Mainland Moments – start the new year with a winter escape

After the excitement of Christmas, January is the perfect time to slow things down and make space for yourself. Serene wellness retreat? Check! A starlit nature walk? You’ve got it! A foodie experience to lift the spirits? Of course. The mainland is full of fresh inspiration and just a short hop across the Solent.

Wrap up warm, set your sights across the water, and start your year with a mainland adventure.

Kickstart the new year with a little self-care. On the mainland you’ll find tranquil escapes designed to help you reset and recharge. So pack the car and take a road trip to one of these beauties.

In the stunning Lake District, Farlam Hall Hotel and Restaurant hosts The Sycamore Retreat, where holistic treatments are paired with Michelin-star dining at Cedar Tree by Hrishikesh Desai.

In Scotland, the four-star Dunkeld House Hotel, a converted Georgian manor on the banks of the River Tay, blends traditional elegance with modern wellness. From Hebridean seaweed baths to ishga hot stone massages, it’s the kind of place where stress simply melts away.

In Wales, Wildwater Sauna brings the spa to the sea. This wood-fired retreat on wheels travels the Pembrokeshire coastlin; one week steaming above the surf at Broad Haven, the next perched by the cliffs of Porthclais Harbour. It’s the perfect excuse for Islanders seeking something a little different on a weekend getaway.

Kontrast in Manchester combines Nordic wellness and coffee culture at Britain’s first sauna-and-ice-bath café. Step from steaming heat into a cold plunge, then sip a matcha as the world outside slows down. A January ritual worth travelling for.

In Dorset, Louma, a countryside hotel near Lyme Regis, offers yoga, wild swims, and creative workshops on a working farm. Its farm-to-table dining and peaceful gardens make it an easy mainland escape from ferry to fresh air. This is a great option if you don’t want to travel far; it’s just 2 hours from our Lymington port.

Winter landscapes are some of our most beautiful – misty mornings, starlit skies and quiet trails just waiting to be explored.

For walkers, the newly completed King Charles III England Coast Path now stretches continuously from the Scottish border to Lincolnshire. The recently opened 42-mile stretch between Easington and Bridlington in Yorkshire offers peaceful winter walking, dramatic cliffs and miles of sea air. Finish it off closer to home back here on the Island.

For something softer, Dumble Farm in East Yorkshire offers the ultimate in mindful connection – cow cuddling sessions with gentle Highland cattle that are said to melt away stress.

Castlefield Viaduct in Manchester has been reimagined as a “garden in the sky.” Stroll along elevated walkways framed by winter blossoms and enjoy sweeping views over the city’s heritage quarter.

At night, join Adventures for the Soul in North Yorkshire for guided moonlit walks and stargazing experiences, or reconnect with nature through cold-water swims and saunas at Hwyl Outdoor Sauna in Saundersfoot, Wales.

If good food is your way of warming up the winter months, January brings plenty to savour.

In Greater Manchester, the Vegetarian Society Cookery School offers hands-on classes celebrating plant-based living, from knife skills to world cuisine. Take a Flavours of Manchester food tour for a deep dive into the city’s markets and global flavours. Perfect for a mainland weekend that feeds the senses.

Along the North Wales coast near Snowdonia, The Wild Food People’s Coastal Foraging Course teaches you how to identify and cook edible treasures found along the shore. It’s a fun way to make the most of those brisk winter walks.

In Devon, Fowlescombe Farm blends organic farming with food education, offering foraging, breadmaking and regenerative farming workshops in the foothills of Dartmoor.

And for something indulgent, Crabtree and Crabtree’s Epicurean Experiences in Northumberland pair luxury countryside stays with stargazing suppers, cocktail masterclasses and wild dining beneath the stars.

Each one is a reminder that great food – and great memories – are always worth the trip.

After the rush of the festive season it’s time to press pause. With so many new wellness retreats, scenic escapes and foodie adventures on the mainland, it’s never been easier to find a fresh perspective away from home.

Sail away from the everyday with Wightlink; quick, comfortable crossings and the freedom to explore your way. Whether it’s a relaxing day trip or a mindful weekend away, start your year with a journey that’s good for the soul.

Book your mainland escape now.