‘We were inspired, recharged and nourished by nature’: readers’ favourite wellness trips

From mindful waking in the Yorkshire Dales to a Buddhist retreat in Japan, our tipsters have found inner peace and rejuvenation all over the world. With Eryri national park (Snowdonia) on the doorstep and guided wild swims available, north Wales’ Tawelu Retreats offers options to explore the outdoors or go full hibernation with the retreat’s yoga classes and meditations, plus a sauna and hot tub. The chef cooked up filling, comforting veggie food and gorgeous chai and hot chocolate. Even getting lost running up the Welsh fells and nearly missing my hot shells massage didn’t trouble my stress levels. It’s women only, four days from £650.

Laura King. Staying at a shukubo (Buddhist temple guesthouse) in Koyasan, Japan, was calming yet insightful. Here we observed monastic life in beautiful, tranquil surroundings. We were served shojin ryori, traditional Japanese Buddhist meals that were vegetarian – dishes that were not only tasty but eye-catching, too. We meditated, learned origami and participated in a Goma fire ceremony. This early morning ritual is believed to have a powerful cleansing effect spiritually and psychologically. The ceremony was very emotive. We slept in a traditional Japanese room, simple but very comfortable. Overall, a great retreat in which to switch off and experience spiritual enlightenment as well as a new culture.

Reshma. Guardian Travel readers' tips. Every week we ask our readers for recommendations from their travels. A selection of tips will be featured online and may appear in print. To enter the latest competition visit the readers' tips homepage. The Sharpham Trust, sitting above the beautiful River Dart in south Devon, is a mindfulness charity which holds retreats to promote the belief that we could all be showing more compassion towards each other, the planet and ourselves. Sharpham was a much-needed MOT on my zest for life after years of burnout. Saying no to people had felt impossible, and it had worn me down to exhaustion. Sharpham marked a dramatic shift to finding an inner peace that had hitherto eluded me. The prices are accessible, you’re given your own room (a retreat rarity), and the food is wonderful. A truly beautiful experience.

Not far from Alicante and the brilliant Sierra Helada natural park is a wonderful wellness centre, La Crisalida Retreat. Mindfulness, yoga, workshops, meditation, guided walks. Too energetic? There is no pressure to join in. You can laze on your sun bed next to one of the pools, or walk into the village for a mooch around the market and an ice-cream on the stunning beach. You can arrive and leave any day and it is open all year. Shared and single rooms are available.

Victoria. Do you have an unhealthy relationship with your phone? Retreat like it’s 1999! A luxuriously renovated 1872 vicarage, outside Sedbergh, Cumbria, is the perfect setting for a digital detox. A few days of self-care, self-love and no tech in sight. Meticulously curated days offer the right mix of activities and rest. Twice daily yoga sessions, guided walks, sound baths, stargazing around the fire pit, talking circles and shared freshly prepared meals around the dining table will wean you off doom scrolling. The small group of like-minded guests allows for great bonding and meaningful connections. The four-day detox retreat is from £545.

Josette. On a regenerative farm in Auchgoyle, Argyll and Bute, Wild Running and Wellness Retreats have curated an unforgettable experience. The trails were adventurous and exciting, leading us through ancient woodland, across beaches and over hills. The wildlife and landscape were further brought to life by Katharine and David’s infectious passion for – and knowledge of – their local environment. Between runs, we were rejuvenated with delicious homecooked meals and snacks in the stunning farmhouse, and activities including yoga in the ecolodge, wild swimming, a wood-fired sauna, art class and coffee tasting. We left feeling inspired, recharged and fully nourished by nature.

Kate Lloyd. Sign up to The Traveller. Get travel inspiration, featured trips and local tips for your next break, as well as the latest deals from Guardian Holidays. after newsletter promotion. My solo salmon fishing break last summer in Iceland was a perfect way to unwind after a stressful year at work followed by a tense divorce. The area was peaceful, quiet and beautiful – full of long days blessed with pale sunlight until dusk turned into dawn. Basing myself in the Mýrarkvísl River valley in the north of the country, all I needed was some warm pullovers and a couple of fishing rods. Days spent in nature with the cool waters trickling along, salmon and trout biting, and my fellow fishers encouraging me with some friendly advice. We even got together to barbecue dinners later on under the midnight sun.

You go to an Arvon retreat wondering if you’ll write. You come home knowing you’re a writer. During a week at the Clockhouse, in the Shropshire Hills, I took off my watch, put away my phone and spoke as many words to others in a week as I’d normally manage in 10 minutes at home. I slept when I was tired, I ate the organic, locally prepared meals only when I was hungry. For a week I lived in my head and in a world shared only by the characters of my novel. And I loved every moment. A four-day retreat costs from £660 at the Clockhouse.