Mind & Body Retreat on the Isle of Wight
The perfect way to nourish your mind, body, and soul, this holiday combines walking in the peaceful countryside with yoga and Pilates – the holistic disciplines that help improve breathing, balance, flexibility, and meditation processes. Split your time between working on simple exercises, techniques, and key poses with an expert teacher and exploring the stunning surrounds of our country houses with an HF Holidays Leader. This holiday suits people with all levels of experience in yoga and Pilates; from beginners to the more advanced.
What you’ll love
- Enjoying guidance and tuition from an expert tutor in yoga and Pilates
- Learning and practicing easy-to-follow yoga and Pilates exercises
- Half day guided walks with our experienced HF Holidays Leaders
- Relaxing at our comfortable country house
- Spending time with like-minded people in the great outdoors
What’s included
- En-suite accommodation in our 4-star country house
- Cream tea on arrival day
- Cooked or continental breakfast every morning
- Daily packed lunches
- Three-course evening meals, plus tea & coffee
- Expert tuition with a yoga and Pilates instructor
- Guided walks with experienced HF Holidays Leaders
- All transport to and from walks where necessary
- Easy-to-follow routes, maps, and information in our Discovery Point if you want to explore independently
Trip Notes
Easy to download as a PDF, our trip notes provide detailed information for every holiday. Please click below to find the trip notes for your departure date.
All our carefully-curated itineraries are designed by our experts. While we make every effort to adhere to the described itinerary, we may take alternative routes or adapt the running order for weather and/or operational reasons.
Check-in at the hotel is available from 4pm. Enjoy a complimentary cream tea on arrival.
On this Mind & Body retreat the first two days are outlined below. Your day will be divided into Yoga sessions and optional guided walks in the afternoon. Occasionally, your morning and afternoon activities may switch to ensure each session maintains its small group size.
Your optional walks will take you out to explore the countryside surrounding your HF country house, and the options are outlined below.
Walks information:
Day 2: Yar Valley to Golden Hill
Distance: 4.5 miles (7.5km)
Ascent: 350 feet (120m)
In summary: This walk leaves from the house with the opportunity to take in Afton Park and Nature Reserve, before reaching the Golden Hill Country Park and its fort with extensive history. This walk also takes in both sides of the River Yar and a chance to walk part of the Freshwater Way. There may even be the possibility to visit Freshwater parish church on this walk with the grave of Lady Tennyson.
Highlight: Golden Hill country park has extensive views are the surrounding area.
Day 3: Alum Bay and the Downs
Distance: 4 miles (6.5km)
Ascent: 800 feet (260m)
In summary: Explore Alum Bay and the Needles Old Battery and New Battery before a glorious walk atop the chalk cliffs of Tennyson Down, offering magnificent views over the western half of the island
Highlights: Alum Bay with it's coloured sands. The sand was once used for sand painting pictures, a popular craft in Victorian times.
Discover more about Freshwater Bay House and the local area for ideas on how to make the most of your free day.
On this Mind & Body retreat the last three days are outlined below. Your day will be divided into Pilates sessions and optional guided walks in the afternoon. Occasionally, your morning and afternoon activities may switch to ensure each session maintains its small group size.
Your optional walks will take you out to explore the countryside surrounding your HF country house, and the options are outlined below.
Walks information:
Day 5: The Long Stone & Brightstone
Distance: 3.5 miles (5.5km)
Ascent: 300 feet (100m)
In summary: Walk to the Long Stone, a neolithic long barrow and ancient meeting point, then on over the hills to Brighstone village.
Highlights: Legend has it that St Catherine and the Devil had a contest to see who should control the Isle of Wight. The Long Stone’s tall iron sandstone pillar was supposedly thrown by St Catherine.
Day 6: Yarmouth
Distance: 3.5 miles (5.5km)
Ascent: 150 feet (60m)
In summary: Walk beside the tidal River Yar to the historic town of Yarmouth. Take time to explore the cobbled streets and quaint shops and cafes, before catching the Breezer bus back to Freshwater Bay.
Highlights: Opened in 1876, Yarmouth Pier is the UK's longest wooden pier and stretches 186 metres into the Solent.
Day 7: By Down and Coast to Compton Bay
Distance: 3.5 miles (5.5km)
Ascent: 590 feet (180m)
In summary: A gentle walk over Afton down golf course followed by the Coastal Path above the sandstone cliffs with views towards the English Channel and the white chalk cliffs of Freshwater in the distance.
Highlight: Views of the clay and sandstone cliffs of Compton Bay and on a clear day, even France across the English Channel.
Enjoy a leisurely breakfast before making your way home.
