A UK activity break to suit everyone
places to stay,UK travel,SHE
Family on the beach with two small children flying a kite
From mountain biking and family activity weeks to exclusive spas and yoga breaks for those seeking a gentler pace, Rhiannon Batten has found a great UK break to suit everyone
Detox your mind, body and soul in Yorkshire
Northeast,places to stay,UK travel,beauty treatments,SHE
yorkshire fields with lots of sheep on
Why go: Though they’re most associated with longer retreats in Morocco and Seville, In:Spa has now responded to a demand for its services closer to home with a series of quick-fix detox retreats in the Yorkshire Dales. Based in Middleton Lodge, a luxurious Georgian country house set in 200 acres of private parkland, the weekends combine gourmet food, yoga, outdoor hikes and time to relax – leaving you recharged and raring to go.
Great for: Going it alone or getting a bunch of friends together. Numbers for each class are kept to an intimate and manageable 25.
The lowdown: Courses cost from £550 per person, based on two sharing, including three nights’ full-board accommodation and group activities (www.inspa.co.uk; 0845 458 0723).
Cultivate a kitchen garden in Devon
in the country,places to stay,Southwest,UK travel,SHE,grow your own,food stories,learn something new
A woman picking herbs in the Asburton Cookery School gardens
Why go: You can’t get fresher than produce straight from the garden – which is exactly the thinking behind Ashburton Cookery School’s ‘From Garden to Table’ course. This one-week programme, based in Ashburton in Devon, shows you how to grow your own vegetables, then provides lots of ideas for what to do with them in the kitchen. Courses take up to eight students, who spend two mornings working in the restored Victorian garden and the rest of the time cooking.
Great for: Singles in search of new skills and new friends, or go with your partner.
The lowdown: The course costs £545 per person, including lunch, dinner – which you make yourself – and tuition. Accommodation, in one of the school’s bedrooms, costs from £65 per double per night, including an organic buffet breakfast and cream tea, or you can book into a local B&B (www.ashburtoncookeryschool.co.uk; 01364 652784).
Learn about wine in Birmingham
in the city,Midlands,places to stay,UK travel,wine,learn something new
Close up shot of red wine being poured from the bottle into a wine glass
Why go: Now in their sixth year, Ecole du Vin’s weekend breaks are designed for those who want to find out more about wine, but in an informal way. Based at Birmingham’s glamorous Hotel du Vin, each course (for around 30 enthusiasts) is different, but usually focuses on 20 or so wines. And if you start to see double, there’s plenty of time to enjoy the hotel’s spa facilities and visit Birmingham’s fantastic shops too.
Great for: Sophisticated couples or single tasters.
The lowdown: Courses in May, June and July cost from £575 per couple/£335 per person for two nights half-board (www.hotelduvin.com; 0121 200 0600).
Put pen to paper in Shropshire
feeling creative,Midlands,places to stay,UK travel,SHE,learn something new
Outside shot of The Hurst guesthouse in Shropshire
Why go: If you’ve always wanted to see your name in print, try an Arvon Foundation course in anything from fiction and food writing to screenwriting and poetry. You never know where it might lead – novelist Esther Freud started her writing career with Arvon.
Great for: Everyone, from new writers to experienced novelists.
The lowdown: The next ‘Starting to Write’ course at The Hurst in Shropshire runs from May 19 to 24 and costs £550 per person. Other courses include novel writing, poetry, screenwriting and short stories. Courses are also available in West Yorkshire, Devon and Invernesshire. Students take it in turns to cook, so be ready to muck in (www.arvonfoundation.org; 01588 640658).
Clean a beach in Cornwall
eco friendly,by the sea,places to stay,rural issues,Southwest,UK travel,SHE,make life better
A beautiful cornish beach with small town in the background
Why go: Join 12 others picking up litter on a Cornish beach with the British Trust for Conservation Volunteers, and bask in the knowledge that your holiday will benefit the environment.
Great for: Strong-armed singles or take a green-minded friend.
The lowdown: The next beach sweep is August 29 to September 5, and costs £260 per person (over 18s only), including hostel-style self-catering accommodation on a working farm. There are three more courses in September, and lots more BTCV breaks (www.btcv.org.uk; 01302 388883).
