Nature & wellbeing

When we need to relax and renew ourselves, we head for nature. It’s hard to imagine a year going by without a few days where you leave the city behind and let yourself unwind in fresh air and peaceful countryside.
So here, for when you need it, are a few ways to let nature’s gentle magic calm and inspire you, from wild swimming and Italian hiking tours to quiet wanders in national parks.

 

Nature & wellbeing is one of the ten themes in our 100 Holidays series. Explore them all here.

Lift your head from the edge of the hot tub at Finca L’Osso, on Corsica’s west coast, to watch sunset light up the sea. Elsewhere, our collection of hot tubs with a view has scenic steams from Skye to southern France.

Explore hot tub holidays with a view >

Three generations of brilliant women gardeners created the softly flowing lines of Kiftsgate Court’s magnificent grounds, with plenty more to stop and smell at all the other places in our collection for garden lovers.

Explore places to stay for garden lovers >

Borrowdale Gates, at the heart of the Lake District, with Skiddaw and Scafell Pike looming up on either side, is just one of our places that will guide you deep into the UK’s most stunning natural landscapes.

Explore our places to stay in national parks >

Go lo-fi with the wood-fired hot tub at The Woodshed, stoking the burner before steaming with views of the hills, or take a look at our Restorative breaks collection, for French mountain escapes, Italian infinity pools and more.

Explore restorative breaks >

Finish your novel at Writer’s Nest before taking the boat out on Lake Como for lunch, or lose yourself in striking peaks and sparkling waters at the many other beautiful places in our lakes and mountains collection.

Explore places near lakes and mountains >

At The Net Store, on Scotland’s west coast, the chill of a sea loch waits to give you a blast of nature’s invigorating powers. Discover this and a few more of our favourite places to take the plunge.

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Owner Simon says, skip down the garden and through the trees onto the dunes from Shangri-la to enjoy a walk along Waxham Beach. Follow other owners on some of their other favourite coastal routes around the UK.

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Far, far away from it all, on a craggy ripple of the mainland coast near Skye, lies Avernish Lodge, a colourful, contemporary space that easily made our pick of remote cottages in Scotland, the rest of which you can see here.

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From The Manor Town House in Pembrokeshire, a four-mile circular takes in caves, coves and the shimmering blue lagoon, on one of our favourite spring walks. Follow the others through bluebell-strewn woods, historic ruins and dramatic hillsides.

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Threading your way through the hills in the dawn light, from La Dehessa towards the Andujar Natural Park on the search for wild lynx, is one of the most incredible wildlife experiences in Europe. Discover more here.

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Places to stay for your wellbeing