Well Intentioned: A Winter Wellness Guide to Edinburgh

Aaand relax. Everything’s taken care of at this grand, royalty-ready hotel – from the opulent high-ceilinged rooms (many with views of Edinburgh Castle) to the Michelin-star food (hand-dived scallops, anyone?). All you need to worry about is whether to get a Hebridean sea-salt body scrub or Swedish massage after a few laps in the indoor pool, or which of the 500 varieties of Scottish whisky you’ll be trying at the bar before sinking into bed.

No one likes jogging in ice-cold rain. Even swimming lacks appeal when the weather’s this chilly. But what if your workout felt like a warm hug? Infrared panels on the ceiling heat this yoga studio to anywhere between 26C (79F) and 39C (102F) – depending on the type of yoga and time of day. Work up a serious sweat at a power vinyasa class, or release muscle tension and prepare for sleep in a slow-paced warm yin session.

This huge 120-year-old hotel in a former train station is part of the Waldorf Astoria brand and boasts some of the best views of Edinburgh. Quiet rooms have blackout curtains for undisturbed sleep and Nespresso machines for your morning coffee in bed. You’ll find the UK’s only Guerlain Spa here; scent-led treatments include the Imperial Relaxing Massage, inspired by the perfumery’s classic eau de cologne, which will leave you de-stressed and smelling divine.

Comedians cut their teeth at Edinburgh’s world-renowned Fringe Festival each August, but there are jokes to be heard all year round in this comedy-loving city. After all, laughter is the best medicine, and those belly laughs hit differently when it’s grey and miserable outside. Visit the Stand comedy club to watch mood-boosting sets by big-name comics, or opt for pot-luck at Red Raw, the weekly open-mic night for newbies.

Set across seven Georgian townhouses, a stone’s throw from Princes Street, this is a fine place to retreat from Scotland’s winter chill. Rooms feel homely – all aged leather and warm lighting – and the plant-filled, glass-roofed Garden restaurant serves up healthy comfort food, such as cauliflower fritters, beetroot hummus and babaganoush. Don’t miss the wellness centre, where you can relax in the pool or steam room post-pilates, and treat yourself to a spot of CBD reflexology.

Whether you’re trying to reduce your meat intake or are totally plant-based, you’ll find a dish for you at this welcoming 100% vegan cafe in buzzy Bruntsfield. Chow down on a hearty Beyond burger stuffed with mac ‘n’ cheese and smoky “facon”, or up your vitamin intake with a fresh veg-filled satay bowl or kale and ginger smoothie.

According to floatation fans, spending one hour floating in just 10 inches (25cm) of magnesium-rich salt water could change your life. The new-age treatment is said to reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol, improve sleep quality and increase feelings of wellbeing. Fancy giving it a go? Book your own zero-gravity pod experience at this luxury float centre in Edinburgh West.

There’s something meditative about visiting a museum. Mindful wanderings among the ancient artefacts and objects of beauty at the National Museum of Scotland are likely to spark your curiosity and stir a sense of connection to the wider world, past and present. The Grand Gallery alone is spirit-lifting, with its curved glass ceiling flooding the exhibition space with light.