Urgent - Suggestions for a break away on my own

[wantmorenow]

I have the money and time as off on summer holidays as a teacher but am procrastinating and will end up doing nothing at all if not careful.

Budget is between £500-1000 and I would love to go away for a week or perhaps a couple of short breaks. Great position to be in I know and appreciate it, been a long time coming. Fancy something that has a bit of sociability though, maybe a yoga theme (I don't even do yoga), or some sort of activity just so I get companionship too. Could be UK or abroad. Nothing too austere such as vegan and no booze etc as it's a holiday. I'm currently Wiltshire/ Wales areas.

All ideas appreciated please.

I just went away by myself to Barcelona. It didn't really have any sociability though . But it's a good city to be in as a lone traveller as there's lots to see and do, the beach, the Olympic pool, trips out to the hills on the train etc.

Thank you - honestly I'm a bit lonely and the sociability bit is the main driver. Glad you enjoyed though.

OP there are holiday companies that specifically organise solo holidays. Some with activities such as rambling or painting, others just for touring or resort holidays, but with a group of other singles so you have company for meals.
If you google solo holidays you’ll get hundreds more ideas than we can offer on MN.

You could look at Holiday Fellowship holidays. They are mostly walking but also do yoga or Pilates - some in Cornwall which look good. They do European ones as well. We used to go as a kid and it was a nice mix of people and very sociable and a friend has been as an adult and said everyone was friendly.

Mull and Iona?

I have been googling away - bit lost. Have a dodgy hip (thanks menopause) and fitness not good so nervous of a full on activity holiday as I'm not fit enough.

Sorry, struggling to post the link. Visitmullandiona.co.uk/listings/Isle-of-mull-yoga

I did a long weekend kayaking and hill walking in Norway with Much Better Adventures. Went on my own and loved it. It was quite physically tough though - I think they do other breaks which are more laid back.

Holiday fellowship ones look great but evreything seems to be fully booked. Bugger.

Mull and Iona - looks good but dates fall into start of term unfortunately - seems a theme not to run these types of holiday during peak season which I get but rules them out for me. Loving the ideas though.

www.spiceuk.com/events-holidays/

Join SPICE they have local meet ups for different events - you can choose the ones you’re interested in.

Thanks for SPICE - I live in the middle of Salisbury plain and nothing comes up for me - I live in what feels like the middle of nowhere, tried bumble, meet up and nothing ever comes up within a reasonable distance.

I always fancied going solo on a yoga holiday/retreat. I’ve looked them up previously but can’t remember any website names.

overseas, (somewhere hot), mostly Middle Ages ladies, single private accommodation, swimming pool on site, morning yoga sessions, afternoons free for walking, cycling, lazing. Communal eating (often vegan- can’t have everything)

I got the impression these are organised by the yoga teacher themselves who book the villa, then try and get enough people to cover costs. Prices weren’t cheap, which is the only reason I didn’t go through with it. But your budget sounds good

best of luck.

Look at responsibletravel.com - they basically act as a broker for small-scale local travel companies, and offer a wide variety of small group holidays. In my experience most small group holidays have a lot of single people on them, together with friends travelling together and the (very) occasional couple. I just looked and they have quite a few last minute holidays which might be worth exploring. I went on a walking holiday in Croatia a few years ago with them - lots of swimming and visiting various islands as well as some gentle walking. Also Explore and Exodus, but they tend to be pricier.

Have you thought about University Summer School short courses ? A number of Universities ( e.g. Edinburgh & Oxford) run short residential courses for adults. Don't think they have Yoga ! If you Google,you'll find quite a few Yoga Retreat holidays in Ireland. You could of course go full kamikaze and Youth Hostel in an interesting town/city where there are things you want to see.

Coach holiday ? Especially one aimed at single travellers , lots of ladies on the one I went to Italy with made up into a bunch of friends , swapped contact details and stayed in touch , a few had met of previous holidays and had met up to share another trip
ledger are pretty good

www.wellbeingescapes.com/hotel/507/minos-palace-hotel-suites

Yes HF holidays are really good . As a poster said mainly walking , but you can choose different levels for all walking abilities . I've done the Yorkshire one , and it was really enjoyable.

I did a yoga weekend with adventure yogi a few years ago- it was very sociable and there were quite a few people who came on their own, and several who were complete beginners to yoga. Would be worth looking to see what they are doing this summer. I went to Norfolk but they do yoga retreats all over the UK and abroad.
Food was vegetarian and healthy but there was plenty of it, it wasn't billed as a detox or anything. Lots of people brought wine for the evenings.

I went to Barcelona alone but did lots of air B and B experiences and went on meet up to meet people

I ended up on a tapas tour with about 11 other women so it was great fun

It's not for everyone I get but it's worth thinking about it there is a city you fancy visiting

Or check out Facebook groups such as host a sister or solo travellers over 40

SPICE does holidays as well as meet ups including some UK ones.

I did a few holidays on my own.

I took a scuba course in Eilat for 7 days. Quite sociable, active during the day, nice group food etc in the evenings.

I found a travel agent that organised walking tours in Italy. Each morning they would collect our bags, give us detailed directions and a packed lunch and leave us to walk about 10 miles of via blanca to the next hotel. It was blissful, as long as you like walking, and very sociable. I walked from Pisa to Sienna.

In the UK, after a particularly bad year, I found a tiny hotel in Scottish Highlands, spent my days walking and drawing and sleeping. Quite solitary in the evenings though.

I've liked Copenhagan, Cardiff and Newcastle for city breaks/self indulgent shopping.

I’ve PM’d you with a suggestion OP.

Birch might work - I've stayed there by myself. It's in Hertfordshire. Look past the hopeless website (which is VERY millennial focussed) and head to the events bit and there are lots of classes and things but nothing too prescribed. There's a heated outdoor pool and spa and the food is VERY good. Ask to be in the old house (families tend to be in the extension).