The Ultimate Rural Reset: The Body Camp’s Big Weekend Retreat – Review

Living your life at 1000 miles per hour? Constantly attached to your phone? Struggling to find enough time for yourself? Nicole Smallwood embarked on a three-day trip to the Body Camp UK retreat in Somerset to learn how to let go of her busy life, find her inner calm and enjoy a fitness and wellness experience like no other…

Review: The Body Camp’s UK Big Weekends

I wasn’t a complete novice when it came to the Body Camp, having previously embarked on seven-day retreats to both Ibiza and Mallorca. However, I was really excited to try out the three-day retreat closer to home, and to experience the difference that three days out of the hustle and bustle of city life really could make.

A short 90-minute train journey from London Paddington to Frome/Westbury in Somerset transported me to a tranquil spot in the heart of the British countryside. Drawing in a deep breath of clean country air, I was soon greeted by the resident llamas, pigs and goats… at which point I knew I was in for a treat.

My home for the next few days would be a modern country barn conversion. The beautifully decorated rooms provide accommodation for a maximum of 20 people with options including singles, doubles and dorms (all with ensuite bathrooms) making it ideal for singles, couples or groups. Lemongrass oils burn throughout the house, with REN shampoo & conditioner provided in each room helping to create an intimate, boutique hotel vibe.

The Programme

I suspect that everybody takes away something different from the experience, but for me it was the ability to be truly present. For three days I was free from the constant need to be planning or the unavoidable guilt when not planning; free from the daily stresses of a busy life; and able to live in the moment – definitely one of my most positive takeaways from the weekend. Learning to relax and trust the process allowed me to get the most out of the experience, with the aim of the weekend being to transform body and mind through a perfectly curated combination of fitness, nutrition and mindfulness. Get ready to laugh, embrace being pushed out of your comfort zone, prioritise yourself, make new friends and learn to reframe when the going gets tough.

Amongst the many activities available to embark upon are sound baths, breathwork, ice baths, fitness and cookery classes, walks, swimming, pilates, yoga, mind body and soul discussions, relaxation and of course the ‘Goggings’ (but I can’t give away all of the secrets). There genuinely is something to suit everybody. I would advise ending your experience with a relaxing massage before floating back to real life armed with knowledge and experience to help make real life a whole lot less daunting.

Founder Kate Whale perfectly summed up the weekend with the statement: ‘People break through mental and physical blockages and leave feeling fit, happy and hopefully with a newfound positive confidence and belief of what they are capable of.’

Food & Drink

‘Will I be hungry?’ is perhaps the most commonly asked question about any retreat, and I can assure you that nothing could be further from the truth. Every attendee receives a personalised meal plan prepared by the genius that is chef Ben Whale. The plan is 100% plant based and designed to detoxify the body and inspire positive mental health. By the end of their stay guests leave nutritionally educated and armed with plenty of home cooking tips which are easily incorporated into a daily diet allowing healthy food to be simple and delicious. Your taste buds will be truly tantalised and your journey home spent shopping for an air-fryer to recreate your favourite recipes. If, like me, you have a sweet tooth, keep a lookout for the cookie dough smoothie – a firm favourite.

BOOK IT

Body Camp is offering a special 20% discount off all remaining dates at the UK Big Weekends in September & October, with prices starting from £995 (full board) and also any seven-day/multi week bookings in Mallorca in August and September starting from £1850 (full board).

Body Camp is pivoting into a brand new era in 2025, celebrating its 10th year in business with a pop up in Morocco. Details of the brand new exciting venue will be released later in the year.

thebodycamp.com