GIVE yourself a break in 2022 and concentrate on your wellness, fitness and “me time”.
You can revitalise your body and boost your mental health while staying in a sunshine hotel or rural retreat, learning a new craft or watersport, walking and wild swimming.
Trisha Harbord selects ten breaks to enjoy while recharging your batteries.
Unico 20°87°, Mexico
RELAX IN LUXURY: This beats pounding the treadmill in a gym. A stay at a luxury adults-only hotel on Mexico’s Riviera Maya on the Caribbean coast with all the fitness and health facilities you need.
Unico 20°87° has a holistic fitness programme with a range of classes including floating yoga, hydro-pilates and meditation.
You can step up the pace by trying aqua spinning, pool volleyball and basketball. You can also go kayaking or paddleboarding.
Back on dry land, take part in daily beachfront classes and cardio dance, as well as personal training sessions.
Pamper yourself with treatments and beauty rituals at the wellness centre and spa, which has a plunge pool, hydrotherapy facilities, steam and sauna rooms.
Take time out to relax and chill by one of the three pools on a daybed or in a cabana, or join an art or cookery class.
GO: Seven nights’ all-inclusive at the five-star resort, including flights from Heathrow on selected dates in March, costs from £1,683 per person, based on two sharing. See ba.com/unico.
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Exmoor National Park
10GO WITH THE FLOW: Get back to nature on a weekend retreat in Exmoor National Park. Sust Flow’s daily programme includes a mix of yoga, resistance training, cold water therapy and meditation. There are guided hikes within the park and plenty of downtime to enjoy a massage or relax in the hot tub, plus a nutrient-packed menu showcasing local produce. You can also enjoy nutritional talks, quizzes and demonstrations. The retreat at Devon’s Natsley Farm, which has a heated yoga studio, freshwater pool and a wood-fired hot tub, is for adults of all fitness levels.
GO: Three nights’ all-inclusive from February 25, from £375pp, based on sharing a room. See susthealthretreats.com.
Juicy Oasis, Portugal
TAKE THAT JUICE: If celebs such as Gary Barlow and Amanda Holden need a touch of R&R, they head to Portugal. And they drop a few pounds after living off smoothies and soup at Juicy Oasis.
The aim of owner Jason Vale, author of 7lbs In 7 Days, is to change the way guests feel mentally and physically in just a week. The programme includes yoga, meditation, fitness and workshops.
Gary – above, with Jason – said: “As I’ve got older, it’s become a passion to feel good. The way I feel after a stay at Juicy Oasis is my benchmark.”
GO: Seven nights all-inclusive costs from £975pp, based on two sharing an eco-pod. See juicemasterretreats.com. Ryanair and easyJet both fly to Lisbon with fares from £33 return.
Sun Siyam Olhuveli, Maldives
FLY THE KITE: Learning a watersport is good for the body and soul. Put the Maldives into the mix and the feelgood factor goes to a new level.
Sun Siyam Olhuveli, a 45-minute speedboat ride from the capital Male, is in a vast lagoon where the water is perfect for kitesurfing.
Experts are also on hand to instruct for parasailing, windsurfing and diving. The resort has two spa complexes with a range of therapies and yoga sessions. See sunsiyam.com.
GO: Seven nights’ all-inclusive, with Heathrow flights and speedboat transfers, between March 1 and April 15, costs from £1,989pp, including a 15 per cent discount. Book by January 31. See awayholidays.co.uk.
Blue Health Surf Breaks, Cornwall
RIDE THE WAVES: Get an adrenaline rush by riding the waves in Cornwall. Health experts say surfing is great for strength, balance and fitness.
Family Surf Co run holidays for all ages but have launched special weekends, with a touch of luxury, for women who want some “me time” to boost their wellness.
The Blue Health Surf Breaks include surfing instruction off beautiful Watergate Bay in North Cornwall, wild swims, beach walks, spa treatments and yoga. And to relax, the Watergate Bay Hotel has five restaurants, an 80ft indoor infinity pool, sauna and hot tub.
GO: Three nights’ B&B from May 13 or June 24, costs from £975. See familysurfco.com.
Brimstone Hotel, Lake District
BRIMMING WITH TREATS: Sometimes doing absolutely nothing is the best tonic. Retreat to Brimstone Hotel in the Lake District and stay in a luxurious suite with a log-burning stove, huge bed and private terrace. Chill in the reading room with free beer, wine and treats on tap 24/7. For a bit of pampering, the Brimstone Spa, with an indoor-outdoor pool and fitness studios, offers thermal experiences and treatments. The hotel near Ambleside is surrounded by breathtaking scenery. You can go wild swimming at Loughrigg Tarn, or walking in the Langdale Valley.
GO: Double rooms are from £310 a night, including breakfast and use of spa facilities. Spa packages available. See brimstonehotel.co.uk.
Gartmore House, Scotland
ON YOUR HOBBY HORSE: Diver Tom Daley kept calm between events at the Tokyo Olympics – by knitting. And he struck gold, as research shows people with hobbies are less likely to suffer from stress. So, if you fancy trying a new craft, Scotland’s 18th century Gartmore House has 40 breaks with activities galore. Tom would go for knitting but the list includes patchwork and quilting, painting and, new for 2022, candle-making. Gartmore House is in the stunning Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park, perfect for photography, birdwatching and hill walking.
GO: Five nights’ full-board, four days of tuition and transfers from Stirling train station, costs from £849 per person. See gartmorehouse.com.
Lincolnshire Wolds Outdoor Festival
GET FIT AT A FESTIVAL: Lincolnshire is going all-out wellness this spring with the launch of its Wolds Outdoor Festival. The area of outstanding natural beauty has been a magnet for hikers and cyclists with its wealth of trails. The festival, from April 30 to June 5, will also feature activities from fishing to yoga and golf to water sports. For those looking for an adrenaline rush, you can glide 2,000ft in the air and drive a racing car. See woldsoutdoorfestival.com.
GO: Laurel Park, which has a yoga barn and hot tub, is one of the county’s most beautiful glamping sites. A camping pitch is from £18 a night, while a safari tent sleeping four is from £60 a night. See lpcampsite.co.uk.
Wicklow Way, Ireland
WALK THIS WAY: Walking and wellness go hand in hand – especially if you are surrounded by stunning scenery.
A new self-guided break takes in the 81-mile Wicklow Way – one of Ireland’s most famed long-distance trails, which this year celebrates its 40th anniversary. Hikers will trek through the heart of the Wicklow Mountains National Park before descending into green valleys and farmland.
While you walk, your luggage is transferred to the B&Bs and on the final night you will recover in a deluxe eco-lodge with a geothermal spa.
GO: Four nights B&B, luggage transfers and transfers to and from Dublin, route notes and map costs from £580. See wildernessireland.com.
Glass House Retreat, Essex
TIME TO DETOX: Wild swimming is all the rage but you can avoid traipsing through mud to a local river. The new natural pond at the Glass House Retreat in Essex is a lot more comfortable.
You can step from the warmth of the spa and ease yourself down steps into the water. Glass House, near Upminster, only serves vegan food and is caffeine and alcohol-free.
They have a package that includes a night in a superior room, facial or body scrub, vegan chef demo, exercise classes and wellbeing sessions. It includes breakfast, dinner, gym and spa.
GO: Package price starts from £290 per person. See glasshouseretreat.co.uk
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