Writers Open Retreat
Dates: Sat 9 - Sat 16 August 2025
Cost: 735€ (accommodation and all meals, including wine)
Focus on your writing, undisturbed, in a peaceful environment - with delicious home-cooked shared meals.
This retreat is for anyone who has a work-in-progress project: putting together a novel, a poetry collection, creative non-fiction, or simply would like creative time to muse, reflect and find inspiration in stunning surroundings, with a balance of solitude and the company of other writers.
You'll be provided with a single room and delicious, home-cooked, vegetarian meals - which you can choose to eat with the other writers or on your own.
There is also the possibility of having 1-1 mentoring sessions with Lucy or Sharon. Subject to availability, these sessions last an hour and will be geared towards any works-in-progress, whatever the stage of development. These sessions cost 60€ an hour (Sharon) and £100 an hour (Lucy), including reading time, and can be booked in advance or on site.
Access to a printer can be arranged and we have a wifi point as well as 4G access.
As with our other weeks, massages are normally available from our on-site therapist, Frances. Walking maps can be provided, hammocks abound, and we’ll show you to the firewood pile in case you'd like to make yourself an outdoor fire in the evenings.
As part of the informal atmosphere at Gardoussel, guests are asked to participate in tidying up after meals, on a rota basis. This is generally considered to be a plus rather than a chore as it helps the group to get to know one another better.
Arrival is from 4pm on the first day, departure is after breakfast on the final day.
As with our other weeks, massages are normally available from our on-site therapist, Frances. Walking maps can be provided, hammocks abound, and we’ll show you to the firewood pile in case you'd like to make yourself an outdoor fire in the evenings.
As part of the informal atmosphere at Gardoussel, guests are asked to participate in tidying up after meals, on a rota basis. This is generally considered to be a plus rather than a chore as it helps the group to get to know one another better.
Arrival is from 4pm on the first day, departure is after breakfast on the final day.
A warm welcome, relaxed atmosphere, cosy rooms, delicious locally grown food, wild walks in wild forests and inspiring company... I'll be back next year. (Jenny Cater)
I was a physical wreck when I got to you and my mental state was pretty gloomy too. When I left, I felt light, free of pain and able to cope, and enthused about writing.” (Daphne Wilbraham)
Access to a printer (bring a UBS key) can be arranged and we have a wifi point.
Mentoring
Sharon Black is from Glasgow and lives in the Cevennes mountains of France. She is the aithor of four full poetry collections, the latest being The Last Woman Born on the Island (Vagabond Voices, 2022) and The Red House (Drunk Muse, 2022), as well as a pamphlet, Rib (Wayleave Press, 2021). Since 2016 she has been editor and publisher of Pindrop Press. 60€ / hour including reading time.
Lucy Wadham has taught Creative Writing at Cambridge University (ICE) and the National Centre for Writing (NCW). She is the author of three novels and a bestselling memoir, 'The Secret Life of France,' all published by Faber. ‘Heads and Straights,’ another memoir was published by Penguin in 2013. She has several TV scripts in development and her debut poetry collection 'Fold' was shortlisted for the Seamus Heaney First Collection Prize 2020. £100€ / hour including reading time.
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