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Connecting with the qualities of the heart: 4-night Self-compassion & Nature-connection Retreat
Summary
Overview
"When our hearts expand...we have a lot of understanding and compassion and can embrace others
- Thich Nhat Hanh, peace activist and mindfulness pioneer
Explore how heart-based practices like self-compassion and loving kindness along with our nature-based approach to mindfulness can help to restore and nourish you in your daily life.
You'll be cared for full-board, with plenty of time for rest, reflection and nature connection in the very special location of the Sharpham Estate.
Many people can be kind and supportive of others, whilst struggling to apply this same attitude to themselves. All too often we slip into patterns of judging and criticising ourselves harshly, a habitual yet unhelpful strategy, making the challenges that we face even more difficult.
In recent years, there has been a growing interest in practices that cultivate self-compassion and kindness. There's an expanding body of research showing the positive effect such practices have on emotional well-being, physical health, personal relationships and avoiding burn-out.
These retreats, involving skilled and trained leaders, draw on recently-developed and evidence-backed approaches such as Mindful Self-Compassion (MSC), Mindfulness-based Compassionate Living (MBCL) and the work of Paul Gilbert, founder of Compassion Focused
Therapy (CFT).
This retreat is for you if:
- would like to connect more with the qualities of the heart, such as compassion, kindness, gratitude and sympathetic joy
- want to deepen your mindfulness practice and learn a new set of practices within this approach
- find yourself criticising or judging yourself harshly
- want to learn wiser and more helpful ways to relate to difficulties
- would like to spend some time in a peaceful and beautiful setting surrounded by nature
- are interested in understanding yourself better and learning about how and why we get into unhelpful patterns
- Are aged 18 or above
What you'll experience on this retreat:
- experience guided meditations and periods of silence and quiet contemplation
- learn self-compassion and nature-based mindfulness practices that can support you in your daily life
- have the chance to take mindfulness and compassion based practices into the outdoors through walking, nature connection and sensing activities (weather permitting)
- a chance to learn about & witness our efforts to re-wild the Sharpham Estate
- full-board accommodation in a Grade II-listed Georgian Coach House set within Capability Brownian parkland, with Grade 2*-listed gardens designed by Percy Cane in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty close to nature, amid breath-taking scenery on the banks of the River Dart
- a single-occupancy room and your own space in which to rejuvenate, with free time to deeply rest and reconnect with yourself, far from the busy-ness of daily life.
- a safe and supportive community with like-minded people, sharing experiences in the kitchen gardens and on the wider Estate
- delicious, healthy, home-cooked vegetarian food that regularly receives rave reviews
Rewilding:
This retreat includes the opportunity to explore our rewilding efforts on the Sharpham Estate.
About 50 acres of farmland are being rewilded (with our partners/tenants Ambios Ltd) and you'll have the chance to visit and practice on the lands, experiencing how we all are a part of - not apart from - nature.
Find Out MoreWhat you'll 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
Schedule
If you're coming to stay with us on retreat, it is important to make a commitment to arrive in time for the first group meeting and to attend all the days.
This ensures you experience the retreat programme from start to finish and helps your group of participants to gel.
Silence
All our retreats include periods of silence as a way of deepening into mindful awareness.
If you are new to spending time in silence in the company of other people, it can feel awkward to begin with. But we encourage you to explore the silent periods with a spirit of openness and curiosity - people usually find it to be a positive experience.
The retreats typically move into silence each evening from 9pm - 10.45am the following day
Typical Schedule
Day 1: Arrive between 3 - 5pm for welcome meeting and settling in
| Mornings | Afternoons |
|---|---|
| 7.00am - wake up | 12.20pm - meditation |
| 7.30am – morning movement | 1.00pm - lunch & tasks |
| 8.00am - meditation | 3.30pm – free time or group walk |
| 8.30am – house nurturing | 5.00pm - afternoon session |
| 9.00am – breakfast & tasks | 6.00pm – supper & tasks |
| 10.45am - home groups | 8.00pm - evening session |
| 9.00pm – Personal time (Coach House moves into silence until 10.45am the next day) |
Final day: depart by 11am
The retreat will move into silence each evening from 9pm – 10.45am and on one full day in each retreat.
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The Coach House
When you stay at The Coach House, you'll be in comfy, single rooms in a beautifully converted 18th century stable block, set in the stunning scenery of Sharpham's grounds. You'll experience daily meditation and movement sessions, time in our gardens and on the land and you'll eat delicious and homegrown vegetarian and vegan meals.
Coach House retreats focus on nature connection through a varied programme of retreats designed to connect you to Sharpham's flora and fauna, with plenty of time for you to rest and reflect.
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By Car
By Train
By Taxi
On foot or cycle from Totnes
By CoachLeaders
Coach House Coordinators
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Costs
The Sharpham Trust is committed to ensuring that retreats at The Coach House are accessible to all - regardless of income.
All rooms are comfortable single rooms, with either an ensuite or a shared bathroom. All meals, bedding and towels are included. 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 which will be sent to you once you have booked.
Participants at The Coach House can select which rate they pay according to need:
Supported Rate £495
The Sharpham Trust is committed to ensuring that retreats are accessible to all - regardless of income. The Trust therefore offers a heavily subsidised Supported Rate for those unable to pay the Standard or Benefactor Rate.
Standard Rate £545
Paying the Standard Rate means you will be contributing towards our running costs, supporting the work of The Coach House and helping retreatants on lower incomes to access our retreats.
Benefactor Rate £625
If you are able to pay the Benefactor Rate, that means that you'll be supporting others who cannot afford to benefit from a retreat on The Sharpham Estate. Your choice to pay this rate will help us with the running costs of The Coach House, 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.
There will be a maximum of 18 guests on this retreat.
All rooms are single occupancy, giving you your own space in which to relax.
If you have a medical condition that requires you to have an en-suite room, please contact the Programme Administrator on the number below as these rooms are limited and are bookable on a first-come first-serve basis.
Book easily and securely online or by phoning 01803 732542
Terms & Conditions
Please click here to see our booking and cancellations policy
Room Types
Click here for more information on our types of bedrooms and facilities.
Bursaries
Limited 50% bursaries offering reduced-price retreats are available for those experiencing financial hardship. 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
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Available dates
2025
18
Feb
The Coach House: Connecting with the qualities of the heart - 4-night self-compassion & nature-connection retreat
With Lindsay Alderton & Ollie Frame
At the heart of the Sharpham Trust ethos is our desire to build a more mindful, compassionate and environmentally sustainable world.
We connect people with nature and foster mindfulness and well-being through our programme of retreats, mindfulness courses, outdoor learning and the arts.
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