Yoga Field & Sea

Summer 2024 – June 21-25 and June 25-29

Our 4 night all inclusive 'Swimmer's Retreats' are for open water swimmers who want to complete numerous iconic UK ocean and river swims in one glorious trip, combined with daily Yoga and guided coastal hikes.

SWIM

Over the course of 3 'Swim Days,' our professional and experienced water safety team from Coast to Coast Water Safety will take our small group (max 12) on multiple river and ocean swims. Each 'Swim Day' will include 1 or 2 swims covering a total of 5-10km.

Possible swims include:
The Bantham Swoosh - a 6km tidal assisted river swim from Aveton Gifford to Bantham beach
Circumnavigation of Burgh Island - a short 1.6km swim with beautiful channels to explore
The Dart 10k - a 10km tidal assisted river swim from Totnes to Dittisham
Start Bay Explore - A 'there and back' swim along Start Bay taking in the Lost Village of Hallsands (7km)
Sea to Sauna - An 8 km ocean swim (split into 2 legs) from Torcross to Blackpool sands (voted best UK beach) by Conde Nast, ending at the beach Sauna
Thurlestone Rock - A 2.5km beach to beach swim through Thurlestone Rock ending in Hope Cove
This retreat is suitable for swimmers who can swim 1 km in 30 mins (freestyle), and are comfortable swimming in open water.

HIKE

The world famous South West Coast Path passes outside the front door of the retreat house, and the ocean is right next to us! The home is situated in the centre of the pretty coastal village of Torcross, next to the beach, and opposite Slapton Ley.

During your stay with us, you'll have the chance to pull on your hiking shoes and trek across Devon's rolling fields and dramatic cliff tops. Our swim schedule incorporates optional extra hiking. For example, in the morning we might swim North along the coastline and after lunch you can choose to either swim back or alternatively hike back on the famous South West Coast path - giving you the opportunity to sample the coastline views from sea and dry land!

We'll do all the hard work, transporting your hiking gear to wherever you need it, and on some more remote swims there is the option to use our Ruck Rafts to tow your hiking gear. Check out our recommend kit list for full details.

YOGA

To complement your restful afternoons, Natalie, your highly experienced Yoga instructor (and avid
open water swimmer), will run Yoga classes specifically designed for swimmers. These are not your average yoga classes, these are sessions designed to educate, as well as bring relief to those aching shoulders! You will go home with a huge amount of new knowledge about how to complement your swimming by stretching on dry land - building swimming strength as well as making time for the all important post swim recovery.

Classes will take place either on the beach, or on the ground floor of the retreat house, in our beautiful
beachside studio (Start Bay Studio), with fabulous views across Slapton Ley. Small class sizes mean a more personal experience, giving you the opportunity to learn the importance of alignment, while also getting the chance to ask questions and master various movements.

LOCATION

The Old Bakehouse is our newly renovated retreat home in Torcross, South Devon, next to the ocean at the west end of the 3-mile stretch of shingle beach known as Slapton Sands - a favourite destination for all outdoor lovers, from walkers and sea swimmers to bird watchers and sun worshippers.

With a rich history, Torcross is a quintessential Devon coastal village offering direct access to world class sea sea swimming, beautiful countryside and the famous South West Coast Path.

The iconic Slapton Line dissects the sea and Slapton Ley Nature Reserve, one of southern England's largest freshwater lakes. Guests will find an abundance of wildlife, including the opportunity to spot inquisitive seals, who are regular visitors to this fabulous stretch of coastline.

DINING

We love food at Yoga Field & Sea so we have designed a superb menu that makes the most of the local, organic, fresh produce available from the local area. Our talented chef, Janey Syrett, is always a massive hit among guests who are always delighted by her fresh, creative dishes. Her dishes are inspired by her years as Head Chef in some of the South West's top restaurants, and from famous chefs such as Yotam Ottolenghi and Tara Wigley.

When swimming long distances, it's important to eat well and replace energy. Every day, we provide
everything you need: hearty and wholesome breakfasts, pack lunches, evening 3 course dinners, and plenty of snacks and hot drinks. We know all about the need for fuel while swimming for long distances, so our menus cater for hungry guests. You definitely won't go hungry!

We can also cater for all dietary requirements.

STAY

Our Swimmer's Retreat is based at our very own property The Old Bakehouse, a newly renovated 'boutique style' Victorian property just steps from the ocean, offering 5-star comfort, a dedicated Yoga Studio, and a hot-tub for ultimate relaxation. On the ground floor we have Start Bay Studio, our lovely Yoga space with infrared heaters, blankets, bolsters, mats and all the equipment we will need for classes. The ground floor Victorian hallway leads up to the 2nd and 3rd floors which make up The Old Bakehouse.

With 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms, this beachside home offers guests access to beautiful, tastefully furnished large open plan spaces with stunning lake views.

Guests can also enjoy some downtime switching between ocean and hot tub (with outdoor hot shower), browsing our shelves of swimming and Yoga books, or exploring the nearby village, countryside and stunning coastline that's right outside the door.