A private woodland sanctuary for slow, indulgent days 

With a design so incredible it could feature in any interiors’ magazine, The Spa at Ravendere Retreats sets the standard for relaxation in the heart of nature and is a dream escape for couples looking to reset. 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.  

If you can tear yourself away from your woodland sanctuary (and there’s no judgement if you don’t), you’re close to some of North Devon’s best beaches, with Putsborough, Croyde and Woolacombe all within easy reach. Whether you’re a seasoned surfer or just fancy a bracing walk along the shoreline, the sea does a very good job of clearing your head. Back at base, it’s all about warm water, fresh air and not checking the time.

A treetop escape for sauna rituals and slow cycling days 

Pomeroy Treehouse lifts you into the canopy and gently removes any sense of urgency. Built for two, it’s a private, elevated hideaway where a Finnish sauna, copper bathtub and outdoor shower sit just a few steps from your bed, meaning you can spend most of your time moving between heat, water and fresh air, which turns out to be a very solid routine. 

The surrounding landscape makes it even easier to relax. Borrow the vintage Dutch bikes and head out across the Somerset Levels, where flat lanes and open skies make cycling feel pleasantly effortless. Back at the treehouse, it’s all soft light and warm wood, with the quiet realisation that you haven’t checked your phone in hours. A strong sign things are going well.

A back-to-basics woodland stay for simple, slower living 

Hidden in the eco-village of Campwell Woods near Bath, Carvers Cabin offers a stripped back escape that feels refreshingly uncomplicated. With no wifi or mod cons to distract you, this is where you come to properly unplug. It’s small, soulful and just enough. You’ll quickly realise how very little you actually need.  

The wellness offerings are earthy and elemental, with wild swimming in the Victorian lake, forest yoga, qi gong, and foraging for natural ingredients. The surrounding area also invites gentle exploration. The Kennet and Avon Canal runs nearby, perfect for walking, cycling or even a slow boat trip, with hire spots just a short distance away. Back at camp, days revolve around communal fire cooking, wild swimming and long stretches of doing very little.

Wildflower meadows, Dartmoor walks and slow outdoor living 
Perched in 16 acres of wildflower meadows on the edge of Dartmoor National Park, the owners have transformed the space into an artistic wellness retreat. Disconnect and tune into nature, with wood-fired tubs, a Wild Spa sauna and big, open views that make it very easy to stay put. Every element of your stay is designed to restore and inspire, making it perfect for unplugging, from reiki and forest bathing to a visit to the on-site art gallery. 

Dartmoor is right on your doorstep, and to Hay Tor or scrambling across Bonehill gets you moving without it feeling like punishing exercise, while the open landscape gives your brain a break from constant stimulation. Fresh air, space and a bit of elevation perspective tend to reset things quickly. It’s a stay that’s less about scheduling “wellness” and more about letting it happen naturally.

Ancient woodland, river swims and a full sensory reset  

Rooted in the wild Scottish Lowlands, Flycatcher Treehouse is a nature sanctuary surrounded by ancient woodland that reconnects you with your senses. There’s a sauna on site for deep detox and muscle release, plus optional in-treehouse Swedish massages to melt away urban stress. Wild swimming, forest walks, and wildlife sightings all tap into the science-backed benefits of nature for mental clarity, lowered cortisol, and mood-boosting. 

Begin your day with a mindful walk through the trees or down to the River Teith. Cold-water dips and time spent watching the current all help regulate your system in surprisingly simple ways. The combination of movement, water and quiet tends to lower stress without much effort. Back in the treehouse, wrapped in warmth again, everything feels a little more balanced.

Lakeside calm, slow days and gentle outdoor rituals 

Wellness here doesn’t come in the form of neon-lit gyms or clinical treatments. It’s slower, softer and rooted in a nature-fuelled reset. Birch Igluhut invites you to unplug and unwind in a beautifully hand-crafted cabin where stillness and simplicity are the main amenities. You’ll spend your days wandering beneath trees, lounging by the lake and watching the sunset from a sauna that lets you literally sweat out stress.  

Outdoor yoga, wild swimming, and a surrounding landscape rich with nature reserves and deserted beaches offer a sense of spaciousness that modern life rarely allows. You can nourish your body with seasonal hampers, locally sourced meals and a well-stocked honesty shop, and feed your spirit with books, board games, and fireside chats. This is wellness as it should be, all just a few hours from London.

