Has anyone been on a reading retreat

[Winterdaffodils]

Saw a brilliant recommendation from another Mumsnetter earlier and had to share!
It was for a retreat-style break that combines proper downtime (think books, fresh air, no rushing about) with some lovely low-key activities – yoga, shopping maybe even a bit of swimming. Basically, the dream mix of calm and doing something without it being full-on.
I’ll try to find the link again if anyone’s interested – just sounded like exactly the sort of relaxing escape I’ve been fantasising about lately. Has anyone else come across anything similar?

I would love this.

No, but if you find the link, please post it!

Yes and sign me up please!

There’s 2 I’ve been looking into. Ladies Who Lit (seems wildly out of my budget) and Books in Places (more reasonable but I can’t make the dates work!) have lovely things on offer. They are such a good idea!

https://www.naxoscreative.com/retreats-new I have just spoken to them - and they are old old Mumsnetters - also said they would offer a discount code. I will suggest they come on to give details of that. And Jennifer Saint is my absolute favourite author

That sounds amazing! I've took a day of work last week, didn't tell anyone at home, and had a reading day retreat to myself. Trip to the library, a visit to a coffee shop to read and eat cake then home to read and journal. Was bliss!

OMG sounds perfect

I love the idea of just doing my own DIY version of this. Book a hotel on my own, take a new book or two, snacks!

Omg I would absolutely love this. Thanks for posting!

Following.

I just emailed them about the discount and got a quick reply. MN001 apparently will give me 20% 🤗- I assume that's for all mn peeps (worth a try anyway)

i am fancying one for my birthday!

DH and I went away earlier this week to a country house type place for the night. Had a walk on the way up, then sat in the gardens with a couple of glasses of sparkling and read for the rest of the afternoon, followed by a tasting menu dinner.

It was lovely and relaxing, highly recommended. The staff even said to us how nice it was to see people reading the afternoon away together!

<goes away to ponder how more relaxing it would be to do it without DH in tow>

This is the code I got. 20% is pretty decent - definitely going to book

Middle Colenso Farm do reading retreats that look fab. Not that I've been on one, I have done a DIY one and spent a week setting aside a few hours every afternoon reading in the garden which feels very luxurious.

I just want to do a DIY one by myself and for the rest of my life really 😄.

I’ve actually heard of this company before – someone in my book club was talking about them - they’ve got some great reviews. Their selection of authors looks really interesting too. I love Jennifer Saint too – her retellings are brilliant. I need to check how much holiday I’ve got left. Just imagine how glorious going on a proper reading retreat would be. No DH, no DD! 😬

You can DIY creating break at The Gladstone Library in N Wales. The UK's only residential library.

Oh wow @IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads 😍

Wow those look FABULOUS

Interesting that quite a few of us have heard of this company and they’ve got a really lovely reputation. It all sounds so thoughtfully put together. And that beach… honestly, it looks like the kind of place you dream about! Could totally see myself there with a book and other Mums to chat too

Interested

I too was coming to recommend Gladstone’s Library - particularly to those of you like@Surelythistime who would prefer a DIY approach. Absolutely heavenly - though rather more expensive than previously.

(In the early 2000s I spent so much time there they eventually gave me a scholarship - three whole months of books and cake and walks and fascinating post-prandial drinks with fellow residents.)

https://www.gladstoneslibrary.org/

Sent a message to Naxos Creative and this was the reply:
Let's meet on a Greek island, on a beach with a glass of wine, a good book and, and, and... we’re old enough to remember what fun the MN meetups were.

Visiting best-selling and prize winning authors, everything included and old timers to boot - with a 20% off for Mumsnetters with the MN001 discount code. What more could you ask for ? Feel free to contact us if you’d like more details

They sound lovely. Am sorely tempted

OMG Do you remember that first ever Mumsnet camp-out? It was at someone’s house in Dorset, I think — they all turned up and camped in her field like a sort of DIY festival, only with more flapjacks and fewer toilets.

There was live posting and It sounded like absolute organised chaos: people arriving with wildly different levels of preparedness — from full-on glamping setups with fairy lights to someone who thought a beach windbreak counted as a tent

Despite the mild mayhem, everyone swore it was brilliant and “definitely to be repeated.” but the host said never again!

I haven't, but I have mixed feelings about it and can't decide if it's enticing or silly.

How is this different from just going off to some charming little town (or a spa) with a batch of books? I've done that.