Pilates & Mindfulness Weekend in a Sussex Countryside Hideaway

Fair Oak Farm sits in the High Weald, a protected Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and the estate is made up of a Grade II listed Sussex farmhouse plus a collection of converted barns, outbuildings, eco-lodge treehouses and a shepherd's hut. The retreat has exclusive use of the property, so there are no other guests around. Each accommodation option has its own kitchen, living space and bathroom, and guests are given sole occupancy as standard — you can bring a partner or friend into a double or twin room, but you will not be paired with someone you don't know.

The Pilates teaching is the reason most people book. Claire is a physiotherapist of 15 years and the founder of Core LDN, and she leads the classes herself. Sessions are named by their focus — Physio Unwind on Friday, Physio Burn and a Fitness Flow on Saturday, Fitness Energise and Physio Empower on Sunday — and they are pitched so that beginners and experienced practitioners can work in the same room. Equipment (mats, balls, bands, blocks) is provided and allocated per guest.

Between classes there is one yoga session on Saturday morning, a guided meditation on Friday evening, a mindful workshop on Saturday afternoon, and a walk in the surrounding countryside on Sunday. The rest of the time is deliberately empty. You can read in the orchard, book a massage or a one-to-one Pilates session, use the outdoor sauna, or walk into Mayfield village.

Food is designed by Claire and cooked by The Wealden Kitchen using mostly locally sourced produce: breakfast, lunch and dinner across the weekend, plus a welcome drink on arrival and wine with dinner on Friday and Saturday. They cater for vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, dairy-free, egg-free and nut-allergy diets if you tell them at booking.

The venue is one hour from London by train to Stonegate or Wadhurst, and about 40 minutes by car from Gatwick. Station pick-ups can be pre-booked. Most guests come alone, and the age range over recent years has run from the mid-twenties to the mid-fifties.

What's included

- 3 nights accommodation, sole occupancy (Friday to Monday) - Daily Pilates classes led by a physiotherapist - Yoga class - Guided meditation - Mindful workshop - Mindful walk in nature - Breakfast, lunch and dinner each day - Welcome drink and juices - Wine with dinner on Friday and Saturday - Pilates equipment (mat, ball, bands, blocks) allocated to you - Free parking on site - Free wifi - Use of the outdoor sauna - Option to stay Sunday night free of charge

What's not included

- Flights - Airport transfers - Travel to and from the venue - Travel insurance - Visa fees - Additional treatments (1:1 Pilates, physiotherapy, massage, beauty treatments) - Food and drinks outside of meal times - Dinner on Sunday evening - Any additional activities not listed in the itinerary