Autumn Retreat - 5-nights
Katherine Wilkes
Susan Papas
Billie
Louise Neicho (lou lou)
Tessa Turner
We don't have any dates for this retreat currently scheduled.
Please sign up to our newsletter using the link below to hear about when we do.
Hear FIRST about our retreats & events
Give yourself much-needed nurturing as the nights draw in, experiencing a longer, deeper retreat in Sharpham House.
Our Autumn Nurturing retreat gives you the chance to be nourished by the best that Sharpham has to offer, including:
- meditation surrounded by nature
- mindful movement
- creative activities
- walking in the beautiful Devon landscape
You’ll experience many of the rich threads that are woven through our programme, exploring mindful awareness through community, creativity, celebration and a deep connection to nature, yet with plenty of space for your own reflections and contemplations.
You’ll also have enough free time to explore your stunning surroundings during Autumn – and Sharpham Estate looks fantastic in this season. Read on for more details on this retreat and click the Leaders, Schedules and Venue & Directions tabs above for further information.
Exploring Sharpham’s different pathways to mindfulness
This retreat is for you if you are:
- curious to experience the different elements of the Sharpham Programme
- want a longer stay in this beautiful place
- in need of rest, rejuvenation and renewal, just before winter sets in
- are aged 18 and above
Experiences in community
You’ll have the chance to join in a range of workshops, from mindful movement to creative writing, nature sensing and an environmental art.
There are periods of silence on each of our retreats.
What you’ll experience on this retreat
During this retreat you’ll:
- have the opportunity to develop mindfulness skills through guided meditations
- practice morning mindful movement
- access creativity through activites which may include creative writing and visual art
- have guided and free time on this beautiful Estate, enjoying engaging and seasonal nature connection and nature sensing activities
- be in a safe and supportive space, with the chance to spend some evenings round the fire and under the stars in good company
- be living in community with like-minded people, bringing mindfulness to everyday experiences and tasks
- enjoy delicious, healthy, home-cooked vegetarian food that regularly receives rave reviews
- be cared for full-board in a Grade 1-listed Georgian House surrounded by history and art, with staff looking after you, in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty close to nature, amid breath-taking scenery on the banks of the River Dart.
Mindfulness in nature at Sharpham
When you experience Sharpham's inspiring and nourishing environment, we hope you'll connect spiritually with the natural world, so you’ll:
- become aware of how we are all part of nature - not artificially separate from it
- pay attention to and appreciate the natural world surrounding us
- explore nature through your senses and your natural creativity
- Tread more lightly on our finite planet, developing a respect and reverence for all living things
Click here to read our ethos and principles
What might you bring?
If you decide to stay with us, we’ll send you a list of what you need to bring for this retreat in your Welcome Letter. But you might consider the following:
- Comfy clothes for meditation, movement and relaxation
- Your own slippers
- A journal or notepad if you want to write or draw during your time here
- Walking boots – we have wonderful footpaths and routes to explore
- Running gear if you’re a jogger. Some participants love to run on the lanes and footpaths near Sharpham
Find out more about staying in Sharpham House on our Frequently Asked Questions page.
See our Sharpham House Covid-19 measures here
Our food & your dietary needs
The retreat is full-board with delicious home-cooked vegetarian food.
In line with sustainable practices across the Estate, our cooks produce seasonal, vegetarian food for our guests. We source food whenever possible from our kitchen garden and support local food suppliers.
We can accommodate the following dietary needs: vegan, wheat-free, gluten-free, dairy-free as long as you have included these on your Booking Form. Please alert us to any food allergies you have. The booking form is sent as a link once you have booked and paid for a retreat.
Your physical and mental health
This retreat is suitable for you if you are new to mindfulness, or seeking to renew or reconnect with your practice.
Although meditation and mindfulness can be helpful in managing stress, depression and anxiety our retreats might not be suitable if you are experiencing major depression or other clinically diagnosed psychiatric illness such as bipolar disorder, psychosis or current self-harming. Click here for more information and for our booking process.
We have an accessible en-suite bedroom The Clare Milne Room – click here for details on how to book this room
If you have a medical condition that requires you to have an en-suite room, please contact our Programme Administrator on the number below as these rooms are limited and are bookable on a first-come first-serve basis.
The beauty of Sharpham House and its surroundings is readily apparent, but it’s the special alchemy that happens inside the house when that’s combined with mindfulness and human warmth and connectedness that makes a stay here so memorable and powerful to the soul.
If you're coming to stay with us on retreat, it is important to make a commitment to arrive in time for the first group meeting and to attend all the days.
This ensures you experience the retreat programme from start to finish and helps your group of participants to gel.
