A return worth making – inside Combe Grove’s Returners Metabolic Health Retreat through the eyes of a mother and daughter

By Fiona Sanderson

We arrived at Combe Grove together, my stepdaughter Bella and I – two women at very different stages of life, but both craving a pause. Nestled in seventy acres of woodland just outside Bath, the estate feels timeless; part retreat, part sanctuary. As we got out of the car, Bella commented on how quiet it was. It felt like a good omen for the days ahead.

For me, it was a joy to share this experience with her. She’s a young mother, constantly balancing family, work and the thousand invisible demands that come with both, most of them unnoticed by anyone else. I could see, almost immediately, how much she needed a few days to herself: time to rest, to think, and simply to breathe. She packed everything she possibly could into her time here – classes, coaching sessions, walks through the trees – and I know she relished the solitude and the chance to step out of her everyday life. As she told me herself: “As a working mum, Combe Grove gave me a rare chance to pause and reset. The metabolic programme, along with the classes, helped me feel more balanced, clear-headed, and reconnected with myself.”

This Returners Metabolic Health Retreat was actually my second visit to Combe Grove – a continuation of the Metabolic Health Programme I completed three months earlier. The original programme focused on the ten markers of metabolic health; things like blood pressure, glucose, sleep and stress. But this Returners Retreat offered something deeper: space to reflect. That is exactly what I took away – a renewed sense of myself, not only in terms of health and weight, but also an inner peace, a new way of tackling the world, and a deeper appreciation for the things that truly matter. These are the things we so easily lose sight of in our fast-track world of noise, expectations and social media.

As a returner, it really does feel like coming back to a family home – a place of comfort and easy familiarity. Even after you leave, Combe Grove continues to check in, with follow-up consultations that help you feel supported and cared for.

Over three days, we revisited Combe Grove’s Five Roots of Metabolic Health (namely nutrition, movement, sleep, mindset and environment) and this time, the message of mindfulness stood out to me most. The workshops encouraged us to reflect on how we see ourselves, how we think about the future, and what really matters in our daily lives. We found the vision boarding class particularly fun and beneficial, cutting out images from magazines to reflect how we see ourselves both now and in the future.

The rhythm of each day was quietly restorative – think early morning meditation and movement classes, followed by genuinely delicious meals enjoyed within our eight-hour eating window. This was complemented by walk-and-talk sessions exploring the Five Roots of Metabolic Health, along with valuable insights into health supplements – and even a hands-on session fermenting our own vegetables.

Between sessions, we talked about what we wanted for the year ahead – not just in terms of health, but happiness too. Of course, for the more energetic (like Bella), there was a wide choice of movement classes or a dip in the beautiful pool.

By the end of our stay, we both felt a subtle shift and acknowledged that we both felt calmer, and more attuned. For my stepdaughter, it was a rare and precious chance to recharge away from her children, returning home not just rested, but reconnected with herself. For me, it was a reminder that caring for our health physically and emotionally is something that transcends age or stage of life.

Combe Grove continues to offer more than a retreat; it’s an invitation to pause and to notice. To listen to your body, your breath and your heart, and to remember that true wellness isn’t about doing more, but about learning what to hold onto, and what to let go of. It certainly worked for us.

The Details:

• The Metabolic Health Programme: A six-month journey beginning with a five-night residential stay, from £2,600 per person (single occupancy). Includes diagnostics, workshops, and personalised coaching.

• The Returners Metabolic Health Retreat: A three-night stay for previous guests to reassess their Ten Markers of Metabolic Health™ and revisit the Five Roots of Metabolic Health™. Prices from £1,200 (Orchard Room) or £1,500 (Grove Room) per person (single occupancy).

Both the Programme and the Returners Retreat include full board with nutritious meals, health coaching, workshops, and access to the pool, gym and tennis courts.

For more information or to book, visit: www.combegrove.com