Do you ever feel stressed, on autopilot, like the noise of work, home and life is just too loud?
Wellness breaks have increased in popularity since the pandemic with over 80% of people taking their health and wellbeing more seriously and Expedia quoting a 30% rise in demand for wellness breaks.
The old realm of wellness retreats being limited to a spa setting seem to be fading into the distance with new interactive retreats being devised to help people truly relax and reconnect. The Surfing and Rewilding Retreat at The Headland Hotel in Newquay did exactly that. They have created a retreat focussing on activities that connect us back to nature, stop the inner chatter and immerse us in the beauty of the Cornish coastline.
With a journey time of 4 hours on the train from London and a seamless transfer of 30 minutes by car from Bodmin Parkway, we were transported to the impressive Headland Hotel which presides over Fistral Beach. The iconic hotel made famous by the Rold Dahl film the Witches has undergone a massive refurbishment. They now have 5 star self-catering cottages, the Aqua Club Spa and the rooms are absolutely stunning!
Quite frankly it is the perfect luxurious setting in which to unwind. The view from our suite over the beach was majestic. Watching surfers bobbing in the sea has always been mesmerizing to me and despite having been body boarding a million times I have never actually had a lesson.
The Surf Sanctuary is located under the hotel with Dom, the owner, leading the charge of most of the rewilding activities. The combination of coasteering, foraging and surfing gave us the chance to really appreciate the coast from so many different perspectives and take time to connect. Dom’s knowledge and enthusiasm was infectious.
As well as all of the activities we also took part in a Breathwork and Sound Bath session. With blindfolds on and tribal music playing, we all went on our own journeys of emotion and for some hallucinations! This was the ultimate in relaxation after a day of sea air and I may or may not have snoozed off!
What I really enjoyed about this weekend was the fact that the food element was not overlooked. We all met for breakfast and had beautiful packed lunches prepared for us whilst out and about. The weekend culminated in a five course tasting menu, utilising all of our foraged foods which you could really taste throughout the courses. It took sustainable and locally sourced ingredients to a whole new level.
If like me you love a spa, you may find The Headland Hotel trumps most others. The Aqua Club is positioned perfectly for sunset and has a range of heated hydrotherapy pools from which to enjoy it. There is a bigger pool inside for those who want to swim as well as treatments, a restaurant and a fantastic cocktail list.
I left the weekend having picked a mussel, surfed a wave, met new friends and laughed till I cried. It was a tonic and I guess that is exactly what it was designed to be.
Review and Images by Emmie Blower @emmiebhungry
Feature image courtesy of The Headland
