Spring Retreat - 5 nights
Katherine Wilkes
Susan Papas
Billie
Louise Neicho (lou lou)
Tessa Turner
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Refresh and reconnect with yourself as Mother Nature stirs from her slumber.
Our Spring Unfolding retreat gives you the chance to be nourished by the best that Sharpham has to offer, including:
- mindful movement
- creativity
- activities and meditation surrounded by nature
- 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 reflection and contemplation.
You’ll also have enough free time to explore your stunning surroundings during Spring – and Sharpham Estate and gardens are bursting with vitality 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, as Spring develops
- are aged 18 and above
There are periods of silence on each of our retreats - incuding a day of silence usually on day 3
What you’ll experience on this retreat
During this retreat you’ll:
- have the opportunity to develop mindfulness skills through guided meditations
- practice mindful movement
- access your creativity through a series of creative activities such as writing and environmental 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
- 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 you need to know
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 that we send out after you've booked.
You can also find out more about staying with us on our Frequently Asked Questions page, including
- accessibility information
- why we encourage you to come on your own and not with partners or friends
- what the difference is between our retreats
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.
Food allergies & intolerances
Please tell us well in advance of your stay of any food allergies or intolerances you may have.
You can tell us this on the Booking Form via a link we send you in your confirmation email.
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.
Every time I come here, the ambience of the House and surroundings infuse me with a wonderful sense of well-being
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 |
6.00pm - Supper and tasks |
8.15pm - Guided meditation |
9.00pm - House moves into silence until 8.30am, supporting individual mindfulness and reflection |
Typical day
Mornings | Afternoons |
---|---|
7.00am - wake-up bell (silence until 9.50am) | 1.00pm – Lunch & tasks |
7.30am - Early Bird Movement (meet at main entrance) | 2.00pm – Personal time |
8.00am Guided meditation | 4pm & 5.15pm – Afternoon sessions |
8.30am - Breakfast & tasks | 5.30pm - Guided meditation (Octagonal Room) |
9.45 - Home groups | 6.00pm – Dinner, tasks and personal time |
11.00am - Morning session | 8.00pm - Mindfulness exploration (Octagonal Room) |
8.40pm - Deep relaxation | |
9.00pm - Personal time. House moves into silence. |
Final day
Afternoon/evening |
---|
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 |
12 noon - Departure |
These 5 days have truly changed the way I value myself and the world around me
This was one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.
A safe, healing space for self-exploration. Highly recommended.
The retreat leaders were knowledgeable and compassionate, the food was incredible and the house and grounds are simply beautiful.
It really was a life-changing experience
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.

Lynette Robinson
Lynette Robinson is a qualified Breathworks mindfulness teacher and accredited life coach. She teaches mindfulness to a diverse range of groups, such as seniors living in residential complexes, men in prison and women’s groups. During 2020 lockdowns this diversity expanded to teaching online mindful-working courses for home-workers. Her freely given Zoom group ‘Stop The Week & Rest to Calm' supported the mental and emotional well-being of attendees from four different countries. Author of the book 'Reclaimed', and' Mindfulness Mediations for Modern Day Women' CD, Lynette lives life with passion, following the energies of creativity and contribution. In 2016 she volunteered as Retreat Coordinator for three summers, at The Barn.

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.
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.