Wellness Escape: Wild Swimming and Yoga by the River Wye

The retreat runs from Friday to Sunday and fits a lot into those three days. You'll do four open-water swims in total – morning and afternoon sessions plus the night swim – and four distinct yoga practices. Mornings start with an energising vinyasa flow to wake the body up, and evenings wind down with restful, restorative yoga. Gray, who founded River Flow Yoga and has been teaching since 2006, leads the yoga, chanting, and sound meditations. His style is relaxed and inclusive; he's trained in making yoga accessible to all abilities, including people with disabilities and neurodivergence, so you don't need to be flexible or experienced to take part.

The swimming is guided by experienced open-water teachers, and the programme is designed for beginners as well as people who've done it before. The focus is on using breath and mindfulness to get comfortable in cold water rather than just pushing through it. You'll visit specially chosen spots along the River Wye, with the night swim under the stars being the standout experience. Aside from the water and the mat, there's a walking meditation through the Welsh landscape on the final day, and an outdoor sense exploration trip to a National Trust nature reserve.

What makes it different from other wellness weekends is the setting and the people. Chapel on the Green is a real converted chapel from 1886, not a purpose-built retreat centre, so it's got character rather than corporate polish. The hosts, Gray and Matthew, are hands-on – Gray leads the classes and offers massages, Matthew is the chef who bakes cakes for afternoon tea. Guests often end up feeling looked after in a way that's more personal than a big retreat company.

Location-wise, Glasbury sits on the River Wye with the Black Mountains and Brecon Beacons close by. It's a genuinely beautiful part of Wales – green hills, riverbanks, and quiet lanes. Hay-on-Wye, the famous 'town of books', is a short drive away, and the retreat leaves time for you to pop over and browse the bookshops between sessions.

What's included

- 2 nights accommodation in a shared or private room - 3 daily delicious and nutritious vegetarian and vegan meals - Daily vinyasa yoga classes - Daily meditation and chanting sessions - 4 guided wild swims, including a night swim under the stars - Outdoor sense exploration to a National Trust nature reserve - Walking meditation through the Welsh landscape - Water, tea, and coffee throughout the day - Free parking on site - Wifi connection

What's not included

- Flights and airport transfers - Travel insurance - Visa fees - Thai yoga massage (available as an optional extra) - Any additional activities not listed in the itinerary