It has been described as Britain's finest manor house and the doors of Dorset's glorious Mapperton Estate are now being thrown open for a yoga retreat.

Yoga enthusiasts can enjoy the stunning Jacobean property and grounds in all its glory at the restorative and transformative retreat, the first of its kind to be hosted at the family home of Julie Montagu, founder of Whole Self Yoga.

Guests are invited to take part in Julie's signature style yoga classes, and can also take advantage of craft workshops, long walks, plant-based food made with local ingredients and even cosy fires, during the four-day event, which takes place from November 8 to 11.

"Yoga basically changed / saved my life," says Julie. "I was an unhappy, grumpy mother of four and every day felt like Groundhog day - same routine, different day. My energy was low, my mood swings were all over the place and I stopped liking myself.

"I went to a Vinyasa Flow Yoga class - first time ever at this type of yoga - and my world changed that day. I cried in the Savasana yoga pose, but they were good tears. They were letting go tears. And I left that practice saying to myself 'I want to feel like this every single day.'"

Fast forward ten years and Julie says she is now the happiest she has ever been, all because of yoga, and she now wants to offer what yoga did for her to others in the form of the retreats.

"We recently converted the 17th century Coach House with the help of English Heritage and now have a magnificent space to hold yoga retreats," she says.

"Mapperton is an escape from London, an escape from our hectic daily lives, an escape from technology and set in the stunning rolling hills of Dorset sprawling 2,500 acres - incredible peace! "Within The Coach House we have a wonderful restaurant which will cater for the retreats - and all food will be deliciously plant-based. But I wanted to make my yoga retreats really special. So, all ingredients will be locally sourced where they can, and there will also be two Mindful Craft sessions: one where we will be making smudge sticks and luna candles and the other where we will be making herbal soaps and deodorants.

"So, I want these retreats to not only be a place to escape from the never ending to-do lists, stresses of modern day life, but also to allow a reconnection of one’s whole self through yoga, meditation and mindful crafting."

Mornings will begin with a cleansing and energising Vinyasa Flow Yoga practice in the 17th century Coach House, which has recently been restored with timber floors, original stone and a biomass heating system.

Early afternoons will be spent exploring the award-winning, 15-acre romantic valley gardens or hiking through the woods and valleys on the 2,000-acre estate. Late afternoons will be reserved for mindful crafts with local experts, including seasonal flower arranging or learning how to prepare herbal soaps.

A second sundown yoga practice and meditation/Yoga Nidra (yogic sleep) will lead participants into evening relaxation and supper.

Mapperton, which was voted Britain's finest manor house by Country Life magazine is set among the tumbling hills and unspoiled countryside of West Dorset. Fifteen acres of gardens descend from the croquet lawn, through the formal topiary down to the wild garden.

The manor house boasts a mix of grand rooms with four-poster beds, as well as recently redecorated single and double rooms. Guests should be aware that not all of the bedrooms have en-suite bathrooms, given the age of the house. All bedding and towels are provided by The White Company.

Rooms are also available in the adjacent Garden Cottage.

Retreat includes: Double or Single Accommodation in the main house or adjacent cottage Delicious breakfast, lunch and dinner sourcing local ingredients Two yoga sessions per day Two mindful craft sessions Meditation and Yoga Nidra Prices are from £695 per person (double room sharing) to £1,295 (own room with four poster).

Additional retreats are scheduled for November 29 to December 3, and January 31 to February 3.

Retreat schedule: Thursday: 2-4pm: Arrival 4pm: Thursday welcome green smoothie in The Great Hall 5-6:30pm: Yoga and Meditation 7:30pm: Dinner Friday: 7-8am: Light Breakfast 8:30-10:30am: Yoga 12:30-1:30pm: Lunch 3-4:30pm: Mindful Crafting 5:30-6:30pm: Restorative Yoga & Meditation 7:30pm: Dinner Saturday: 7-8am: Light Breakfast 8:30-10:30am: Yoga 12:30-1:30pm: Lunch 3-4:30pm: Mindful Crafting 5:30-6:30pm: Restorative Yoga & Meditation 7:30pm: Dinner Sunday: 7-8am: Light Breakfast 8:30-10am: Yoga 10:30-11:30am: Brunch Noon: Departures W: wholeself.yoga W: mapperton.com