Freshwater Bay House
Chalky white cliffs and eyebrow-arching sea views set the tone for the delights that follow at this county house on the Isle of Wight - Queen Victoria's favourite island that’s just a ferry hop from the South Coast. The location is as gorgeous as it gets; to the south of the village of Freshwater, within pebble-throwing distance of its namesake bay, and just a skip from Tennyson Down. You’ll also be within easy reach of the area’s showstoppers, including the imposing Stag and Mermaid rocks, the multi-coloured sands of Alum Bay, the remarkable Ventnor Botanic Gardens, and the 125-million-year-old dinosaur footprints at Compton Bay. And then, of course, there’s the Needles Old Battery for the ubiquitous photo opportunity and the best views of The Needles.
Rooms
Designed with your comfort in mind, Freshwater Bay House has 43 well-appointed guest rooms available in three categories: Classic, Premium, and Superior.
Classic Rooms are comfortable en-suite guest rooms, ideal for a peaceful night's sleep. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities, toiletries (hand wash, shampoo, and shower gel), and a TV.
Premium Rooms are more spacious en-suite guest rooms*. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities, toiletries (hand wash, shampoo, body lotion, shower gel), and a 32-inch TV. Extras include bathrobes, slippers.
Superior Rooms are even more spacious en-suite guest rooms offering upgraded views of the surroundings*. Amenities include free Wi-Fi, tea and coffee-making facilities, toiletries (hand wash, shampoo, body lotion, shower gel), and a 32-inch TV. Extras include bathrobes, slippers.
We love: Rooms 19 and 20 on the first floor for their lovely sea views. Rooms 18 and 22 are both corner rooms overlooking the bay and Tennyson Downs. The more spacious Room 24 has five large windows overlooking the gardens and bay as well as a private sitting room. Room 39 on the second floor is a corner room with a bathtub.
The Choose Your Room service is available at our UK country houses, allowing you the option of choosing and confirming a specific room for an extra charge of £30 per room. This is subject to availability. Upgrade supplements apply.
Check in & check out
You are welcome to check in from 4:00pm at the earliest. On arrival, you’ll enjoy a complimentary cream tea and get to meet your fellow guests, our HF Holidays Leaders, and the rest of the friendly team.
On the day of departure, we kindly ask all guests to check out by 10:00am. You’ll be asked to settle your bill prior to leaving. You may, of course, make a charitable donation to our HF Holidays Pathways Fund if you wish. Please note that we only accept card payments.
Room supplements
| Superior | Premium single | Premium double/twin | Choose your room |
| £25 pppn | £20 pppn | £20 pppn | £30 per room |
*Views and layout reflect each properties unique character and location
*Please note, pool opening hours are: 07:00am – 09:00am and 16:00pm – 18:30pm
About your stay
A warm welcome
We want you to feel comfortable from the moment you arrive. You’ll find a welcome pack in your room with guest registration forms, menus, order forms for dinners and picnic lunches, the Wi-Fi password, and the front door code. Our houses are locked at night, so we recommend noting the Duty Manager’s number on arrival in case of an emergency (or getting locked out).
Evening entertainment
While evening entertainment varies from house to house, HF Holidays Inter-House Quiz night held after dinner on Wednesdays is a weekly staple. Your HF Holidays leader may be around for tips on guided and self-guided waking routes as well as visit-worthy local attractions.
Walks talks
Our HF Holidays walk leaders host guided walking information briefings before dinner on guided walking holiday arrival days. This is followed by a group Walks Talk for information on the following day’s guided walks (held before dinner every evening). Self-guided walking guests are, of course, welcome.
The walking day
Prior to setting off on guided walks, your HF Holidays Leader will run you through a short safety briefing. There’s also an up-to-date weather forecast on display at the house to ensure you have appropriate clothing and footwear. If you choose to do your own walks or are on a self-guided walking holiday, we ask that you please complete an Independent Walker Card each day. These can be found near the Discovery Point in the house.
Food & drink
Led by experienced chefs, we serve a wide range of dishes made with fresh and seasonal ingredients. We always aim to source the best produce available and use home-grown herbs and vegetables from our own gardens whenever possible. Additionally, we have a licensed bar with beers, soft drinks, and a superb selection of spirits. Full-board comes as standard and includes a cream tea on arrival and a hearty breakfast on departure day.
HF Holidays understands the importance of managing allergens effectively to ensure food is safe for guests with food allergies. Whilst we are always able to confidently inform guests which allergens are present in our ingredients and dishes, we are unable to guarantee absolute freedom from the 14 main allergens in our kitchens. Vegetarian and vegan menu choices are available. If you have allergies, food intolerances, or any special dietary requirements, please inform our reservation team at the time of booking.
Accessibility
For accessibility and assistance information, please contact our expert team on 020 3974 8865 or view the accessibility information online for Freshwater Bay House
Getting to Freshwater Bay House
Find out more about this location including travel details and room types.
More InformationAddress
Freshwater Bay House
Freshwater Bay
Isle of Wight PO40 9RB
Tel: +44 (0)1983 753854
By taxi
From Yarmouth ferry port it’s a five-mile taxi journey that takes approximately 15 minutes. We recommend booking your taxi at least seven days in advance as availability may be limited.
