Imagined and conceived by Welsh singer-performer Charlotte Church, The Dreaming is a wellness retreat located on 47 acres in the rugged Elan Valley of Wales. Named Spa of the Year by the United Kingdom’s The Times and Sunday Times 50 Best U.K. Spas, the property’s location in an area often referred to as the Welsh Lake District adds to a sense of charm and serenity. At the center of the property sits Rhydoldog House, which began as a 15^th-century Cistercian monastery, and later became the home of designer Laura Ashley and her family.

© Elliot Cooper

Created by Church to be an immersive experience, retreats at The Dreaming generally assign beds in shared spaces within Rhydoldog House, making it ideal for friend and family groups (individual rooms can also be arranged). Shared spaces include 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). Accommodations include access to the surrounding landscape and activities; refreshments; and what the website describes as “nourishing breakfasts, light lunches and evening feasts.”

Gardens at The Dreaming were designed in collaboration with Juliet Sargeant, an RHS Chelsea Flower Show gold medalist. Gardens and ceremonial spaces include The Moon Garden, filled with white botanicals that open their petals at night; The Rings of Rhydoldog, a collection of permaculture market gardens that help supply the kitchen; the Pool of a Hundred Reflections, filled by a waterfall and featuring spaces for meditation reflection and cold-water immersions; and The Court of the Holly King, which serves as an Earth ceremonial space. There’s also The Japanese Tea House on the edge of the forest, which provides outdoor shelter for activities.

© Elliot Cooper

A sampling of upcoming retreat opportunities includes three-night Weekly Signature Retreats offered year-round, five-night Song of the Soul retreats at multiple times throughout the year, Beliaine Retreat from April 28 to May 2, Dreams of Ananda from May 5 to 9, and A Call to Dream from May 23 to 26. Visit the website for a full list of planned retreats and details on offerings.