Bovey Castle launches mindfulness trail to help visitors reconnect with nature

Bovey Castle has introduced a self-guided, two-mile mindfulness trail through its 275-acre estate, inviting spa guests and residents to experience a 90-minute journey focused on the sights, sounds, textures and scents of the Dartmoor landscape.

Beginning on the south terrace of the historic manor house, the trail encourages participants to pause and take in sweeping views across Dartmoor before following a route designed to engage each of the senses.

At the Summer House, walkers are invited to notice the different fragrances carried on the breeze, from freshly turned earth and blossom to the scent of pine.

The route then leads to a tranquil reflecting pond, where still water and gentle movement created only by wildlife and the wind provide an opportunity for quiet reflection.

As the trail enters woodland, visitors are encouraged to focus on changing textures beneath their feet, the feel of tree bark and shafts of sunlight filtering through the forest canopy.

Along the riverside, the changing rhythm of flowing water forms another part of the experience before the route reaches Marian's Garden, where guests are encouraged to pause, breathe deeply and listen for wildlife including buzzards, deer and rabbits.

The walk also incorporates Bovey Castle's new forest bathing area, where visitors can recline on specially installed slanted wooden platforms to immerse themselves in the woodland environment.

The final stop is the estate's Kitchen Garden, where participants are invited to explore the aromas of herbs and vegetables grown for the hotel's kitchens, from the citrus scent of lemon verbena to the earthy smell of carrot tops and the distinctive aniseed fragrance of fennel.

Dean Gunston, General Manager at Bovey Castle, said: "Our new mindfulness walk adds a fresh dimension to our guests' spa treatments, so that in addition to utilising the sauna or our swimming pool, they also have the option of connecting with their senses in the Dartmoor countryside.

"The walk is suitable for different seasons, and the forest offers a fantastic place to absorb the gentle birdsong echoing through the trees, the rays of sunlight filtering through the trees, and the fresh earthy scent of the woodland floor, which is my favourite.

"Promoting a slower pace of living is more important than ever in a world full of busy schedules and digital distractions, and is one of the reasons why many people choose to come to Bovey Castle – so we are confident that the mindfulness walk will leave guests feeling like they are on the right path."

The trail is available to paying guests, who can collect a map from reception before setting out across the estate.

Situated on the edge of Dartmoor National Park near Moretonhampstead, Bovey Castle was built between 1906 and 1930 as the country home of newspaper magnate William Henry Smith, whose family founded the well-known WHSmith retail chain. The Grade II* listed, Neo-Elizabethan mansion opened as a hotel in 1930 and has since become one of Devon's best-known luxury destinations.

Today, the five-AA Red Star hotel forms part of the Eden Hotel Collection and offers 60 guest bedrooms within the historic manor house, alongside 22 self-catering lodges, an award-winning spa, championship golf course and extensive grounds that provide direct access to the landscapes of Dartmoor.

The new mindfulness trail reflects a growing trend towards wellness tourism, with hotels increasingly incorporating experiences centred on nature, mindfulness and outdoor wellbeing alongside traditional spa facilities.