This is a venue rather than a scheduled retreat. East Fork Farm takes bookings from executive teams and corporate groups who want a base for a few days of meetings, planning or team-building, and from local practitioners looking for a distinctive room to run their own sessions in. What you do with the time is up to whoever books it — the farm supplies the barn, the cottages and the land.

The Big Barn is the group space. It is described as a setting for corporate team-building experiences and for practitioners who want a unique space to gather. There is no listed capacity, equipment or layout for the barn on the page, so those details would need to come from the farm directly.

Sleeping is in four cottages, each with its own character: Ladybug Cottage, Millhouse Cottage, Red Barn Cottage and Lotus Cottage. Every cottage has a kitchen and a private outdoor space. The page does not list bedroom counts, bed configurations or bathroom arrangements, so a group of a given size should confirm what fits where before booking.

The farm covers 40 acres, half of it pasture grazed by chickens and cows, plus Peanut Butter the donkey. Guests are welcome to wander it, and can join in with feeding the animals. That is the closest thing to a programmed activity here — it is a farm stay, not a fitness camp.

Location is a big part of the appeal. Asheville is an easy, scenic drive south for galleries, restaurants and the city's arts scene. The hiking trails of Mt. Mitchell are the other direction. After a day out, the hot tub back at the cottage is the usual end to the evening.

What's included

- Use of the Big Barn as a group space - A private cottage with its own kitchen - Private outdoor space at your cottage - Access to the 40-acre farm and pasture land - The option to help feed the animals

What's not included

- Meals (cottages are self-catering) - Airport or city transfers - Organised fitness classes or training sessions - Guided hikes or excursions - Travel insurance