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You are here: Home / ADVENTURE / A wellness mini-break in Bath

A wellness mini-break in Bath

January 30, 2019 by Molly Leave a Comment

(AD – gift: This feature was organised by Visit Bath and all experiences were provided for me to test out free of charge. For more information about how I work with brands check out my Work With Me page.)

Wellness. It’s a very “in” word right now isn’t it? In our busy, social media obsessed, hectic lives we’re all chasing this state of bliss. A spa day sounds amazing when you’re knee deep in dirty laundry and deadlines.

But while I’m a fan of making small changes in our day to day lives to feel better about ourselves and – essentially – not beating ourselves up if we don’t “win at wellness” (life’s tough enough people!), I do think there’s something to be said for totally switching off and treating ourselves to a complete blissed out pamper treat every now and again, if we can. Which is why I said “yes” straight away when Visit Bath invited me on a press trip to explore the city as a wellness destination.

I struggle with January. It’s just such a long month isn’t it? And cold. And dark. And wet. This year hasn’t been quite as bad because I’ve been really busy with work which has helped to distract me from the sheer miserableness of it. Plus I came into the month armed with some tools to avoid getting into a slump. But still, last week’s trip was like a refreshing cold drink in the desert of January (or a warm hot chocolate in the arctic).

The first thing that really lifted me was the amazing group of supportive, lovely women on the trip. Sarah, Coco, Alex, Charlotte, Claudia, Snigdha and Jemma are all creating beautiful, inspirational, feel-good content online and were a joy to hang out with. For me, this is the secret to any good trip. You can be in paradise but if you’re in bad company then it really doesn’t matter how stunning the setting is, you know?

Anyway, back to Bath. It’s not the first time I’ve visited the city. In fact, I know it fairly well. I grew up in Bristol and used to spend lots of weekends as a teenager hanging around in Bath. One of my first boyfriends came from Bath and my dad used to work in a school there. More recently, I’ve had a weekend with my mum and Freya in Bath and a few years ago, a girls’ weekend in the city too. But I’ve never really viewed it as a “wellness destination”. Until now.

Our day started on the iconic Royal Crescent with a talk on mental health and mindfulness with Bath Mind at the gorgeous Royal Crescent Hotel & Spa. This quote from the talk really stuck with me:

Mental health is a state of well being in which every individual can realise their own potential, can cope with the normal stresses of life, can work productively and fruitfully and is able to make a positive contribution to society.

It is the emotional and spiritual resilience which allows us to enjoy life and survive pain, disappointment and sadness. It is a positive sense of well being and a belief in our own and others’ dignity and worth.

Bath Mind

After some deep chats about mental health we headed to Comptoir Cuisine for the most decadent lunch of cheese, champagne and tapas. I still can’t quite articulate how amazing the cheese was but if you’re wondering where to head for a date then this place is the one. Plus, they do champagne by the glass. Winning.

I know it’s a cliche but I really don’t think there’s much more joyful than sharing good food with a bunch of lovely people. It’s therapeutic, soul-giving and delicious in every sense of the word. And the vibes at Comptoir Cuisine make it the perfect backdrop to do this in an informal, gorgeous way. It’s full marks from me.

Next we headed to the Julia Davey shop and studio to do a little pottery workshop which was properly fun and properly soothing. Now I understand why my four year old loves play-doh so much. There’s something hugely satisfying playing with the squidgy clay, cutting it, making patterns in it and painting it. I really lost myself in it for a while – a brilliant mindfulness activity I guess. Julia’s shop is full of beautiful quirky gift ideas and the ideal place for a bit of a browse.

We had a couple of hours to chill out before our evening meal, which gave us time to scope out our home for the night – a Bath Boutique Stays property called Mr Darcy’s Abode. With seven bedrooms, a lovely kitchen and a cosy living room this would make a brilliant hen do destination. Or just a cool place to spend a few days with friends. It’s central too which is handy, plus it’s packed full of Georgian charm and character.

When it comes to restaurants Bath has many to offer. One of the things I love most about the city is the huge array of independent, one-of-a-kind places to eat. There’s literally one on every corner. Our meal that evening was at the newly opened Koffman and Mr White’s, an English and French brasserie owned by Pierre Koffman and Marco Pierre White. The food is the star of the show here, although I loved the simple, elegant setting too (think moody dark colour palettes and lots of candles). I had the Connaught’s Coq and Shrimp curry followed by poached pears and didn’t disappoint. If wellness is good food then I can confirm I felt very well indeed.

