6 refreshing spring breaks for mind and body
Sawday's Expert
5 min read
We all have our own ways of enjoying that slightly lighter feeling when winter’s clouds finally lift. Some of us head for blustery coastal walks that drive out the cobwebs, some revel in the fresh greenery of spring menus, and some take on something new to reenergise the mind. However you like to see in the changing of the seasons, here are great places to do it.
Sea and sun at Shangri-la, Norfolk
The mythical name shouldn’t fool you, this place where the sound of the surf carries over the dunes to your bedroom is completely real. The passive house is impeccably designed, crafted to have minimal environmental impact and immerse you in nature. The long strip of beach is yours to walk, day and night as you soak up the fresh air you’ve been craving for months. Stroll on the sand, say hi to the resident seals, then come back to light the firepit and send sparks spiralling into the sky, or stretch out on the sofa and think of all the sun and fun that’s coming up.
Woodland walks at Pengwern Country House, Conwy
If all you want is to see nature waking up around you, all day every day, then this is where to come. The deep woods of the Conwy valley wind down to the old house that sits waiting among the trees to surround with birdsong and beauty. Your hosts not only serve you a fabulous full Welsh that’ll power you on hilly hikes, but also have strong connections to the artists’ colony at Betws-y-coed, with much of the original group’s art adorning the walls. A few days here will banish all the winter gloom and have you glowing with sunny joy inside and out.
Spring greens and fine meals at Beck Hall, Yorkshire
Christmas, New Year and much of winter can get a little… meaty sometimes. It’s all the comfort food on those long cold nights. Well, the antidote is Beck Hall, England’s first 100% plant-based hotel. The ingenuity of the chefs means the menus are a delight to browse and the freshness of the spring ingredients coming into season will be a welcome break for your digestion. Spend a few days wandering in wildest Yorkshire, with the dog if you like, then come back to surround yourself with the care and comfort of a truly special place to stay.
Glorious gardens at Groom’s House at Boconnoc, Cornwall
It’s so nice to welcome colour back into the garden in spring, but it’s even nicer to do it somewhere like the grand gardens at Boconnoc House in Cornwall, where 34 different varieties of hydrangeas, pink and purple rhododendrons, and profusions of azaleas paint a celebratory rainbow. There’s such a bounty of natural beauty that they have names for each of the gardens in the grounds. Even when you reluctantly step back inside, the creativity and colour continues, in the form of Groom’s House’s interiors, designed by Sarah Fortescue with a fittingly light and bright countenance.
Cultural rejuvenation in At the Chapel, Somerset
Even the dining room here is a work of art, with the towering windows of the old chapel and the tall candlesticks meeting a brushed white finish in a fascinating fusion. There’s contemporary art on the walls and events from talks, to book signings to music to regularly held in the club room. Bruton’s art scene is worth exploring too, with the nearby Hauser & Wirth only the most well-known of a fine crop of galleries. Add in the fact that At the Chapel has an in-house bakery and a superb cocktail menu, and you know you’re in for a real treat that’ll fire your senses back up after a winter lull.
New springs for spring? Huntlands Farm, Worcestershire
There are plenty of places where you could take a crash course in oil painting, or throw a few things on a pottery wheel and see what sticks (to the ceiling) but only one that we know of where you’re invited to bring a piece of furniture and get the benefit of an expert upholsterer in giving it a spruce up. Huntlands Farm’s owner, Lucy, is a master of the craft and can help you refurbish a piece of your choosing on weekend or week-long courses, all while enjoying her impeccable hospitality and plenty of tea and cake. It’s a great way to give your whole house a touch of new-spring bounce.
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Christopher Wilson-Elmes
Sawday's Expert
Chris is our in-house copywriter, with a flair for turning rough notes and travel tales into enticing articles. Raised in a tiny Wiltshire village, he was desperate to travel and has backpacked all over the world. Closer to home, he finds himself happiest in the most remote and rural places he can find, preferably with a host of animals to speak to, some waves to be smashed about in and the promise of a good pint somewhere in his future.