New Year Day Retreat

The New Year Day Retreat is a one-day yoga retreat at Hill Farm in Tintern, Wales, led by Hayley of Forest Retreats. It suits anyone who wants to begin the year gently: to set loving intentions for what lies ahead and to rest properly after a busy Christmas period, held in nature rather than in a studio.

What to Expect

The day combines yoga, a wood fired eco spa and locally sourced food, all within the woodland setting of the farm. The tone is restorative rather than energetic. The idea is to arrive tired from the festive season and leave rested, with a clearer sense of what you want to carry into the year.

Hayley's retreats are known for pairing yin and more active yang yoga with nourishing meals and time in the spa, and guests often describe that mix as the right balance of relaxation and ease. The page does not set out a timetable for this particular day, so expect a full, unhurried day rather than a rigid schedule.

About Hayley

Hayley Court founded 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, and her retreats have been recommended by The Guardian on four separate occasions, including as one of its top 10 wellbeing retreats in the UK. Guests describe her as technically skilled yet kind and helpful, and many return to Hill Farm again and again.

The Setting

Hill Farm is a 12 acre woodland above the Wye Valley, with views of the river and of Tintern Abbey. The retreat takes place here, on the Welsh side of the valley, in the kind of quiet, tree-covered surroundings that make a day away feel longer than it is. Past guests have noted that the farm is roughly 45 minutes from Bristol on a good run. Food is locally sourced, and the farm's other day retreats cater for all dietary requirements.

Before You Go

This is a one-day retreat, so there is no overnight stay to arrange. The day includes yoga, the spa and locally sourced food. The material does not state an experience level or a packing list, so it is worth asking the organizers if you have particular needs, such as dietary requirements or accessibility questions, before you travel.