Wilderness Wellbeing Retreats
In the depths of a long Scottish winter, when the days are short and many of us feel the chill of
isolation, something truly special happens in the heart of the Cairngorms. At the end of January,
Wilderness Wellbeing hosted its annual Winter Mental Wellbeing Retreat, a long weekend
designed to connect people through nature, nourishment, and shared experience.
This is no ordinary getaway. For many, it’s a lifeline. A space to pause the relentless clock of
daily life, surround themselves with a caring community, and rediscover strength through story,
movement, and nature’s grounding embrace.
The Power of Connection
Founded by Yaz, Wilderness Wellbeing grew from her own journey through chronic illness —
years of battling a painful skin condition that left her feeling isolated and hopeless. In seeking
healing through holistic practices and community connection, Yaz found her purpose: to help
others find the same light she discovered.
Today, Wilderness Wellbeing runs mixed-gender and women-only retreats several times a year,
creating spaces that combine natural beauty with accessible wellness practices. Each event
offers an opportunity to connect deeply- both with others and with oneself.
A Weekend of Healing and Discovery
The Winter Retreat was a rich tapestry of outdoor and holistic activities:
● Cookery workshops and homegrown beeswax candle-making
● Silver smithing
● Yoga, breathwork, and sound baths
● Wild swimming, woodland workouts, and traditional saunas
● Shared woodland dining with nourishing, seasonal food
Meals reflected the season’s warmth, hearty broths, spices, vegetarian options, and locally
sourced venison from Yaz’s brother, a Cairngorms stalker. Each evening, the group gathered
around the roaring fire in Yaz’s family home in the evening to share tales of resilience, renewal,
and hope.
A room of strangers soon became a community, bound not by background, but by lived
experience, compassion, and Scotland’s rugged landscape.
Partnership with Purpose
As a non-profit organisation, Wilderness Wellbeing partners with local and national charities to
make these experiences accessible for all, including Andy’s Man Club, a charity supporting
men’s mental health.
Thanks to Red Equipment’s support, Yaz was able to offer three fully funded places on the
retreat: two for participants referred through Andy’s Man Club, and one for a single mum
struggling with chronic illness.
These contributions offered much more than financial access, they opened doors to connection,
recovery, and self-belief.
Changing Lives, One Retreat at a Time
Alex McClintock, Head of Groups Scotland at Andy’s Man Club, shares:
“Wilderness Wellbeing weekends are a great way for us to take some of the lads
from ANDYSMANCLUB to a special place in the Cairngorms to let them have a
unique experience with Yaz and her welcoming and wonderful family. The last
retreat was amazing and warm, especially with some dry robes for when we were
cold water swimming and having lunch in the woods.
Red Equipment’s support allows Wilderness Wellbeing to continue to help not only
AMC, but other charities and individuals access the retreat, and the difference that
one weekend makes can be life changing.”
One of the funded spaces was offered to a single mum living with a severe skin condition called
TSW. She shared what the experience meant to her:
“As a solo parent with chronic illness, this retreat was the light at the end of a dark
and challenging autumn. Wilderness Wellbeing gave me a mental and physical
break I could never have afforded, and most importantly, it reminded me that I’m not
alone.
Being welcomed into a home filled with love and warmth, in the heart of Scotland’s
mountains, helped me reconnect with myself. I came back feeling resilient again,
inspired to make small positive changes and carry that sense of peace back into
everyday life.”
You can listen to more about Wilderness Wellbeing here through our podcast:
sponsored by the charity ‘Mikey’s Line’:
Number 59 and 60.