Celebrate Your Bright Side in These 7 Inspiring Destinations

The landscapes that inspire us when we look out of the window, the sounds and smells that ground and relax us, and the specific experiences that nourish our souls, are deeply personal and different for everybody. After all, these are the intangible things that have the unique ability to transport, energise or motivate us.

There’s little doubt that surrounding yourself with novel sights – from treetop views and the symphonic sounds of the ocean to experiencing ultimate luxury in a boutique hotel – is a sure-fire way to fuel your curiosity and re-energise your spirits.

And while that might seem a distant dream for most right now, there are other ways we can achieve that feeling for the time being, according to Yasmin Persaud, Senior Global Product Manager at Soap & Glory.

And revitalised skin will be of paramount importance when you’re finally allowed to camp out in a coastal cave or hike through a mountain forest again. With that in mind – and looking forward to future travel adventures with blind, unwavering optimism – here are seven destinations and experiences in the UK and the US to reignite your internal glow.

It’s easy to wake up smiling when you can hear the waves crashing below, far from the hustle and bustle of city life. Cornwall’s location on the edge of the Atlantic makes it one of the UK’s favourite surfing destinations, so there’s no need to head to Biarritz or Bali. The beautiful sandy beaches at Mawgan Porth and Watergate Bay – near popular Newquay – don’t disappoint. Stay in a stripped-back yurt on a craggy clifftop, and saunter down to the surf school before breakfast. If surfing’s not your thing, there are kayaks and SUP rentals, too. Roam the rugged coastal path, paddle in the rockpools and don’t forget your bucket and spade.

Stay at: The Yurt Village

Waking with your beloved in a snug, rural cabin has an intimate charm you just can’t beat. Hunker down in this tiny cabin and enjoy the presence of nature in full. After all, Washington’s wet weather and storms are part of the draw, right? You might be waking up slow here, but massaging Soap & Glory’s Scrub for Joy Body Polish into damp skin will soon have you springing into action.

As Persaud explains: “We have created a collection of uplifting body care essentials, with a fragrance that has been expertly designed to enhance happiness, thanks to notes of grapefruit and rhubarb. The Uplifting range is our first collection that has both skin and sensorial benefits, and we are excited to continue innovating in this space.”

The scrub is also packed with walnut-shell powder to help gently exfoliate, vitamin B5 to soften, vitamin C to brighten and vitamin E to nourish and keep skin hydrated as you explore the surrounding forest.

Stay at: Getaway House

There’s something magical and childlike about being in a treehouse, where the trees are within touching distance and the silence is only ever interrupted by birds gossiping above. It’s perfect for a romantic jaunt – and designed for people to completely unwind – so you’ll be forgiven if you simply want to burrow away underneath the duvet in your own little nest. But with acres of secluded ancient forest to explore, you’ll have to tear yourself away from the suspended fireplace and lose yourself in the private woodland, at least for a couple of hours. After you’ve kickstarted your morning in the al fresco copper bath for two, of course.

Stay at: Hudnalls Hideout

There’s a strong chance of being greeted by big blue sky when you arrive in Palm Springs, where you’re almost guaranteed sunshine. Set against the San Jacinto Mountains, if this technicolour hotspot doesn’t have you launching yourself at the neon yellow poolside daybeds, nothing will. Get ready to dance poolside with hues inspired by desert wildflowers, reflecting the fun spirit of Coachella Valley, as DJs drop nu­-disco beats from dusk ’til dawn.

Stay at: Saguaro Hotel

If the landscape of mountains and lakes outside your front door isn’t enough to get you lacing up your hiking boots, Ullswater also offers wild swimming, sailing, kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding. Try hiking up Helvellyn for sunrise, then rejuvenate with the perfect perk-me-up for skin – Soap & Glory’s Best Washes Body Wash. Not only will its fragrance – with notes of grapefruit and rhubarb – set you up perfectly for the day ahead, it lathers up quickly, removing dirt, oils and impurities for supremely clean skin that feels refreshed and revitalised. Cap off your morning with American-style waffles and drip coffee in old-style enamel coffee pots.

Stay at: Another Place

If you’re looking for somewhere to lift your spirits, then Sedona’s dramatic natural beauty – filled with rust-stained rockfaces, orange-dust pathways and huge blue skies – offers both spirituality and awe. Waking up in Arizona can be any kind of beautiful you want it to be. Like it pacy? Kick yourself out of bed and join a group hike up Cathedral Rock. Prefer to take it a little slower? Tap into Sedona’s powerful vortex energy while practising yoga amid a beautiful scenic landscape. The choice is yours.

Stay at: Enchantment Resort

Colorado is best known for skiing – and Aspen has a reputation for being America’s A-list resort for the rich and famous – but its dramatic mountain landscapes are amazing in summer, too. The combination of fresh alpine air, adventure sports – skiing, hiking, rafting, biking – and snow-capped mountains will leave you feeling invigorated. With so much action to enjoy, you’ll want a time-effective moisturiser that removes the hassle of applying post-shower. Soap & Glory’s All The Right Smoothes In-Shower Moisturiser – a super smoothing lotion that is applied directly to wet skin – is the answer. Fragranced with uplifting notes of grapefruit and rhubarb, and packed with nourishing avocado and brazil-nut oils, it can be slapped onto wet skin in seconds for all-day hydration – especially important when the temperature dips below freezing.

Stay at: Alpine Lodge

Embrace your surroundings, explore your own personal bright side and shop Soap & Glory’s new range.