Retreats for You is a hugely exciting development. It all began when the departure of our children from the nest left my partner and I wondering how best to use our rambling thatched house. Set in the village of Sheepwash, a tiny village in rural North Devon, it had been a wonderful family home, and now seemed strangely redundant. A clever friend had the answer. ‘Writers need space’, she said. ‘The peace of the village and the beauty of the countryside makes this the perfect place to write – and as a working writer, you can offer support.’

And so Retreats for You was born, offering a comfortable space to write with no interruptions, full board - to avoid the need to think about meals, and the opportunity to discuss work in progress. But we quickly realised that the concept of a complete break from the pressures of daily life is one that appeals across the board. Accordingly, Retreats for You has gradually blossomed into a retreat for anyone who needs some time out, and some tlc. But whether a guest wants to write, read, paint, walk, or simply reflect, the ethos remains the same. A warm welcome into our home, a calm, supportive and nurturing environment, plenty of good homecooked food, and the choice of being sociable or solitary.

The variety of guests and their different needs never ceases to amaze and delight us. We’ve had writers who have discussed their work around the fire, late into the night – and we’ve had guests we have barely seen during their stay.

We’ve had artists and novelists, poets and biographers, business people working on projects, and people with health problems who simply need a place to heal. And of course we’ve had groups of ladies staying for our recently launched Mummy Me Time weekends – all of whom have been wonderfully determined to enjoy their brief freedom, and huge fun to look after!

My favourite definition of the word retreat is ‘a safe, quiet and secluded place.’ You don’t have to be quiet here, nor do you have to be secluded, but however you want to spend your time with us, we’ll do our best to see that you always feel safe. That’s what Retreats for You is all about.