Winning tip: Gladstone’s library, Flintshire

The Victorian prime minister’s library in north Wales is a peaceful retreat for mental wellbeing, especially for readers, writers and people looking for open-minded discussion. You can stay overnight too (doubles from £85 B&B). I have enjoyed several retreats there and found it a calm space for writing. The vaulted library is an inspiring, silent environment. The lounge – with deep leather sofas, open fire and honesty bar – is perfect for relaxing away from the laptop. Refurbished rooms are quiet and comfortable, the hearty meals are excellent, and the surroundings beautiful – residents are also given permits to walk in the lovely woods around Hawarden Castle.
Helen Colley

Bolilanga island, Indonesia

Bolilanga is one of the Togian islands in North Sulawesi. To get there, you’ll need to get the Wakai-Malange ferry, getting off at Katupat, and then take a small boat. The sun is hot, the water too; contemplation is the only activity. Below the water’s surface you’ll see squid zipping around; the coral is beautifully coloured and sometimes a shoal of huge Napoleon fish glide by. When out of the sea, sway in your hammock, drink a fresh juice or a beer. Time has no value here, and what matters is deciding where to watch the sunset from.
Cédric Guigon

Cortijo Romero, Spain

Established as a retreat in 1986 and centre for alternative holidays, Cortijo Romero is a place of utter tranquillity just outside Órgiva, the main town of the Alpujarra mountains just south of Granada. Begin your day with yoga on the roof and end it stargazing in the gardens. I’ve been in all seasons and it is blessed with the most amazing light and warmth which, alongside the locally sourced vegetarian food, refreshes mind, body and soul.
cortijo-romero.co.uk, one-week courses from £640pp, excluding flights
suzyc61

The Vine Retreat, Cambodia

I’ve just returned from the Vine Retreat near the seaside resort of Kep with Reclaim Yourself. The Vine is ethically run, ploughing much-needed funds into the local community, and among other things has built a local school. Its simple, elegant rooms, salt water swimming pool and stunning location are immediately relaxing. We had four hours’ blissful and insightful yoga per day with teacher Lisa Sanfilippo and great gluten-free meals. It was the perfect combination of people, place and peace to see in the new year
Easter retreat from £700pp, excluding flights, 4-10 April
ID257397

Gaia House, Devon

In a tranquil rural setting, Gaia House is a great place for silent meditation in the Buddhist tradition. Accommodation is in basic single-sex dorms. Bells commence at 6.30am to signal guided meditations, good square meals such as porridge and soup, and allotted tasks. Mine was dusting the library. There is no reading, texting, or any other kind of communication. Insightful teachers help guests achieve a calm state of mind. Prices vary according to income and stays can vary in length. Although run in the Buddhist tradition, Gaia House is open to all.
CornishJay

Bliss in Birmingham

The magnificent 10-acre garden setting of the Woodbrooke Quaker Centre is a great place for a relaxing stay in beautiful, calm surroundings and reflective company. My family ditched our phones and iPads and really bonded there. The Grade II-listed building is spacious, with an organic garden for spiritual reflection, and locally sourced products are cooked on a wood-burning stove. It’s the former home of George Cadbury, and Mahatma Gandhi stayed there once.
doubles £61 B&B
nicoletta

Bathe in Bath

The view over Bath’s skyline from the rooftop swimming pool at Thermae Bath would make anyone feel better. It doesn’t cost a fortune to detox in Britain’s only naturally warm mineral rich waters just as the Romans and Celts did 2,000 years ago. The facilities are open day and night, with steam room and aromatherapy treatments. The food is great, too: try the Cotswold lamb cooked in Somerset cider. Spa sessions from £32, treatments extra
funinfinland

St Peter Ording resort, Germany

Northern Germany wouldn’t strike many as a likely place for a retreat on a weekend trip. But a recent visit to St Peter Ording, a seaside resort two hours’ drive from Hamburg, did wonders for me. In summer, the 12km beach, sand dunes, and cooling North Sea water is perfect for relaxation. In winter, you can spend a couple of hours at the spa (with outdoor and indoor sauna and heated pool facilities) at a decent price, followed by delicious treats at the cosy beach restaurant Arche Noah. I recommend the pumpkin soup and garlic bread. It is also the perfect spot to watch the sunset across the sea.
Basic treatments from €60 for an hour
TwinnyDip

Yoga and surfing, Brazil

The Enchanted Mountain centre offers yoga sessions morning and evening in a mountain setting five minutes’ drive from stunning beaches near Garopaba. Daytimes were spent with a hilarious mixed crowd of surfers wanting to learn yoga and yogis wanting to learn to surf. Friendly instructors pushed us on to favourable waves in gentle rolling surf. We played, encouraged and yahooed. Food and treatments were fantastic and evening activities wonderfully surprising. Over the four days I was there, I relaxed and felt joy bubbling up to overflowing. This is also a fabulous jumping-off point for exploring the south of Brazil.
FionaMassari

Tailwind Jungle Lodge, Mexico

This is an affordable Mexican Pacific paradise, just up the road from the resort of Puerto Vallarta. Tailwind Jungle Lodge is on a hillside with tree houses and casitas and its own crescent beach facing the setting sun. Yoga, surfing, paddleboarding, and holistic nutrition professionals are on hand in a relaxed atmosphere created by the family who built and operate the retreat.
tailwindoutdoor.com. Self-catering lodges from $80 for two
jptgilmore