Two Suffolk towns are among the best UK and European destinations to escape for a “mindful break”, according to a new holiday guide.
The “Mindful Getaway Guide” features Southwold and Woodbridge alongside sun-soaked Mediterranean resorts as top ranking destinations to relax.
The guide, produced by TravelSupermarket, looked at factors including the availability of mindful activities, such as yoga; their relaxing setting and the number of sites offering spa treatments.
Southwold, which is ranked number two for the UK and Europe, second only to Arundel in Sussex, has a well-established reputation as a relaxing seaside destination.
George Bradley general manager of Suffolk Secrets, which provides lettings in Southwold, said he was “not at all surprised” by the high ranking.
He said visitors were attracted by the “wide open skies, beautiful coastline and rolling countryside” as well as the calmer pace of life.
“It’s this ‘getting back to basics’ which gives people the opportunity to re-connect with life’s simple pleasures: a stroll along the high street, smelling delicious aromas from the Two Magpies bakery, feeling the sand under their toes on Southwold’s Blue Flag beach or just watching the world go by from a deck chair,” he added.
In Woodbridge, which is ranked seventh in the UK, Jules Button, who established the Rainbow Apothecary holistic health store and runs Woodbridge Emporium, highlighted the variety of indoor and outdoor activities available in the town.
“You can combine a visit to the theatre or cinema with a walk by the river,” she added.
“If you’re stressed out, you can sit outside one of our many coffee shops – or, of course, come and pick up some de-stressing tea and a book.”
Woodbridge mayor Clare Perkins said the town’s proximity to the sacred burial ground at Sutton Hoo may provide an ancient link to its meditative mood.
“That general flow seems to get into your system,” she added. “I think it’s quite a spiritual place.
“Woodbridge is free from the hustle and bustle of the 21st century. It’s a little bit of England that has retained its charm.
“I genuinely think that the history of Sutton Hoo is felt in Woodbridge. Its magic wafts across the river.”
Emma Grimster, TravelSupermarket spokesperson, said the guide had been created to showcase the most mindful destinations in the UK and Europe, providing travellers with the opportunity to “completely unwind and focus on having time to themselves”.
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