We are back in the Lake District in 2024 with our award winning yoga and wild swimming retreats in Silverholme, Lake Windermere.

On these retreats (Friday to Monday or Monday to Friday), you’ll be diving deeply into the Zest Life way of living, discovering amazing wild swimming locations of the Lake District, before relaxing in complete luxury where your every wish will be catered for. The whole retreat will allow you to fully switch off and recharge in the most stunning of locations.

Highlights

• Experience the joy of cool water, community and connection led by open water swim coaches Gilly McArthur and Jonnie Cowie.
• The guided swims on our Lake District retreat focus on dips not distance in some of the UK’s most beautiful wild swimming locations
• Unlimited access to Lake Windermere, diving into the crisp, clear waters, washing away all worries and stress at any time day or night
• Diving deeper into the concept of cold water swimming in your own skin
• Warming up with herbal teas and wholesome cake post swim, whilst taking in the beauty of your surroundings
• Relaxing in a majestic Georgian manor house with its own lake frontage
• A variety of daily yoga sessions from energising morning practises to relaxing, meditative sessions in the evening
• Healthy, plant based, delicious meals made fresh for you each and every day
• Time to take a pause in the beautiful gardens with panoramic views of Lake Windermere

Everyone is welcome, so solo travellers, couples and friends come and join in this all new retreat. Be as active or relaxed as you like living The Zest Life in the Lake District.

The wild swimming experience at our Lake District retreat is designed to be an extension of your yoga practice, focusing on your wellbeing and exploring the benefits of swimming outdoors in cool water. Take the opportunity to find your place in the beautiful landscape of the Lake District, connect with your fellow guests and reconnect with yourself. The guided swims on our Lake District retreat focus on dips not distance and the experience of swimming outdoors in some of the UK’s most stunning scenery. Immerse yourself in wild waters!

The Venue

Silverholme is an eco friendly 5* Georgian Manor house on the shores of Lake Windermere, near the small town of Ambleside. Silverholme resides within the Graythwaite family-run country estate spanning 5,000 acres of the English Lake District. The house surrounded by parkland and and gardens with unparalleled panoramic views and its private access to the lake, you will find it hard not to sit back and relax in the opulence this retreat venue has to offer. This retreat venue will take your breath away.

The Accommodation

Silverholme has been exclusively designed to ensure you experience the Lake District at its very best. The magnificent manor house has all the modern luxuries you could ask for but still holds true to its period character. Every room throughout the house has been tastefully appointed. All of the stunning en-suite bedrooms are light and spacious, with distinctive furniture and style and views of the lake or woodland. And with four reception rooms including the grand dining room, quiet library and calm drawing room, there are plenty of peaceful corners that you can find to unwind in.

The Location

The Lake District National Park brings together spectacular fells and majestic mountains, cool rivers and raging waterfalls, breathtaking views and wide open spaces, shimmering lakes and hushed valleys. The pretty tourist towns of Ambleside and Windermere lie beside the mesmerising Lake Windermere and provide a base to explore this rugged landscape of adventure boasting radiant beauty that has inspired poets and painters for generations. Only three hours train journey from central London, the Lake District is the perfect location for retreating.

The Yoga Space

Just a short stroll across the courtyard from the manor house lies the the Coach house. It has recently undergone a modern renovation using wood from the estate for its warm wooden floors and has surround sound systems in place, ideal for playing music to help you drift off into relaxation. Its high ceilings and full length doors opening out onto the garden, allow the yoga room to be filled with natural light making it a calm and tranquil environment; the perfect space for your yoga and relaxation practise.

The Swims

There are many mental and physical benefits to swimming outdoors in natural water. In sessions where we will be exploring the benefits of cold water swimming we would invite you to dip without a wetsuit. The choice is entirely yours, but the water will be cool not cold! Swimming without a wetsuit is a very different experience to swimming in neoprene but this retreat offers the perfect opportunity to start acclimatising for colder waters. For those who would like longer swims, the whole of Windermere is on our doorstep and our our swim guides can also recommend other local swimming locations to explore.

The Food

Healthy eating is an integral part of our retreats here at The Zest Life. This invigorating retreat requires a lot of fuel, which we provide with our delicious plant based vegetarian menu. You will be greeted with a warming cup of tea or coffee post swim, then it's time to dive into your wholesome picnic along with a hearty cup of homemade soup. In the evening you will enjoy a divine two course meal. We offer beautiful Yogi herbal teas for you to choose from over the course of the retreat and with three full meals a day, fresh juice and healthy treats in the afternoon you are sure to feel nourished.

Holistic Treatments

There will be plenty of time to indulge in a body treatment or two with one on our superb in house therapists. We offer a range of massage treatments, from Indian head and Swedish full body, to Tui Na (a Chinese massage similar to Shiatsu). Our therapists use organic therapeutic oils to ease away your stresses and strains. Each treatment is £65 for 45 minutes. Go to your team for further information on the therapists.

Yoga Teacher – Laura Bell

Laura is a yoga teacher and founder of The Zest Life. She has a personal and friendly yet professional attitude towards her teaching of vinyasa flow based yoga. A style that has come from her 20 years of yoga practice, focusing on movement with breath and alignment. Her classes with their inspired sequences and calming relaxations are set to rejuvenate the body and focus the chattering mind. She continues to practise yoga at a physical level and through continued meditation she has developed a more spiritual path to her practise, which she now incorporates into her teachings both on and off the mat.

Swim Leader – Gilly McArthur

Gilly is a STA Level 2 Open Water Swim Coach and her passions lie in the outdoors and encouraging others to find their place in it. Having worked professionally in the outdoor industry for over 20 years, the outdoors is as much her profession as it is her pastime. As a skin swimmer she has competed in winter swimming events across Europe. She is the co-founder of Blue Mind Swim, a free introduction to open water group based in the Lake District and is part of team Wonderful Wild Women. Gilly has written about the joys of cold water swimming and climbing in many publications and media outlets, both in the UK and further afield.

Swim Leader – Jonathan Cowie

Jonathan has a particular love of very cold water and swims all year-round in just trunks, hat and goggles. He is an STA Level 2 Open Water Swimming coach who loves introducing swimmers to the joys of outdoor swimming. From marathon swimming to cold water dipping via swimrun and adventure swimming, Jonathan has a passion for swimming outdoors and promoting the benefits it brings. He has competed in winter swimming competitions around the world, co-founded Blue Mind Men, a men’s cold water swim club to improve mental and physical health, and is the Editor of Outdoor Swimmer magazine.

Price per person (including VAT)

Price includes

• Luxury accommodation with en-suite bathroom
• Daily yoga and meditation sessions
• Yoga equipment – mats, blocks and props
• Daily unlimited wild swimming
• Guided wild swim sessions
• Transport to and from activity locations
• Breakfast, lunch and two course evening meal, all vegetarian and plant based
• Unlimited fruit, organic teas, coffee and fruit water
• Linen, towels, shampoo and conditioner
• The friendly host service of the retreat team throughout your stay

dates and booking

There are very limited places available, so please book early to avoid disappointment.

If you have any further queries about the retreat please see our FAQ’S page or contact Laura on 07989 512859 / email info@thezestlife.co.uk