Sarah Rochfort<\/p>\n
\u2018Completely timeless and immersive\u2019: birdwatching in NorfolkA misty evening on Salthouse marshes. Photograph: Ernie Janes\/Alamy<\/p>\n
Birdwatching at the Cley and Salthouse marshes in Cley-next-the-sea, Norfolk. The two bird hides are meditative and relaxed spaces. The windows open directly on to the pools of saltwater where many different species of birds obliviously wander around. It\u2019s a place that is completely timeless and immersive. Your only job is to gaze out at the birds. It\u2019s a very popular spot for birdwatching but the atmosphere is friendly and quiet. Someone even let us have a go with their binoculars. We particularly enjoyed watching a nest of baby swallows huddled in the corner of the hide. The marshes cover a wide area and are so important for biodiversity, providing an essential resting place for resident and migratory birds. You might even spot a spoonbill, which have returned to the UK from 2010 after being absent for hundreds of years. Well worth a wellness visit, even if you don\u2019t really know anything about birds (like me).
Petra<\/p>\n
Hampshire\u2019s Scandi sauna hutsHello Outdoors shepherd\u2019s hut sauna. Photograph: Jason Ludlow\/PR<\/p>\n
A fresh ginger concoction, orange slices and a friendly sauna master greeted us at the Hello Outdoors shepherd\u2019s hut sauna<\/a>, which has a picture window overlooking the historic Lymington Sea Water Baths<\/a>. The deep blue of the sky and water, Swedish sauna hats, the calming scent of our chosen essential oil, a soothing soundtrack and the option to ease the sauna heat with an exhilarating plunge in an ice-cold tub or more genial dip in the sun-warmed sea baths made for a very enjoyable and restorative couple of hours away from real life. We didn\u2019t want to leave. ProfileReaders’ tips: send a tip for a chance to win a \u00a3200 voucher for a Coolstays breakShow<\/p>\n Guardian Travel readers’ tips<\/p>\n 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<\/a><\/p>\n –<\/p>\n Thank you for your feedback.<\/p>\n Forest bathing in CroatiaThe village of Radoboj. Photograph: Zvonimir Atletic\/Alamy<\/p>\n For five days in Radoboj, northern Croatia, we forest-bathed beneath the trees, walked slowly, practised breathing and meditation and ate simple local food. No luxury spa, no expensive treatments \u2013 just nature and time. I wore an Oura smart ring throughout. My resting heart rate fell markedly and, by day four, the ring recorded four and a half hours of restorative time. More importantly, I felt profoundly different. It completely overturned what I thought wellness travel was. Sometimes the most restorative place isn\u2019t a spa. It\u2019s a forest. Bath time near Sofia, BulgariaThe Bankya Central Mineral Baths. Photograph: PR<\/p>\n The natural mineral springs in Sofia mean bathhouses are a way of life. Bankya is on the outskirts of the city, so I travelled by bus to visit the Central Mineral Bath Bankya<\/a>. This opulent bathhouse is owned by the Sofia municipality, meaning the atmosphere is a mix of the everyday council baths and extraordinary architecture from the early 20th century. You can visit from under \u20ac10 and, as well as the promised health benefits of the natural spring water, there is a thermal zone, a salt room, aromatherapy, saunas and steam rooms with an array of massages too. The perfect spa and skiing combo in PolandA winter landscape of Zakopane and the Tatra mountains. Photograph: Zoonar\/Alamy<\/p>\n While skiing in Zakopane, Poland, we made a lot of use of Terma Bania<\/a>, an incredible pool and spa centre right in the heart of the ski resort. There is something magical about watching the sun go down in blissfully warm water and surrounded by snow. There is an astonishing array of saunas, pools and steam rooms, surrounded by mountain views. We discovered there are also several thermal pool and spa complexes in the surrounding area, and ended up spending as much of our holiday in the spas as we did on the slopes! skip past newsletter promotion<\/a>Free newsletter |Twice a week<\/p>\n Sign up to The Traveller<\/p>\n Get travel inspiration, featured trips and local tips for your next break, as well as the latest deals from Guardian Holidays<\/p>\n after newsletter promotion<\/p>\n Simmer by the loch in ArgyllThe sauna at West Coast Wellness. Photograph: Murdo MacLeod\/The Guardian<\/p>\n The Lochside Sauna at West Coast Wellness<\/a> (\u00a317 for 2.5 hours) in Evanachan sits on the shore of Loch Fyne. Hidden away from the single track road, a 10-minute walk takes you to one of the most peaceful saunas in the UK. From the giant window, sit back and watch the water of the loch (keep an eye out for dolphins), slowly preparing yourself to make the short walk down and take a dip in between the heat. Alternatively there is a cold water plunge which if anything is colder than the loch! The centre also offers yoga and pilates sessions and there\u2019s the delicious Inver<\/a> restaurant just around the corner. Wild swimming and wildlife in North YorkshireWild swimming at Pool Bridge Farm. Photograph: PR<\/p>\n Wild swimming at Pool Bridge Farm<\/a> guarantees a wholesome retreat from the vibrant bustle of neighbouring York. Transformed from old fishing ponds, the sprawling site comprises four lakes and ample space for lounging and lunching. A revitalising dip is best paired with a stop in the sauna (\u00a316.50), priming those brave enough for the raw, heady thrill of the next plunge. To top it off, head to nearby Wheldrake Ings nature reserve<\/a>, one of North Yorkshire\u2019s top wildlife destinations, especially for waterfowl. As the flood waters rise from autumn, so does the abundance of migratory birds. A serene natural scene to soothe the soul. Sensory walk in the Black Forest, Germany<\/p>\n
Claire Edwards<\/p>\n
Bex Hamilton<\/p>\n
Sarah Collings<\/p>\n
Frances<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/10\/1791543251_29_500.jpg\")
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Lewis<\/p>\n
Fin<\/p>\n