Summer Solstice Weekend: 3 night wellness break with Woodland Day Retreat and Yoga

About

HOLIDAY DETAILS

Accommodation: The Old Mill Holiday Cottages, Nannerch

Board: Breakfast + lunch on day 2

Dates:

21-24 Jun 2024 (Fri to Mon) - Summer Solstice Weekend

27-30 Sep 2024 (Fri to Mon)

YOUR BASE

The Old Mill Holiday Cottages are uniquely located within a picturesque mill complex in rural Flintshire. It is within a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and you are right beside the gorgeous Clwydian Hills. Walks are plentiful here - right from your door or a short drive away, you don't need to go far so exceptional views.

You'll stay in one of their 4 self catering holiday cottages, which are stylish with a very welcoming, homely feel. It is no wonder they were awarded 4 stars by Visit Wales. There are 3 cottages with 1 bedroom which sleeps up to 2 (double bed), so ideal for couples, or sole travellers. And 1 cottage has 2 bedrooms, which sleeps up to 4 (1 double bed and 2 x single beds), which is perfect for friends.

Liz will provide you with a breakfast hamper on arrival, sufficient for 3 days, which includes bread, eggs, milk, orange juice, mini cereal boxes, yoghurt, butter and fruit.

Lunch is included on day 2, during your forest wellbeing day. As an optional extra we can book a 2 course Sunday lunch for you at a nearby pub on day 3.

Evening meals are not included, we will provide you with some local recommendations. Or you may wish to cook for yourself at your fully equipped holiday cottage.

The Old Mill have partnered with a fabulous company who offer mobile spa treatments. They bring heated treatment beds, and can offer a fantastic selection of treatments from warming deep tissue massage, replenishing facial, hand and feet treats, to holistic full body journey. It's the perfect way to further unwind and enjoy your stay at The Old Mill! This is not included and must be booked in advance.

ITINERARY

Day 1:

3pm - 6.30pm: Arrive from 3pm onwards.

Relax, settle in, and enjoy the refreshments provided in the cottage, hot drinks and Welsh cakes!

Since your evening meals are not included we encourage you to book a table at a local restaurant in advance, or bring food with you to cook in your cottage.

pm-6.30pm: Join Liz, Polly and Jane, and the rest of the group for a welcome drink.

Day 2:

Breakfast

Make yourself breakfast from the lovely produce included in your hamper.

10am - 4pm: Woodland Day Retreat at Sorrel & Sage Woodland Wisdom with Jane

Experience a nurturing day of selfcare, leave you feeling relaxed, grounded, and reconnected with your inner self, your energy system boosted by all that we, and mother nature has to offer.

This is a 10 -15 min drive from your accommodation.

What to expect from our woodland day retreat:

10am - 10.30am: Meet Jane, who will orientate you regarding the site and amenities before the relaxing begins! We'll then take a short stroll into the woods, resting for a moment at the gateway to our wellness centre, Jane will lead you in a short meditation, grounding you and setting our intentions for the day.

10.30am-11am: Welcome refreshments around the campfire, homemade sweet treats, great coffee, tea, herb teas and our own syrups will all be available. This is where the magic begins with great conversation.

11am-12.30pm: We will forage for ingredients to add to our lunch, make a healing daisy balm, and create a summer smudge stick, using wonderful meadowsweet, & clay smudging bowl.

12.30pm-2pm: We'll campfire cook and enjoy a delicious, nutritious meal.

2pm-3pm: Yoga with Polly

A gentle, relaxing yoga flow (suitable for all levels) with breathwork and meditation held in the beautiful and magical surroundings of the forest. This session will nurture your mind, body and soul and being in nature will help you connect in a way we often can't in our everyday lives. Hearing the trees, the birds and perhaps even the gentle summer rain on the canopy above us will ignite all our senses bringing us to the present moment and connecting us to the earth.

3pm - 3.45pm: Enjoy a session of Shinrin Yoko (Forest Bathing), or relax in our woodland hammocks, enjoy one of our sit spots to meditate or journal.

3.45pm-4pm: A last fireside drink and depart.

4pm onwards

Rest of afternoon and evening free time. Perhaps you want to go out to a nice local restaurant, or maybe go further afield to Chester. Or just savour in your days woodland experience, make yourself a home cooked meal and settle down with a book in your cosy cottage. After dinner why not treat yourself to a summer evening stroll!

Day 3:

Breakfast

Make yourself breakfast from the lovely produce included in your hamper.

10am - 11am or 11am - 12pm: Morning energising Aerial Yoga with Polly

This takes place in Polly's gorgeous garage studio, in Nannerch. You can walk here from your accommodation (20/25 mins) or drive (2 mins).

These sessions are split into 2 groups as the studio only holds 5 people at one time. If you have a preference, we'll do our best to get you on your preferred time slot.

Polly's yoga class is suitable for all levels, and combine physical exercise, breath work and meditation in an accessible way. Aerial yoga takes roots from traditional yoga but with the use of a suspended silk hammock the supports your body. This is a fun full body workout. Because your weight is fully supported by the hammock it allows you to explore inverts and other fun moves whilst relaxing, stretching and feeling safe.

11am or 12pm onwards: Free time

After your aerial yoga class, you have the rest of the day free.

As an optional extra we suggest you have Sunday lunch at the Crown Inn, in Lixwm. If you walked to the yoga studio, it is roughly 40 mins walk from here, or a 5 min drive.

After lunch, you could take to the hills for an afternoon walk. Some spectacular nearby options are Penycloddiau Hill Fort, Moel Arthur or Moel Famau...or all 3 if you're feeling particularly energised!

Day 4:

Breakfast

Once again, make yourself breakfast from the lovely produce included in your hamper.

Check out by 10am.