3 country retreats for post-lockdown staycations

Lime Wood exterior (Lime Wood)

The Hideout at Lime Wood

In the depths of the New Forest

The lowdown: already boasting the Herb House luxury spa, Lime Wood has now opened The Hideout studio space. Living up to its name, The Hideout is tucked away in the forest and is designed to help guests immerse themselves in nature, with floor-to-ceiling glass walls for open views across the tree line, perfect for yoga and meditation. Don’t worry — the heated floors will keep you toasty while you decompress. Come bedtime, one of Lime Wood’s cosy Susie Atkinson-designed rooms will do very nicely.

Try: follow up a spa treatment and meditation session with a trip to Raw & Cured, where you’ll find healthy (and delicious) treats, including fish and meat from Lime Wood’s very own smokehouse. Anywhere that says a charcuterie board can be part of a health kick is bound to be a winner.

Don’t leave without: peeking into The Herbary, a rooftop garden brimming with fragrant plants that are used in the hotel’s restaurants. JB

Rooms from £395 per night (limewoodhotel.co.uk)

Calcot & Spa

A pretty country hotel nestled in the Cotswolds

The lowdown: a beautiful Bath-stone haven near Tetbury set in 220 acres of grounds. Old-fashioned enough to be charming but with all the mod cons you’d expect including a knock-out spa. Staff are kind and attentive, the 35 guest rooms are spread between the manor house itself and several outbuildings and — crucially — it’s far away enough from London to be genuinely refreshing, yet close enough so you don’t spend the weekend in the car.

Try: the deep tissue massage comes highly recommended. Superstar masseuse Drew will listen attentively to your (admittedly a touch boring) litany of aches and pains while systematically resolving them using specifically mixed aromatherapy oils and deep-tissue massage. Yup, this might hurt at times as your bones click back into place but boy is this a good massage. You’ll walk away lighter, brighter — and a bit less whiny and annoying.

Don’t leave without: spending some serious downtime immersed in the spa’s heavenly outdoor hot tub overlooking a roaring open fire. AVP

Rooms from £229 (calcot.co)

Hawthbush Farm

A cosy farm retreat in rural East Sussex

The lowdown: the UK has seen the rise and rise of farm cosmetics and Hawthbush Farm is quietly growing an empire. Owners Toby Smallpiece and Lisa O’Connor are passionate about their seed to skincare line, Amly, and harvest the best ingredients from their farm — from organic herbs to fresh spring water — to decant into beautiful black vials sold online. For those who want to truly immerse themselves in farm life, Hawthbush has two smart stone cottages available for hire, sleeping up to 12 adults.

Try: self-care rituals have become more than just a Sunday luxury. We’re all much more attuned to the ebb and flow of our energy levels thanks to the ongoing series of lockdowns and a more sedentary lifestyle. Amly’s essential oil blends are all plant-based and have the power to lift and protect your immune system in the winter — top pick is the heavenly Purify blend.

Don’t leave without: a bracing walk through the nearby Cuckmere Valley before retreating back to city life. DA

Cowshed and Granary combined (six bedrooms, four bathrooms) from £1,500 for three nights (hawthbushfarm.co.uk)