And then we come to the thing Bath is really famous for: Britain’s first thermal spa, Thermae Bath Spa. We got there at 8.30am, before it opened, to have a proper tour of the place. As the lift doors opened out onto the roof top hot pool the sun was just rising above the rooftops of Bath and it was a proper pinch me moment. You don’t need to travel to far-flung shores to get those take-your-breath-away views.

Oh but this place is special. Featuring a multi-sensory wellness suite, a rooftop hot pool and a lazy river indoor spa area, set slap bang in the centre of the city, the whole place is built around Britain’s only natural warm mineral rich waters. There’s something pretty incredible about bathing in the waters in just the way the Romans would have done over 2000 years ago. (And if you fancy seeing how the Romans did it then The Roman Baths is literally just over the road.)

And this is the thing about Bath. Whether it’s a spa session, good food, wondering around independent boutiques looking at cool clothes and homeware, or soaking up the rich history of the place there is SO much to do. Even though I’ve been to the city lots of times and even though it’s not a big place, there is still so much I’ve not seen and done. Which is why I need to go back again soon, obviously.

Three more tip-offs for you before I go and lie down dreaming about that spa:

SHOPPING:

Head to Grace and Ted’s for pre-loved designer clothes. It’s an absolute treasure trove of gorgeous pieces.

BRUNCH:

Good Day Cafe did the best avocado on toast with poached eggs that I’ve had in AGES. They have a brilliant menu and cakes to die for.

GELATO:

Our final stop before leaving was Swoon Gelato and, even though it was a cold January day, I devoured a scoop of pistachio gelato and tucked into various other gelato treats too. YUM.

It really was a fantastic little trip and made me see a whole new side to the city. Bath, you have my heart.

Filed Under: ADVENTURE Tagged With: bath, feel good, mini breaks in the UK, self-love, wellness

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Hello and welcome! I'm Molly Forbes - podcaster, presenter and blogger with a passion for positivity, confidence and body image chat. Regularly writing and vlogging about empowering female issues from a motherhood angle, I also cover lifestyle and fashion topics for like-minded mums who want to rediscover themselves after having children. Thanks for stopping by! Read More…

