Creative Writing & Nature Immersion Retreat in the Somerset Countryside

Landscape as Archive represents a distinct approach to creative retreat, one that positions the natural world not as backdrop but as active collaborator in your writing process. Over four days, you'll learn to read the Somerset landscape more closely—attending to the subtle textures of place, the quality of light on water, the way memory and ecology interweave in a particular location.

The retreat philosophy centres on slowing down and allowing writing to arise from lived experience rather than forcing it into being. Through poetry workshops, sensory mapping exercises, field notes, and archival thinking, you'll develop techniques that help you engage more deeply with any landscape you encounter. This isn't about producing polished pieces on demand; it's about cultivating a practice of attention that transforms how you see and write about the world.

JLM Morton brings exceptional expertise to this work. As a Geoffrey Dearmer Prize winner whose debut collection Red Handed was highly commended by the Forward Prizes and named a Poetry Society Book of the Year, she combines accomplished craft with a warm, accessible teaching style. Her workshops balance close attention to language, image, and sound with space for each participant's unique voice to emerge.

The days unfold in an unhurried rhythm. Mornings are devoted to guided poetry workshops where reading and writing sit close together. Afternoons offer time for independent exploration—walking the paths around the ponds, sitting by the water, or finding a quiet corner in the Horse Lorry Library or Walled Garden yurt to continue your work. Evenings bring communal meals, fireside gatherings, and the gentle pleasure of shared time.

Beyond the creative focus, the retreat offers genuine physical renewal through wild swimming in spring-fed ponds and restorative sauna sessions. These experiences provide a powerful counterpoint to the mental focus of writing, helping you return to your work refreshed and embodied.

The retreat concludes with a celebratory supper featuring a guest author—a grounded, non-ceremonial way to honour what has taken shape over your time together. You'll leave with new poems, renewed creative energy, and practical approaches to continue this work in your own environment.

What's included

- 3 nights accommodation in your chosen room type - 3 daily delicious vegetarian meals (breakfast, lunch, dinner) - Celebratory supper with a guest author - All poetry workshops with award-winning poet JLM Morton - Shared sauna sessions - Swimming in spring-fed ponds - Use of all on-site facilities and surrounding grounds - Coffee station in each room with seasonal flowers, towels, and toiletries - Small group setting with individual attention - WiFi connection - Free parking

What's not included

- Airport transfers - Flight costs - Travel insurance - Visa fees - Additional spa treatments - Additional activities not included in the itinerary - Personal expenses - Alcoholic beverages beyond those served at meals