For pricing, please contact the taxi company directly.
Taxi companies in the area include:
Bay Taxi
Tel: +44 (0)7475 662350
Rayner’s Taxis
Tel: +44 (0)1983 752784
I Cabs
Tel: +44 (0)7553 567567
A return journey can be arranged on your behalf by the HF Holidays House Manager at Freshwater Bay.
*HF Holidays does not own or manage any of the above taxi companies.
By train
The nearest station is Lymington Pier on the mainland which is adjacent to the ferry terminal.
Check National Rail for train times and routes.
By ferry
You have two ferry options. The Wightlink Lymington to Yarmouth ferry is the most convenient for Freshwater Bay. Alternatively, the Red Funnel Southampton to East Cowes ferry is often the cheapest option if you want to take your car to the Isle of Wight.
HF Holidays member discount
If you’re a member, you can get 15% off car travel and 20% off foot travel with Wightlink Ferry. For full details visit www.wightlink.co.uk/HFHolidays.
By car
From Yarmouth
Turn right out of the ferry terminal onto the A3054 and cross the bridge. After one mile, turn left down Pixley Hill, signposted Freshwater Bay. Turn left at Freshwater Garage and continue along Afton Road. At the lifeboat station turn right and follow the road round. Freshwater Bay House is on your left.
From East Cowes
Follow signs for Newport, taking the A3021 and then A3054. Continue through Newport and Carisbrooke. Turn left onto the B3401 through Calbourne. At the junction with Afton Road (A3055), turn left and then right by the lifeboat station, and follow the road round to Freshwater Bay House.
Or you can leave your car on the mainland (there’s a pay and display car park at Lymington Pier) and travel on the ferry as a foot passenger.
By air
The nearest airport is Southampton Airport.
From Southampton Airport Parkway station (adjacent to the airport terminal) there are regular trains to Lymington Pier, taking about 40 minutes. From here, you’ll need to catch the ferry over to the Isle of Wight.
Otherwise, the best options are London Heathrow or London Gatwick airports for connecting trains to Lymington Pier.
Check National Rail for the best routes and train times.
Mind & Body sessions
No special clothing is required for your Mind & Body holiday, but it is recommended that you wear loose-fitting clothes to facilitate easy movement. There may be some lying down work, so you need to bring an exercise mat and a small blanket.
Walking
To enjoy your walking comfortably and safely, it is essential that your footwear, clothing and equipment are suitable for the conditions likely to be encountered. Britain is famous for its changeable weather, so our advice is to come prepared for all eventualities. Please bring a rucksack, a thermos flask for a hot drink, a water bottle (at least one litre) and first aid kit – your leader’s first aid kit doesn’t contain any medication or blister kits (such as Compeed).
Freshwater Bay House Calendar
- Guided Walking
- Self-Guided Walking
- Special Interests
- Unavailable to Book
For Jan 2026: Molly Melhuish
Molly is a qualified and experienced Yoga and Pilates teacher with her own studio based in Cardiff. She holds a BA Hons degree in Human Movement. She teaches Hatha yoga to include physical postures, breathwork, relaxation and visualisation and meditation exercises. Her Pilates classes focus on the original exercises since she was trained individually before any of the big Pilates schools were formed. Molly is very passionate about the human body; what it can do and seeking out its limits.
She was very knowledgeable about her subject and was very good at getting us to do the exercises and showing us how we could do them better using her techniques of energy lines and points. She listened to questions and comments and incorporated them into her sessions very well.
For 2026: Amy
Amy brings over 30 years’ expertise as a yoga instructor, Pilates teacher, and mindfulness coach. A certified Breathworks practitioner and member of the Pilates Foundation and Mindfulness UK, she holds an MA in Traditions of Yoga and Meditation from SOAS, specialising in pain management.
Guest reviews
All holidays are subject to availability. Supplements may apply.
Members save £30 on all prices. Join today! Click here or call us to find out more.
All our carefully-curated itineraries are designed by our experts. While we make every effort to adhere to the described itinerary, we may take an alternative route, or vary the running order for weather and/or operational reasons.
Holiday prices
| Date (Start - End) | Itinerary | Double / Twin Room | Single Room | Notes / Offers | Trip Notes | Book | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | ||||||||
|
31 Jan - 07 Feb 2026 7 nights |
Mind & Body Single from £1,099 £999 Double from £1,029 £929 pp |
from £1,029 £929 pp |
from £1,099 £999 |
Early Booking Offer Save £100 Per Person |
Trip Notes
|
Book Now | ||
|
14 Nov - 21 Nov 2026 7 nights |
Mind & Body Single from £1,149 £1,049 Double from £1,079 £979 pp |
from £1,079 £979 pp |
from £1,149 £1,049 |
Early Booking Offer Save £100 Per Person |
Trip Notes
|
Book Now | ||
7 nights
from
£1,029pp
£929pp
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