Devon Wellbeing Retreat - Guided
At a Glance
- 6 days, 5 nights
- 3* Hotels
- Guided
- Pickup: Exeter St Davids
- Carbon: 33kg CO2e
- Difficulty: Moderate
Join us in Devon as we embark on a nature connection retreat - with yoga, forest bathing, and sunrise walks
Treading gently across some of England’s most beautiful natural landscape, join our expert guides and wellbeing practitioners on a nurturing journey through Devon’s wild moors and along its glittering southern coast. As we lead you through this treasured part of England, take part in yoga, forest bathing and soothing mindfulness exercises. More active pursuits including paddling down estuaries and hiking over wild moors, through lush woodland and on beautiful coastal trails.
On this Active England guided wellness retreat, you’ll do more than simply step into nature. You’ll unwind, tune in and forge a deeper sense of connection, not only with this incredible ecosystem, but with your own mind and body.
- Yoga at Scorhill Stone Circle
- Sunrise meditation and foraging walk
- Forest bathing and yoga session in an ancient oak forest
- Wild swimming in the magical Sharrah Pool
- Swimming in crystal clear waters off the Devon Coast
- Picturesque SUP yoga at Hope Cove and a farewell campfire dinner
Your Itinerary
We arrive into Exeter St David’s for 11.00am before making a short transfer to Dartmoor. We’ll have lunch in the quaint market town of Chagford. From here, our hand-picked local guides will lead you on a beautiful walk to the ancient Scorhill Stone Circle for a vinyasa yoga session. Once suitably relaxed and refreshed, we’ll make our way to our hotel for our first evening together.
Starting at first light, we catch the sunrise over Haytor and take part in a series of gentle breathing exercises. With our senses awakened, and attuned to the magic of Dartmoor, we have breakfast and set out on a walk. Foraging as we go, our guides will lead you to Riverford Field Kitchen for a delicious veg-centric seasonal lunch. We continue in the afternoon with a walk around Totnes, a vibrant hive of alternative culture and quirky independent shops, before walking down the wonderful River Dart toward internationally-renowned centre for mindfulness, the Sharpham Estate.
After breakfast, we start the day with a gentle stroll up the River Dart for a mindfulness session in the form of forest bathing. Peaceful and incredibly relaxing, you’ll be encouraged to take notice of the natural world as you calm your mind. We then head toward Dartmoor for a special yoga session in an ancient oak forest, followed by a picnic lunch beside the river. In the afternoon, there’ll be the opportunity for a woodland walk and a wild swim in the magical Sharrah Pool.
We start the day with a refreshing wild swim and yoga session at Mothecombe Beach, before we head to the School House Café for coffee and perhaps a well-earned treat. If the tides allow, we then cross the River Erme on foot and join the South West Coast Path. Here we begin our coastal ramble toward the white sands of Challaborough and Burgh Island, where we stop for a late lunch. In the afternoon, we have the opportunity to take a dip in the beach’s crystal-clear waters or float down the estuary toward the sea.
We begin with a final yoga session at the picturesque Hope Cove, with SUP yoga for those eager to try something new. We then walk along the coast towards Salcombe, breathing in the fresh coastal air as we go. Rambling gently beside the sea, we have the option to enjoy a final swim at the beautiful Sour Mill Cove. We end the day with a sunset picnic dinner around a toasty campfire, with culinary delights from a local deli.
After breakfast, we transfer you to Exeter St David’s railway station. Here we say our farewells and our guides will help with any onward travel arrangements.
Gallery
Handpicked Accommodation
Northgate House
Situated within the gardens of magnificent Buckfast Abbey on the edge of Dartmoor National Park, Northgate House Hotel offers comfortable bedrooms, an à la carte dinner menu, traditional English or continental breakfast, a relaxing bar area and sun terrace.
