Escape to the Woods: A Slow Living Retreat in Herefordshire

If you’ve been searching for the perfect UK woodland retreat or off-grid getaway, then read on.

I’m Laura, Founder of Rock + Realm, and this journal is my space for exploring spiritual wellness, seasonal rituals and the mindful magic of slowing down. I love to share real-life experiences that inspire small, accessible ways to reconnect with yourself and nature.

In August, that inspiration came in the form of a long weekend away; a return to one of my favourite UK dog friendly hideaways Brook House Woods in Herefordshire, an eco-friendly retreat near the market town of Bromyard. It’s the sort of place where the track to the cabin is bumpy, the Wi-Fi is blissfully absent and the air smells of wood smoke, damp earth and meadow flowers. A perfect late-summer escape and the perfect reminder that the sacredness of simple pleasures doesn’t have to end when summer does. 

Trees have always held a special place in my heart and this UK woodland retreat in the Herefordshire countryside reminded me why. They ground me, calm me and bring a deep peace I can’t find anywhere else. Their gentle presence has shaped much of my wellbeing journey and they’re at the root of Rock + Realm’s Nature value: our commitment to honouring the Earth in everything we do. This break in the woods felt extra magical because, as I was here breathing in the forest air, thanks to our community effort, we hit our 2,000+ trees planted milestone. Serendipity at its best.

 

The Art of Slow Living in the UK Countryside

This is our story of getting back to basics and indulging in slow living rituals in the heart of England's glorious countryside; a woodland escape to ground ourselves, switch off and sink into the rhythm of nature. Along the way, I’ll share simple, mindful living practices you can recreate for free at home, plus a few Rock + Realm treasures to bring a touch of woodland magic into your own space.

 

Friday Evening - Coming Home to the Woods

We've been periodically retreating to our favourite dog-friendly woodland cabins near Bromyard in the Malverns since 2019, even spending a peaceful Christmas here one year. Bromyard is known as the ‘Town of Festivals’ and sits between the Malvern Hills and the Welsh border, making it a great base for exploring rolling hills, cider orchards and walking trails.

It feels like coming home as we turn the corner onto the farm track, the familiar bumpy road rolls out beneath us, leading down the hill to the farmhouse, orchards and hop fields. At the bottom, the babbling stream sings its welcome and I feel my spirits lift. My whole body exhales.

Our first evening ritual unfolds as always; unpacking our home comforts, spreading blankets on the bed, setting Rocket’s dog bed in the picture window, my small olive wood dish of crystals placed on the bedside table and my favourite journal open, ready for morning pages. Once the fridge is filled and a beer and glass of wine are poured, the BBQ starts to heat up. We relish the ritual of ‘denning up’ in our treehouse and hunkering down in the wilderness that surrounds us. Sitting behind the cabin, enveloped by trees, feels like returning home both physically and spiritually. The scent of damp earth, green leaves and meadow grass drifts past on the breeze.

Here, there’s nothing we need to do, no 'to do' lists, no one to impress and no rush — just the quiet joy of being. We always pretend this is our full-time life: a simple woodland existence with only the basics we need to thrive. Rocket is giddy being able to roam freely in his new surroundings, tail wagging as he trots back with each new discovery to share.

Mindful Living Tip – Forest Bathing

 

Q: What is Forest Bathing?

A: The Japanese practice of Shinrin-yoku or forest bathing, is rooted in simply being among trees; not hiking, not ticking off a to-do list, but immersing yourself in the sounds, scents and sights of the woodland. Science shows that inhaling phytoncides (the natural oils released by trees) can lower stress hormones, reduce blood pressure and boost your immune system. 

Try it at home: Find a local park, woodland or even a tree-lined street or garden. Wander slowly through the trees, notice the textures, the sun-dappled light on the leaves, the sounds of birds, insects or small animals and breathe the scent of the earth and trees deeply. Trust me, it feels like your nervous system is hitting the reset button.

 

Saturday - Slow Mornings and Cider Gardens

We wake early at 6.30am to sunlight creeping through the curtainless windows of Oriana, our beautifully crafted cabin in the woods. The huge handcrafted wooden bed is a giant cocoon of cosiness, so we snuggle in with a fresh cafetière of coffee, made in the old-school stovetop kettle that whistles shrilly when it boils. Out of the big picture window, a tangle of green leaves is framed by a perfect blue sky and the veranda balustrade. I sip coffee and gaze at it happily... not missing my usual morning digital scroll one bit.

There's over 300 acres of land to explore at Brook Woods Farm, so before the heat builds, we head out on one of the recommended walks around the hop fields and riverside. We stop to enjoy the best vista on the farm as you walk the track down from the woods, drinking in the views over the rolling hills of the Bromyard Downs as the rising sun spills gold over the farmland. This little off-grid woodland getaway in rural England always makes my spirits lift. We loop past cornfields, skirt the fields full of dangling hop vines and pass the old barn, tennis courts and onsite cider distillery we bookmark to visit later. 

