Where is the retreat?

The retreat is held at Thorney How, which is located at the foot of Helm Crag, at the end of the Easedale Valley on the peaceful outskirts of Grasmere.

You will be surrounded by the fells and countryside of the Lake District, while still being within easy reach of Grasmere village.

When is the February 2027 retreat?

The retreat will take place 19–22 February 2027.

When can I book?

Letters from Words and Water subscribers will have exclusive early access to booking from 1 September 2026.

General public booking opens on 6 September 2026.

Places are limited, so if you would like first access, make sure you are subscribed to Letters from Words and Water.

What is included in the retreat?

Your retreat includes:

Accommodation at Thorney How

A three-book Curated Reads selection chosen especially for you by the Book Brewery, an independent bookseller in Ambleside

Meals and refreshments as outlined in the retreat information, including wine with evening meals

Friday grazing boards

Saturday evening supper

Sunday evening private-chef dinner with Lone Wolf Chef

Welcome drinks and treats

Hot drinks station

Afternoon sweet and savoury grazing

Optional walks

A gently hosted experience throughout the weekend

Plenty of unstructured time to read and relax

An array of nooks and reading spaces throughout the property

What is Curated Reads?

Curated Reads is a personalised book selection created for you by Book Brewery, an independent bookseller in Ambleside.

Before the retreat, you will complete a short questionnaire about your reading tastes, favourite books, genres and what you’re in the mood to read.

Your answers are then personally reviewed by the Book Brewery team, who will hand-pick three books especially for you.

There is no AI involved in the selection. Every recommendation is chosen by the experienced Chris and Emma at the Book Brewery, who will consider your individual reading preferences.

You will receive your three hand-picked books as part of your retreat experience, along with cards explaining why each book has been chosen for you.

Think of it as your own personal book subscription, created just for this weekend.

Do I need to be an avid reader?

Absolutely not. You do not need to have a reading challenge, a favourite genre or a beautifully curated bookshelf.

You just need to like books and the idea of having some uninterrupted time to read.

Our Curated Reads selection is designed around your tastes, so whether you read literary fiction, thrillers, romance, historical fiction, non-fiction or a mixture of everything, we will use your preferences to choose your books.

Do I have to take part in all the activities?

No. This is one of the most important parts of the retreat.

The walks and activities are optional. You can join everything, choose a few things or spend most of the weekend reading.

There is no expectation that you need to make the most of every minute.

Do I have to socialise?

No. You will be sharing the retreat with a small group of other readers, so there will be opportunities for conversation, shared meals and relaxed evenings together.

But there will also be plenty of space and time for yourself.

You can spend an afternoon reading quietly without feeling like you should be somewhere else.

I’m coming on my own. Is that okay?

Absolutely. Many people come to retreats on their own.

The small group means you will have opportunities to meet other readers naturally, without being placed into forced group activities or expected to socialise all weekend.

If you would rather spend some time alone, that is completely fine too.

What are the rooms like?

We have a combination of twin and private rooms, all with their own ensuite bathroom.

Rooms are beautifully appointed, and you’ll be able to indicate your preferred room configuration and whether you’d prefer a ground-floor or first-floor room when booking.

Because the property is an individual Lake District house rather than a conventional hotel, rooms are individually arranged and may vary slightly.

If you have particular accessibility or accommodation requirements, please contact us before booking.

Can I choose my room?

You will not be able to select an individual room, but when you book, you will be able to let us know your preferred room configuration (twin or private) and whether you would prefer a ground-floor or first-floor room (subject to availability).

We will do our best to accommodate your preferences when allocating rooms. If you have any specific accessibility or other requirements that may affect which room is suitable for you, please let us know when booking.

Is the accommodation shared?

We have both twin rooms and private rooms available. Twin rooms are £625 per person and can only be booked by guests attending with someone they already know and would like to share with.

We will never pair you with another guest or ask you to share a room with someone you don’t know. If you are attending alone, you can book a private room for £750.

All rooms are beautifully appointed and ensuite. Private rooms offer the added benefit of having the room entirely to yourself, giving you a little extra space and privacy to relax and unwind during the retreat.

Is the retreat suitable if I have mobility or accessibility requirements?

This depends on the individual requirement and the suitability of the property.

The retreat house is a Lake District property and the surrounding area includes natural terrain, hills and uneven surfaces.

If you have a mobility, accessibility or other additional need, please contact us before booking so that we can discuss the property and activities with you.

We will always provide the information available to us, but we cannot guarantee that the retreat will be suitable for every individual requirement.

Do I have to go on the walks?

No. All walks are optional.

There will be a planned Sunday morning walk along Easedale Beck, as well as opportunities to explore the surrounding landscape.

If walking is not for you, you can stay at the house and read or visit nearby Grasmere.

How difficult are the walks?

The exact routes and conditions will be confirmed closer to the retreat. Our walks will take us through the beautiful surrounding landscape and may include uneven ground, hills, mud and steps, with conditions varying depending on the weather.

We will share more details about the routes, including distance and terrain, ahead of the retreat so you can decide whether they feel right for you.

Suitable walking footwear and weather-appropriate clothing are essential.

Can I go to Ambleside?

There will be an opportunity to arrange a trip into Ambleside after Saturday brunch.

