The Sharpham Trust, Devon

Revive your spirit and rediscover your strength with caring guidance

A superior venue with an unrivalled range of breaks centred on mindfulness and nature

THIS IMPRESSIVELY ETHICAL charity that aims to connect people with nature and foster mindfulness is located on an inspiring 550-acre estate bordering the River Dart near Totnes in Devon. It offers a rare treat: a Palladian mansion, strewn with colourful oil paintings, that hosts affordable and secular mindfulness and meditation retreats on set dates throughout the year. Take your pick from mindfulness for beginners to breaks that mix meditation with walking, creativity and other activities. The stupendous views of the bend in the river and dramatic cascade of grounding oak trees from the house and terraces will energise even the weariest heart, whichever retreat you choose.

For those with meditation experience, the regular ‘Find Your Peace’, a five-night silent retreat, is a deeply restful and nurturing experience. Ramiro Ortega and Patti Summerville lead morning movement classes, a range of guided mindfulness sessions, walks across the gorgeous estate and the chance to connect with others every morning in a small group. Gentle, Spanish-born Ortega has a mine of gems to enliven mind and heart. Without kindness, he says, ‘mindfulness is just focus’. Or, when our world is spinning out of control, our bodies can be our refuge: ‘The soles of your feet don’t feel anxious, your knees don’t worry, your buttocks don’t feel anger.’

Delicious vegetarian and vegan fare is cooked with love by long-standing chef Janet Bird using home-grown, organic produce and delicacies from the estate, including insanely good cheeses, plums and apple juice. For the full experience, it’s worth paying a little extra for a Heritage room. The feminine Ruth Ash is romantically beautiful and has a roll-top bath, while the Walnut with en suite on the top floor boasts particularly brilliant views.

“When our world is spinning out of control, our bodies can be our refuge”

The Sharpham Trust also offers virtual retreats, nature retreats under canvas in the estate’s woodland and Buddhist retreats at The Barn in the grounds. Prices vary. For more, go to sharphamtrust.org/calendar#/events

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT The Sharpham Trust sits alongside the River Dart in Devon A stag surveys the magnificent Scottish mountains Penninghame in Scotland is surrounded by mighty trees The cute Welsh cottage that is home to the Being at the Cottage retreat in the Llanthony Valley

A retreater finds her joy at Aluna Healing, which offers tailored retreats on the banks of Loch Torridon Your refuge and private green space at The Coach House in Wales Let nature accompany you on a magical walk during your break