This Cold Water Wellness Weekend Is The Perfect Way To Kick Start 2025

The colder months might have you reaching for your thermals and blankets, or even booking a sunny holiday in the southern hemisphere. But what if we leaned in and embraced what mother nature has to throw at us? This is the idea underpinning The Wellness Weekend, the first in Marine & Lawn’s new series of Adventure Weekends, hosted by cold-water swimmer, surfer, yoga instructor and environmental advocate, Sophie Hellyer.

Backdropped by Marine Troon’s glorious coastal setting, guests get a taste of nature through walks and chilly dips – and a taste of indulgence in the hotel’s spa, spacious bedrooms, delicious restaurants and beautifully appointed lounge-cum-bar. We trekked to Troon to get a taste of it for ourselves.

The Isle of Arran on the horizon. (© Marine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts)

The Wellness Weekend At Marine Troon

What is your 2025 resolution? I’m in the process of carving out a new version of myself: someone who frequents the gym, is on top of her finances, and cooks more than three recipes on rotation. It is, of course, always the same – and all superficial, too. A deeper resolution? Carving out time to exist in my mind and body, to push both out of their usual comfort zones, and to nourish both with colourful plates of food.

Embarking on Marine Troon’s first Wellness Weekend was a preview, of sorts, of this new me. Stretching from Friday afternoon until Sunday afternoon and hosted at the coastal Scottish hotel – typically a haven for golfers – the balance of restorative classes and comforting free time was the ultimate escapism. Yoga, wild swimming, breathwork and walking are all on the agenda – but so are nourishing lunches, tea and cake, and free time in the hotel’s lovely spa. (You could even tack on a treatment…)

Thaw in Marine Troon’s spa. (© Alexander Baxter/Marine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts)

Cold water swimming isn’t for the faint of heart at the best of times, and in winter it presents even more challenges (namely getting out and relayering in the wind, rain and, in our case, snow). Stripping off on a Scottish beach amid gale force winter winds sounds rather offputting, doesn’t it? A dog walker watching us descend onto the beach and reveal our skin to the elements spoke to the same tune. As I exposed my toes to the ice-cold sand and followed my peers in a daze to the water’s edge, as I bounded into its shallows and lunged deeper and deeper into its salty waves, slowly squatting as my teeth chattered a rapid beat, I can safely say my mind was entirely empty. All of my focus was on survival – on stomaching the next minute so the whole ordeal could end.

This almost feral return to my bodily instincts makes sense. Also known as ‘recreational hypothermia’, short bursts of cold water immersion like this give the immune system a powerful boost. As my body retreats to its natural shock response, I override it with mindful breathing and enjoy the flood of dopamine, endorphins and serotonin pumping through my veins.

This is why, emerging into the equally-cold air, galloping ashore and over to my snuggly DryRobe, still no thoughts emerged; everything in my mind and body were overruled by external factors – the cold. It felt like inhaling a dose of clarity – of quiet. We haphazardly dusted sand from toes and stuffed feet into bedsocks before drifting back to Marine Troon, where the sauna and spa stood like a beacon in the dark, ready to save off any afterdrop.

Thawing in the shower, then the pool, then that delicious sauna, my body gradually returned to itself – but the clarity stuck around. I was filled with an inexplicable elation, feeling chatty and hyper like I’d consumed lots of sugar or caffeine. A delicious breakfast, gentle vinyasa flow and blustery coastal walk are all perfect ways to shake off the energy, accompanied by breathtaking views of the snowcapped Isle of Arran mountains (on the walk and through Marine Troon’s windows).

The Seal Bar is a cosy place to relax. (© Marine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts)

Or just wander off to your bedroom – one of 89 homely spaces decorated with characterful coastal Scottish decor echoing the surrounding landscape. I loved curling up in my armchair, listening to the sea lap against the shore as I cracked the spine of a good book. Or head downstairs, where The Seal Bar is filled with cosy sofas and armchairs and equally perfect views.

Every meal time, the Marine Troon team is ready with a bounty of fresh local ingredients to enjoy, with nourishing vegetarian, fish and meat options perfectly balanced with indulgent desserts (the sticky toffee pudding is a delightful pocket of nostalgia). Choose between The Seal Bar for laidback lunches or The Rabbit for a more refined setting and golf course views. Breakfast is served here, too – make sure you bag a seat by the window to watch the sea ebb and flow, and the world drift by.

It epitomises the whole experience: how luxurious it feels to spend a weekend committed to yourself, mind, body and spirit – both nourishing and indulgent.

Seaview King Room. (© Marine & Lawn Hotels & Resorts)

BOOK IT

The Wellness Weekend runs on two weekends in early 2025: 31 January to 2 February and 21 to 23 February, both guided by Sophie Hellyer. Single occupancy prices begin at £495 per person for a King Room, or £595 for a Sea View Room. Packages are inclusive of all main meals, beverages (tea, coffee and water), wellness activities and accommodation for two nights. Secure your spot at marineandlawn.com

Getting There

Marine Troon is located a 10 minute walk (or 5 minute taxi ride) from Troon Station, which has regular services to Glasgow Central. Here, find services to the rest of the UK, including direct to London Euston.