Weekend Retreats in Holycombe, Warwicksire

These weekend Yoga Retreats for up to 12 people run from Friday evening to Sunday afternoon and are held at a beautiful and very peaceful place called Holycombe, only 1 hour & 15 minutes drive from Leonard Stanley.  You can check it out here  https://www.holycombe.com/retreatcentre

The 2021 Retreat will be held on October 15 -17th  and will cost £300 for single occupancy/£260  for a shared room. This retreat is only 1hour 15 mins drive from Stroud so I am happy to wlecome people who prefer to just come for a day rather than the whole weekend. The cost for the day in 2020 will be £75 and is on condition that I have enough weekenders to justify the cost of the venue hire.

  The weekend includes:

. 5 Yoga sessions

  Yoga dance

  2 Meditation sessions

  All breakfasts, teas, coffees, homemade cakes & lunches.

  Large communal eating area to sit and chat.

  Countryside walks right on the doorstep.

  On Friday evening we all bring an item of food for a 'shared supper'

  On Saturday evening we eat out ( at your expense) at the local pub 'The Norman Knight'

  ( or if you prefer, you can stay at Holycombe and self-cater that evening)

Holycombe itself is set within 6 acres so lots of space to wander off and private places to relax.If you want to venture further afield the location is Whichford, a beautiful village  located in the idyllic rolling hills of south Warwickshire in the North Cotswolds. The village was mentioned in the Domesday Book  and it features several attractive older buildings around the very large green. There are also a couple of 2-3 mile circular walks in the area for those who love to walk off their lunch/cakes!

Whichford Pottery is also within walking distance, has a highly recommended cafe & would be a great place to get ahead with your Christmas shopping!

Reviews and comments on Autumn Retreats:

I was a ‘day tripper’ to Holycombe - one of Carol’s yoga retreats.  It was such a great day.  I was met by a cheery welcoming bunch of girls who had clearly had a wonderful weekend retreat and was grateful to be part of their last day. Two full-on sessions of yoga which were skilful and fun.    We stopped for home-made cakes, fruit and coffee, then, after a decent break did a yoga dance session (this was the final day and the girls had learnt it the day before) - a dance made up by Carol to the music of Florence and The Machine.  Whacky, yogic and gave everyone a lot of joy and sense of achievement!  Lunch was home-made soup with bread rolls followed by more of those gorgeous bakes.  A walk in the sunshine around this beautiful location afterwards and then the final yoga session and goodbyes.  The feeling was warm, inviting, stimulating, happy and relaxing and a great bunch of girls to spend the day with.
Well done to Carol, who single-handedly arranged everything from the venue, the home-made food, the yoga sessions and dance.  Clearly, I’ll be joining them again next year……Jenni, 2019

I was fortunate enough to be able to join Carol on the Saturday of her weekend retreat at Holycombe in Warwickshire, such a lovely venue. A friend and I arrived just in time for the morning yoga session which was as strenuous as you wanted it to be. Relaxation afterwards could be  as long as you wanted but coffee and cake were on offer. Both delicious. There  was a period of free time so we walked up and visited the Whichford Pottery and shop, returning to Holycombe for lunch and a bit more free time. My friend had lived locally so she took me to visit some very pretty local villages.

When we got back to Holycombe Carol led a session on breathing and then chanting before we had another session of yoga which led into delightful session of yoga dance and more relaxation.

We stayed for the evening meal with the rest of the group, up at the local pub.

This was a wonderfully relaxing day with Carol's well led yoga group and I would highly recommend it.  Ann Greaves November 2019

Arriving at Hollycombe at Whichford in the dark, I had no idea, of the wonderful views of the garden and beyond, including montjac, squirrels and numerous song birds that awaited us the next morning! A delight to enjoy over breakfast in the lovely wooden conservatory. The eleven of us had shared an enjoyable meal upon arrival, the previous evening, before our first yoga session  in the "Angel Room" with wonderful wooden flooring and underfloor heating. Saturday was full on yoga, walking, visiting the local church, and Pottery or resting, and culminating in an excellent meal in the local Pub, which was great fun. In spite of the cold we walked the 10 minutes there and back. Sunday, two yoga sessions, and delicious lunch which Carol provided for us each day, with her special soups.  We agreed that her culinary expertise was on a par  with the cooking at our previous retreat. After our last yoga at three pm. We said our goodbyes, after a wonderfully packed and enjoyable week end . Sally E  November 2017

This was my first yoga retreat and I wasn't sure what to expect and whether or not it would be too intense for me.  I needn't have worried.  Carol ran a very relaxed but well paced weekend with plenty to do.  There was a really good balance of yoga and other activities and Holycombe was a lovely peaceful setting.  As well as the 5 regular yoga sessions there were shorter sessions for meditation, breathing and dance.  The yoga dance was a revelation as I found the sequence of flowing movements performed together in a group was unexpectedly satisfying and uplifting.  Outside the yoga-based sessions we met together for meals and had free time to walk, explore the grounds or just chill out so again there was a balance of sociability and private time and individuals were able to opt in and out as they wished.  I always enjoy Carol's yoga classes which are varied and well thought out with just the right amount of challenge.  Carol herself is very friendly and approachable and creates a calm and peaceful atmosphere.  The weekend was a chance for me to focus on my yoga and I came away feeling in tune with my body, relaxed and yet re-energised.  I will definitely return for another retreat. Gill D. November 2017

Thank you so much for a wonderful weekend, really enjoyed it and the underfloor heating was an added bonus for me! A.R

The yoga space at Holycombe was particularly magical. As always, Carol was sensitive to the needs of individuals and the group. My aching, stiff back was pain free and moving easily after the first session, fab! Thank you for a fab weekend Carol, sprinkled with Maguire magic as always E.W  2017 xx

My body is telling me that I’ve really benefitted from the weekend.  What a lovely relaxed atmosphere, almost a party what with the music, dance and great food!  Not to mention the beautiful accommodation and location. Anyway, I felt very supported  and encouraged by Carol for learning - so many new moves and adapting to what is possible.  I think my favourite was squashing a folded leg down under my front body.  Where had those bum muscles been hiding?The music was so beautiful and is still playing in my head.  I will have my copy soon, so thank you very much for that.  And I’m looking forward to seeing the video of  The Dance to practice.The meditations in the garden were very special.  And your dance performance very moving.Thank you for everything.Love,Rosie.October 2018

Thank you for organising such a lovely weekend at Holycombe. I for one came away with much more than I expected to gain from a weekend retreat. Anne 2018

Thanks again for a lovely relaxed weekend.  I came away feeling very refreshed and inspired to commit more to my home yoga practice.  Trish and I are hoping we can make it to the next one in Devon. Overall I thought the weekend programme was a great mix of yoga activity, social time and opportunity for personal space and would highly recommend it to any interested in experiencing a yoga weekend. Gill 2018