Typical schedule
With sessions including nature connection, creative enquiry, mindfulness practice and exploration (including work on self-compassion, gratitide and appreciation)
Day 1
Afternoon/evening |
---|
3.00pm - 5.00pm - arrival |
5.15pm – Welcome meeting, House tour, settling in |
6.30pm - Supper |
8.15pm - Guided meditation |
9.00pm - House moves into silence until 8.30am, supporting individual mindfulness and reflection |
Typical day
Mornings | Afternoons |
---|---|
7.10am - wake-up bell (silence until 9.50am) | 1.00pm – Lunch & tasks |
8.00am - Early Bird Movement (meet at main entrance) | 2.15pm – Personal time |
8.30am - Breakfast & tasks | 4pm & 5.15pm – Afternoon sessions, Groups A & B |
9.50am - Guided meditation in the Octagonal Room | 5.30pm - Guided meditation (Octagonal Room) |
10.30am - Tea | 6.00pm – Dinner, tasks and personal time |
11.30am - Morning session, Groups A & B | 8.00pm - Mindfulness exploration (Octagonal Room) |
8.40pm - Deep relaxation | |
9.00pm - Personal time. House moves into silence. |
Final day
Morning |
---|
7.10am - wake-up bell (silence until 9.50am) |
8.00am - Early Bird Moving Mindfulness |
8.30am - Breakfast & tasks |
9.50am - Guided meditation |
10.30am - Final meeting |
11.45am - Departure |
Sharpham is a place of peacefulness and magic. I am leaving this retreat feeling rested and energised, with a deeper understanding of mindfulness and forward momentum for continuing my practice"
This retreat is a marvellous opportunity to explore and expand our lives through mindfulness, movement, voice and sharing. The venue is a sheer joy to stay in, the food wonderful and the people are always perfect. I hope to return"
A beautiful, nourishing space which helped me to reconnect with my creativity and love for life surrounded by people who share my values"
If this is not already on your bucket list, stick it close to the top. Something to be treasured. Unmissable"
This Sharpham retreat has given me the nourishment I needed to go and show the world who I am. It has been a phenomenal retreat full of creativity, wisdom-sharing, reflection, nature and pure happiness"
Panoramic views to feed your soul and a comfortable room in a fantastic house, to lay your weary head at the end of each day. A journey of body, mind and spirit that is well worth taking"
Life-changing, heart-opening, deep natural wisdom. I'll be back for more"
This retreat takes place in the beautiful and historic Grade 1-listed Sharpham House set in a Capability Brown-designed landscape with stunning views over the steeply-wooded River Dart.
Click here for our How to Find Us page on this website.
Click here to view, print or download directions and a map to Sharpham House
Click here view and download walking/cycling directions to Sharpham House
If you have a medical condition that requires you to have an en-suite room, please contact our Programme Administrator on the number below as these rooms are limited and are bookable on a first-come first-served basis.
Just to let you know, we have poor mobile phone coverage – which we see as a virtue. While there is wi-fi in Sharpham House, we encourage you to disconnect from ‘the network’ so you can fully retreat when you’re here.
We are 3 miles from Totnes – famous for its Transition Town movement
We are in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty
Sustainability
We take sustainability seriously.
All of the hot water and heating in the House is produced by a state-of-the-art biomass woodchip boiler and we have 2 large photo-voltaic solar panel arrays on barn rooftops.
Our gardens are managed organically and we only use bio-degradable cleaning products.
5 nights
£545 – Standard room, full-board
£595 - Premium room, full-board
£695 – Heritage room, full-board
(see also bursaries below)
Bathrooms
Because Sharpham House is a Grade 1-listed mansion (with limits to the changes we are allowed to make to the building), few bedrooms come with an en-suite bathroom and toilet. There are shared bathrooms on every floor.
If you have a medical condition that requires you to have an en-suite room, please contact our Programme Administrator on the number below as these rooms are limited and are bookable on a first-come first-served basis.
Our accessible rooms
We have an accessible en-suite bedroom The Clare Milne Room – click here for details on how to book this room
Bursaries
Limited 50% bursaries offering reduced-price retreats are available for those experiencing financial hardship. Please contact the Programme Administrator at least 4 weeks in advance if you wish to apply.

Barry Thurgood
For over 10 years, Barry has been guiding meditation groups and coordinating retreats at Lam Rim Buddhist Centre in Bristol, The Sharpham Barn Retreat and also online. He has also worked as the Sharpham Woodland Camp Retreat Manager and is a qualified Integrating Mindfulness & Compassion (CPCAB accredited) teacher.
Barry is inspired by sharing his passion for deepening a sense of connection with ourselves, each other, nature and something bigger than ourselves, all in a spirit of kindness.

Emma Thom
Emma has worked in mental health for over 20 years. She has a Post Graduate Diploma in Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy (University of Exeter). She works at the AccEPT clinic in Exeter teaching mindfulness courses to adults with depression and health and social care staff. She also teaches mindfulness to adoptive parents, teenagers, and families with learning difficulties. Emma’s life has benefitted in many ways from mindfulness. She first discovered mindfulness during an extensive period of ill-health and has no doubt that mindfulness gave her what she needed to recover. Emma loves sharing what she has learned with others and is particularly interested in the ways that mindfulness supports wellbeing and flourishing along with increasing capacity to manage stress and ill-health. Emma especially enjoys practicing mindfulness in movement, through yoga and walking.
How to book easily and securely:
- online on this page
- by phoning 01803 732542
Ring us or email us on [email protected] if you've got any questions.
Please click here to see our booking and cancellations policy.
Do check our Calendar to see and book for our events - or join our mailing list by clicking here to be kept in touch about Sharpham Trust news, retreats & events.