Return to the Wild Writing Retreat

October 20-26, 2025

Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria, England

Welcome to
The Lake District

Immerse yourself in the breathtakingly serene landscapes of Cumbria for a transformative nature-based writing retreat.

With nine writers and three faculty, this retreat offers an intimate and unique opportunity to connect with nature and your writing in an inspiring and nurturing environment.

We can’t wait to welcome you! Scroll down for a glimpse of this stunning property and to discover what’s included in your stay."

Go Wild & Enroll Now

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Go Wild & Enroll Now 〰️

Nestled in the heart of the Lake District, this retreat offers an idyllic setting to reconnect with nature, storytelling, and your creative spirit. Over the course of a week, you will partake in daily writing critique circles and faculty talks led by experienced authors, designed to inspire and enhance your craft and to rekindle your connection with writing and with nature.

With a generous nod to Cumbrian folklore, participants will enjoy tranquil walks through lush forests and alongside pristine lakes, with opportunities for reflective writing in nature (weather permitting!). Guided nature walks will allow you to explore the stunning terrain, and encourage a deeper engagement with your environment and self.

Evenings will feature communal gatherings where writers can share their work, discuss ideas, and build lasting connections.

Join us for a transformative experience that encourages reflection, creativity, and collaboration. Leave behind the distractions of daily life and return to the wild, where the beauty of the landscape will spark your imagination and reignite your passion for writing. The retreat also includes fully catered meals featuring locally sourced ingredients. In the evenings, gather around the campfire to share stories, reflect on the day, and watch the stars.

Whether you are a seasoned writer or just beginning your journey, the Return to the Wild Writing Retreat is a haven for creativity and reflection, encouraging you to unleash your imagination in a wild and beautiful setting. Join us for an unforgettable experience that will renew your passion for writing and maybe even inspire your next project!

What’s Included?

  • Accommodations

    Our 2025 Return to the Wild Retreat will be hosted exclusively at Brownber Hall in Cumbria.

    Rooms are lovingly restored, 8 bedrooms, all with ensuite shower rooms and Bramley toiletries. With spectacular views over the Howgill Fells and 2 sitting rooms, Brownber Hall is the perfect place for us to gather.

    Brownber is taking sustainable action too! Full recycling and lots of the furniture in the property has been restored by local people. Electricity is from a renewable energy supplier.

  • Activities

    Each full day of the retreat is curated to bring you and your writing close to nature and back to your truth. Each day will include activities like guided nature walks, wild writing, solo reading and writing time, campfires, and a few guided wild adventures away from Brownber to reconnect with the world and reinvigorate your writer senses!

    We don’t want to give away every detail, but you’ll get all the details along the way after you sign up! One of these activities will be wild swimming—to invigorate your senses and truly immerse yourself in nature! (Don’t worry, we’ll have October-proof wetsuits!)

  • Food

    Breakfast, lunch and dinners are all provided by local, professional chefs using as much locally sourced vegan food as possible.

    We won't forget about Elevensies or Afternoon Tea! You’ll be well fed!

    Vegetarians, vegans and gluten sensitivities will all be catered for too! An opportunity to disclose any allergies or food sensitivities will be provided.

    (Alcoholic beverages not included. Optional add-on package to be disclosed at a later date.)

Day-to-Day

7:30 AM - Breakfast

8:30 AM - Nature Walk (rain or shine—by faculty discretion)

9:30 AM - Wild Writing Exercise with an Inspired Reading
(weather permitting, takes place during our walk)

10:30 AM - Story Critique Session (& early elevensies)

12:00 PM - Lunch

1:30 PM - Critique Session continued

3:30 PM - Coffee/Tea & Snacks & Free Time

5:00 PM - Faculty Talk

6:00 PM - Storyteller Dinner

8:30 PM - Fireside Chats & Socialize

Who is the Return to the Wild Retreat For?