Mindful Living Tip – Horizon Gazing

Q: Why does looking at distant views feel so calming?

A: Gazing at the horizon relaxes your eye muscles, reduces digital eye strain and activates the parasympathetic nervous system, helping you unwind. This simple act signals to your brain that you’re safe, reducing stress and improving focus.

Try it at home: Stand at your window, in your garden or find an open field. Let your eyes rest on the furthest point you can see for a few minutes until you feel your eyes relax and drink in the furthest point you can see. As well as relaxing your muscles, you'll start to feel a sense of spaciousness and calm. Short on time? Doing this for as little as 30 seconds at a time will improve your eye health and reset your nervous system.

The hill back up through the woods definitely feels a lot steeper than on the way down, so I feel we're earning our impending breakfast feast. The local handmade sausages and bacon from Legges that we ordered for our arrival definitely deserve the BBQ treatment. Cooking on the veranda, coffee in hand, with the birds singing and the smell of wildflowers drifting up from the meadow feels like the perfect start to the day. It's not long before full bellies and another deep sigh of contentment all round.

We spend the rest of the morning reading, leaping up now and then to log new birds on our Merlin app; long-tailed tits, chaffinches, chiffchaffs, spotted flycatchers and a willow warbler. Then it’s time for our afternoon treat nestling between the apples and the hops on Brook House Farm; cider tasting at Little Pomona, an award-winning cider producer tucked between apple orchards and hop fields on Brook House Farm

"Little Pomona crafts ciders and perries and other fermented beverages that speak of the land, that taste of the harvest, that illustrate the wonderful cidermaking heritage the region is built on, and that look to the future."

From April to September, the tasting room is open every Saturday, serving small-batch heritage cider and perry made right there on the farm. The large Cider garden is scattered with picnic benches under shady apple trees, the perfect spot for lazy sipping. Rocket naps on his cool mat, occasionally wandering to explore the heritage orchard or visit neighbouring picnic benches with optimistic eyes.

We try delicious perry and fruity cider blends, read our books, chat and share a yummy charcuterie platter, fending off a few persistent wasps. A perfectly serene afternoon that's worth commemorating with a souvenir Little Pomona T-Shirt each, black for him and green for me.

Mindful Living Tip – The Art of Slow Living

Q: What is slow living?

A: Slow living isn’t about doing less for the sake of it; it’s about doing things at a pace that allows you to truly notice. Whether you’re sipping cider under apple trees, feeling the comforting weight of a book in your hands or letting conversation meander without clock-watching, these are the pockets of time where mindful presence happens naturally. Slow living emphasises focus on the present moment and being intentional about your daily activities in order to reduce the relentless fast pace productivity cult of modern life.

Try it at home: Choose one daily activity, it can be as simple as making tea, reading a chapter of your book in a comfy chair or walking the dog, and give it your full attention without rushing. Notice the textures, scents and sounds as they unfold; really sink into that present moment and lose yourself in a sense of flow. Like meditation, if you get distracted, just bring your focus back to the task in hand without judgement.

The climb back to the cabin always feels steep, but nothing beats the moment we round the meadow corner and see Oriana waiting for us, our beautiful oasis nestled in the trees.

After a rest on the veranda, we decide to tackle the home pizza kit we’ve been excited to try using the pizza oven on the veranda of our beloved treehouse. Despite excellent instructions, stretching dough is a lot trickier than it looks and between my cooking incompetence and a not-quite-hot-enough pizza oven, the end result is tasty but undercooked.

We laugh it off, wrap in blankets and cosy up on the veranda with Rocket between us, listening to a podcast as dusk falls and we settle into our slow evening ritual of watching the moon rise over the trees with a soothing backdrop of woodland nocturnal sounds.

Sunday - Wandering Between Town and Trees

Chris wakes early at 6.30am again, but it's Sunday, so I stay resolutely buried in my duvet cocoon, drifting somewhere between dreams and the sound of Rocket padding about. I resist rising until Rocket climbs on top of me, nudging his nose under the covers to check I’m still there. Chris runs himself a bath in the hard-to-resist rolltop bath at the end of the bed while Rocket and I snuggle, dozing to the gentle sound of running water.

The kettle’s high-pitched whistle and the scent of fresh coffee finally lure me out. While Chris slips into the steaming bath to sip coffee and watch the sunrise over the trees through the picture window, I curl up with my journal to capture yesterday’s memories.

Peace reigns until a sudden clatter and stream of obscenities... Chris has knocked the bath caddy and his coffee cup tumbles into the bath. A perfectly good cup of Herefordshire’s finest now doubling as rather fancy bathwater. We both dissolve into laughter, commenting that caffeine is probably good for your complexion. 

