Join Felice Rhiannon and Charlie Ivermee for a week of quiet contemplation and connection with nature, like-minded people and yourself.
Within our culture that often celebrates youth, a space for accepting and finding joy in our later stages of life is rare.
This retreat is such a space - where you can be in a contemplative and meditative community to recognise the joys and challenges of later life.
We will have periods of sitting and walking meditation, talks and discussions, gardening, and sharing about our lives with the community.
Practising together, we can discover new sources of peace and well-being and enjoy the beautiful nature of the Sharpham Estate.
This retreat is for you if you:
are aged 55 or over
are prepared to live and work in community, preparing meals together and working in the gardens
Want to experience a retreat in the Buddhist tradition
There will be a maximum of 10 participants on this retreat.
Daily meditations
There are approximately three 40-minute meditation sittings each day, and it's important that you commit to them to deepen your practice and connect to the community here.
Working on the land
It is important that you are willing to participate in working on the land as part of your mindfulness practice (we can easily find suitable tasks for people with health difficulties) and that you can commit to all the scheduled activities during the week.
During this retreat you'll:
be living in community with like-minded people, sharing experiences and tasks, including the making of meals and taking care of The Barn
experience longer periods of silence and quiet contemplation
have a single-occupancy room and your own space in which to rejuvenate, with free time to deeply rest and reconnect with yourself
have access to 24-hour hot teas, coffee & infusions in the kitchen
be able to explore the beautiful Sharpham Estate, set within a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty close to nature, amid breath-taking scenery on the banks of the River Dart
Mindfulness in nature at Sharpham
When you experience Sharpham's inspiring and nourishing environment, we hope you'll connect spiritually with the natural world, so you’ll:
become aware of how we are all part of nature - not artificially separate from it
pay attention to and appreciate the natural world surrounding us
explore nature through your senses and your natural creativity
Tread more lightly on our finite planet, developing a respect and reverence for all living things
Click here to read our ethos and principles
What you need to know
If you decide to stay with us, we’ll send you a list of what you need to bring for this retreat in your Welcome Letter that we send out after you've booked.
You can also find out more about staying with us on our Frequently Asked Questions page, including
accessibility information
why we encourage you to come on your own and not with partners or friends
what the difference is between our retreats
Food & your dietary needs
We have a fully stocked organic and vegetarian kitchen. The main meal is at lunch time.
We can accommodate gluten-free and/or vegan dietary needs. However, our kitchen is not gluten, dairy nor nut-free. We do not provide gluten-free bread, but you are welcome to bring your own.
Due to the nature of the kitchens at the Barn with food being prepared by participants and no dedicated chef, we are not able to accommodate guests who have anaphylaxis. If you have anaphylaxis we recommend you book on to one of our other retreat venues - Sharpham House, The Coach House or our Woodland Retreats.
Please make sure you include dietary restrictions and any food allergies on your Booking Form. We may need to communicate further with you about specifics. The booking form is sent as a link once you have booked and paid for a retreat.
Our water is provided from our own spring, UV treated and filtered.
Your physical and mental health
This retreat is suitable for you if you have some meditation experience, or you are seeking to renew or reconnect with your practice.
Although meditation and mindfulness can be helpful in managing stress, depression and anxiety our retreats might not be suitable if you are experiencing major depression or other clinically diagnosed psychiatric illness such as bipolar disorder, psychosis or current self-harming. Click here for more information and for our booking process
If you have a medical condition that requires you to have a room close to a toilet, please contact The Barn team on the number below and we'll try to help.
“The Barn draws me back year after year. The experience of working and sharing in mindful work and living is very special and never fails to deepen and enhance my practice.”
“Ten of us shared a peaceful week where we felt at ease. There was a great sense of community, sharing and kindness within the group - a welcome escape from the frenetic, combative, angry environment of the world today. Highly recommended.”