This gathering offers something truly unique. Storytellers of every level who wish to dive deeper into their craft, take part in a thoughtful critique group setting, or those seeking an unforgettable experience infused with a sense of magic alongside fellow writers will enjoy a week well spent. You’ll also make connections that will inspire your creativity and your writer life long after we leave.

Be inspired by nature and each other. Go wild.

Faculty

  • Maggie Rapier

    Author of SOULGAZER
    (Summer 2025)

    Born in the South with a healthy streak of wanderlust, Maggie is an incurable romantic who loves nothing more than wordplay and witchcraft—except, perhaps, her sourdough starter. When she’s not marketing French antiques or writing about moody girls and sexy pirates, you can find her wandering in the woods with a basket in hand. 

    Her debut novel is a Celtic-inspired, Adult Romantasy titled Soulgazer that will publish with Ace/Berkley and Penguin Randomhouse in the summer of 2025.

    Meet Maggie

  • Emily Varga

    Author of FOR SHE IS WRATH
    (#1 International Bestseller & Instant Indie Bestseller)

    Emily Varga is a YA Fantasy author with a fondness for getting lost in bookstores, eating copious amounts of rice, and watching a lot of terrible reality tv. She has lived all over the world, but currently calls the Rocky Mountains of western Canada home, where she lives with her family and their menagerie of pets. When she’s not writing, Emily works as a family lawyer, where she learned more about storytelling than she ever expected. Emily’s debut novel FOR SHE IS WRATH is a Pakistani-inspired Count of Monte Cristo retelling meets Kill Bill and is out now with Wednesday Books.

    Meet Emily

  • Marina Green

    HOST & AUTHOR

    By day, Marina is an editorial assistant at three of Harlequin’s trade imprints. Avid supporter of the Oxford Comma and the em dash, Marina is also a freelance editor by night, founder of Marina Edits.

    In her free time, you can find Marina with her nose in a book or clicking away at her laptop, chasing new stories and wrangling them into wild submission. When she isn’t immersing herself in story, you can find her with a cup of tea in hand, trying a new yoga asana—never at the same time—or practicing Armenian, the language of her ancestors.

    Meet Marina

Storytelling is rooted in the land

The Location

Storytelling is rooted in the land. Cumbria, a picturesque county in northwest England, is renowned for its stunning natural landscapes. Dominated by the majestic Lake District National Park, it features an array of shimmering lakes, rolling hills, and rugged mountain peaks. The region is characterised by deep valleys, vibrant woodlands, and a rich tapestry of wildlife. In addition to its serene lakes like Windermere and Derwentwater, Cumbria boasts charming villages, historic stone buildings, and rich agricultural land. The changing seasons bring a unique beauty to the area, with lush greenery in spring and summer, vibrant foliage in autumn, and a serene stillness in winter. Whether exploring the serene trails or enjoying the panoramic views, Cumbria is a haven for nature lovers.

Located only two-and-a-half hours from Glasgow, Brownber Hall sits on ancient land that mingles contemporary with centuries-past history. Rivers for wild swimming, lakes, waterfalls, forests, and Lake District wildlife, make a unique blend of wild & mythical to ignite any writer’s spark. 

Accommodations

The 2025 Return to the Wild Retreat will be hosted exclusively at
Brownber Hall in Cumbria.

With spectacular views over the Howgill Fells, 2 sitting rooms and 8 bedrooms, Brownber Hall is the perfect spot for gathering. The Victorian country house has been lovingly restored to modern but comfortable glory. Vintage furniture mingles with William Morris prints, contemporary art and piles of books, while the kitchen table invites you to swap wellies for slippers after a long walk, and relax with mugs of tea.

This hidden corner of the Yorkshire Dales is an outdoor playground, whether you’re walking through the Smardale Ghyll nature reserve or wild swimming in the River Eden. Come evening, fire up the barbeque and firepit, pour some drinks and dine together on the south-facing terrace, then grab blankets and hot chocolate and stargaze from the hilltop behind the house. Night skies are absolutely phenomenal, strung with constellations.

