Bespoke Writing Retreats  in the Peak District focusing on creativity and wellbeing in this beautiful countryside, hosted by novelists Myszka and Adam Fox:

We offer a quiet and respectful space, full of possibility and creativity. How you use it is up to you. You can choose to tuck yourself away and just write. You can explore the countryside to stretch cramped writing muscles. You can venture to the river, to swim or simply to watch the moving water.

Workshops and Coaching sessions to explore further aspects of your writing are available with prior booking, around the Foxes’ other commitments.

Food is all prepared from scratch by Myszka and Adam. Good quality simple ingredients make delicious meals.

Fully catered accommodation available with private study bedrooms, excellent wifi, armchairs and writing desks. Separate entrance to The Hayloft, ensuring privacy and solitude, if required. 

Optional add-on workshops: Character Building & Development, Flash and Short Story Writing. 

Therapeutic Writing sessions, safely led by BACP registered Psychotherapeutic Counsellor, Myszka.  

Thai yoga massage and deep tissue massage visiting practitioners on request. 

Summer months river swimming ten minutes walk away across open parklands. Circular rural walks from the farm gate, no need to drive once you are here. 

*Online 1:1 Coaching for Writing and workshops available on request.

From 2024 we will be working differently, as requested by many of our regulars!

Our wish is to let just one or two writers stay in The Hayloft, to allow for more of the solitude required by so many of us when we write. We have many beautiful souls who prefer Foxes’ in this way, so it makes sense for us to focus on that element of our work.

The entire Hayloft will be yours to use exclusively, with kitchen, bathroom, sitting room and a comfortable study bedroom, with a writing desk and armchair/sofa.  

You will find a range of breakfast items to help yourself to, and a homemade soup/delicious salad, with freshly Foxes' Retreat baked bread for lunch. There will be a bowl of fresh fruit, not to mention delicious cake for your afternoon tea time.  Dinner will be brought up for you at an agreed time, to suit the rhythm of the day.  For you to arrive on Friday morning, and leave by Sunday late afternoon will be £395 fully inclusive of your accommodation and catering.  We agree all menus ahead with our guests, to account for allergies and personal preferences - no one wants to eat uncomfortably when on retreat!

We have excellent wifi for research and accessing writing platforms online.

There is no expectation that you book additional sessions - you can simply write, working on your project whilst you are here. Often our writers want something specific from their Writing Retreat, and many have asked for one sessions to be added on to suit their project. As a result we do offer pre-bookable sessions - if you do want to tap into support or develop a project, then please outline to us what you are working on.

As an example, a two hour character workshop would be £75, working 1:1 with Myszka, developing a character from scratch in a playful way, and finding story threads for that character to build into short stories or novels (warning - no-one has ever stopped at a short story even if intending to!).  Similarly, two hours of Writing for Wellbeing is available for £75, allowing you to explore issues for yourself or one of your characters to deepen your work. Myszka is a qualified and registered BACP psychotherapeutic counsellor, with an insightful and compassionate approach to working with fiction and personal writing.

Coaching for Writing, around finding writing blocks and understanding our own processes is also available, at an investment of £50 per hour, and initial sessions can be booked ahead, with the option to add if needed afterwards (either whilst you are here, or through zoom later).  

What will I need to bring with me?

You will need to bring a notebook with you, as well as a laptop or tablet, if you prefer to use technology to record your thoughts and ideas. Sharing your notes or writing with your ideas, will be an option, only if you are comfortable with this, at various points during your Writing Retreat.

Pre-load any podcasts that you might need for research, or your favourite mood music and pack your earbuds if you enjoy listening to things are you go along.

Any spare time can be spent in planning, reflection, or walking locally, so bring some stout shoes if that is your thing.

Whilst we have central heating and double glazing, each bedroom also has a hot water bottle and an electric blanket for the colder months. We know that some writers like a cooler room with a warm bed, or a warmer room with a cool bed - so the options are there for you to make it perfect for you. Quality duvets are topped with old-fashioned bedspread eiderdowns for those who like to snuggle into bed deeply. Please don’t feel you have to dress up in a certain way at Foxes’ Retreat - you can be smart, casual, comfy or cosy - we are happy as long as you are comfortable to write.

Taking that first step…

Making the decision to start to write can feel daunting, to any one of us. Foxes’ Retreat specialises in bringing out the best in all writers, no matter what their previous experience, with a relaxed professional approach to relax and unwind the creative processes.

If you would like to have a chat with us about joining a Weekend Retreat, please call or email, and we will be happy to work with you to find your best fit.

myszka@foxesretreat.com or 07734 328762