Yeotown Devon
Devon, England
Boutique health and fitness retreats with yoga in a lush rural Devon setting
Yeotown is a luxurious, contemporary haven in the village of Snapper, Devon. Its four-night, five-day health and fitness Yeotox programme curated by husband-and-wife duo Simon and Mercedes Sieff runs every week of the year from Wednesday to Sunday. Designed to leave you feeling stronger in your body and in a more relaxed mental state, it combines outdoor (in rain or shine) and indoor activities with hikes, cycles, yoga, fitness classes and a tasty, detoxifying menu. Guest teachers focus on specific health issues including Mariella Frostrup (menopause) and Lucinda Miller (gut health).
our Reviewer Pamela Goodman says:
‘I loved that I drove away on the following Sunday afternoon feeling renewed and invigorated. If my mind felt healthier, so did my gut, and the muscles in my body felt lean and stretched and purposeful’
our Reviewer tOM JONES says:
‘I don’t think I can remember being so enthusiastic about eating healthily as I am on this retreat. The delight of a seriously delicious and nutritious meal each evening at Yeotox really does feel wonderful’
Queen of Retreats says:
‘Our favourite place here is The Sanctuary, where the wood-burning stove and underfloor heating make it the perfect spot for yoga or treatments. You’ll have time with resident nutritionist Hazel Radford, who offers a group talk on nutrition and private consultations. You can arrange to have additional tests before your retreat starts. Digital detoxing is encouraged’
Experiences
Come for year-round group retreats to recharge on programmes that align with nature’s cycles. Hikes are through the lush, inspiring countryside and quiet villages, and along the amazing coastal terrain of North Devon, the dramatic South West Coast Path, and across Exmoor. Cycling is along the beautiful Tarka Trail - a disused railway track.
Specific fitness sessions cover core and boxing workouts and body weight strength training, moving through the body in sections, starting with the core, where so many issues and injuries can be prevented or improved, followed by upper and lower body workouts.
Yoga takes place every morning with a gentle vinyasa flow, to stretch and open up the body, and is suitable for all levels.
Each guest has two deep tissue massages and one shiatsu included in the price. Extra treatments with local therapists include kinesiology, hypnotherapy, osteopathy, reiki and reflexology.
The three included treatments take place across three of the evenings - every evening you can also relax in the sauna and outdoor hot tub.
Spaces
All buildings are centred around a courtyard filled with pots of white flowers, a giant Buddha’s head, small iron tables to sit at and a dovecote. The grounds have well-kept lawns, an orchard and flower beds, and fields lead down to a river.
Retreat House is the main hub, with an elegant green sitting room, enhanced with bronze sculptures and other objets d’art. For cosy evenings, there’s a little snug with an open fire and most meals are eaten around a large wooden table in the spacious dining room.
Treatments and yoga take place in the Sanctuary, in the separate light-flooded, wooden-floored yoga room, and in two small treatment rooms in converted outbuildings. Fitness sessions may be in the outdoor gym, which has water-filled punchbags, monkey bars, stomach crunch planks and pull up/press up bars made from wood.
Bedroom options include two individually decorated double rooms in the main farmhouse, which share a bathroom, plus one en-suite. In the courtyard, there are white-painted clapboard rooms with large, modern bathrooms, as well as three eco lodges with stylish wooden, cabin-like interiors, underfloor heating, private patios and lovely views.
The luxurious Eco Cottage is clad in Kentucky oak, with a double-sided fireplace, meditation pod and antique stone Buddha. All rooms are equipped with a notebook, hairdryer, umbrella, sun hats, gown, sauna towel and organic toiletries.
Sustenance
Food is a joyful experience of fresh, organic, locally and seasonally sourced vegan, veggie and protein-rich meals that are dairy, wheat, gluten and meat-free.
The idea is to re-set your eating habits, and you’ll be asked to cut out refined sugar and caffeine a fortnight before you go (worth doing to avoid withdrawal headaches).
Lunch and supper dishes might include baked organic salmon with saffron cauliflower and red cabbage, or a Moroccan aubergine and chickpea curry. They make gorgeous sweet potato falafels, spicy corn muffins and super seeded crackers. Plus delicious 'healthy' chocolate pudding.
There's no caffeine or alcohol. Instead you’ll sample lots of fresh fruit and veggie juices, daily gut-friendly and probiotic-packed water kefir, and you can make your own teas, with fresh lemon, ginger and mint leaves available for infusions.
The programme includes a cooking lesson, where you’ll watch a demo, get to ask questions and take notes.
Yeotown, Barnstaple, Devon EX32 7JY, UK
Yeotown
Co-founders Simon and Mercedes Sieff are committed to offering the best in health and wellness on their retreats, and split their time between Devon in England, and Madeira in Portugal. As well as hosting their signature retreats, The Yeotox, they collaborate with visiting teachers from around the world.