From cold water therapy to sleep spas and more, these Hampshire retreats will see you through the winter blues
Cold Water Immersion Therapy at Heckfield Place, Hook
Who will love it? The dopamine chaser
Heckfield Place is a hub for wellbeing; master practitioners lead guests on everything from Shinrin-Yoku (‘Forest Bathing’) to Farm Fit - a circuit-based training program on Heckfield’s very own biodynamic farm. Forget barbells, here you’ll be lifting weighted milk churns and hurdling haybales.
One of the wellbeing highlights is the guided Cold Water Immersion sessions available throughout the week for small groups. Starting with a warm-up - a fast-paced walk across the estate to the Lower Lake – and some stretching and breathing exercises, it’s time for the main event: a dip in the cold water. Enter the lake from the wooden pontoon using the step ladder to lower yourself in.
Wellness Practitioner, Benjamin Coulston, leads the session and explains: ‘Consciously deciding to immerse oneself in cold water - to experience the discomfort and challenge that comes with facing these conditions - and to spend those short yet valuable moments cultivating a sense of calm, control, and stillness, provides the conditions for a universal skill to unfold: the ability to remain calm during discomfort.
Cold water isn’t always, or often never is, comfortable, and must be respected. But one thing you can be sure of is the feeling after makes it worth it every single time.’
All dips in the lake are accompanied by warming herbal tea and a relaxation practice to conclude the session.
The details: £450 per night, including breakfast. Farm Fit (90 minutes) & Cold Water Immersion Therapy (60 minutes) £150. Cold Water Immersion is available from now until the end of April. heckfieldplace.com
Ultimate Sen Sleep Spa Break at SenSpa, Careys Manor
Who will love it? The sleep deprived
A recent study from the Sleep & Circadian Neuroscience Institute at the University of Oxford confirmed one in three Brits struggle with sleep. As our circadian rhythms are intrinsically aligned with all aspects of our mental and physical health, a sleep retreat could be just the reset you need.
Sleep retreats are starting to pop up across the country, but here in Hampshire you only need to hot-foot it to the New Forest for the Ultimate Sen Sleep Spa Break at Careys Manor & SenSpa. Once you’ve checked in, don your robe and head to the Thai-inspired spa to bubble away in the hydrotherapy pool. The break includes a soothing Head Massage using warmed coconut oil and ancient Ayurveda techniques to help balance the body’s energy lines, promote restful sleep and clear the mind.
Come evening, hazily retreat to one of Careys Manor’s sumptuous bedrooms for a bedtime sleep ritual; inside the Ultimate Sleep Gift Box you’ll find a gorgeous Blästa Henriët wheat eye pillow, SenSpa Relaxing Body Wash, Bath Soak and Body Cream and SenSpa Wellness Tea blend to help lull your body and mind for a solid eight hours kip (fingers crossed).
The details: The ‘Ultimate SenSleep’ Package is priced from £547 based on two adults sharing a room. careysmanor.com/packages/special-offers/ultimate-sen-sleep-spa-break
Sound Healing at The Bull Pen, Mattingley
Who will love it? The overwhelmed and stressed out
This brand-new wellness space and healing studio can be found on a rural farm in Mattingley; workshops include yoga, meditation, breathwork and sound healing. The latter is certainly having a moment in the world of wellness, but what exactly is it?
According to Owner/Director, Holly Dean Findlay, sound baths have been practised for thousands of years to realign the body’s vibrations: ‘It was commonly used by ancient Greeks to treat mental disorder and science shows that the vibrations which cause sound can have a significant impact on our physical health, too.’
Holly, who will be leading the sound healing sessions, explains: ‘We have created a soothing space to experience deep relaxation and restore equilibrium. You will be lying down with a blanket and eye pillow; warmth and mood lighting surrounds you. Beautiful instruments such as crystal bowls, chimes and singing bowls will be played, taking you on a meditative journey through the healing power of sound.’
At the end of every session, you will be given an herbal tea and the time to gently awaken from your experience.
The details: Sound healing sessions run on Wednesday evenings and some Saturdays too – contact for further details. wisteriabeautique.com
Balance & Restore at Chewton Glen
Who will love it? The peri/menopausal
There’s an estimated 13 million people currently peri or menopausal in the UK – that’s the equivalent to a third of the entire UK female population. Thankfully - after much elbowing and celebrity back-up (we’re looking at you Davina) - awareness and support is finally being pushed to the forefront. Chewton Glen have teamed up with luxury CBD brand OTO to provide a retreat for wherever you are in your own menopausal journey (be that peri, mid or post).
Along with full use of the spa, breakfast and lunch, Balance & Restore includes a 90-minute body ritual and a therapeutic stomach massage. This aims to release emotional heaviness and aid digestion– with the aim of providing analgesic, cell-regenerating, anti-inflammatory properties to the skin and tissues. The experience is accompanied by live sound to leave you feeling calmer; take home a full-size OTO product and a selection of educational plans to help keep you on track.
Helen Cain, Head of Spa at OTO said: ‘We are delighted to have moved to Chewton Glen to allow more people to discover the wonderful power of CBD. As CBD is well known to improve sleep, soothe anxiety and bring balance to the body we wanted to create something unique in the spa industry to address hormonal fluctuations and the ‘Pause and Reset’ spa day was born. I believe that talking openly about the changes women feel during these times should be spoken about and addressed in the most holistic way possible.’
The details: From £270 per person, book online at chewtonglen.com/spa-experiences/balance-restore
Rewild Yourself Retreat at Lime Wood Hotel, New Forest
Who will love it? The nature lover
Herb House at Lime Wood hotel has launched a selection of ‘Re-Wild Yourself’ retreats to help us reconnect with nature. Taking full advantage of their Lyndhurst locale the retreats will take you deep into the forest to help instil a sense of calm and serenity.
The Power of Nature with Bamford Three Day Residential Retreat returns in spring and includes relaxing treatments, a guided Forest immersion walk led by Lindsey from Dorset Forest Bathing, sound healing, seasonal fresh food and mind and movement classes. The aim? To relax, restore and nurture wellbeing in a gentle holistic way, all while resting in the peaceful serenity of Lime Wood and the New Forest.
Only got one day? The Wild Wandering Retreat takes you out into the ancient canopy for a guided forest bathing walk and an outdoor movement and breathwork session. Afterwards, kick back in the three-story spa - with floor-to-ceiling windows looking into the woods – or find a quiet corner in the rooftop Herb Garden – filled with calming scent of lavender, rosemary and thyme. Enjoy a healing spa treatment, meditation session and lunch in Raw & Cured before returning home mojo restored.
The details: Prices start from £225 per person book online at limewoodhotel.co.uk/retreats