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I am not “bossing” it. Or “slaying”. Or “hustling”. Or “smashing” it. I’m not even juggling or spinning plates or doing any of the other words we use as a glossy, marketable, Instagram friendly way to package up burnout culture, under the guise of “empowering” women (💪🤢). 
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What I have been doing, though, is working too hard. Call a spade a spade. I’ve been working too hard, neglecting my health, my relationships, my life away from my laptop. I cannot be everything to everyone AND work at the level I’ve been working at BECAUSE I AM A HUMAN BEING. And you are too. We are not robots.
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I care deeply about all my work, and things aren’t always this intense, but I wanted to sprinkle some reality into the Gram because I am so over this lie that *any* type of success or achievement doesn’t come at a cost, or involve many failures in the background, or require many other people to help make things happen. 
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I guess what I’m saying is, let’s be real about all that, as well as showing the achievements. I’m bloody proud of my book. And I’m so excited to launch the social enterprise @bodyhappyorg properly next month. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy, and that there isn’t a price. 
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And with that, I’m taking the weekend off. See you on the other side 🥰🥰🥰
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[Image description: Molly sits in her office with her hands covering her mouth. On the back of one hand is written “Not bossing it”. She is wearing a pink boiler suit with a black and white top underneath. She has pink leopard print earrings on and her hair is tied back.]
This was taken at the start of half term, when the This was taken at the start of half term, when the kids were still enthusiastic about going for a walk. 1,705 walks around the same bit of countryside later... not so much 😬 
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If you’re struggling to get your kids motivated to move their body at the moment, go gentle. You’re not alone. Bad weather coupled with boredom coupled with the lure of screens is a heady recipe for lethargy - and that’s just me! 
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Seriously though, remember: all movement is valid. Even if it’s just a ten minute @cosmickids sesh or a little kitchen disco, it all counts. And if it comes from a place of enjoyment and fun, kids (and adults!) are going to be far more likely to want to get involved.
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What joyful movement activities are your kids enjoying right now (if any?!)?
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[Image description: Molly and her two daughters are standing in a field. They’re wearing colourful wellies, holding hands and smiling.]
I founded a social enterprise 😵 . Introducing: I founded a social enterprise 😵
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Introducing: @bodyhappyorg 🎉
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We are a Community Interest Company dedicated to promoting positive body image in children. We help adults help the kids in their care be friends with their bodies 🥰. 
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Through workshops and classes, digital and physical resources (both free and paid) we help parents, carers, teachers, youth leaders - and any adults who are ever around children - create body happy settings for kids to thrive in. 
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We launch officially next month with a beautiful new website and lots of resources which we’ll continually be adding to. In the meantime give us a follow at @bodyhappyorg - we start posting from today and our page has been designed as a free resource on its own! 
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I’m privileged to work alongside an incredible team of people on this. Shout-out to the original dream team @chelseacoxstrategist @amysnellingpt @effinitupfaye @lottie_storey @bodyconfidencecards_db @rachel_hobnobs & @aceandping 💕 LOVE YOU ALL! 💕
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[Image description: A blue square with yellow and white text which reads “the body happy org”. This is the logo for The Body Happy Organisation CIC]
Proof that I did wear clothes other than a tea-sta Proof that I did wear clothes other than a tea-stained hoodie and tracksuit bottoms at least once in the past month 😐
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[Image description: Molly is wearing pink dungarees with yellow buttons over a black rollneck long-sleeved top. She has a monochrome striped hairband on and her hair is pink. She is also wearing earrings with boobs on them. She looks very pleased, both with her earrings, the pink hair and the fact she’s not wearing sleepwear, for a change.]
A new report from the Education Policy Institute h A new report from the Education Policy Institute has concluded an obvious gender divide in the well-being of young adults. If you’d like to read more check out this article by Eleanor Peake in @newstatesman (I’ve linked to it in my Stories).
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Every week I get messages from parents and teachers concerned about the impact of social media on their kids’ body image. And of course, I couldn’t write a book about body image in kids and teens without covering social media - there’s a whole chapter in Body Happy Kids dedicated to the subject. 
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The thing is, social media isn’t going anywhere. And just like it can be a force for anxiety, shame and general angst it can be a force for good too. The trick is in knowing how to use it positively (and in holding the platforms to account for not moderating the spread of harmful viral trends and online abuse, and creating algorithms that deliberately create division and harm mental health... but that’s a story for another day). 
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But how can we expect our kids to have a handle on it when we, as adults, don’t ourselves? 
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I don’t believe the answer is to ban social media, but I don’t think kids should be given unfettered access to it either. 
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They need help navigating this stuff, learning about boundaries, developing media literacy skills so they can think critically about the content they’re consuming (just like many adults).
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And we also need to explore how we might be inadvertently contributing to the problem, perpetuating appearance ideals and creating a culture where kids learn it’s ok to body shame under the guise of health and to value each other based on the way they look.
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As ever, it’s complicated. I’d love to know what you think? What are some of the boundaries you have around social media in your house - both for yourself and your kids?
#BodyHappyKids 
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[Full text in Alt Text]
When I was pregnant with Effie I went to a pregnan When I was pregnant with Effie I went to a pregnancy yoga class every week. It was the highlight of my week. I left each session feeling like I was floating on a cloud, and I used the poses and breath work to guide me through labour too. But then I had my baby and found that, as a knackered new mum of two, I couldn’t find the time for yoga. I no longer had the excuse of doing it “for the bump” or “to prepare for labour”, so what was the point?
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It wasn’t until I started reinvesting in myself and unravelling the diet culture perspective on exercise that I found it again, along with running, which turned to hiking, and swimming. 
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It wasn’t about preparing my body for someone or something else. It was about the process itself, the time to unwind my mind and move my body for joy, just for me. I’ve lost a bit of that this past year with lockdowns, and I feel it.
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I recently signed up to @theunderbellyyoga with @mynameisjessamyn and feel like I’m finding it again. I love that my kids can see me taking time for myself, and enjoying movement, and that they sometimes want to join in too. Even if it is a bit annoying sometimes (swipe 👀). 
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#BodyHappyMum 
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[Image description: Molly and her 6 year old daughter Effie sit on yoga and gymnastics mats with their legs crossed and arms in the air. They have their backs to the camera. In the second image they are sitting crossed legged while twisting round to the side, and in the third image Molly is lying on the mat with her eyes closed while Effie leans over her, being a bit annoying.]
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