Ilsington Country House Hotel & Spa
A family run quintessential English Country House Hotel in the heart of Dartmoor National Park. Packed with traditional character and a laid back vibe to unwind in whatever way takes your fancy. The panoramic setting with the impressive Dartmoor National Park on the doorstep and a sauna and hydrotherapy pool soon eases away any aches and pains, the massages and facials in the Tibetan spa rejuvenate.
What our guides say...
Explore. Relax. Unwind. Embrace each day with a sense of gratitude and awe for nature – and share it with others.
What’s Included
- All accommodation as indicated on the itinerary
- All breakfasts and x2 dinners (excluding dinner drinks)
- GPS routes, provided via RideWithGPS (app available for Apple or Android)
- All special events, iconic points of interests, expert guests and entrance fees
- All transportation from rendezvous to farewell locations
- All baggage transportation
- All gratuities for baggage, porters and hotel service
- Services of a professional local guide
Accommodation Types
We have handpicked the best family run, independent and country hotels, pubs and guest houses. Cosy and with informal dining, these country hotels are friendly and relaxed, with great menus with locally sourced food and ales. Our handpicked accommodation is 3* with the option to upgrade to 4* for an additional cost.
Difficulty Level
This tour is rated moderate, meaning we cover varied terrain, enjoying some rolling hills and a few steeper walks which are slightly more demanding. As this is a wellness retreat, everything is optional and can be tailored by your guide to suit your individual preferences.
Equipment Provided
Walking poles can be provided if required
Pre & Post Tour Travel
Pick-up location: Exeter St Davids railway station. Our walking holidays are designed to be completely relaxing, with the start of our tours sitting within easy reach of London, Bristol or the Midlands. This tour begins from Exeter St Davids, a direct 2-hour train journey out of London, so that you can begin your holiday stress-free.
End-of-tour location: Bodmin Parkway or Exeter St Davids railway station.
FAQ's
Where is Devon?
Devon is in the South West of England, with craggy coasts to the North and South and ancient hills on Dartmoor in between! It has inspired authors and painters from afar and is a beautiful area in all weathers.
What is the best way to get to Devon?
The best way out of London and into Devon is by train. From Paddington direct to Exeter St David’s in around 2 hours. The South West is also easily accessible from Bristol and the Midlands by train. If you prefer to drive, there is station parking available at all train stations.
Can I join this retreat as a solo traveller?
All our trips are open for single travellers to join, these trips are a great way to meet social, like-minded people, active and looking for a great holiday. Over 30% of our guests travel alone. Solo guests have the option to have a room on their own or share with another guest.
What’s the weather like in Devon?
Changeable! Devon has a much more tropical climate than the rest of England so it is often warmer and wetter – it’s not uncommon to have sunshine and showers in the same day, or even the same hour! It’s generally very pleasant and settled during the summer.
Make this trip private
Our private tours offer complete freedom to customize your trip. Base your tour on one of our scheduled departures, or tailor a bespoke experience to match your every expectation. We love combining our knowledge of England with our expertise in planning and delivering the best adventure trips.
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Carbon Footprint
What’s the Number?
Nearly everything has a carbon footprint. Together with ecollective, we’ve measured the carbon impact of not only every tour we operate but our entire business. We’ve taken into account greenhouse gas emissions across the business including office, travel, website, vehicles, accommodation, activities, food, suppliers…
What does the number mean?
We’re going to improve this by measuring and reducing our footprint each year. That means working with our suppliers to make changes that have a more positive impact on us and the planet. What does this look like in reality?
- Redesign trips to reduce our carbon impact
- Working closely with all our suppliers across England to join us on our decarbonisation journey
- Switching up our vehicle fleet to electric
- Investing in projects that permanently remove carbon from the atmosphere for any emissions that remain.
We’ve got a long way to go but we’re on our way to net-zero
We’re committed to reducing our impact on the planet and working towards a sustainable future. We’ve taken ownership of our carbon footprint and are on a mission to reduce our emissions year on year.
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