Stuck in a rut? Feel yourself thinking “same s**t, different day” every morning on your commute? You, my friend, need a shake-up.

The daily grind can feel particularly draining if you’re a city dweller, surrounded by pollution and general pandemonium in all directions. But the best way to step off the hamster wheel is to just… go. Take that annual leave so many workers are scared of using, leave the city, and escape to the countryside to have a bath under the stars.

It sounds eccentric, but think about it. Baths are where we have some of our most contemplative moments: totally alone and literally laid back, we can’t even be distracted by our digital devices. Being surrounded by nature is also a proven de-stressor. According to the Institute for European Environmental Policy, being in nature can increase our self-esteem and mental wellbeing, while another recent study suggests that being near trees significantly improves our mood. It’s not surprising that the Japanese are such fans of shinrin-yoku, or ‘forest bathing’, as a mindfulness practice.

Thanks to the temperamental British weather, the UK isn’t exactly brimming with places to bathe outside. But we’ve done some research and found five gorgeous spots where you can get back to nature – by getting into the tub.

5 incredible UK getaways where you can bathe under the stars