Step off the treadmill of everyday life and walk a quiet, beautiful stretch of the Camino de Santiago in Gascony, southwest France. This 5-day, 4-night retreat is for anyone who feels overloaded, stuck or simply in need of a proper pause: three days of gentle guided walking through woods, vineyards, meadows, orchards and sunflower fields, wholesome home-cooked food, and time to reflect, away from screens and schedules.

You stay in a 200-year-old half-timbered Landaise farmhouse among the Armagnac and Côtes de Gascogne vineyards, and sleep in the same bed every night. There's no heavy backpack to carry. Each walking day you're taken to the start of the stage and collected at the end, so all you need is a light day pack and a sandwich made at brunch.

Your host is Dr Margaretha Montagu, a medical doctor with qualifications in coaching, counselling and hypnotherapy. Along the way she introduces you to walking and writing meditation and to her Meraki Morning Programme, simple practices you can take home. Groups are tiny, with only four places per start date. Retreats start on the 1st and 3rd Saturday of each month from March to November.

What's included

4 nights' accommodation in a 200-year-old Landaise farmhouse; Brunch every day; Dinners (except Day 4); 3 days of guided walking on the Camino de Santiago; Transport to the start and from the end of each walking stage; Introduction to walking and writing meditation; Introduction to the Meraki Morning Programme; Tea and coffee throughout the day

What's not included

Flights and travel to the local airports; Transport from the airport to Auch station and on to Nogaro; Health and travel insurance (strongly recommended); Dinner on Day 4 at a local restaurant (around €15–30); Alcoholic drinks; Activities outside the itinerary; Hypnotherapy session (may be available for an extra fee)