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Mindfulness retreat: Wild Meditation - 3 nights in woodland on The Sharpham Estate
Stay amid the trees & experience nature-mindfulness & meditations
Summary
Duration: 3 nights - run seasonally
For those with any meditation experience - or none
Single occupancy furnished bell tent
Silence nightly until morning & on 1 whole day
Max. Spaces: 16
Overview
This mindfulness retreat in nature is a 3-night stay in our Woodland Retreats venue in beautiful South Devon, with daily meditation, nature-mindfulness practices, fireside sharing and conversation and time spent in Sharpham's beautiful, peaceful setting.
Experience mindfulness, meditation and a transformative connection to nature – in a spacious woodland landscape far from life's frantic pace.
Previous participants speak of feelings of gratitude, wonder, calm, self-insight and positive emotions after staying on a woodland retreat with us.
You'll experience daily meditation and mindfulness sessions with wise and compassionate retreat leaders. Plus you'll have plenty of time for yourself, with the chance to explore our gardens and grounds, the gardens and the wider Sharpham Estate.
Explore our other Woodland Retreats here and see our other nature-connection retreats and courses here
This retreat is for you if:
- You love the outdoors and nature or would like to experience nature in a different way (you don't have to be an experienced camper to attend)
- You are longing to spend time in nature with the chance to reconnect with your true and authentic self
- You are new to mindfulness or are looking to sustain and reconnect with your practice in a new way
- Are aged 18 and above
What you'll experience on this retreat:
- be living in community with like-minded people, sharing experiences and tasks
- experience guided meditations, relaxation sessions and periods of silence and quiet contemplation, amid breath-taking scenery on the banks of the River Dart
- have a single-occupancy furnished bell-tent, 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.
- participate in accessible and engaging nature connection and nature sensing activities - cultivating moment to moment awareness in the outdoors
- be able to explore our tranquil Capability Brown-designed parkland and our Grade 2*-listed gardens designed by Percy Cane
- enjoy delicious, healthy, home-cooked vegetarian food that regularly receives rave reviews
- be nurtured within a safe and supported space with time around the fire
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
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 - 9am the following day
Typical Schedule
Day 1:
| Afternoon | Evening |
|---|---|
| 3.00pm - 5.00pm – Arrival and unload | 6.30pm - Supper and washing up |
| 5.00pm - Welcome meeting, settling in | 8pm - Evening gathering |
| 9.00pm - Camp moves into silence till the following morning, supporting individual mindfulness and reflection |
Typical Day:
| Morning | Afternoon/Evening |
|---|---|
| 7.00am – wake up | 1.00pm - lunch & tasks followed by personal time |
| 7.30am – movement & meditation | 4.00pm – afternoon session |
| 8.30am – Breakfast & tasks | 6.30pm - supper & tasks |
| 10am - Group Sharing Circle | 8pm - Evening gathering |
| 11am – morning session | 9.00pm – camp moves into silence |
Final day: There is a closing circle at 10am and depart at 12 noon.
Woodland Retreats at Sharpham
Immerse yourself in the Great Outdoors on one of our Woodland nature-meditation and mindfulness retreats.
You'll benefit from daily meditation and supportive mindfulness leaders, with ample time to explore the incredible (and peaceful) Sharpham Estate.
You'll stay in single-occupancy, furnished bell-tents, spend time mindfully in nature and dine on delicious vegetarian and vegan food.
We offer 3-night, 5-night, canoeing and women's woodland retreats.
A truly magic retreat in every way. The leaders were all so inclusive, compassionate and encouraged so much joy within the group. The accommodation, grounds, food and canoeing were all 5 star
- a previous Woodland Retreatant
See more Woodland Retreat reviews here and video here
Get Directions View Venue
By Car
By Train
By Taxi
On foot or cycle from Totnes
By CoachLeaders
Lindsay Alderton
Read more +
Tasha Bassingthwaighte - retreat leader
Read more +
Costs
All tents are comfortable single occupancy, with a shared shower and toilet block.
Click here for more information on our facilities
Meals, a mattress and a pillow 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. |
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 Woodland Campsite. Your payment helps maintain the retreat spaces, keep tents 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. |
||||
| £395 | £455 | £495 | ||||
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
2027
29
Jun
Woodland Retreat: Wild Meditation (3 nights)
With Lindsay Alderton & Tasha Bassingthwaighte
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
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