Thankfully, we know different now. Health is important, of course – we strive to be fitter and more active, to eat a healthy rainbow of nutrient-rich foods, to linger somewhere near the green section on the BMI chart. But wellness is much more than that. Where health is essentially the absence of illness and disease, wellness is a holistic approach to six different areas of mind and body health: physical, emotional, intellectual, spiritual (religious or otherwise), social and environmental.

Addressing your wellness and focussing on self-care can pay dividends, making you more positive, happy and able to cope with life’s stresses. Far from being selfish, it’s an opportunity to connect with your own needs and nurture them, but the peace and inner calm that it brings can improve your relationships, family life and friendships, as well.

You can create these moments in your own life – a deep bath with relaxing products, a long walk in an autumn forest where you take time to stop and really listen to the natural sounds around you, wild swimming, or star gazing on a clear night. But if you’re not sure where to start, there are fantastic options right here in the UK to find yourself and your inner peace. From cold water swimming to capturing calm on a bobbing kayak, switching off from the world in silence or just getting the best night’s sleep, these are five of our favourites.

Deep in the rolling Scottish countryside, Dhanakosa offers meditation retreats in the Buddhist style. From introductory weekends to longer stays for more experienced attendees. Expect guided mediations, plus periods of complete silence, to help you find inner stillness and peace. There is also free time to lose yourself in the beautiful countryside around Loch Voil. You pay what you can afford, by means of donation.
dhanakosa.com

Adventure Yogi hosts wellness retreats in some of the most beautiful locations in the UK –the Lake District, Cornwall and, our favourite, the Peak District, where you can combine meditative yoga classes (all abilities catered for) with hiking in the stunning Hope Valley, star gazing, guided meditation and breathing exercises. In Cornwall, you can add surfing to the itinerary.
adventureyogi.com

Sleep tourism is one of the biggest trends of 2023, with shattered people desperate to get a better night’s rest. The bright lights of Piccadilly Circus in Central London might not be the first place you’d think of for improving sleep, but Zedwell Hotels make it their mission to create cocoons of calm. With noise-reducing walls, purified air, Egyptian cotton sheets, temperature-controlled ‘rain’ showers (set the temperature once and find it always the same during your stay), ambient lighting, no TV, phone and reduced electronic controls and clutter, they also offer bedtime yoga and check-in-checkout massages.
zedwellhotels.com

On to Devon – possibly the mindfulness capital of the world – for the Sharpham Trust’s woodland retreats, which offer the chance to connect with nature on a deeper level. Stay in a single-person bell tent in the forest and take part in guided meditations, periods of silence, nature-sensing and mindfulness activities. There is a women-only retreat, and one that includes canoeing, so you can connect with the river flow, as well. Guests are encouraged to attend alone, rather than with partners or friends, to get the full benefits. Because the Trust is a registered charity, these retreats offer incredible value.
sharphamtrust.org

If you want to find out what the wild swimming hype is about but you’ve never tried it before, Another Place’s Wild Swim Camp at Ullswater in the Lake District will show you everything you need to know. You’ll swim the width of the lake, float out under the stars one night and discover Angle Tarn, one of the area’s highest and clearest swimming spots. Floating in the cool, quiet water of a lake, surrounded by craggy hills and big skies, connects you to the natural world on a deep level. Plus, it's a great way push your boundaries.
another.place