Brownber Hall has been featured in the Sunday Times, The Telegraph, Guardian, Condé Nast, Harper's Bazaar, House and Garden, Suitcase Magazine, Vanity Fair and Marie Claire.

  • Shared Double Room

    A shared double bed with private ensuite bathroom.

    $2,350 USD per person

  • Private Single Room

    A Private Single bed with a private ensuite bathroom.

    $2,500 USD per person

  • Private Double

    A Private Double bed with private ensuite bathroom.

    $2,700 USD per person

Ready to Enroll?

Here are the payment details:

Enrolment opens December 7, 2024.

A nonrefundable enrolment deposit of $500 USD goes toward your overall retreat cost.

Full Balance Option: Due February 8, 2025

Instalments Option:

50% Due February 8, 2025 | 50% Due April 12, 2025

Please note: We are encouraging participants who are able to pay in full in advance so we can secure dates, accommodations, & trip experiences.

Your enrolment will register you for the retreat, which includes accommodations & meals. Transportation to and from Brownber Hall is not included. Your enrolment does not include transportation to Glasgow.

Cancellation policy: The enrolment deposit & all other payments for this retreat are nonrefundable.

We highly recommend you purchase travel insurance to cover your expenses in the event of cancellations or rescheduling.

 FAQs

  • Yes. We highly recommend you do your best to attend the entire retreat. Arriving late or leaving early will mean you won’t get the full experience. This might mean you fly to Glasgow a day early to ensure your timely arrival. Arriving early can also help you get through those worst hours of jet lag if you’re coming from a different part of the world.

    Accommodations at Brownber Hall will only be available to you during the retreat, but you are more than welcome to book your own pre- or post-retreat yourself. Any travel you do before or after the retreat will be on your own budget and is not included or affiliated with the Return to the Wild Writing Retreat.

  • Our daily schedule includes daily walks in nature. These are completely dependant on weather and will mostly be short. However, there will be a guided walk and wild swim one afternoon that will be light but slightly lengthy. In other words, this will be a moderate exercise. Other activities are being planned that will be nature-based and therefore will require movement.

  • Yes! if you would like to room with your friend, please coordinate before enrollment so that you both choose the same type of room. After enrollment, you will be provided opportunity to disclose your chosen roommate! We will do everything in our power to accommodate roommate requests to the best of our abilities. 

    If you do not have a specific roommate in mind or if you do not get your requested pairing, don’t worry! You’re coming to a place with like minded people who you could very well make life-long connections with. You will also have tons of time during the day to spend time with all of your friends—new and old.

  • We will provide a detailed packing list in July. If you like to prepare extra, extra early, think autumn in northern England. Cool gusts of wind, potential warm spells, mud, rain, and sunshine. Among other things, Marina will be bringing her waterproof hiking boots, an umbrella, and (waterproof) jackets to layer.

  • Depending on where in the world you’re coming from, you can opt to drive or fly to the retreat. If you choose to fly, consider arriving at Glasgow International Airport, Manchester Airport, or Leeds Bradford Airport (the closest of the three). You might even choose to fly in to London and take a train north to Brownber!

    If you choose to drive, you can meet us at Brownber Hall (if you have an electric car, there is a place for you to charge your vehicle). Exact locations to come.

    Detailed information on transportation will come to you in March 2025. (Marina is trying her very best to include transportation from Glasgow to Brownber! At the time of registering for this retreat, transportation is NOT included).

  • You must be at least 18 years old to participate.

  • Life happens. Don’t we know it. We highly recommend you purchase good travel insurance to protect against rare incidents like this!

  • Yes! Although, if you’re an extra hungry hobbit like Marina, consider bring your own non-perishable stash just in case you get peckish!

Our Planned & Possible Activities

  • A guided storyteller’s walk through the area and a wild swim (with wetsuits) - Confirmed

  • Dried wildflower craft workshop at Brownber Hall - In the works!

  • An evening of axe throwing! - In the works!

  • Horseback riding - In the works as an optional add on!

  • S’mores by the fire (& under the stars weather permitting) - Confirmed