Autumn Calling Yoga and Wellbeing Retreat, Hill Farm Tintern

The Autumn Calling Yoga and Wellbeing Retreat is a two-night yoga retreat for anyone who wants a weekend of rest, movement and good food in the woods. It is led by Hayley Court of Forest Retreats at Hill Farm, a 12 acre woodland above the Wye Valley in Tintern, with views of the river and Tintern Abbey. It suits both newcomers and regular practitioners looking for a restorative weekend away.

What to Expect

Over the weekend you practise yoga and meditation every day. Sessions include flow, yin and restorative yoga, so the pace moves between active practice and deep rest. Past guests describe the teaching as well pitched for all abilities, with a good balance between movement and relaxation.

Beyond the mat, the weekend includes foraging, a cacao ceremony and time in a wood fired eco spa. Holistic therapies are part of the retreat offering, and the food is vegetarian. Guests often single out the meals, cooked by Sam, as a highlight. One guest said the only bad thing about their stay was having to leave on the Sunday.

About Hayley Court

Hayley Court established Forest Retreats in 2015 and has been running yoga and wellbeing retreats for around ten years. She is an advanced yoga teacher and a holistic therapist. Her retreats have been recommended by The Guardian, which has named the Forest Retreats weekend among its top 10 wellbeing retreats in the UK. Guests describe her as technically skilled but kind and helpful, and many return for repeat visits.

The Setting

Hill Farm sits in woodland near Tintern, on the edge of the Wye Valley. The yoga studio has patio doors that open onto views of the surrounding countryside, and it is equipped with mats, blocks and straps. Guests mention comfortable, well finished accommodation, some with a small deck and a table and chairs for sitting out among the trees. Hill Farm is about 45 minutes from Bristol on a good run, and the drive through the countryside is part of the arrival.

The farm also hosts forest bathing (Shinrin Yoku) experiences, and the surrounding woodland is a quiet place to wander between sessions.

Before You Go

No previous yoga experience is stated as a requirement, and guests report that the sessions suit a range of abilities. Mats, blocks and straps are provided in the studio. Meals are vegetarian, and Forest Retreats caters for dietary requirements on its other retreat days, so it is worth mentioning any needs when you book.

Many guests arrive tired or stretched thin and leave calmer. One described arriving frazzled and leaving calm and energised, ready to care for family and for herself.