WRITERS' RETREATS

Writers' retreats 2008: 10-17 May and 18-25 October.
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Details below.


For a week of writing inspiration come to a writing retreat at Glencanisp Lodge in the north-west Highlands of Scotland. There are no qualifications required to come and no compulsory activities, just an opportunity for writers to develop their work in progress in a peaceful and stunningly beautiful environment.
Two retreat weeks are being held in 2008:

10-17 May
This is the week leading up to the Ullapool Book Festival. It is the heart of spring, so the weather will be at its best and the flowers, birds and other wildlife will be fantastic. The days will be long and beautiful.



18-25 October
The woods and moors will be in the height of autumn colours with stags starting to roar for the rut.

Price: £400 per place

This is the third year Glencanisp Lodge has hosted writing retreats. Over this time, the retreats have provided space, tranquility and stimulation for more than 30 published and aspiring poets, short story writers and novelists including Margaret Elphinstone, Rodge Glass, Jason Donald, Paula Jennings and Colin Will.

Previous retreaters have said: ‘The best writing retreat in Western Europe…’, ‘I had a wonderful time, thank you so much. I feel refreshed and inspired…’, ‘I adored the peace and quiet, the scenery, the food and the company…’, ‘What did I write? One new poem every day…’, ‘It was great. Being here allowed me to have insights into how to progress my novel…’, ‘Distance from my normal existence has produced work that I’m proud of, encapsulating some of the magic of this place…’, ‘A lovely house overlooking the most wonderful views…’.



Any writers are welcome on the retreats. The retreats run from Saturday to Saturday, a whole week’s writing time. Everyone gets a private and comfortable room to themselves, many of which have spectacular views out to the iconic mountain of Suilven or into the mature woods around the Lodge. Delicious home-cooked food is included. A writing facilitator is on hand to give feedback if desired.


SOME PRACTICALITIES
  • 1. Dinner is cooked for us, and the kitchen is stocked so participants can help themselves to breakfasts and lunches. Please let us know any dietary requirements in advance.
  • 2. No-one needs to share a room, though you can if you want to (there are three rooms with double beds). Places are limited to 12 and the rooms with best views will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.The bedroom furniture is basic, but includes table, chair and lamp plus bed, pillows, sheets, duvets, towels etc.
  • 3. There are two big lounges downstairs, with a basic library, hi-fi, log fires etc. Usually we gather by the fireside in the evenings to read work, share a drink, talk about writing, ceilidh, etc.
  • 4. There is a phone (01571 844122) but no mobile phone signal. The nearest mobile phone signal is a glorious mile walk down the road at Lochinver, as are the shops, post office, pub and other trappings of civilisation.
  • 5. There are various public transport options for getting to Lochinver, which is a 2-hour drive north of Inverness. We will help with transport arrangements.
Glencanisp Lodge is owned by the local community of Assynt, along with a vast area of land, as a result of a series of historic land buy-outs, which make this a particularly vibrant and positive part of rural Scotland. We can arrange guided walks or other opportunities for meeting local people if there is interest from retreat participants. For example, the local ranger does a fascinating walk to various places that appear in poems by Norman MacCaig, who spent his summers here, and the last retreat involved a visit to see a whale that had washed up on the nearby beach. Anything is possible!


To reserve a place on a retreat please send a deposit of £200, cheque made out to 'Top Left Corner' to:
Mandy Haggith
95 Achmelvich
Lochinver
Sutherland
IV27 4JB
Scotland

For more information please don't hesitate to get in touch with Mandy Haggith

Tel: +44 (0)1571 844020
Mobile: +44 (0)7734 235704


















All images © The Assynt Foundation unless otherwise stated.
All unmarked photographs are by Agnes Dickson of the Assynt Foundation except stalking pictures which are by Ashley Coombes.