Overview
Our Classic, loved Lake District Yoga & paddleboarding retreat - we have now run over 20 retreats here in our higgeldy piggeldy old cottage! Join us for a truly re-wilding, restorative retreat in the heart of the Lake District. Walk out and up onto the hill track behind, or hop across the road into the lake for a wild swim in Rydal Water, one of the smallest, loveliest lakes in the area. There will be plenty of fresh air, exercise and time spent in nature surrounded by lakes and mountains. We will be staying in a rustic, 16th century cottage that was once home to some of the Romantic Poets and regularly hosted Wordsworth, De Quincy & More. It even has an opium den - you can feel the history within its walls!
Highlights
Daily vinyasa, yin & meditation classes
SUP yoga, wild swimming + paddle boarding
A magical gong bath
Accommodation in a 16th Century cottage, once home to some of the most famous Romantic poets, surrounded by mountains with lake views
An afternoon cream tea on arrival
Mountain walks, open fires, a pigsty sauna and a hot tub!
Delicious vegetarian meals and snacks
Unlimited fruit, tea, coffee, fresh mint, lemon and ginger
Luxury goodie bag
Hosts
Jenny Clark
Jenny is a yoga teacher, paddle board instructor and Founder of The Wild Times. She has created and held over 45 retreats across the UK and in Morocco, Italy and Sweden.
Schedule
Example Schedule | Schedule subject to change / going with the flow. Do as much or as little as you like.
Previous
Next
Tuesday
2pm: Arrive and settle in, cream tea.
3pm: Opening circle, yoga & meditation. Free time to explore, walk, swim, relax.
6pm: Lie down and enjoy a sound bath
7.30pm: Dinner
Wednesday
8am: Vinyasa yoga and meditation
9.45am: Breakfast
10.45am: Paddleboarding (group 1) / free time (group 2)
1pm: Lunch
2.15pm: Paddleboarding (group 2) / free time (group 1)
4.15pm: Free time - walk, sauna, hot tub
6pm: Yin yoga
7.30pm Dinner, campfire, drinks, marshmallows.
Thursday
8am: Vinyasa yoga & meditation
9.45am: Breakfast
11am: Free time to relax or join us to walk to the waterfall (optional swim!)
2pm: Closing circle, departures
What's included
What's Included
Accommodation in a 16th C cottage
All meals, snacks + drinks
Four x 1/1.5 hour yoga classes
Daily guided meditation
Optional hike to a waterfall
Optional wild swimming
Intro to SUP session
SUP yoga session
Use of paddle boarding equipment
Yoga mats, blocks, bolsters and blankets
Goodie bag
Sound bath
What's Not Included
Transport to and from the retreat
Travel insurance - please make sure you get your travel insurance as soon as you have booked your retreat.
Gallery
Location: The Lake District
The Lake District is England’s largest national park and now a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, loved by writers, artists and poets throughout time
A mountainous region in Cumbria, North-West England, the Lakes are home to England’s highest mountain (Scafell Pike) and it’s deepest lake (Wast Water).
From our cottage in the heart of the Lakes, you can easily walk to Rydal Mount (home of William Wordsworth which now has the prettiest gardens and tea rooms) or around the lake to the picturesque village of Grasmere (stopping to sample the famous Grasmere gingerbread, of course!)
There are nearby caves to explore, mountain views to see and refreshing wild waterfalls to swim in behind Rydal Hall, just along the stony track and up the hill from the cottage.
Trip Tips
Do
Relax, you have arrived. Start with tea and scones before a grounding yoga class. Then we will have cacao and a gong bath in the yoga barn before dinner. Saturday will bring paddleboarding, vinyasa and yin yoga and marshmallows round the campfire. On Sunday there will be more yoga and meditation, a picnic lunch and beautiful walks. All activities are optional but encouraged, so you can nap, read or swim in the lake - it’s completely up to you. The schedule is always weather dependant!
Stay
In a historic 16th Century cottage in the middle of the lakes. Some of the great things include: a sauna in the old pigsty, lake views, a separate yoga barn with a log burner, a fire pit outside and cosy nooks to read in. Please note that while this is a wonderful cosy cottage, if you're expecting 5* luxury this isn't it - it's more on the rustic side! Rooms will be allocated on a first come first serve basis. There are two single rooms and eight twin or double (mostly en-suite) warm and cosy bedrooms. The rooms at the front overlook the lake and those at the back are quieter with views up to Nab Scar.
Eat
It wouldn’t be the Lake District if you didn’t start with a cream tea! All the food on the retreat is nutritious, home-cooked, wholesome and vegetarian. Snacks, drinks and meals are provided, from hearty breakfasts to soup and salad lunches. There will be fruit and a hot drink station for you to help yourself to throughout, with herbal teas, fresh mint, lemon and ginger. We can cater for dietary requirements if you let us know beforehand.
Reviews
FAQs
Who is it for?
The Wild Times are for anyone of any age and ability who wants to connect to nature and relax.
For this retreat in the Lake District, a reasonable level of fitness and mobility is required for the hike and getting in and out of the lake and on and off the paddle board. Email us if you're not sure and we can always have a call to discuss and see if this retreat is right for you.
We recommend attending 3 or 4 yoga classes prior to attending if possible to get the most out of it, or you can book some private online 1:1 classes with our Founder Jen beforehand.
Do I need paddleboarding/yoga experience?
Not at all! Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just finding your water/yogi legs you are very welcome. We just ask that you can swim 50 metres.
Do I need equipment?
We recommend some water shoes for getting in and out of the waterfall and the lake as it can be pebbly underfoot. Bring a wetsuit for the Paddleboarding if you like, or clothes you don't mind getting wet, and bring a spare towel for the water activities.
Where is it?
Rydal, Ambleside, LA22 9SD.
The best way to reach the cottage is either by car or train and the nearest train station is Windermere. From London Euston the train takes 3.5 hours. (Top tip: if three or more of you are coming on the same train, you can get the ‘group saver’ discount which is a 1⁄3 off each!) The cottage is 15 minutes away from the station, then jump in a taxi to us.