A Writers’ Retreat in the Catalan Mountains
La Garriga de Castelladral: a farmhouse of medieval origins restored as a charming eco-hotel, set in a forest with magnificent views of the Catalan mountains. It boasts excellent menus from locally sourced foods, a private spa in the former winery, an outdoor (unheated) pool, and a large, spiral pathway in the grounds. www.masialagarriga.com/ca/
This ‘untaught’ retreat - a blend of optional and community sessions with extended periods to ‘Go Write!’ during the day - will focus on the ‘doing’ of the writing process. The staff will take a supportive role: they will invite morning ‘check-ins’; offer short workshops on subjects for life-writers of all narrative forms; be available for individual ‘Tea and Talk’ consultations in the late afternoon; and convene manuscript readings in small groups on the candlelit terrace in the evenings. And when we are not writing or discussing our writing? We might gaze at the mountain-views, swim in the pool, take a meditative walk along the spiral pathway in the grounds, enjoy forest-bathing, or simply busy ourselves, doing nothing, in this beautiful, quiet, restful place in the warmth of Catalonia’s Summer sun. And, for those who wish to wander further afield, there are places-of-interest to visit in the locality:
https://www.masialagarriga.com/en/charming-hotel/30/activities/2/places-of-interest.html
This programme is offered in association with the NTL Institute for Applied Behavioral Science
£1595 GBP inclusive of VAT for dinners with a glass of wine and overnight accommodation for four nights in individual, spacious, excellently appointed, ensuite bedrooms, each with a writing desk and a terrace or a balcony with views of Monserrat, the farmhouse and its natural landscape; plus morning and afternoon refreshments and lunches on five days.
Partners are very welcome to join our party and can be accommodated at an additional cost of £650 GBP inclusive of VAT. Second writers sharing a room are also welcome to join the programme at an additional cost of £1000 inclusive of VAT.
From/to Barcelona Airport: a one-hour taxi ride for circa €150 euros for a group of up to eight.
Dr Kate Cowie (Dean) and Heather Berthoud with Dr Paul Taylor-Pitt and Emma Pearson. They are all experienced in the craft of making meaning of lived experience in writing, and they are all published in a variety of articles, chapters, books and other contemporary forms of life-writing.
Group Size: 12 - 16. (A small number of discounted places may be available on application.)