THE GREAT ESCAPE

Whether you’re craving a juice cleanse, a hot tub under the stars or some spiritual healing, Scotland has a retreat to put a spring in your step

Plan your perfect wellness retreat and put a spring in your step

ALUNA HEALING RETREATS

Aluna Healing Retreats take place on the Torridon Estate in Wester Ross surrounded by mountains, lochs and vast skies, which provide an immersive, transformative healing environment that nurtures inner growth and self-belief. The retreat offers guests an opportunity to cleanse, renew and rejuvenate through yoga, meditation, ancient wisdom, detoxification, spiritual practice and connecting with nature. Limited to just nine participants, each retreat is intimate, unique and deeply moving and is open to experienced practitioners and beginners. The Spring Equinox Retreat, 24-30 March 2018; from £820 per person; www.alunahealing.co.uk.

ROULOTTE RETREAT

Escape to the tranquillity of the Scottish Borders and stay in an authentic, hand-carved French roulotte (gypsy caravan) in a Scottish wildflower meadow around a lochan for an utterly unique experience. Relax, rejuvenate and revitalise yourself surrounded by nature and living the simple life but with the comfort of a luxury bedroom and salon, plus a modern kitchen and bathroom. If you stay in the Gitana or Zenaya roulottes, you can enjoy bathing in an eco-hot tub under the stars. Dine al-fresco or cosy up by the wood-burning stove. Enjoy walking, cycling, horse riding, clay pigeon shooting, wild swimming, arts and crafts and yoga. From £105 per night based on two sharing (minimum stay two nights); www.roulotteretreat.com.

THE BODY TOOLKIT

An award-winning, first-of-its-kind health retreat based in Lochaber, Katrina Mather’s all-inclusive, seven-day programme teaches simple techniques that empower you to make serious improvements to your health and quality of life. Each retreat consists of an organic juice detox, nature walks, and coaching on techniques to combat stress. The retreat is consistently described as ‘life changing’, with guests reporting an average weight loss of 7lbs, a significant boost to energy and mood, improved sleep and digestion, and a reduction in aches and pains. Week-long retreats, with a maximum of ten guests, take place once a month throughout the year in the purpose-built, four-star Garmoran Square, Moidart, Lochaber. The Signature Detox Retreat, 10-16 March; from £999 per person; www.thebodytoolkit.com.

ECOYOGA CENTRE

Powered by a hydro turbine and solar panels, EcoYoga Centre at Inverliever Lodge in Ford, Argyll, features a yoga studio overlooking the gorge of the River Liever and a purpose-built shala with heated floors for post-yoga relaxation (Savasana). Inspired by the Japanese tradition of the public bathing house, guests can soak in natural, wooden hot tubs in the glass-roofed dome or choose a riverside bath with the soothing sound of waterfalls nearby. EcoYoga food comes straight from the organic garden when in season, while accommodation features super king-size beds. The centre is open from March with a range of retreats available. From £80 per person B&B; weekend yoga retreats from £595 per person; www.ecoyoga.org.

EXPERIENCE WEEK AT FINDHORN FOUNDATION

For more than 40 years, Findhorn Foundation has been hosting Experience Week, a seven-day retreat allowing guests to immerse themselves in the holistic way of life of the world-famous Findhorn Ecovillage. As part of a group, guests are introduced to the practical ways in which the community brings spirituality and nature into everything it does. Located beside the beautiful Moray Firth, the retreat has been described as a life-changing experience by guests. Retreats run regularly throughout the year. Experience Week, 3-10 and 17-24 March; prices from £490 per person; www.findhorn.org/programmes/experience-week.

HOLY ISLE CENTRE FOR WORLD PEACE AND HEALTH

With a variety of courses throughout the year, from qigong and mindfulness to Christian retreats and yoga, the Centre for World Peace and Health offers money off to guests who come as volunteers. The focus is on environmental sustainability, both within the centre and on the island, where the land is managed to protect and encourage wildlife and reforestation. There are several walks that take in the island’s wildlife, including its Eriskay ponies, Sennan goats and Soay sheep. Food is vegetarian and cooked fresh each day, with much of it coming from the centre’s organic gardens. A range of working holidays and retreats are available. From £32 per person including accommodation and meals with discounts for volunteers; www.holyisle.org.

RESPONSBILE TRAVEL’S MINDFULNESS TAILORED RETREAT

Combining mindfulness meditation, yoga, outdoors experience and time to relax, a team of qualified teachers will guide you through five days, tailored to your individual needs. Whether you are new to mindfulness or wish to take your next steps, this programme supports you in cultivating presence, inner resilience and joy. Mindfulness sessions include meditation, exercises and reflections, working with the core practices of sitting and walking meditation and encouraging kindness and self-compassion. Guests learn how to bring mindfulness into everyday life, while a personalised plan supports ongoing practice at home. Accommodation is at Newbold House, a Victorian mansion on the outskirts of Forres in Moray, Speyside surrounded by extensive organic gardens, and a magical forest full of wildlife. From £815 per person; www.responsibletravel.com.

AMANDA’S SCOTTISH DETOX FIT RETREAT

Run by expert nutritionist Amanda Hamilton, the Detox Fit Retreat comprises a juice cleanse, daily exercise tailored to individual fitness levels and all-important spa downtime. Fresh juices are supplemented with detox broth, teas and raw snacks to boost energy and the workout programme is based on Loaded Movement Training (ViPR), which challenges and conditions muscle, fascia, nerves and skin. Not just a quick-fix, daily educational workshops and a three-month menu plan encourage participants to make life-long changes to how they live. The retreat includes accommodation at the beautiful Marine Macdonald Hotel on the beach at North Berwick. Marine North Berwick Detox & Fitness Retreat, 17-21 May; from £995 per person; www.amandahamilton.com.

SINGDEAN

Situated next to the largest dark sky park in Europe, Singdean is an Alpine-inspired, child-free, dog-friendly getaway tucked away in the hills of the Scottish Borders. With only one suite available, guests can enjoy a private, outdoor wood-fired sauna and hot tub under the stars before settling down for a deeply restorative sleep surrounded by clean air and the peace and tranquillity of the countryside. Singdean is entirely off-grid and supplied by solar panels and a back-up generator, natural spring water, and a biomass boiler. There is no Wi-Fi and limited mobile reception, allowing guests to completely disconnect from the stresses of everyday life. From £170 per night for two, including Alpine breakfast, hot tub and sauna; www.singdean.co.uk.