 

Exploring Herefordshire, Worcestershire and the Malvern Hills

After our slow veranda breakfast, we decided to swap our woodland cocoon for a little civilisation and headed into Great Malvern, which straddles the Malvern Hills in Worcestershire, England, and gives incredible views of the surrounding countryside. Known for its Victorian spa heritage and pure spring water, Great Malvern is a magnet for walkers, wellness seekers and history lovers alike.

Priory Park greeted us with ducklings bobbing on the pond, Rocket’s noisy squirrel chase (all tail, no catch) and a soft green frame of trees. The park itself is a peaceful green space dating back to the 19th century, perfect for a free mindfulness walk or simple “earthing” moment by the grass and pond.

We meandered around the town, popping into lovely boutiques like Rhubarb, a dreamy home and lifestyle store where the artwork whispered to come home with us, but we resisted (for now). If you love mindful living spaces, this shop is a treasure trove of ideas to bring that slow living vibe into your own home.

Another steep incline (we're getting our steps in this holiday!) up to Elgar's fountain rewarded us with shade beneath the trees and the cool trickle of Malvern's famous spring water. This water is naturally filtered through ancient rock formations over 650 million years old before emerging from over 100 hillside springs;  a geological wonder unique to this part of England. We paused there to taste the pure mountain filtered spa water, a perfect example of how slowing your pace changes the day’s whole energy. For centuries, locals and visitors have believed Malvern water to be health-giving and you can still fill a reusable bottle for free at several town spouts (like Malvhina's Spout pictured), making it a simple, cost-free wellbeing ritual to add to your day.

Naturally, our wandering ultimately led to a dog friendly local coffee shop, Malvern Coffee Culture, for chilled drinks and homemade cake, because mindfulness is also about savouring life’s small and sweet cakey pleasures. Independent coffee spots like this are perfect for slowing down whether you journal, sketch, or simply people-watch with a locally roasted brew.

On the way back towards Bromyard we stopped for another of life's small pleasures at The Live & Let Live, a thatched 16th-century pub on Bringsty Common, known for its unspoilt countryside views and wildlife spotting. With a chilled local cider in hand, barn swallows darting overhead and the sun shining bright, it felt like a true Herefordshire moment. Bringsty Common itself is a haven for walkers, with free access to open countryside, wildflowers in summer and sweeping Herefordshire views that make you want to linger until sunset. Having once got very lost trying the walk from Brook House Farm to Bringsty Common, we decide to stick to the comfort of the beautiful pub garden for now.

Back at the cabin, we settled in for a lazy evening on the veranda with nostalgic tunes drifting into the trees, a glass in hand and an ear tuned to every birdcall. Later, we followed the path over the cornfields, drinking in the sight of hedgerows heavy with late summer berries. Noticing seasonal changes like this, from berries to birdsong, is a form of “phenology”. This ancient practice of observing nature’s cycles keeps us rooted in the present moment and increases your sense of connection to place and time.

As dusk fell, the world slowed. We watched the full moon lift gently over the treetops, then turned our binoculars to the star-pricked sky. The hush of the woods wrapped around us, a stillness you can’t download or bottle, only live. It’s these pockets of time with no rush and no notifications that free wellbeing practices thrive in

 

Monday – Sun, Shade & Slow Rituals

The day began with our now-familiar breakfast ritual: a BBQ on the veranda, coffee steaming in the cool morning air. After a shower, we spent the day exactly where we wanted to be... on the veranda, faces turned to the sun, books in hand, leaping up now and then to identify new bird songs. We use the Merlin bird listening app to spot local birdlife; today's catches include house martins, ravens, jays, a common buzzard and a tree creeper.

Mindful Living Tip – Birdsong for Stress Relief

Q: Why is birdsong so soothing?

A: Birdsong can lower stress hormones and boost feelings of safety and calm. Our brains evolved to associate bird chatter with peaceful, predator-free environments. Studies have found that birdsong can lower anxiety and even improve mood for hours after listening.

Try it at home: Open a window in the morning and listen or use the Merlin app to identify species in your garden or on countryside walks. Noticing different calls and learning to name them deepens the relaxing effect as it turns sound into connection. Catching new birds, like catching Pokemon, appeals to your inner child and adds an extra dimension to countryside walks.

In the heat of midday, I tucked myself into the shade of the woods at the back of the cabin for a short meditation, using the sounds of the forest as my anchor instead of the breath; the rustle of leaves, a distant chiffchaff, the whisper of wind in the canopy. The way I sometimes recreate this at home is by misting my space with palo santo spray before sitting to journal or meditate. Mindful Living Tip: Sound meditations can be particularly grounding in nature and studies show they can help lower heart rate and boost feelings of calm.

