Could an all-woman retreat by the sea be the body overhaul you need? Scotland on Sunday Travel

All five women on my retreat have come to escape the rat-race and find a bit of ‘me time’. After arriving, we head down a winding, tree-lined lane to the Beach Cafe at Fermain Bay to get our first taste, quite literally, of what the island has to offer. I opt for the crab sandwich, which is deliciously fresh.

Listening to waves lapping the shore is calm and soothing, but Katie Brock from Yoga Elements, who hold several outdoor classes in scenic locations (yogaelementsgg.com/outdoor-yoga; £14 per class), promises to send us into an even more relaxed state. At Port Soif, on the west coast, we are treated to an hour of light yoga. The session is so relaxing, I find myself drifting off.

The next morning, we are met on the beach by Ian Potter, a local health and fitness expert who can be booked through the hotel, for an early morning workout. It’s not long before I realise the weekend is about to be taken up a notch. The session is all outdoors, using the natural environment to help clear our mind and test our body.

We start off with ‘light’ warm-up exercises, facing out towards the receding tide, and as the morning haze begins to disappear and the sun tries to make an appearance, the pace is ramped up. Steep cliff paths test our stamina as we jog up and down them, before seeking out large pebbles to use as weights and de-stressing tools.

After refuelling with a delicious breakfast back at the hotel we head out for a coastal hike towards the west of the island. Ian sets the pace as we traverse the steep cliffs, making sure we don’t lag too far behind, and as the clouds begin to lift, we are met with spectacular views around every corner.

Concluding our hike with a picnic, we head off to meet Jacqui Hunt from Guernsey Swim Adventures for a guided swim around the neighbouring bays of Fermain (guernseyswimadventures.gg) where the biggest challenge is getting the wetsuits on and off. Once bravely immersed in the water and having adapted to both the temperature and the waves, with Jacqui by my side I relax and enjoy the freedom of being out in the open ocean.

The final activity for today, is a relaxing, mindful, journaling session with Megan Cluett from All About Yoga (allaboutyoga.gg) on the sun-drenched lawn above the Fermain Valley Hotel. We are asked to write down five things we are feeling, what we hope to be feeling by the end of the session and who/what we love.

After several yoga poses, we discuss how and if our feelings have changed. I find it surprisingly cathartic and promise to think about myself more in the future.

Our final day begins with a meeting with Mental Tentacles, a daily swim group at La Vallette sea-water bathing pools in St Peter Port - contact them on Facebook. Getting into a pool at a temperature of 12C in a bikini is no easy feat but I launch myself from the steps and am able to remain in the pool for a good 20 minutes before making a beeline for the heavenly hot showers and a cup of tea.

A leisurely walk into St Peter Port shortly after, sees us board a local tuk-tuk for a scenic ride to Ladies Bay in the north of the island for stand-up paddle boarding with Guernsey SUP (guernseysup.com; two-hour SeaFairie experience from £45pp with board hire). For a first timer in what is rated 7/10 for difficult conditions, I’m proud of myself for managing to stay on the board.

As the weekend draws to a close, I reflect on the natural resources at our fingertips to maintain a healthy lifestyle and leave feeling more focused, with my mind and soul refreshed by the fresh Guernsey air.

How to plan your trip

Rooms at Fermain Valley Hotel (fermainvalley.com) start from £225 per night with breakfast; treehouses from £338 per night.

Aurigny (aurigny.com) operate year-round direct flights to Guernsey from London, East Midlands, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Exeter, Southampton and Dublin. Condor Ferries operate slow and fast ferries from Poole and Portsmouth to Guernsey year-round.

For more information on the Islands of Guernsey, see visitguernsey.com.