Need to hit reset on your wellbeing? That’s exactly how Laura Normanton felt before experiencing Yeotown – one of Devon’s most luxurious detox retreats.
Tucked away in a picturesque valley in North Devon, Yeotown is fast becoming renowned for its five-day detox programme – where the last thing you do is sit still. Instead, the experience, run by husband and wife Simon and Mercedes Sieff, aims to build your stamina and endurance with daily hiking, yoga and exercise classes alongside a tailored diet that helps to flush out toxins.
Set in and around a homely 18th-century farmhouse – with modern additions and an internal courtyard for outdoor lunches in the summer – the atmosphere is relaxed. With a maximum of 14 guests on the retreat at any given time, it feels informal, relaxed and cosy.
Why was I there? After having two babies in quick succession, I checked into Yeotown to get fit, kick some bad eating habits and (most importantly) have a much needed rest.
THE VIBE
A place for any age and any fitness level, there really is something for everyone here. Minimal information is sent out before arrival, mainly a packing list with a lot of outdoor gear; walking boots, waterproof trousers, a camel-pack and blister plasters. This is then swiftly followed with a list of things to remove from your diet for a few days in advance to start the detox process (I really would recommend following this advice, to avoid annoying cravings while there). Once you arrive, the five-day, four-night programme is spent switching off from the outside world – and phones are encouraged to be switched off and remain off too.
THE RETREAT
We were expected to be up and on our yoga mats for 7:30am each morning, but the retreat schedule after that remains somewhat of a mystery. I initially found the lack of knowledge on the day’s programme frustrating – but it was also strangely liberating to have someone else making all the decisions. I found myself starting to unwind and – as I released control of my day over to someone else – my shoulders started to drop and my mind stopped whirring.
There was a lot of exercise involved; three-hour fast paced hikes along blustery coastal paths with stunningly beautiful views; yoga which even the non-yogi guests raved about; fitness classes; cold water immersion; and cycling (surf lessons are on offer too in the summer months). Initially I found the walks challenging as they keep up a good pace but as the week continued I found myself getting fitter – and all the physical activity is carefully balanced with plenty of relaxation including sound gong meditation, breathwork sessions, nutrition talks and cooking classes.
Daily massages and Shiatsu relieve tired muscles at the end of the day, and a wood-fired hot tub in the garden is a sublime spot to watch the sun go down if you aren’t reading by the roaring fire or enjoying the gardens and pretty banks of the River Yeo. Days are busy, which keeps the body moving, but there are periods of rest built into them too (where I would immediately fall asleep on my bed).
THE DINING
The cooking is gut friendly with no sugar, meat, dairy, wheat, alcohol or caffeine – and yet utterly delicious and surprisingly filling. The colourful and creative nutrient-dense diet is locally sourced, high in natural pre- and probiotics, and digestion is prioritised with set time for meals eaten with quality conversation and education around the food being served. Early dinners (6pm) lead the way to an overnight fast, designed to reset digestion and encourage deeper sleep. This is not a traditional detox or faddy juice cleanse, more a holistic lifestyle retreat to teach healthy habits that are achievable and sustainable once the retreat is over.
By breaking bad eating habits you become aware of which ingredients were hurting your body more than helping, which may lead to you wanting to let them go after the retreat. It’s widely known that a healthy gut leads to a healthier mood and mind, and this is the aim of the detox menu. You’ll go home armed with simple healthy recipes too: it gave me the confidence to cook with different ingredients – and the willpower to cut my daily chocolate bar during the mid afternoon office slump.
THE ROOMS
The former home of owners Simon and Mercedes, this is a space that feels homely. Eleven rooms are spread between the main house and a handful of more spacious eco chalet-like cabins with cavernous ceilings. With a simple and stylish rustic-boutique style – think wooden clad walls, huge beds with crisp linen and modern wet room style bathrooms – this is a modern-chic space with timeless touches. All rooms also come with a yoga mat, dry robe, fresh tea, purified water and cosy blankets making your stay comfortable and practical.
FINAL THOUGHTS
It’s easy to see why guests return to Yeotown again and again (they have an impressive 75 per cent rebook rate), and its teachings stick – slowly in some cases, but surely. Simon and Mercedes are very involved, leading many of the activities, and together they radiate health and happiness as they welcome you warmly into their home.
Although not a weight loss retreat, I emerged lighter, stronger in body and mind and very well rested. The programme is challenging in parts, with the main focus on getting outdoors and moving your body followed by refuelling with nutrient dense food. The warm and friendly staff make you feel part of a big family and it felt sad leaving and emerging back into the real world. It’s a relatively simple philosophy, but it works. I will be back.
Lead image credit: Yeotown
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