but wellness comes in many forms and, as one guest says, it’s ‘magic from start to finish’. Help out with conservation projects, learn new skills (like green woodworking, foraging and carpentry) and leave with the warm satisfaction of having made a small difference to the preservation of this beautiful place. There’s no compromise on style or comfort in the handcrafted treehouse with its large deck, wood burning stove and cosy fire pit below. Spend leisurely days exploring the woodland and getting stuck into a few activities, then walk to the village pub for a chilled pint. For a day out, the beautiful South Downs and RHS Wisley are close by.