Group of people sitting around a campfire at night.

Six Day Writing + Meditation Retreats



Sun 12 – Fri 17 April 2026

Sun 19 – Fri 24 April 2026

RETREAT DATES

BOOK A PLACE

A PLACE TO CONNECT

Immerse yourself in six days of writing and meditation in a secluded 18th-century rectory on the stunning Pembrokeshire coastline.

Designed to support deep creative practise, this retreat provides you with the opportunity to explore your writing ideas and projects far from the usual interruptions of daily life.

Open to writers of all genres and experience levels, you will be supported by nourishing food, connection with fellow writers and time for creative rest.

With a maximum of twelve participants on the retreat, you will have the chance to be offered personalised writing tuition in a supportive and friendly environment.

Coastal landscape with rocky beach, green cliffs, and blue sky.
A person sitting in a cozy chair indoors, writing in a notebook on their lap. They are wearing a green and white striped sweater and appear focused on their task.

What you will experience on this retreat

– One-to-one tutorials tailored to your specific needs

– Group workshops designed to refine your craft skills

– Independent writing time to allow for projects to unfold

– Nourishing plant-based cuisine to feed your creative spirit and enhance your well-being

– The joy of connecting and creating with other writers

– Daily mindfulness practices to tap into your creative flow

– Invigorating cold sea swims to connect with nature, followed by hot tub dips for relaxation of body and mind

– Periods of silence for deep connection to your writing voice

Two people in a cozy room; a man in a red shirt sits and talks, while a woman with glasses listens. Shelves with books and a wooden cabinet are in the background.
View through a window showing a grassy field, ocean, and clear sky.

Accommodation

An 18th Century rectory with huge gardens on the slopes of Angel Mountain, overlooking the famous wild North Pembrokeshire coastline, less than a mile walk to the sea. From the doorstep, you can explore beautiful walks through sacred sites, mountains, woods and valleys, and the incredible Pembrokeshire coast path.

A variety of accommodation is available including:
Triple, twin, singles, doubles, and luxurious ensuite doubles. Each room offers stunning views of the surrounding landscape and boasts a plush, inviting bed to ensure a restful night's sleep.

Steaming bowl of soup on a wooden table near a window.

Food

Our experienced retreat chef Martin Simcock will provide a fully catered selection of nourishing meals. Embracing natural, local and seasonal ingredients, he works mindfully and from the heart.

Fully catered breakfast, lunch and dinner
Martin will create delicious hot and cold vegetarian and vegan meals, with mouth-watering desserts. His food regularly gets rave reviews, which you can read here.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Daily Retreat Schedule

7:30am – Meditation

8:30am – Breakfast

9:30am – Independent writing time & one-to-one tutorials

12pm – Retreat circle

1pm – Lunch

2pm – Personal time (cold water swimming & hot tub available)

5pm – Group workshop

6:30pm – Dinner

8pm – Evening gathering

9pm – Retreat moves into silence until the next day

A person with long dark hair and glasses, wearing a brown sweater, standing outdoors with trees and greenery in the background.
Person meditating indoors, sitting cross-legged on a wooden floor, surrounded by chairs.

Silence

This retreat will include periods of silence as an essential element of creative practice. If you are new to spending time in silence in the company of other people, it can feel awkward to begin with. But you will be encouraged to explore the silent periods with a spirit of openness and curiosity – many writers find it a very powerful experience.

The retreat will typically move into silence in the evening from 9pm – 12pm the following day.

Woman sitting in a cozy chair by a window, writing in a notebook, surrounded by potted plants.

Digital detox

Participants will be invited to engage in a digital detox for the duration of the retreat, as this can significantly enhance focus, creativity, and overall well-being. By disconnecting from technology, individuals create space for deeper connections with themselves and others, fostering an enriching environment for creative inspiration to flourish.

Laptops with WiFi disabled are welcome.

RETREAT COSTS

  • £695 – Triple Room, Shared Bathroom

    £750 – Twin Room, Shared Bathroom

    £955 – Private Room, Shared Bathroom

    £1095 – Double Room, Ensuite

    All meals are included.

  • Two fully funded places are available on each retreat — one for a social movement activist and one for a frontline worker.

