Food should be tasty, and it doesn’t have to come in a bowl. Could someone tell my lovely American hosts?

I’ve had some amazing experiences in Boston. But I want fun from my holiday meals, not joyless refuelling

From hill walks and yoga to foraging and wild swimming: 12 of the best active UK retreats

These short breaks from the Inner Hebrides to Bodmin Moor offer the chance to relax and recalibrate amid beautiful natural landscapes

“My mind, usually a torrent of work stress, has fallen silent”: how I found peace on a woodland retreat

I arrived feeling soul sick and lost, but the simple acts of putting away my phone and sitting in the woods for a few days turned into something profoundly transformational

‘For tranquillity nowhere else comes close’: readers’ favourite UK retreats

An outdoor eco-spa in Wales and riverside yoga in North Yorkshire are among the highlights of our tipsters’ most revitalising breaks

I’ve made secret discoveries on my doorstep: a year-long journey across my local OS map

We have become disconnected from the wild world around us and I wanted to get regular small doses of the delights of travelling without having to wait for the trip of a lifetime

Totally unplugged: a digital detox holiday in Cheshire

Would a stay in a remote off-grid cabin – with phones locked away – be respite from the madness of the Christmas season for this young family?

‘Just strap on the footwear and walk’: a snowshoeing holiday for beginners in Bulgaria

A week conquering a new winter sport across three magical mountain ranges is both challenging and exhilarating – with hot springs and hikes providing the icing on the cake

Rugged lakes, panoramic peaks and sparkling bays: five underrated Victorian walks

From history lessons to art appreciation, these lesser-known walks in regional Victoria immerse visitors in nature and so much more

Feel the heat: the Northern Irish beach that’s embracing Scandinavian sauna culture

The Finnish-style Hotbox is making waves on Benone Strand but Ireland has its own tradition of therapeutic ‘sweathouses’. Plus six more stylish beach saunas, from Shetland to Sussex

Smoke, sweat and tears: my initiation into Estonia’s sauna sisterhood

A powerful documentary about the Baltic state’s sauna tradition has proved a surprise hit. But what’s it like for an outsider to join this sacred and intimate space?