Travel
“I went on a rewilding retreat – here’s what happened”
Travel writer, Tim Samuels, visits Broughton Sanctuary for a wildly-restorative break
Broughton Sanctuary is the real deal.
Forget the faux farms with their designer-welly-clad clientele. For a deep spiritual reset amidst nature, head to the foothills of the Yorkshire Dales – and embrace the transformative vision of a man whose family has lived on the land for 32 generations.
Inside Broughton Sanctuary
Sweeping through the grounds of Broughton Sanctuary (neé Hall) – just minutes from the town centre of Skipton, North Yorkshire – there’s something familiar about the imposing country pile. Perhaps because of its small – and big – screen cameos, including the likes of All Creatures Great and Small.
But don’t be fooled by the Greek columns and balustrade. This is more Dheepak than Downton. A wellbeing, rewilding and conscious-stretching haven.
Roger Tempest is the current custodian of this sprawling 3,000-acre estate, with the land given to his family in 1097 by William The Conqueror.
Thirty-two generations later, Roger has eschewed the Barbour and tweeds for growth and transformation. Vast swathes of the land are being turned over to rewilding. Some 320,000 trees have been planted in the last three years.
“Massive change has occurred because of the insect life, because of the voles, the moles, all the predators, everything,” says Roger. “And we’re in the beast phase at the moment. So we’re bringing in beasts. We’ve got Iron Age pigs, we’ve got cattle coming.”
Wellness and wilding
There’s a meditative quality to merely wandering – or cycling – around the estate. But dig a little deeper and you’ll find a sauna nestled amongst the trees, yards from a cold-water pond to swim in, and a fire circle. Elsewhere, there are ‘Meditation labyrinths’ and ‘Odyssey’ walking trails.
Naturally, Broughton has become a magnet for retreats – from the Hoffman Process to a seven-day Path of Love meditation experience. Guests can stay in rustic cottages dotted around the grounds or in the main 16th century hall.
“We’re rewilding inner nature and outer nature,” says Roger.
We plump for a spot of self-wilding through the Wellbeing Bundle – fusing long rambles, cycles and fruitless otter-spotting with some serious time at Avalon, the sleek wellness centre, directed by Roger’s partner and co-founder, Paris Ackrill.
Nested next to Utopia – a locally-sourced bistro within a stunning walled garden – Avalon exudes minimalist serenity. It offers a chance to recline in the jacuzzi lazily gazing out at woodland. Classes are plentiful, with yoga (including Yin by candlelight) and meditation running daily. There are also crystal light beds, a decent gym and a Somadome meditation pod.
I was particularly drawn to the floatation tank. An hour bobbing up and down in body-temperature Epsom-salted water, which lulled me into an other-worldly level of relaxation.
A place to rest
The accommodation – a flat adjacent to the old chapel – was countryside-cosy and spacious. For dinners, we wandered by torchlight through the estate to The Bull pub – where the cheese and onion pie did Yorkshire proud. The menu was unexpectedly expansive.
Getting to Broughton Sanctuary was simple enough. From London, it was a train to Leeds, with a transfer to Skipton.
A couple of days amidst the wilds of this hidden haven was enough to strip away layers of urban stresses. Next time I’d opt for a longer retreat for a deeper reset.
“We’re under the radar a bit,” muses Roger. It’s tempting to not tell too many people about it – a true hidden gem.
