South Lodge Hotel is nestled in the South Downs in Horsham. Set in an impressive 93 acres with an award-winning spa, their new package will take you deep into nature, and treat your body and mind at the same time.

The Nature Immersion day combines an incredible selection of restorative treats designed to get you in tune with yourself and your surroundings. Giving us the all too rare opportunity to slow down and lose ourselves in nature. It includes two hours of Qi Gong – a gentle energy practice, seasonal lunch at Botanica, and expert-led forest bathing. Not to mention full use of the spa afterwards (which has just won ‘Best Spa in The South East’ at the Good Spa Guide awards).

Helena welcomes you into the day with a grounding session of Qi Gong and breathwork. This helps calm the mind and reduce the stress of our everyday busy lives. Two hours of gentle but energising exercise fired up an appetite that was deliciously followed by the freshest lunch at Botanica with many seasonal and plant-based dishes from head chef Jonathan Spiers.

Following lunch with the group you all grab a yoga mat and head into the woods for forest bathing. A mindful walk through the grounds we then found our own spot in the dappled late-autumn light to lay or sit as Helena talked us through a guided meditation that tuned our every sense into the forest around us leading to an incredibly relaxed feeling. Helena Skoog of Forest Bathing Sussex runs these days three times a year in spring, summer, and autumn. Each offering a different opportunity to connect with the seasons. She was brilliant at talking about the origins and science behind the benefits of Forest bathing. If you’re even vaguely interested in mindfulness I can’t say how amazing it is to do it outside. The autumn colours and crunch of leaves, wild deer and conkers were a complete bonus.

You can see why the South Lodge Spa just won the AA Hospitality Awards for Best Spa with its incredible sauna, aromatherapy room thick with jasmine scent, infinity pool and my absolute favourite – the fresh water swimming pond. It was the perfect way to wrap up a day of slowing down and reconnecting with nature. You can choose to attend for the day or the overnight package and make use of the spa both days, staying in your wonderfully relaxed bubble.

It was lovely to see people coming alone, in couples, with friends and with older and younger family members, not only connecting with nature but also making time and space to slow down and connect with each other.

Saturday 16 March 2024 (Springtime focus)

Saturday 15 June 2024 (Summertime focus)

Saturday 19 October 2024 (Autumnal focus)

Prices:

Single occupancy from £599 per room
Double and twin occupancy from £799 per room

Just for the day: £220 per person