Go mountain biking in Wales
in the country,outdoor pursuits,places to stay,UK travel,Wales,exercise,SHE
Couple on bikes cycling in the countryside
Why go: As long as you can ride a bike, Tyred Out has a track for you in Snowdonia National Park. Courses usually run from 9.30am to 4.30pm and are tailor-made for each group, with no more than six people to a guide. The company also offers surprisingly chic accommodation. Bikes and waterproofs are provided – just bring suitable footwear and your own clothes.
Great for: Outdoorsy types and their mud-loving friends.
The lowdown: Courses start from £75 a day; self-catering accommodation starts from £180 a night for up to eight people (www.tyred-out.com; 01690 760181).
Baby goes too on weekend break in Herefordshire
treat yourself,in the country,places to stay,Southwest,UK travel,stress management,SHE,womens health
mother laying on the grass lifting her baby up in the air
Why go: Mamaheaven’s mother and baby yoga breaks are designed to help mothers de-stress after childbirth. The retreats take place at Penrhos Court, an organic hotel and restaurant in Herefordshire, and include yoga, massage treatments, talks, workshops and great food.
Great for: New mums seeking friendship and solidarity with other new mothers.
The lowdown: Retreats take place in May, August, October and December and cost £675 per mum plus baby up to 18 months old (www.mamaheaven.org).
Get active in Sutherland, Scotland
by the sea,in the country,outdoor pursuits,places to stay,Scotland,UK travel,SHE,fun for children
Dad and two children running outside looking happy
Why go: An inspired way to introduce your family to the great outdoors, Cape Adventure’s family holidays take place every August. Suitable for parents and children of eight years and older, activities include hiking, survival skills, sea kayaking, land yachting and surfing. Holidays cater for both activity first-timers and more experienced visitors. The log cabin-style accommodation features comfy beds, hot showers and home-cooked food.
Great for: Families in need of quality bonding time.
The lowdown: Prices start from £500 per adult and £390 per child under 16, and include full-board accommodation and all activities for the week (www.capeventure.com; 01971 521006).
Take an ayurvedic break in Jersey
places to stay,Southwest,UK travel,beauty treatments,complementary health,emotional wellbeing,SHE
Close up of spa kit including sponge, body brush and towel
Why go: If you’re feeling frazzled or fractious, an Ayurvedic break in total luxury on the largest of the Channel Islands could be just the thing to lift your spirits. The five-star Hotel de France, St Helier, has wonderfully modern styling and very cool facilities tucked away behind its grand 19th-century façade. It is a decadent, family-owned hotel with a dazzling contemporary spa, Ayush – the UK’s first Ayurvedic hotel spa. The seven-night restorative spa package, which includes body exfoliation, hot stone massage, reiki, Indian
head massage, a soothing facial, reflexology, yoga and meditation classes, is guaranteed to leave you feeling a lot more human.
Great for: Girls – and boys – in serious need of soothing, pampering and de-stressing.
The lowdown: The seven-night spa packages cost from £1,082 per person, including half-board accommodation, but there are shorter and longer packages to choose from too (www.defrance.co.uk; 01534 614000).
Go \'glamping\' in glorious Lincolnshire
in the country,Midlands,nature,places to stay,UK travel,SHE,fun for children
Exterior shot of a fully equiped family tent in feather down farm lincolnshire
Why go: If you thought a night spent under canvas was only for the heartiest outdoor types, it’s time to think again. Camping on a Feather Down Farm is a far cry from the crackly nylon sleeping bags and damp bedding rolls of your youth. The company’s range of nine UK campsites – including Pettywood Farm in Lincolnshire – are models of a new, more glamorous kind of camping, or ‘glamping’ as it has become known. Each farm has between five and seven ‘tents’ for rent, each sleeping up to six, but working just as well with two or four. This is camping, but not as you know it. Tents come ready-equipped with proper mattresses, fluffy pillows, cosy duvets – and flush toilets.
Great for: Nature-loving families who don’t want to rough it.
The lowdown: A three-night stay at Pettywood Farm starts from £195 for up to six people, self-catering only. Linen rental costs an extra £5.75 per person (www.featherdown.co.uk; 01420 80804).