Any taxi or other transport will be arranged and paid for by guests themselves.

We will be happy to provide information about local taxi firms where helpful.

Is transport included?

No. Travel to and from the retreat is your responsibility unless specifically stated otherwise.

Words and Water does not provide guest transport in its own vehicles.

We recommend arranging appropriate travel insurance when you book.

There is free parking available onsite.

The closest mainline station is Oxenholme, with a connection to Windermere. From there, you can continue by bus or local taxi. We will provide further travel information before the retreat.

What if I have dietary requirements?

We will ask for your dietary requirements when you book.

We will work with our catering and accommodation partners to accommodate reasonable dietary requirements where we have sufficient advance notice.

If you have a severe or potentially life-threatening allergy, please contact us before booking so we can discuss whether the retreat is suitable.

Because food may be prepared by third-party kitchens and catering providers, we cannot guarantee an entirely allergen-free environment.

Can I bring alcohol?

Drinks will be provided as part of the planned evening gatherings where stated.

If you choose to bring or consume additional alcohol, please do so responsibly and with consideration for other guests.

Any behaviour that becomes disruptive, threatening or unsafe may result in you being asked to leave the retreat without a refund.

Can I bring my dog?

Unfortunately, dogs and other pets are not permitted.

Assistance animals may be possible by prior arrangement, depending on the property and circumstances. Please contact us before booking.

Is the retreat adults only?

Retreats are for guests aged 18 and over.

What happens if the weather is bad?

The Lake District is the Lake District, so we plan for a range of weather.

The retreat will generally continue in light or moderate rain where it is safe to do so.

If severe weather makes an activity unsafe or impractical, we may alter the route, replace an activity, move something indoors or change the itinerary.

Outdoor activities are optional, so you can always choose to stay at the house and read.

What happens if the advertised author can’t attend?

Where an author is advertised as attending, we will make reasonable efforts to ensure they can join us.

However, author attendance cannot be guaranteed and may be affected by illness, travel disruption or other circumstances beyond our control.

If an author is unable to attend, we will endeavour to arrange an appropriate alternative where possible.

What happens if I need to cancel?

Our cancellation policy is:

More than 12 weeks before the retreat:
A refund of payments received, less the £250 non-refundable deposit.

Between 8 and 12 weeks before the retreat:
A 50% refund of the total retreat fee, less the £250 non-refundable deposit.

For the February 2027 retreat, this period runs from 27 November to 24 December 2026 inclusive.

8 weeks or less before the retreat:
No refund will ordinarily be due.

From 25 December 2026, no refund will ordinarily be due, subject to any statutory rights you may have.

The date we receive your written cancellation determines which period applies.

We strongly recommend taking out appropriate travel insurance when you book.

What if you need to cancel the retreat?

We will use reasonable endeavours to ensure the retreat takes place as planned.

If we need to cancel, postpone or significantly change the retreat, we will contact you as soon as reasonably possible and provide the refund, transfer or other remedy applicable under our Terms and Conditions and any relevant consumer protection legislation.

What if the location changes?

If we need to change the location, we will let you know as soon as possible.

Where a replacement location is within 20 miles of the original location, we will generally treat this as a change of location rather than cancellation.

If the new location is more than 20 miles away, we will ask you to confirm whether you wish to continue with your booking.

Our full position is set out in the Terms and Conditions.

Will there be photographs?

Yes. We may take photographs and short videos during the retreat to share the Words and Water experience and promote future retreats.

When booking, you will have the opportunity to let us know if you do not want to appear in identifiable promotional photographs or videos. If you subsequently change your preference, please let us know as soon as possible and we will take reasonable steps to respect your wishes.

What should I bring?

We will send a suggested packing list before the retreat.

In the meantime, we would recommend bringing:

Comfortable clothes for relaxing

Warm layers

Waterproof outdoor clothing

Suitable walking shoes or boots

Any medication you need

A reusable water bottle

Your current reading material

An open mind and very little sense of urgency

Can I arrive early or stay later?

Arrival and departure times are set by the accommodation provider and will need to be adhered to. We will share the confirmed times with you in your booking information.

If you are arriving early or travelling home later on the Monday, we will provide some recommendations for ways to spend your time. We would encourage you to make the most of your trip and take the opportunity to explore more of the beautiful surrounding area before or after the retreat.

What if I don’t know anyone?

That is okay.

The retreats are deliberately small, and shared meals and relaxed gatherings provide natural opportunities to meet people.

There is no forced networking, no icebreaker session and no expectation that you have to become best friends with everyone.

You can be sociable, quiet or somewhere in between.

What if I want to spend the whole weekend reading?

Then you have understood the brief.

You do not need to justify spending three hours in an armchair with a book.

The retreat is designed to give you permission to slow down and read without feeling that you’re wasting your time.

What happens if I have a problem during the retreat?

Please tell a member of the Words and Water team as soon as possible.

We will always do our best to resolve issues while you’re with us.

If an issue cannot be resolved during the retreat, you can contact us afterwards at hello@wordsandwater.co.uk.

Where can I find the full Terms and Conditions?

Our full Booking Terms and Conditions are available here on our website and will form part of your booking.

Please read them carefully before completing your booking.

If you have a question that isn’t answered here, please contact us at hello@wordsandwater.co.uk.