How to enjoy the post Christmas detox!
Read on to find out where you can relax in luxury and take advantage of on-site spa facilities.
We all know that post-Christmas feeling: bloated, hung over and not at all rested, even after a break which can last between five days and two weeks. Each year we say we won’t do the same next Christmas but we always do because we want to have a good time. After a year of working hard and then rushing to prepare for the big day, it’s no wonder we want to stuff ourselves full of everything that’s naughty but nice, and then realise with horror that we’ve put on at least a stone.
Detox has become a buzz word in recent years, with cosmetic companies pushing all varieties of expensive treatments at us. Detox is not magic and you don’t need these expensive products or health farms. Dedicated detoxers can go on a two-week fruit and raw vegetable fast, drinking only water, herbal tea and fruit juice. However, this can result in dizzy spells and nausea, not only as your body sheds toxins but as you feel the lack of protein and carbohydrate in your diet, and it certainly isn’t recommended for anyone having to work or care for children. You will also feel much colder, so don’t try it in a cold snap.
Most of us will feel much better if we detox gradually by cutting out all the cakes and chocolate, alcohol and reducing our intake of tea and coffee. It is said the human body is a wonderful natural detoxifier and will shed these harmful substances so long as it is not overloaded and allowed to work properly.
Eat as much raw organic food as possible but don’t overdo it in the cold, winter months. Otherwise make hot soups, casseroles and pies using fresh ingredients and maintain a good balance of protein, carbohydrates, fruit and veg. That way you will maintain your energy levels – essential for coping with the cold – and will feel more like exercising to maintain healthy circulation and again help the detox process.
If you take a break in the South West you will find plenty of activities that will help you shed the Christmas stodge and put you in tip top condition for the spring and summer.
If walking is your scene, every location in Devon and Cornwall is within easy reach of the South West Coast Path, and you can try a small stretch at a time and take deep breaths of unpolluted sea air as you march off those Christmas pounds. While some parts are a little steep and will suit only the very fit, there are plenty of easy walks – for instance between Torquay and Shaldon and at Rame Head in Cornwall – that are perfect for novice walkers. See our choice of five winter walks in this edition of Inspire.
You may prefer to concentrate on toning certain areas of your body in the gym. Some of the Blue Chip properties have their on-site gym and pool, such as those at Atlantic Lodge in Newquay, which even has its own golf course, meaning you can enjoy all your exercise on-site. If you fancy venturing out, you can pick up the South West Coast Path at the Pentire Peninsula, called the Peninsula Path, which we featured in our September edition of Inspire, or explore Porth Reservoir, featured in November. If you prefer horseback, nearby are Killiworgie Stables, which specialise in beginners and holiday makers. Ride along the quiet country lanes away from the bustle of Newquay. Tel 01637 880570.
The Manor House in Chelston, Torquay, also has an on-site gym and pool with the added benefit of a sauna, a favourite of Scandinavians to open the pores, let out toxins and re-energise the system, after which you can enjoy an easy walk along the seafront to Torquay harbour.
Horse riding is available at Finlake Riding Centre at Chudleigh, near Newton Abbot, and offers beginners’ lessons and quiet treks around the parkland and woodland trials. Experienced riders can try an evening pub ride, stopping at the local inn for top-ups (although take care not to spoil your detox by overdoing the alcohol) and rides over the local headland and through the forest. Tel 01626 852096 for details.
Honicombe Manor near Tavistock has an indoor and outdoor pool, plus gym and sauna, and a children’s play area. Nearby, at Easter Hall Park Stables, children as young as three can jump on the saddle and enjoy their first ride on a small pony. For the more experienced, there are 200 acres of woodland and farmland to hack together with the Tarka Trail, which uses part of the old Tarka railway line. Call Gail on 01837 810 350.
Once bitten by the activity holiday bug, you will probably want to return in the summer, when you can day trips can be booked at reception such as canoeing, moorland walks and rock climbing on Dartmoor.
For true luxury, why not spend a week or two at Dart Marina, a top-of-the-range apartment sitting directly on the River Dart at Dartmouth? Not only will you enjoy breathtaking views stretching up and down the river and to the hills at Kingswear and Churston, you will have free access to the on-site facilities, which include a luxury health spa with heated indoor pool, which has a water current designed to refresh and reinvigorate when you swim against it, a full gym with cardiovascular and weight machines, a steam room, a spa bath and treatment rooms, where you can be pampered with the exclusive House of Elemis products. Dart Marina is the only luxury hotel health spa in Dartmouth, and when you are fully revitalised, you can take a walk around the town, browsing in its designer clothes and lifestyle boutiques, take tea in the tea rooms or sample the best local produce from the two in-house restaurants. The castle, although closed in winter, is at the end of a delightful walk along the river past Warfleet Creek, whose redundant lime kilns now harbour small boats.
It’s very easy to become bogged down in post-Christmas blues, and a break in the South West can work wonders, not only for your body but for your whole outlook. Its mild winter climate means you can enjoy many outdoor pursuits, often in bright sunshine, and return home relaxed and ready for the New Year and spring.