A secluded woodland stay shaped by water and wildlife 

If your nervous system needs a hard reset, this is the place. Deep in the woods of Egton Estate, The River Lodge is pure bliss, with an outdoor bath by a salmon-bright river, owls overhead, and otters that sometimes turn up uninvited. There’s no agenda here except to listen, watch, float, and maybe nap.   

Wellness here is elemental, with wild forest swims to invigorate circulation, forest walks to calm the nervous system, and fly fishing for mindful focus. You can book yoga sessions, stargaze in a Dark Sky Reserve from the deck or visit nearby Malton, Yorkshire’s foodie capital, which offers nourishing stops like The Talbot Yard for sourdough, artisan cheese and kombucha. It’s peaceful restoration powered by fresh air and flowing water.

A Cornish hideaway for surf days & Wild Spa experiences 

Hidden in the folds of the Cornish hills, Nessa at Ekopod offers a simple, well-designed space that gently nudges you outdoors. Days can be as active or slow as you like, with a shared Wild Spa Experience on site, including a sauna, drench shower, cocoon relaxation space and herbal teas, all against the backdrop of nature. 

Beyond your deck, Cornwall does what it does best. Surfing at Widemouth Bay or walking the coastal paths adds energy and fresh perspective, while inland spots like Golitha Falls offer quieter, woodland calm. Back at Nessa, the pace drops again at your very own patch of meadow, and the day winds down naturally. Cook on the BBQ, light the firepit and sink into the outdoor bath as the sky darkens.

Rewilding walks, outdoor soaks and countryside calm near London 

Hawthorn Hideaway at Goffsland Farm feels a world away from London, despite being just an hour south. If you fancy a sharp wake up call, there’s the option of an outdoor ice bath, a bracing but surprisingly satisfying way to reset the old body and mind. Follow it with a soak in the wood-fired hot tub and you’ve got the full contrast without ever stepping into a spa. 

A short walk takes you to the Knepp Estate, one of the UK’s most impressive rewilding projects. Wandering through its open landscapes, spotting wildlife and following quiet trails creates a natural sense of calm and perspective. It’s movement without pressure, which tends to work better anyway. Back at the hut, things can be as simple as reading, playing board games or setting up a picnic in a quiet corner of the countryside.

Yurt Retreat – Sound Healing – Massage Therapy

Tucked between Bath and Wells, Little Oak is an off-grid yurt retreat designed to escape the stresses of modern-day life, where peace comes naturally. Once you’ve fed the chickens and met the very cute pygmy goats, there’s nothing left to do but relax in your two-acre Somerset hideaway. 

The hosts offer a soulful wellness menu, including 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, there’s also bespoke massage therapy from a former Bath Rugby physio to work out stubborn tension knots. Come here to reconnect with nature, your body, or each other.

Wild wellness takes the healing principles of traditional spa culture and re-roots them in nature. It's wellness but wilder. Less polished marble and whale noises, more wood smoke, open air and cold-water dips.

Here, in untamed natural settings, saunas are wood-fired, treatments are holistic, and peace comes from the landscape itself. It’s a movement that swaps clinical spaces for authentic connection, combining forest therapy, cold immersion and mindful movement to restore balance from the inside out.

You’ll often find:

• Outdoor saunas, baths and cold-water plunge spots
• Massage and holistic therapies using local, natural ingredients
• Wild swimming, forest bathing and mindful walks
• Off-grid cabins and treehouses designed for digital detox
• Glamping places that aid quality sleep, with cosy sleeping environments and king-sized beds lined with tip top materials

The benefits of a wild wellness glamping retreat

Spending time in nature does more than clear your mind. It has measurable effects on the body and nervous system. Regular exposure to green and blue spaces has been linked to:

• Reduced cortisol and lower stress levels
• Improved sleep quality and natural circadian rhythm
• Enhanced mood and mental clarity
• Boosted immunity through fresh air and cold-water therapy

Unlike conventional spas, wild wellness retreats combine ancient practices like sauna therapy and forest bathing with modern sustainability and design, creating space for both calm and creativity to return.

Tips for Your Stay

• Alternate heat and cold therapy to reset your nervous system
• Pack biodegradable scrubs or oils for eco-friendly self-care
• Go device free for at least a day
• Bring a notebook or sketchpad to reflect and reconnect with creativity