MENU
Meditation retreat: Buddhism for Beginners - 6 nights at The Barn
An easy & accessible way into Buddhism
Summary
Duration: 6 nights - run annually
For those with little meditation experience - or none
Single occupancy
Silence nightly until morning & on 1 whole day
Max. Spaces: 11
Overview
This meditation retreat Buddhism for Beginners is a 6-night stay at The Barn retreat venue in beautiful South Devon, for those who want to start to explore Buddhist philosophy, meditation and mindfulness.
The ancient teachings of The Buddha are just as fresh and relevant for contemporary times and can help you to develop insight, self awareness and open-heartedness.
If you've heard about - or even practised - mindfulness, you may be interested in its origins, which include Buddhism.
Buddhism can be seen as a religion, a philosophy, or a way of life. In this retreat we will explore its different schools and core teachings. We'll look at its principles, including the Noble Truths and the Eightfold Path and the relationship between mindfulness and Buddhism.
See our other retreats for beginners to meditation and mindfulness here
This retreat is for you if you:
- Are curious to learn more about Buddhism and how the practices of meditation and compassion can support you in your everyday life
-
You need rest, replenishment, renewal and inspiration
-
You'd benefit from reflection and connecting to nature and your creativity, far away from the busy-ness of your day-to-day life and work
-
Are aged 18 and above
What you'll experience on this retreat:
- living in community with like-minded people, sharing experiences and tasks, including cooking and eating together and helping in our gardens
-
guided meditations, Buddhist teaching and periods of silence and quiet contemplation
-
your own room and space in which to rejuvenate, with free time to deeply rest and reconnect with yourself
-
access to 24-hour hot teas, coffee & infusions in the kitchen
- the chance to explore the beautiful Sharpham Estate, set within a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty close to nature, amid breath-taking scenery on the banks of the River Dart
What you'll 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
Schedule
The weekly schedule provides opportunities for both individual reflection and group meditation.
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.
It is important that you are willing to participate in working on the land as part of your mindfulness practice (we can easily find suitable tasks for people with health difficulties) and that you can commit to all the scheduled activities during the week. This includes three 40 minute formal meditation periods each day.
Silence
All our retreats include periods of silence as a way of deepening into mindful awareness.
If you are new to spending time in silence in the company of other people, it can feel awkward to begin with. But we encourage you to explore the silent periods with a spirit of openness and curiosity - people usually find it to be a positive experience.
Note that we hold silence overnight from 8.40pm to 9.15am in the morning, and all day Wednesday.
Sunday
| Afternoon |
|---|
| 2.00pm to 4.00pm – Your arrival |
| 5.00pm – Welcome Meeting |
| 6.30pm – Light evening meal. Then settling in |
| 8.00pm – Meditation, followed by silence until 9.15am the next day |
Monday to Friday:
| Mornings | Afternoons |
|---|---|
| 6.20am – Wake up | 12.20pm – Guided or silent meditation |
| 6.45am – Movement & meditation | 1.00pm – Lunch |
| 7.30am – Household tasks | 2.00pm – Personal time |
| 8.00am – Breakfast | 5.00pm – Teaching (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday) |
| 9.15am – Silence ends, morning meeting & check-in (except Wednesday) | 6.30pm – Light supper |
| 10.30am – Mindful gardening | 8.00pm – Guided or silent meditation followed by silence until 9.15am the following day |
Saturday:
As above until 8.00am. Silence ends at breakfast. Then it's time to clear your room and depart between 9.00am and 10.00am.
The Barn Retreat Centre at Sharpham
Our popular meditation retreat venue in the Buddhist tradition is where up to 11 people join together living in community for weekly retreats, including a variety of themed retreats - scroll on to see them all.
You'll be staying within a friendly atmosphere of fellowship, sitting together in daily meditations and mindfully tending our organic vegetable gardens.
You'll have your own single room, you'll get to eat produce from what's grown on the land here and you'll also get time to explore the wonder of the beautiful and contemplation-inspiring Sharpham Estate.
Second time there and it continues to deliver! The coordinators are brilliant at creating a sense of community and peace. The setting is incredibly beautiful and allows for an deep immersion with natureGet Directions View Venue
By Car
By Train
By Taxi
On foot or cycle from Totnes
By CoachLeaders
Barn Coordinators
Read more +
Costs
Rooms & rates
All rooms are comfortable single occupancy, with a shared bathroom.
They are allocated randomly, unless you have a medical need - please let us know on your booking form.
Click here for more information on our types of bedrooms and facilities
Meals, bedding, and towels are included.
Select from the following rates:
| Subsidised rate | Standard rate | Supporter rate | |||
| A heavily subsidised rate for those on low incomes who would otherwise be unable to attend. This is made possible by the generosity of others who are able to pay the higher Supporter Rate, helping us keep retreats open and accessible to everyone |
The Standard Rate for those not on a low income, covers the costs of your retreat and contributes a small amount to the upkeep of The Barn. Your payment helps maintain the retreat spaces, keep rooms and communal areas in good order, and ensures the experience is welcoming and enjoyable for all who visit. |
For those able to pay a little more, you'll make a wider, lasting impact, helping to preserve the estate and its wildlife, sustain the charitable work of the Trust and ensure future participants can benefit from the peace and renewal we offer. By choosing this rate, you’re helping The Trust to thrive - now and in the years to come. |
|||
| £445 | £495 | £575 |
Dana
Dana is the Pali word for generosity or donation. The volunteer coordinators are receiving only a small payment for expenses whilst living at The Barn and are generously giving their energy and understanding to us all. Your donation, if you are able, is welcome.
Bursary places for those on low incomes
We are committed to making Sharpham Trust retreats accessible to everyone, no matter their income, and we have a variety of bursary schemes.
See our Bursary Places page here to explore ways in which you can come on a heavily-discounted retreat.
Bursary Fund donations
If you’d like to support even more people beyond your own retreat, you can donate to our Bursary Fund. Every gift helps make retreats accessible to those who might otherwise miss out.
If you’d like to help another person go on retreat with us through our bursary scheme, you can give online quickly and easily by clicking here
Terms & Conditions
See our booking and cancellations policy here
Available dates
At the heart of the Sharpham Trust ethos is our desire to build a more mindful, compassionate and environmentally sustainable world.
We connect people with nature and foster mindfulness and well-being through our programme of retreats, mindfulness courses, outdoor learning and the arts.
© 2026 Sharpham Trust | The Sharpham Trust Sharpham House, Ashprington, Totnes, Devon, UK TQ9 7UTUseful Links
Connect with Us
Receive regular updates on courses, events and more by subscribing to our newsletter.