Later, I swapped meditation for doodling and journalling, small creative acts that, without any pressure to “be good”, become a quiet form of play. Try this: next time you’re outdoors, sketch a leaf or jot down what you can see, hear, smell, taste and feel. It’s a way of capturing the moment more vividly than a photo.

By late afternoon, the heat had softened and we took Rocket for a trundle through the shady woods on our doorstep. Since our last visit in October 2023, the old route to the orchards has grown wild, now blocked by nettles and brambles. Not to be thwarted, we take a different route deep into the woods, wondering at the hedgerows alive with elderberries and blackberries in mixed states of ripeness and unseen creatures rustling below. Rocket navigating through the undergrowth carefully, ears tuned to every scurry ready to give chase.

Thankfully, when we reach the end of the woodland we found the orchard path still accessible and walked out into the field with a sense of small victory and relief. Back at our dog friendly woodland cabin, we cooked the last of our deli treats from Legges, tossed together a fresh salad and waited for dusk to light the fire pit. Cuddled up on the picnic blankets, we let the crackle of flames and the night’s chorus wash over us.

On the final evening, my Merlin bird app rewarded me with a long-awaited Tawny Owl recording; hurrah, a perfect nightcap for a rural break. Then it was one last deep sleep in the cabin's cocooning bed before packing up and trundling back up the farm track towards the flatlands of Norfolk, already planning when we can next visit our woodland home again. 

 

Final Reflections: Bringing the Woodland Escape Home

Escapes to the UK countryside like this are more than a holiday, they’re a reminder that seasonal rituals don’t need grand gestures. You can take the essence of summer’s slow living into autumn: morning coffee by a window, a walk tuned into birdsong, a scent that brings back the woods.

If you’re looking for a UK dog-friendly woodland retreat where you can truly switch off, Brook House Woods is one of the most peaceful off-grid countryside getaways you’ll find in England. Much of that magic is thanks to Chris and Cassie, who took over the farm last May after leaving successful London careers to embrace rural life. They’ve kept its charm alive while adding their own warmth; even gifting us a bottle of white wine from the farm’s vineyard during our stay. It’s the perfect slow living retreat for anyone ready to breathe out, tune in and remember the sacredness of simple pleasures.

As we stand in this bridge between seasons, August melting into September, there’s an opportunity to carry summer’s pleasures forward. The warmth of late-evening walks, the joy of eating outdoors, the mindful hush of watching a horizon soften into dusk; all can be reimagined for the cooler months. On darker nights, bring the woods indoors: light earthy incense like our Herb & Earth natural incense sticks for mindful living, mist the room with Sacred Palo Santo Smudge Spray for a grounding ritual or warm your hands around a mug of herbal tea while an Oracle Card Deck offers a moment of reflection. Keep an Amethyst Sphere nearby to anchor your space in calm or hold a Worry Stone during quiet moments to ground your thoughts.

Slow living is less about where you are and more about how you choose to be. Whether you’ve escaped to the UK countryside wrapped in blankets on a woodland veranda or curled up in your own living room, the magic of presence is always within reach. And sometimes, all it takes to find it is a deep breath, a mindful pause and a little reminder of the season’s gifts.

 

If you’re inspired and planning your own visit to explore the delights of Herefordshire and the Malvern Hills, check out my recommendations

 

• Brook House Woods – An off-grid woodland retreat near Bromyard with handcrafted cabins, rolling meadow views and total digital detox potential.

• Bromyard – Known as the ‘Town of Festivals’ and surrounded by cider orchards, hop fields and the scenic Bromyard Downs.

• Little Pomona Cider Distillery, Tasting Room & Garden – Award-winning heritage cider and perry tastings in the orchards where they’re made, right on Brook House Farm.

• Great Malvern – A historic spa town in the Malvern Hills, famed for its pure spring water, Victorian architecture, Elgar connections and independent boutiques.

• Priory Park, Malvern – A green oasis in the centre of Malvern, perfect for a picnic or a mindful stroll around the duck pond.

• Elgar’s Fountain – Named for composer Sir Edward Elgar, this spring-fed fountain is a shaded spot to taste Malvern’s famous mountain-filtered water.

• Rhubarb Home – A dreamy home and lifestyle store in Malvern with art, textiles and décor to bring a slow living aesthetic into your home.

• Malvern Coffee Culture – A dog-friendly coffee shop serving homemade cakes and chilled drinks — perfect after a morning’s exploring.

• The Live & Let Live, Bringsty Common – A 16th-century thatched pub with one of the prettiest beer gardens in Herefordshire, complete with sweeping hill views and barn swallows overhead.

• Bringsty Common – An unspoilt area of open common land, rich in wildlife and wildflowers.

• Malvern Hills – An Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with far-reaching views that have inspired writers and composers alike.

• Legges of Bromyard – A local butcher and deli renowned for its BBQ meats, pies and locally sourced produce.