    Applications can be made via the Google Form here.

  • A non-refundable deposit of £150 is necessary to secure your place, with full payment due 8 weeks before the retreat begins.

  • 1. Booking Confirmation:

    • By booking a writing retreat with Holly Rigby, you agree to abide by these terms and conditions.

    • Your booking is confirmed upon receipt of the deposit or full payment, as specified in the booking process.

    2. Deposit:

    • A non-refundable deposit of £150 is required to secure your booking. The remaining balance is due 8 weeks before the start date of the retreat.

    • Payments can be made via BACS payment or PayPal.

    3. Cancellation Policy:

    • If you need to cancel your booking, please notify us in writing as soon as possible.

    • Cancellations made eight weeks or more prior to the start date of the retreat will incur the loss of the deposit.

    • Cancellations made less than eight weeks before the start date of the retreat will result in the loss of the full payment.

    4. Travel Insurance:

    • You are strongly recommended to purchase travel insurance to cover any illness, family emergencies, bereavement, injury or unforeseen circumstances that may affect your ability to attend the retreat. Refunds cannot be offered to people who have suffered travel delays, or who have tested posted for COVID. The cancellation and refund policy is non-negotiable.  

    5. Liability:

    • Holly Rigby is not liable for any loss, damage, injury, or expenses incurred as a result of participation in the retreat.

    • Participants are responsible for their own health and well-being during the retreat.

    7. Force Majeure:

    • Holly Rigby reserves the right to cancel or reschedule the retreat in the event of unforeseen circumstances or force majeure. In such cases, we will offer alternative dates or a refund of payments made.

    8. Conduct:

    • Participants are expected to conduct themselves in a respectful manner towards fellow participants, staff, and property at all times.

    • Holly Rigby reserves the right to ask any participant to leave the retreat if their behavior is deemed disruptive or inappropriate, without refund.

    9. Health and Safety:

    • Participants are responsible for ensuring they are in good health and able to participate in the activities offered during the retreat.

    • Please inform us of any medical conditions or special dietary requirements prior to the retreat.

    10. Privacy Policy:

    • Any personal information provided to Holly Rigby will be treated in accordance with our privacy policy.

    11. Governing Law:

    • These terms and conditions are governed by the laws of England and Wales.

    12. Agreement:

    • By booking a retreat with Holly Rigby, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to these terms and conditions.

Retreat Team

Holly Rigby

Alongside running her writing retreats, Holly facilitates meditation retreats at The Barn at Sharpham Trust. Her practice is primarily influenced by the Plum Village and Insight meditation traditions, and she has also undertaken courses with the Centre for Mindful Self-Compassion, led by Kristin Neff and Chris Germer. She draws on heart-centred approaches across all her writing, teaching, and activist work.

Retreat Leader

Nadia Abdel-Karim

Nadia is a British-Palestinian meditation teacher, retreat leader and community organiser. She's worked within the mental health, charity and health care sectors as a trauma-informed Mindfulness Practitioner, support group facilitator and a Focusing Oriented Practitioner.

Co-leader

Co-leader

Viren Jeram

Viren is currently a retreat co-ordinator at the Barn Retreat Centre at Sharpham Trust, where he regularly co-leads retreats for people of colour. Previously, Viren worked for a decade in the NHS, training staff in group coaching, facilitation, and guided meditation. Viren is passionate about sharing mindfulness to help people connect with their full experience and enrich their lives.

Co-leader

Eva O’Connor

Eva has written for both the BBC and Ireland’s national broadcaster RTÉ, and her plays have received multiple awards, including an Edinburgh Fringe First and the Filipa Bragança Award. She campaigned in Ireland and internationally to help repeal the 8th amendment, and her play Maz and Bricks toured during the lead-up to the 2018 referendum. Eva was a writer on the tri-lingual project Taigh, Tŷ, Teach 2024, produced by Fishamble, and she also co-runs the climate arts festival Future Limerick with Hildegard Ryan.

Person sitting on a tree stump chair outdoors, writing in a notebook, surrounded by foliage.

“Life changing. Genuinely one of the best weeks of my life. Wrote 10,000 words and felt amazing - rested, grounded, and well.”

Retreat guest Jan 2025