The experience

You’re invited to a lochside retreat on a Highland farm in Kiltarlity near Inverness. Over the course of three days you'll spend the time relaxing amongst the sounds of nature, looking out for beavers, herons and red kites, practicing mindful yoga classes, wandering through the birch trees, going on guided foraging walks, eating fresh food, camping by the bonfire under the stars, and perhaps even taking energising cold morning swims. 

This retreat includes:

• 6 x varied and grounding yoga and meditation sessions with Nat 

• 8 x fresh, nourishing meals including locally foraged ingredients, cooked on a open fire by Elliot Kett

• 1 x guided foraging walk with Elliot Kett

• 1 x creative session, using your medium of choice (this can be a time to write, draw, paint, collage, together)

• 3 x nights private camping with shower and loo facilities

• 1 x return transfer from Inverness to the South Clunes Farm

• As much cold water wild swimming as you like

• Private loch with rowing boats, paddle boards and beavers! 

You’re welcome to participate however much or little as you feel like. It’s your retreat and you can chill, explore, read, birdwatch etc. as you please!

SOUTH CLUNES FARM & LOCH

The retreat will take place by the Loch at South Clunes Farm in the heart of the Highlands. South Clunes is a working family run farm with a holistic approach to livestock farming and conservation. You’ll experience the farm in action, learn about the cycles, seasons and animals and explore the varied habitats. Whether you’ve always wanted to see a Highland cow and skipping lambs, spot a deer or glimpse an osprey this is the farm for you. The loch, nestled in the glen at the back of the farm, hosts an array of flora and fauna including marsh birds, dragonflies and a thriving reintroduced beaver family. 

Camping: The campsite is next to a silver birch wood with access to to the completely off-grid Beaver Batch log cabin which will be our communal area. The Batch has an outdoor shower, loo, big open fireplace and veranda with a cracking view over the Loch.

Yoga

Your days include yoga and meditation sessions with Nat. Nat’s yoga classes guide you through a mindful and heart connected practice, offering a dynamic sequence grounded in breath and intention. Nat strives to incorporate both playfulness and rest and designs classes that are inclusive to all bodies and experiences, providing options to vary your pace and move in a way that works for you. 

Each class will be different and especially tailored to the retreat and you’re very welcome to share specific requests in advance. Morning sessions will help you shake off the night and welcome the sounds of the day, evening sessions will be a time to unwind from adventures, moving slowly and finding stillness in preparation for a fabulous feast and a restful night. 

The yoga area where we will practice overlooks the beautiful South Clunes loch.

FOOD & foraging

Meals will be prepared on site by Elliot, a foraging instructor and chef. He’s been teaching foraging for over six years at Hunter Gather Cook wild food and cookery school and has cooked in the UK, Denmark, Australia and Ecuador, including a stint at Noma in Copenhagen. Elliot can cater for any dietary requirements.

Foraging walks: On the walks we will cover foraging safely and sustainably, plant families, seasonality, pickling, preserving, fermentation, flavour profiles and more. We’ll be picking whatever we find in the surrounding countryside and using them in our breakfasts, lunches and dinners.

Find more about Elliot here

PROGRAMME

This is our suggested programme, timings might change slightly. All activities are optional however we would like to encourage you to be part of the opening and closing circles.

Friday 29

• 15:30 Transfer from Inverness train station to South Clunes

• 16:45 Welcome, opening circle

• 17:00 Gentle yoga

• 18:45: Evening meal

• 19:30 Chill by the fire

Saturday 30

• 7:30 Morning swim and/or cup of tea

• 8:00 Meditation

• 8:30 Yoga

• 9:45 Breakfast

• 11:00 Foraging Walk

• 13:30 Lunch

• Free time for walks, naps, writing, conversation

• 17:00 Gentle yoga

• 19:00 Evening meal

• 20:00 Chill by the fire

Sunday 1

• 7:30 Morning swim and/or cup of tea

• 8:00 Meditation

• 8:30 Yoga

• 9:45 Breakfast

• Free time for walks, naps, journaling, conversation

• 13:30 Lunch

• 15:30 Creative session

• 17:00 Gentle yoga

• 19:00 Evening meal

• 20:00 Chill by the fire

Monday 2

• 7:30 Morning swim and/or cup of tea

• 8:00 Meditation

• 8:30 Yoga

• 9:30 Closing circle

• 9:45 Breakfast

• 11:00 Return

ready to join us?

Cost: £365 per person

Submit this form to access payment details. Once your payment has been received you will receive a confirmation email.

Travel: Options for travel to Inverness include flight, train or bus. We will provide one transfer van to take you to the farm from Inverness on Thursday and one return on Sunday. Timings of transfer will be decided once we have a better understanding of people’s travel schedules.

What to Bring: You will be expected to bring your own camping equipment, yoga mat, swimsuits and waterproofs. A packing list will be provided once we have confirmed your booking. We hope for glorious sunshine but please prepare for the full spectrum of Scottish weather.

Covid Considerations: All of the activities will take place outdoors, yoga sessions and meals will be held at an open marquee. All spaces are open and ventilated. We strongly advise that all participants should have three vacinations and take a lateral flow test before coming.

We have a minimum requirement of 15 people and a maximum of 18. 

As we’ve learnt by 2022, all plans can change. If we have to cancel this retreat because of Covid, costs will be reimbursed as far as feasible.

Lambing Season: The farm will be in the midst of lambing. While there may be opportunites to witness this and even pet a lamb this is also a very busy and stressful time for the farm. Access to parts of the farm will be limited and you should not disturb sheep and lambs or appraoch any farm animals without permission from the farmer.

If you are pregnant you should avoid any contact with birthing ewes and new born lambs as well as any persons, material or equipment which has been in contact with them. You may wish to research further or we can provide more information if you would like. Your decision to participate in the retreat will be at your own risk.