Help us nurture The Barn for the future - and get a less expensive retreat at the same time.
Join us for practising and working in community.
Have you been to at least one Barn retreat in the past, and you would like to join us in painting and home repairs? There will be a variety of work involved, including some physically strenuous work. You will need to be of or above average physical ability in order to participate. If this sounds like you, please come and join our community in work and practice.
We will keep some of the same Barn schedule of meditating and listening to teachings, but with longer work periods to prepare The Barn for future retreats.
During this retreat you’ll:
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:
It is important that you are willing to participate in working on the land and in the house as part of your mindfulness practice and that you can commit to all the scheduled activities during the week. This includes two 40-minute formal meditation periods each day.
Note that we hold silence from 8.30pm to 9.00am each day. On the Work Retreat there will be no silent day.
Afternoon |
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2.00pm to 4.00pm – Your arrival |
5.00pm – Welcome talk, introductions and tour |
6.30pm – Light evening meal. Then settling in |
8.20pm – Meditation |
The Barn goes into silence until 9.00am the next day |
Mornings | Afternoons |
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6.20am – wake up | 1.30pm – lunch |
6.50am – meditation | 2.30pm – personal practive |
7.30am – household tasks | 5.00pm – teaching by visiting teachers |
8.00am – breakfast | 6.30pm – supper |
9.00am – house meeting | 8.20pm – meditation |
9.30am – mindful work | 9.00pm – silence until 9.00am the next day |
As above until 8.00am. Silence ends at breakfast. Then it's time to clear your room and depart between 9.00am and 10.00am.
Our popular meditation retreat venue in the Buddhist tradition is where up to 11 people join together living in community for weekly retreats, including a variety of themed retreats - scroll on to see them all.
You'll be staying within a friendly atmosphere of fellowship, sitting together in daily meditations and mindfully tending our organic vegetable gardens.
You'll have your own single room, you'll get to eat produce from what's grown on the land here and you'll also get time to explore the wonder of the beautiful and contemplation-inspiring Sharpham Estate.
Get Directions View VenueSupported rate £185
The Sharpham Trust is committed to ensuring that retreats at The Barn are accessible to all - regardless if income. The Supported Rate is for those unable to pay the Standard or Benefactor Rate.
Standard rate £250
Paying the Standard Rate means you will be contributing towards our running costs, supporting the work of The Barn and helping retreatants of lower incomes to access our retreats.
Benefactor rate £325
If you are able to pay the Benefactor Rate, that means that you'll be supporting others who cannot afford to benefit from a Barn retreat on The Sharpham Estate. Your choice to pay this rate will help us with the running costs of The Barn, enabling us to continue our charitable work connecting people to nature and fostering mindfulness and wellbeing, as well as caring for the land, wildlife and wider estate.
Dana is the Pali word for generosity or donation. The volunteer coordinators are receiving only a small payment for expenses whilst living at The Barn and are generously giving their energy and understanding to us all. If you are able donations are welcome.
There will be a maximum of 11 participants on this retreat.
All rooms are single occupancy, giving you your own space in which to relax.
Book easily and securely online or by phoning 01803 732542
Please click here to see our booking and cancellations policy
Click here for more information on our types of bedrooms and facilities.
All rooms are comfortable single rooms, with a shared bathroom. All rooms are randomly allocated, unless you have medical needs relating to your room allocation. If you have such a need, let us know on your booking form before the retreat begins.
This retreat is already discounted but limited 50% bursaries offering reduced-price retreats are available for those experiencing financial hardship on our other retreats. Please contact the Programme Administrator at least 4 weeks in advance if you wish to apply.
Our bursary fund relies on donations. If you’d like to help another to go on retreat here through our bursary scheme, you can give online quickly and easily by clicking here