Lakeside Yoga & Cold Water Retreat in the Lake District

The retreats swap between two themes. The Yoga & Cold Water weeks (led by Leo Oppenheim) combine daily yoga with structured cold water practice: lakeside sauna, guided breathwork before and after the water, and swims in Lake Windermere. The Yoga & Swimming weeks (led by Laura Bell) focus on lake swims and waterfall dips, including sunrise swims on the autumn dates, with lakeside sauna and a slower, quieter schedule.

A four-night midweek retreat (Monday to Friday in the January dates) gives you five days on the ground; the three-night long weekends are Friday-to-Monday or similar. Both follow the same shape: morning yoga, breakfast in the manor house, a swim or outing, lunch, free afternoon, second yoga session, dinner. Nothing is compulsory — the lake is a five-minute walk from the house if you'd rather swim on your own schedule.

The yoga studio is a separate building across the courtyard from the house, recently renovated with timber from the estate. It has high ceilings, full-length doors opening onto the garden, and all equipment is supplied: mats, cork blocks, and organic cotton blankets. That means you don't need to pack any of it.

The venue is a period Georgian manor on the Graythwaite Estate, five minutes' walk from Windermere. All bedrooms are en-suite, with a mix of twin and king rooms and views over the lake or the surrounding woodland. There are four reception rooms in the house, so there's space to be on your own even when the retreat is full.

In-house therapists offer massage treatments during the week, using organic oils — Indian head, Swedish full body, and Tui Na, a Chinese therapy similar to shiatsu. These are booked separately and paid for on site. The nearest station is Oxenholme, about 30 minutes by taxi from the house, and it's a direct four-hour train from central London; Manchester Airport is a two-hour drive.

What's included

- Accommodation in the 5-star Georgian manor house (3 or 4 nights depending on the date) - All meals: breakfast, lunch and dinner - Daily yoga sessions in the on-site studio - Cold water swims in Lake Windermere - Waterfall dips (Yoga & Swimming dates) - Lakeside sauna sessions - Guided breathwork sessions (Yoga & Cold Water dates) - All yoga equipment: mats, cork blocks, organic cotton blankets - Use of the manor house reception rooms and grounds - Private access to the lake

What's not included

- Travel to and from the venue - Airport or train station transfers - Travel insurance - Massage and body treatments - Alcohol - Personal expenses and souvenirs - Additional nights' accommodation