Take a calm-cation this Autumn, here are the best destinations for unwinding in the cooler months
Has that back-to-school-feeling left you feeling tense? As the leaves start to turn and the nights draw in, autumn presents the perfect opportunity to hit the pause button and try a new kind of holiday—the “calm-cation.” These breaks are all about wellbeing, tranquillity, and renewal. To help find your calm, the travel experts at Discover Ferries have identified the top breaks that will help you feel well this autumn. What’s more, when travelling on the open water, the journey itself becomes part of the retreat. Travellers will embrace the serene from the moment their trip starts as they swap crowded airports and frantic itineraries for seascapes and fresh air.
A magical forest escape in the Netherlands
For a trip with a difference, head to Winterwoods. This pop-up campsite in the forests of Drenthe opens mid-October through to March and hosts guests in traditional yurts, furnished with traditional furniture and heated with a wood burning stove. Visitors are encouraged to explore the countryside or participate in yoga classes, hikes, chopping wood or bread-baking. You can even try cold-water immersion training in the lake. The site has a spa and wood-fired saunas to warm you back up. A great medicine for moodiness, in previous years the site has even held a cleansing sweat lodge ceremony inspired by the ancient rituals of north America.
Sail to the Netherlands with DFDS, P&O Ferries or Stena Line.
Hot springs, hiking and the Belle Epoque – Bagnoles-de-l’Orne, North-West France
Bagnoles-de-l’Orne ©Marie-Anaïs Thierry
Set within the Andaines Forest and built around a lake, Bagnoles-de-l’Orne has a peaceful, elegant and restorative atmosphere. Visitors can soak in the famous thermal waters at the Belle Époque spa or embrace the stunning autumn colours and don their walking shoes to explore the ancient woodlands. At this time of year, you can also participate in the local tradition of mushroom foraging. Manoir du Lys, a four-star forest retreat hosts guided tours to help you pick different species before the Michelin-starred chef helps you turn them into a variety of delicious dishes.
Sail to Normandy with Brittany Ferries, the closest ports are Caen or Le Harve. Alternatively, travel with DFDS on the Newhaven to Dieppe service.
Find peace in the Isle of Man’s glens
Nature’s calming effect in the glens of the Isle of Man – Credit Visit Isle of Man
The island’s secluded glens, mountains and ancient forests, provide the perfect setting to mindfully connect with nature. The tourist board has even produced a Mindfulness Map to highlight some of the best areas and activities for wellness. Try guided forest bathing walks, inspired by the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku, they even include a traditional tea ceremony.
For a deeper experience, visitors can explore the principles of soundology, using the island’s serene environment to focus on sound and vibration for healing. The natural soundscape—from the gentle trickle of water to the rustle of leaves —offers a unique opportunity for mindful listening and meditation.
Sail to the Isle of Man with Isle of Man Steam Packet Company.
Laughter in London
River Bus Comedy Nights on Uber Boat by Thames Clippers
As the saying goes, laughter is the best medicine, and studies have shown that it can relieve stress, boost your immune system, and even temporarily soothe pain. The Uber Boat by Thames Clippers River Bus Comedy Nights offer a ferry ride on the river and an evening of entertainment. As you cruise past iconic London landmarks, you can enjoy jokes from comedians such as Ed Byrne, Sarah Kendall and Rory Bremner. At £20 a ticket, this floating comedy club is the perfect place to laugh it all off and return to shore with a relaxed mind and a lighter spirit.
Twitching in the Isles of Scilly
Oyster Catchers in Flight – Credit Visit Isles of Scilly
Apps such as Merlind Bird ID have made birdwatching cool and accessible but the pastime is also being recognised for mental health benefits, mindfulness and connecting individuals to a wider community. Beginners and seasoned twitchers alike will be able to tick off a great number of birds from their list, with a visit to the Isles of Scilly. Birdwatching Autumn months are the best time to see migratory birds on the archipelago. Expect see around 120 species including visitors such as the American Golden Plover. Conservation efforts to eliminate rats from the islands has also boosted populations of burrow nesting seabirds including Manx shearwaters and storm petrels.
Travel with Isles of Scilly Travel.
Take sanctity in the sea, Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way
Wild Atlantic Seaweed Baths at Doolin Pier – Credit Wild Atlantic Seaweed Baths
One visitor claimed Wild Atlantic Seaweed baths are Ireland’s version of Japanese onsen, Icelandic hot springs and New Zealand’s sulphur baths. Designed to wash away your concerns, the Irish ritual of bathing in sea water and seaweed dates back centuries. Visitors soak in large wooden tubs filled with local hand-harvested seaweed and hot sea water taken straight from the Atlantic. To get the blood pumping, bathers can take short dips in cold plunge barrels before returning to the hot tubs. The world-class bathing experience at Doolin Pier is an unmissable stop for travellers on the Wild Atlantic Way. It comes complete with views of the ocean and the impressive Cliffs of Moher and, if you choose, a glass of Whiskey.
Travel to Ireland with Irish Ferries or Stena Line.
Visit the world’s original Spa – Spa, Belgium
Credit: Thermes de Spa
The birthplace of the modern spa town, Spa known for its healing mineral waters, and tranquil forests – the trees turn beautiful colours in the autumn. Made famous in the 16th Century, the town has received illustrious visitors including Peter the Great, Alexandre Dumas and Casanova. Spend time at the famous Thermes de Spa, soaking in thermal baths and indulging in rejuvenating treatments. Try the Thermoludic activities, which combine hydrotherapy with different water games, massage, gymnastics and relaxation.
Take advantage of three and 5 day short break offers to bag a bargain. Travel from Dover via Dunkirk with DFDS or through Calais with DFDS, Irish Ferries or P&O Ferries.
Wight walks and slow saunas – Isle of Wight
Autumn Walking Festival – Credit Visit Isle of Wight
The island is a walker’s paradise, boasting over 500 miles of footpaths and a landscape that is a designated UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Each year, the island hosts a multi-award-winning Spring and Autumn walking festival, with a plethora of guided walks to suit all abilities, from gentle coastal strolls to challenging hikes across the island’s rolling hills. Whether you prefer a short, themed walk or a long-distance trek you can work out while enjoying the scenery.
After a day of exploring on foot, nothing complements the feeling of accomplishment quite like the warmth of a sauna. Slomo Wellness offers a unique, Scandinavian-inspired experience on the island, with pop-up wood-fired saunas at various locations, including Compton Bay and Tapnell Farm. This is where the concept of “contrast therapy” truly comes to life as participants move between hot and cold environments to improve circulation and aid muscle recovery.
Reach the Isle of Wight with Hovertravel, Red Funnel, or Wightlink.
Float to the heavens in the Hebrides
Isle of Coll
The Isle of Coll is blessed with a naturally unpolluted starry sky is a rare treasure, allowing for naked-eye views of the Milky Way arching across the sky. One of the best locations in the UK to witness the breathtaking beauty of a truly dark night sky, the annual “Coll & the Cosmos” event, held on the weekend of 25th-26th October, a collaboration between Coll Bunkhouse and Cosmos Planetarium. Designed for everyone, from complete beginners to curious enthusiasts.
The island’s northern latitude also means you have a chance of spotting the spectacular Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, from autumn through to spring.
Travel to Coll with Caledonian MacBrayne from Oban.