As seen in….
“We want to help people return to a naturally restful and happy state; to feel more connected to nature, their community and ultimately themselves”
— Bella and Gaby, Founders of Somercecil
“Estates can be places for spiritual growth”
Badminton estate, Gloucestershire Foraging, sound baths, festivals
“At the 52,000-acre Badminton estate in Gloucestershire, famed for horse trials and the invention of the eponymous shuttlecock game, you will find Lady Bella Somerset and her friend Gaby Cecil hosting retreats in the dower house, featuring foraging, guided deer park runs, fireside philosophy, meditation, e-bike adventures, massages, cacao ceremonies and sound baths. The estate also serves up seasonal vegetarian dishes with homegrown produce straight from its pesticide-free veg plot”
Somercecil, Gloucestershire
Best for grand designs
The Dower House on the Badminton Estate is the upmarket backdrop for restorative yoga, woodland foraging and guided runs through the deer park with Bella Somerset, who grew up on the Cotswolds estate, and Gaby Cecil, her friend and fellow retreat founder. Both are passionate advocates of immersion in nature as the ultimate wellness tool. Retreats include a joyful, jam-packed romp through everything from philosophical discussion to cacao ceremonies to open your heart and mind. The yoga is equally catholic in taste, from energetic vinyasa flow to sleep-inducing yin.
VANITY FAIR
— “After a year and a half of online domination, there’s never been a better moment to ditch your phone and laptop screens for a soothing (and, we stress, offline) Wellbeing Retreat. Run by Gaby and Isabella, Somercecil is a special sanctum set on the Badminton Estate in the Cotswolds guaranteed to help you unwind, relax and revitalise. With a number of different retreats to choose from, you can expect the likes of wild foraging, yoga (from vinyasa to yin), walks and runs through the deer park, and even spiritual cacao ceremonies. The itinerary is jam-packed with mindful magic, but the beautiful Dower House is the perfect haven in which to completely relax. This cosy country chamber has themed bedrooms, suites and a library (available to privately hire), plus a private chef who creates the most delicious, nourishing goodness. Munch and mingle with friends on local and seasonal homegrown vegetables and leave feeling better inside and out. Now that really does sound like a holiday” Somercecil UK
CN TRAVELLER
- “Like the rest of the world, I desperately need a wellness break. Or at least, I will do, having dipped back into London’s alive-and-kicking pub-garden scene. I’ve been eagerly awaiting the announcement of Somercecil’s retreats in Gloucestershire. Its Finding Your Meaning and Purpose escape, from Friday 28–Monday 31 May 2021, sounds like a sensible antidote to 2020’s chaos, and naturally includes wild foraging, long walks through the deer park at Badminton House, a riot of organic salads and even a philosophy class. Sign me up” Rosalyn Wikeley
COUNTRY AND TOWN HOUSE
Cotswolds: Somercecil Retreats at Badminton Estate
“Having grown up in the Cotswolds and Cornwall retrospectively, Bella Somerset and Gaby Cecil discovered from a young age the importance of spending time in nature. This inspired them to launch Somercecil, a retreat series at Badminton Estate – where Bella was lucky enough to grow up. The retreats are themed around three pillars: movement, nature and connection: think morning runs, yoga, walks and e-bike adventures, alongside activities like foraging and massages. On the food side, you can expect seasonal vegetarian dishes made using homegrown produce straight from the pesticide-free garden veg farm. You’ll be spending time in the beautiful Dower House, a stone’s throw away from Badminton Deer Park”