RETREATING to the Lake District

Catherine Barr finds a fresh and energising outlook on a wellbeing break in Cumbria

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With my daughters disappearing off to university, times were changing. I needed a kind of reset, a chance to learn how to embrace my new empty-nester era, so a holiday focused on my own well-being seemed like a good start. I chose a group retreat, themed around yoga and hiking, in the heart of the Lake District. With its rocky peaks and unrivalled natural beauty, the lush scenery of the area would provide the perfect backdrop. It had been a while since I had unrolled my yoga mat, and I was quietly anxious of my creaks and aches, yet I needn't have worried. This midweek retreat with Adventure Yogi turned out to be just what was needed.

Arriving at the retreat

Along with my fellow retreat participants, I was eased into the experience through the grand front door of our lakeland hotel - just outside of pretty Ambleside, in Hawkshead. Stepping onto thick carpets and sinking into sofas by a roaring fire, you could hear the collective exhale. The hotel itself was grand in size, with panoramic views showing off the Cumbrian landscape. Set on its own among trees on the hillside, it also had paths fit for plenty of outside wandering.