Writing Retreats

Wild Words and Water takes you right to the heart of your creativity.

It’s a route to writing.

This retreat is a unique, special alchemy of the outdoors and its inherent ability to coax your creativity to the fore. All you need is to give it a little time and the right gentle prompting.

Haven’t you always wondered when you were going to put pen to paper?

There are  so many things in our lives that hold us back from putting ourselves first; family, work, and the day-to-day pressures of our busy lives. All these things mean that the space we need in order to think is consumed. Then, when we finally grab moments, we are low on energy and short on inspiration. Creativity is the first thing to be shelved, but no longer!

Alongside my magical team and I, you’ll be guided to relax with peers, collaborate, and allow your creativity to emerge. You will create writing you are proud of, whether you choose to share it with us or just enjoy having the time to put pen to paper privately, beginning the process of bringing your ideas to life.

Gently throw in some guided sea dips at one of the estate’s private beaches, blissful Yin Yoga and Nidra and coastal walks, as well as nourishing home-made food from Chefs Jasmine and Lynney… and this just might be the escape you’ve always wanted.

Our Venue

Calamansac is a private 50 acre estate of ancient woodland and meadow gardens along the shore of the Helford River.

This stunning, peaceful location forms the western headland of Port Navas Creek and sits opposite Daphne Du Maurier’s famous Frenchman’s Creek; the perfect spot for you to find peace, inspiration and relax in beautiful nature. You can see exactly where we are here.

Calamansac House is set across two wings, of which our retreat will have sole use. With a large hall that opens to the gardens, two large kitchens, two relaxing living rooms with wood burners as well as other nooks to discover, this house will provide you with convivial company, space to create, and the warm hospitality through which you’ll make new friends and share stories.

The rooms at Calamansac are all beautifully appointed, ranging from luxury masters each with ensuite baths, to gorgeous doubles or twins with sea views, and cosy singles tucked in alcoves in a shared yet discreet space, with their own side tables and reading lamps. 

How to get there

The nearest train station to Calamansac is in Falmouth, easily accessible on the branch line from Truro’s main station. Please get in touch if you have any queries about transport or location, and we’ll be happy to help!

Our Food

Our chefs (and dear friends) Jasmine and Lynney keep us fuelled with nourishing, hearty home-cooked food, prepared with love throughout the weekend. 

Meals are relaxed, happy occasions where stories are shared, friendships are formed and that quickly become one of the many highlights of this restorative and rewarding retreat. 

Your Experience

You’ll be greeted and hosted by us for the entirety of your stay, with plenty of time to chat but also precious time for you to tuck yourself away to think, create or just ‘be’. There’s always a quiet room or secluded creek for you to find.  

To compliment your stay will be visiting guest speakers, who will bring a wealth of experience and knowledge with them to share with you. 

Previous guest speakers have included:

Sunday Times Bestselling author and founder of the breast cancer charity Coppafeel; Kris Hallenga.

Amongst her many incredible talents, Kris also knows about the power of the outdoors and creativity. In fact, we hiked the West Highland Way together as we put the finishing touches to our debut books, and used the movement and immersion in nature to stir and hone our words.

Esteemed and highly experienced publisher and editor; Miranda West.

Miranda is the founder and publisher of The Do Book Co., in association with The DO Lectures. Prior to setting up and running the company, she spent over two decades working in the publishing industry with editorial positions held at Routledge, Creation Books, André Deutsch, and most recently, Penguin Random House.

Your Itinerary

Here in Cornwall we are closely aligned with the elements, moving with the weather and shaping the timing of our activities around the forecasts. A more detailed itinerary of the week’s activities will follow, but you can look forward to writing workshops, creative prompt sessions and Q&As with special guests. There will of course be time to write, draft, share (optional), as well as to give and receive feedback should you wish.

Your Activities

These creative elements of the retreat are interspersed with activities deliberately tailored to stir your imagination, stimulate ideas and to bring you gently back into your body whilst allowing the natural world to relax you.

 There will be Yin Yoga and Yoga Nidra with our wonderful teacher Heinke, guided walks along the coast, meadows and woodland with myself, gentle movement, posture and strength building workshops, and sea swimming sessions with our highly qualified coaches. 

This is your time, so join as much or as little as you feel you’d like to, taking plenty of down time for yourself to walk the grounds, read or daydream.

Wild Words and Water is a life changing dive into that part of you that’s been waiting so long for you to give time to it. The time is here, and I can’t wait to meet you.

I want to hear all about who you are and what you would love to create, then be right there to help you do it.