Accompanied solitude in a place of water, natural beauty and shifting light.
Step away from deadlines and distractions. Make space to write, think and listen – with long, protected hours for your work, and the steady rhythms of sauna, swim and firelight.
Some retreats at Oakhill Ponds unfold over a few days on the land; others are spacious day gatherings, sometimes with the option to stay over. You’ll see the set-up for each date clearly on the booking page.
upcoming retreats
at a glance
upcoming retreats
who they're for
- writers who take their craft seriously but take themselves lightly
- those who want the landscape — spring-fed water, marshland, woodlands — to nurture their creativity
- anyone drawn to writing through nature and in response to it — poets, playwrights, essayists and journal-keepers included
- people who want space to work, with good company nearby
- input from inspiring authors and teachers
why writing here
Oakhill Ponds feels like its own small world. With 25 acres of woodland, marshland and ponds, holding the remnants of an Arcadian wilderness garden and an 18th century grotto, it inhabits a weather and mood of its own. Tucked away on the edge of the village, with a country pub up the lane, it is connected to the wider community while offering tranquil retreat.
It’s a setting that naturally supports deep work — quiet, spacious, and richly alive to the senses.
what's here
There are two large spring-fed ponds, an outdoor sauna/spa area, hammocks and fires — with an atmospheric old grotto separating the ponds. The Beeches, a large old house with sofas, hearths and shelves of books, is also available.
Meals and tea are part of the rhythm here, with outdoor kitchens by the ponds and in the Walled Garden, plus a bright dining space for wetter days, a large yurt to gather in, and a few simple writing spaces for optional group sessions.
A place to switch off, watch deer browse at the woodland edge, and spend unhurried time with your words.
where you will stay
- a mix of spaces: shepherd’s huts, Lotus Belle tents in an off-grid setting and the Walled Garden
- The Beeches – a spacious, book-lined house with firesides, adjoining the Walled Garden
- Upper Beeches – a 3 bedroom apartment that adjoins the land
- all spaces are warm, comfortable and beautiful; retreats are intentionally small and light-touch