Wild Wellness in Hampshire

From saunas in wildly beautiful locations to stretching out under open skies, the outdoor wellness movement in Hampshire is gaining pace.

Find your zen and be nurtured by nature, we’ve curated the top ten wild wellness experiences in Hampshire to nourish your body and soul.

The Fallen Willow Sauna, Stockbridge

The Fallen Willow Sauna, with its secluded lake and surrounding willow trees, is an Edenic hidden gem in Hampshire’s pretty Test Valley.

Up to six people can enjoy the comforting warmth of the sauna between dips in the picturesque Mistletoe Lake in Cottonworth, near Stockbridge.

The Sauna can be rented privately or visitors can join a communal sauna or the regular yoga and swim events.

Find out more about the Fallen Willow Sauna

Unplugged, New Forest and Basingstoke

Take a digital detox with Unplugged, the UK’s original off grid cabin escape. With two locations in the New Forest and one in the north of the county near Basingstoke, an escape to an Unplugged cabin in the Hampshire countryside is the perfect natural environment to relax, recharge and really switch off.

To help with problems associated with high screentime, on arrival, guests are asked to lock their digital devices, including mobile phones, in a lockbox for three days. These are swapped for an old school Nokia mobile (Snake included), a physical map to explore the scenic surroundings and an instant camera with film. Also within the cabins include; books, board games and a functioning kitchen for cooking and dining. No WiFi is available.

Find out more about Unplugged New Forest: Loki
Find out more about Unplugged New Forest: Woody
Find out more about Unplugged Basingstoke: Roland

Wellbeing courses at The Sustainability Centre

Nestled in the heart of the South Downs National Park, The Sustainability Centre promotes sustainability through learning experiences.  

Courses and workshops form a big part of the offering at The Sustainability Centre, all taking place in its beautiful 55-acre great outdoors.

The Centre has a range of wellbeing courses including medicinal herb foraging, nature-led meditation workshops, and a Men's Woodland Bushcraft Retreat designed to give men time to switch off and try bushcraft like plant identification and fire lighting techniques.

Find out more about The Sustainability Centre
 

Health and wellbeing walks at Queen Elizabeth Country Park

A brisk walk to the top of Butser Hill – the highest point on the South Downs – in the Queen Elizabeth Country Park delivers a wholesome sense of achievement, and with the Park’s regular health and wellbeing walks you can hike in good company.

Every Thursday morning health and wellbeing walks are held at Queen Elizabeth Country Park for a walk through the woods or out onto the Downs.

There are also regular foraging walks with Wild Food UK and nature wellness walks to learn about the trees and plants of the South Downs National Park.

Find out more about Queen Elizabeth Country Park

Southsea Seaside Sauna at Southsea Beach Café

A new addition to the growing outdoor sauna scene is the Southsea Seaside Sauna at the Southsea Beach Café.

Sit back and enjoy the sea view from inside the cosy sauna, or venture over the beach pebbles for a sea swim. Hire the sauna exclusively in the evenings or opt for a communal booking including women’s only sessions every day at 11 am. Popping into the Southsea Beach Café for a post-sauna brunch, lunch, or dinner will be irresistible.

Find out more about Southsea Beach Café

The Solent Sauna, Lee-on-the-Solent

The independently run Solent Sauna at Lee-on-the-Solent was created by sea and beach enthusiast Georgina and has become an inherent part of the community welcoming locals and visitors to bask in its warm wooden walls.

The Solent Sauna is available for private hire for up to 6 people or communal sessions for 30 minutes or an hour.
 

Heckfield Place

To retreat to Heckfield Place – a luxury Hampshire hotel less than an hour from London yet a world away – is to rejuvenate in a wildly beautiful setting.  

Of course, the interior spaces at Heckfield Place are jaw-dropping, with its beautiful bedrooms, outstanding restaurants, and incredible infinity pool overlooking the grounds and ancient wood.

But there is also a big emphasis on outdoor wellness – guests can take the plunge into cold-water immersion at the estate’s Lower Lake, energise with signature woodland movement classes, restore with nature therapy, and connect with the woodland on forest bathing walks.

Find out more about Heckfield Place

Avington

Avington is what country dreams are made of – acres of its own private parkland, where guests staying at the estate’s countryside chic accommodation can naturally partake in plenty of outdoor activities.

Guests can take a dip with wild swimming in the River Itchen, kayak or paddleboard on Avington Lakes, restore with activities like Pilates and holistic sound baths, join invigorating fitness classes, and stay al fresco with outdoor dining.
 

The Retreat, New Forest

The New Forest National Park is by its very nature a wonderful place for outdoor wellness, and The Retreat rejuvenates from its forest surroundings through wellness classes, retreats, workshops, events, treatments, and therapies.

Recognised by Times Travel as one of the best yoga retreats in the UK, classes include everything from Qigong to Iyengar yoga.

There’s also a 4-person wood-fired sauna and local produce on the menu at the Colin Nash restaurant.

Find out more about The Retreat
 

Gambledown Farm, Test Valley

Tucked away in the Test Valley, Gambledown Farm has 200 acres of beautiful sweeping farmland, lending itself perfectly to outdoor fitness and wellness.

The dedicated Yoga Barn is a beautiful space where retreats are held regularly and there is an outdoor sauna for guests glamping in the safari tents or staying in the beautiful self-catering converted farm buildings.

Find out more about Gambledown Farm
 

New Forest Retreats

By taking part in one of New Forest Retreats’ events, you’ll not only be taking a moment for your own wellness, but also contributing to local sustainability with eco-consciousness deeply rooted in their ethos.

New Forest Yoga Retreats runs bespoke yoga retreats including the Lush Eco Farm Yoga Retreat – a three-day blend of yoga, nature activities like wild swimming, pampering, mindfulness, and picking your own veg on a farm near Lymington. For those with a little less time to unwind, there are also day retreats every month.

Wild swimming spots in Hampshire

Spas in Hampshire

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