Salute the sun with yoga in Norfolk
treat yourself,East Anglia,places to stay,UK travel,complementary health,exercise,healthy living,SHE
Exterior shot of Voewood House in Norfolk
Why go: If you’re keen to try yoga, Wellbeing Escapes offers gentle yoga weekends at Voewood House, a private home built in the Arts and Crafts style outside Holt in Norfolk. Twice-daily yoga classes – for beginners and those with previous experience – are scheduled for up to 20 participants, as well as meditation and holistic skincare.
Great for: Singles or friends in search of serenity.
The lowdown: The next weekend runs from May 2-5. Prices start from £450 per person, including two nights’ full-board (vegetarian) accommodation (www.wellbeingescapes.co.uk; 0845 602 6202).
Indulge in a Somerset spa
treat yourself,in the country,places to stay,Southwest,UK travel,beauty treatments,emotional wellbeing,SHE
Woman having a relaxing head massage in a darkened spa room
Why go: Put your emotional health in order with a luxury retreat at Charlton House, a country pile in Somerset, owned by the founders of Mulberry. Guests can try a range of holistic treatments in the spa, or enjoy head-clearing nature walks. The hotel’s 25 sybaritic bedrooms feature enormous beds, gorgeous bathrooms and working fireplaces. Some even have their own secret gardens! Plus the hotel’s award-winning restaurant uses organic produce from the owners’ own farm.
Great for: Pleasure-seekers or parents in need of time à deux.
The lowdown: A two-night retreat cost from £575 per person, based on two people sharing, full-board, including four hours of treatments. Babysitting can be booked in advance (www.lotusjourneys.com; 020 8968 3666).
Get into the swing in Hertfordshire
treat yourself,days out,outdoor pursuits,places to stay,Southeast,UK travel,exercise,SHE
Close up shot of yellow and white golf balls on grass
Why go: Golf isn’t all Pringle jumpers and plus fours. And to prove it, try an introductory golf break at top hotel The Grove in Hertfordshire. The hotel’s ‘Swing Out Sister’ day package includes a champagne breakfast, four hours tuition from a top PGA Pro, lunch, a massage and use of the spa.
Great for: A girlie break.
The lowdown: A one-night package is from £245 per person based on two people sharing, including breakfast, two rounds of golf each and access to the gym, pool and walled garden (www.thegrove.co.uk; 01923 807807).
Entertain without the strain in Northern Ireland
treat yourself,Northern Ireland,places to stay,UK travel,wine,SHE,food stories
Close up of potatoes cooking in a wok
Why go: After one too many soggy soufflés, you may be vowing never to hold a dinner party again. But don’t despair just yet. Belle Isle Cookery School in leafy Co Fermanagh runs popular ‘Food for Friends’ courses, aimed at people who love to entertain but don’t have much time to prepare. Courses hold a maximum of 12 people and are designed for any level of cooking ability. They are sociable too; each evening, after a wine tasting, guests watch as the finishing touches are added to a gourmet dinner, which is served in the dining room, overlooking the Florence Court mountains.
Great for: Foodie couples, or go with your best friend.
The lowdown: The ‘Food for Friends’ course runs on various dates in April, June , July, August and October, and costs £450 per person, including tuition, meals – some you cook yourself – and accommodation (www.irish-cookery-school.com; 028 6638 7231).
Get back in the saddle in the New Forest
in the country,outdoor pursuits,places to stay,Southeast,UK travel,exercise,SHE,fun for children
Womana and young girl riding on seperate horses in the countryside
Why go: Country Lanes’ self-guided, two-night biking and horse-riding ‘Blazing Saddles’ breaks in the New Forest are a good way of getting fit and seeing the great outdoors, whether you’re a novice or an experienced rider. Guests spend one morning on horseback and the rest of the time cycling through some of Hampshire’s scenic countryside, heading out along routes suggested by the company. Aside from the horse-riding, which is scheduled as a one-hour slot, you can spend as much or as little time cycling as you like. You’ll have to bike it to the stables, though! All equipment and route maps are included.
Great for: Families with slightly older children (there’s a minimum age of seven and a maximum weight limit of 14 stone).
The lowdown: ‘Blazing Saddles’ breaks cost from £209 per person. Price includes two nights’ B&B accommodation (www.countrylanes.co.uk; 01590 622627).
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