Courgette and basil vegan pesto salad, served on the sunny South Terrace at Sharpham House, looking down the River Dart
Sybille Pouzet

Moments to Savour: 4-night mindfulness retreat in Sharpham House

Conscious Cooking & Mindful Eating

Summary

4 nights - Annually
Any
Single occupancy
Short periods
Max. Spaces: 20

Overview

Set within the peaceful surroundings of Sharpham House, we will explore how bringing awareness to harvesting, cooking and eating can deepen our sense of connection, with ourselves, with others and with the natural world.

Through simple mindfulness practices, gentle movement, time in the garden and kitchen, and shared meals, we will explore how everyday activities with food can become opportunities for presence and nourishment of mind, body and soul.

This retreat offers an opportunity to slow down, rest and (re)discover mindful cooking and eating practices, exploring how these can help us notice taste, texture, the body’s response to food and our relationship with cooking and food through mindfulness and shared experience.

You do not need previous experience of mindfulness or cooking. The emphasis is not on technical cooking skills, but on bringing attention and curiosity to the process and joy of preparing and savouring food.


You might also like our 4-night Mindful Gardening retreat at The Coach House

This retreat is for you if you:

  • are in need of rest, nourishment and renewal

  • would like to learn new recipes and ideas to enhance your vegetarian and vegan cooking

  • enjoy seasonal food and spending time in gardens and in nature

  • appreciate learning in a supportive group setting

What is Mindfulness?

What you'll experience on this retreat:

  • the chance to harvest fresh seasonal produce from our walled gardens, discovering the connection between soil, season and nourishment
  • cooking together with awareness and savouring the experience of eating together
  • mindful cooking and eating practices, exploring how slowing down can help us notice taste, texture and the body’s response to food.
  • embodied awareness, gentle movement and body awareness practices that support a deeper connection with how food affects energy, mood and wellbeing
  • guided meditations, relaxation sessions and periods of silence and quiet contemplation, with time in nature 
  • a chance to learn about & witness our efforts to re-wild the Sharpham Estate and the seasonal rhythms of the land
  • full-board accommodation in a Grade II-listed Georgian Coach House set within Capability Brownian parkland, with Grade II*-listed gardens designed by Percy Cane in a designated National Landscape amid breath-taking scenery on the banks of the River Dart
  • a single-occupancy room and your own space in which to rejuvenate, with free time to deeply rest and reconnect with yourself, far from the busy-ness of daily life
  • shared tasks and group sharings that nurture a sense of community
  • 24-hour access to teas, herbal infusions, and comforting refreshments
What is a mindfulness meditation retreat?
Tahini cacao balls - gluten-free & vegan and made in Sharpham House's kitchens
Sybille Pouzet

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
View our FAQs

Schedule

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.


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. 

The retreats typically move into silence each evening from 9pm - 9.50am the following day

Typical retreat schedule

Day 1: Arrive between 3-5pm for welcoming talk and settling in

Mornings Afternoons
7.00am - wake up  12.30pm - meditation
7.30am – morning movement  1.00pm - lunch
8.00am - morning meditation 3.30pm-5pm – Home groups and afternoon cookery session/exploration of the theme
8.30am – breakfast and tasks - including harvesting 5.30pm - meditation
10.30am - morning cookery session 6.00pm – supper and tasks
  8.00pm - Evening cookery session
  9.00pm – House moves into silence until 9.50am the next day

Final day: There is a closing circle at 10.30am and depart at 12 noon. The retreat will move into silence each evening from 9pm – 9.50am, and till 2.30pm on day 3.

Reviews

Sharpham House in Spring

Sharpham House

Sharpham House is the perfect place to experience a mindfulness retreat: a Grade I-listed Georgian mansion at the centre of the stunning Sharpham Estate, where you're nurtured with delicious vegetarian and vegan food (much of it grown organically in our Walled Garden).

The House is set in beautiful gardens within 18th century parkland thought to have been designed by Capability Brown, offering calming views over the River Dart, in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Get Directions View Venue

Leaders

Ollie Frame
Ollie Frame Read more +
Sybille Pouzet - cook at Sharpham House mindfulness meditation retreat centre
Sybille Pouzet Read more +

Costs

Retreats taking place up to March

  • £425 Standard room, single occupancy, full-board
  • £475 Premium room, single occupancy, full-board
  • £555 Heritage room, single occupancy, full-board

Retreats taking place from April onwards

  • £445 Standard room, single occupancy, full-board
  • £495 Premium room, single occupancy, full-board
  • £555 Heritage room, single occupancy, full-board

(see also room types below)


There will be a maximum of 20 guests on this retreat.

All rooms are single occupancy, giving you your own space in which to relax.

If you have a medical condition that requires you to have an en-suite room, please contact the Programme Administrator on the number below as these rooms are limited and are bookable on a first-come first-serve basis.

Book easily and securely online or by phoning 01803 732542

Terms & Conditions

Please click here to see our booking and cancellations policy

Room Types

Click here for more information on our types of bedrooms and facilities.

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.

Our bursary fund relies on donations. If you’d like to help another to go on retreat here through our bursary scheme, you can give online quickly and easily by clicking here