Imagined and brought to life by Welsh singer and performer Charlotte Church, The Dreaming is a wellness retreat set on 47 acres in the dramatic Elan Valley of Wales. Recognized as Spa of the Year by The Times and Sunday Times’ 50 Best U.K. Spas, the retreat benefits from a location often called the Welsh Lake District, which enhances its peaceful and restorative atmosphere. At the heart of the estate stands Rhydoldog House, originally a 15th-century Cistercian monastery that later became the family home of designer Laura Ashley.
© Elliot Cooper
Created to offer an immersive and communal experience, The Dreaming typically assigns beds in shared sleeping spaces within Rhydoldog House, which makes it a strong choice for friends and family groups. Private rooms can also be arranged for guests seeking more privacy. Shared sleeping areas have evocative names—The Wanderer (for three), The Dawn (for two), The Womb (for two), The Mushroom (for two), The Moon (for two), The Mystic (for four) and Forest Spirits (for one or a couple)—and all accommodations include access to the estate’s landscape, guided activities, refreshments, and a dining program described as nourishing breakfasts, light lunches and evening feasts.
The gardens at The Dreaming were developed in collaboration with Juliet Sargeant, an RHS Chelsea Flower Show gold medalist, and are integral to the retreat’s program. These cultivated and ceremonial outdoor spaces offer a blend of sensory and seasonal experiences: The Moon Garden features white blooms that open at night to create a luminous nocturnal setting; The Rings of Rhydoldog are permaculture market gardens that help supply the kitchen with fresh produce; the Pool of a Hundred Reflections is fed by a waterfall and provides areas for meditation, contemplative reflection and cold-water immersion; and The Court of the Holly King serves as an earth-centered ceremonial space. A Japanese Tea House sits at the forest edge, offering sheltered outdoor space for workshops and quiet moments.
© Elliot Cooper
Retreat programming varies throughout the year and ranges from short restorative breaks to longer, themed immersions. Examples include three-night Weekly Signature Retreats offered year-round, five-night Song of the Soul retreats held at multiple points during the year, and specially timed events such as Beliaine Retreat (April 28–May 2), Dreams of Ananda (May 5–9) and A Call to Dream (May 23–26). Each retreat typically combines movement, sound, nature-based practices, communal meals and opportunities for solitude in the landscape.
Guests at The Dreaming can expect an emphasis on connection—to nature, to creative practices and to communal ritual—supported by thoughtfully designed outdoor spaces and a program that aims to nourish body and mind. For a complete schedule of upcoming retreats, specific program details and booking information, consult the retreat’s official site or contact their team directly.