Wellness & Adventure Escape in the Welsh Countryside

This is an adventure-and-relaxation retreat run by the people behind Erw Glas, an award-winning glamping site in North Wales. The weekend is built around one big outdoor activity – a guided gorge-walking adventure – and wraps it in gentler stuff: yoga, a pastel painting workshop, good food and long evenings by the fire.

The gorge walking is the centrepiece. Saturday morning you head out with professional instructors and full safety equipment to scramble over rocks, climb waterfalls and find hidden natural pools. It's fully guided and beginner-friendly, so you don't need any experience – just a willingness to get a bit wet and muddy. Afternoons are slower. There's a sociable pastel painting session led by a local landscape artist, where you create your own artwork inspired by the mountains around you, drink in hand.

One of the things that sets this retreat apart is its base. Erw Glas is a proper outdoorsy family site with alpacas and free-range chickens wandering around, shepherd huts with private wood-fired hot tubs, and dark skies made for stargazing. It's a world away from a standard wellness centre. The food is hearty and home-cooked – stone-baked pizzas, a barbecue feast, breakfast hampers of local produce – rather than strict health-food plates.

The yoga is taught by Laura, a Yoga Alliance-certified teacher with seventeen years of practice behind her. She teaches Vinyasa Flow and Hatha, and keeps classes gentle and suitable for all levels. There's also a pastel workshop with local artist Chloe, and the whole retreat is hosted by Allan and Rachael, who run the site and have a real knowledge of the area.

Location-wise, you're on the edge of Eryri (Snowdonia) National Park, surrounded by mountains, forests and waterfalls. It's a peaceful spot but with easy access to walks, cycling, kayaking and the coast. The retreat runs over a three-day weekend in September 2026, with a small group capped so it stays personal.

What's included

- 2 nights accommodation in a shepherd hut, stargazing tent or tipi - 3 daily meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) - Unlimited tea, coffee, herbal drinks and flavoured water - Daily yoga sessions (including Vinyasa and restorative) - Guided gorge walking adventure with professional instructors and full equipment - Guided pastel painting class led by a local landscape artist - Firepit evenings and social gatherings - Access to shared facilities, including hot tubs - Free on-site parking - Pre and post retreat support from the team

What's not included

- Airport transfers - Flights - Travel insurance - Visa fees - Additional treatments - Additional activities not listed in the itinerary