Something magical happens when women gather and retreat together. Come and join us for a long weekend exploring your feminine energy and unleashing your inner witch. A transformative 4 days of connection, movement, nature, amazing food and magic in Devon's picturesque landscape.
7.45-8.45 Qi Gong
9.00-10.30 Breakfast & sharing circle
11.00-12.30 Class/workshop
13.00-14.00 Lunch
14.00-16.30 Free time
16.30-18.00 Class/workshop
18.30-19.30 Dinner
20.00-22.30 Ecstatic Dance
• Renée Lacroix (Retreat leader, Ceremony Leader & DJ)
• Tallulah Rendall (Qi Gong teacher, Musician & Sound healer)
• Mira Khanya (Movement Medicine Facilitator & DJ)
• Kalindi Jordan (Workshop facilitator & Shamanic Trance Dance)
• Gaëlle Tuffigo (Dance Therapy Facilitator)
Embercombe is an eco retreat centre overarching a beautiful and wilding 50 acre valley on the edge of Dartmoor National Park. 'It is place to find a deep connection with nature – wild nature around us and wild nature within us. It is a place to breathe, to reconsider, to regenerate and to relearn. It is a place to get clear on what it is you have to offer the world and become passionate about who you are and what you do.'
1. If you choose the accommodation option, you have the choice between a shared or private yurt, with compost toilets and running water nearby. Full bathroom facilities with hot showers are available in the main building. Linen is provided. All accommodations are equipped with a woodburner and a firestarter pack.
2. If you choose the camping in van option, you need to bring your own van and gear (ex. sleeping bag, mattress, pillow, blanket).
All meals are included (3 breakfasts, 3 lunches & 3 dinners). Organic, vegan food is lovingly prepared on site using locally-sourced produce whenever possible. If you have any dietary restrictions or allergies, please let us know when booking.
We ask participants to arrive between 4-6 pm on Thursday Oct 20 to allow time to check-in, explore the grounds and settle in before we start. The retreat will start with dinner at 6:30 pm.
The retreat will end after lunch at 2:30 pm on Sunday Oct 23.
-Towel
-Torch (head torches are really useful)
-Clothing & boots suitable for the outdoors
-Swimsuit & flip-flops (if you enjoy cold water swimming!)
-Rain jacket & wellies
-Ear-plugs (if sharing a yurt/light sleeper)
-Hot water bottle
-Toiletries (natural & biodegradable products please)
Non-refundable £100 deposit is required to book and secure your place. Balance due 30 days before retreat starts.
Please carefully read our Retreat T&Cs as by booking on our retreat, you become legally bound by these terms.
-Can I come on my own? Absolutely! More than half of our participants actually come on their own, and many not knowing anyone else. Our retreats are highly inclusive and welcoming, and the program is designed to facilitate connections between one another with ice-breakers, group exercices and a daily sharing circle in small groups.
-I've never been on retreat or done an Ecstatic Dance before. Can I still join? Yes! While we would suggest that you try at least a conscious dance session (of any modality) to get a feel first, we always have a handful of participants who have never done Ecstatic Dance before coming on retreat. And for many of them it's also their first retreat.
-I'm trans or non-binary, am I welcome on this retreat? Absolutely. We welcome every body who doesn't identify as male.
-Are the accommodations heated? Yes, all accommodations are equipped with a wood burner to keep you warm at night. The main hall and other facilities are also heated.
-Is this a festival? No. Festivals are generally larger events with several programs/workshops to choose from and participants can arrive/leave as they wish, and meals are not communal. Our retreat is a closed container: we start and finish together. We are limiting the number of participants in order to create a more intimate gathering. There is one program and all the activities, including meals, are communal. We also ask participants to turn off their phones. Our retreat is an invitation to go deeper into your practice and let go of the outside world for the duration of a weekend.
-Can I come for only part of the retreat? No. Part of the reason our retreats are so powerful is due to the energy field we create together as a group. Having participants arrive later or leave early clashes with this group field. If you come on retreat with us, we ask that you commit to staying for the entire duration.
-Are children welcome? Our retreats are not suitable for children.
-Are dogs allowed? Unfortunately not.
-What is your cancellation policy? In the unlikely case that we have to cancel the retreat, a full refund will be offered. In case of cancellation from your side, no refunds will be offered, no matter the reason.
-If I can no longer make it, can I transfer my booking to someone? If you find someone to take your booking, there will be a £35 admin charge to transfer your booking to another person. If you want us sell your booking on your behalf, we will retain your deposit for the service and refund you the balance only if we find a replacement and once they have paid in full. Please note we will only accept booking transfers and allow posts on our Facebook event/page if the retreat is fully booked.
Embercombe, Higher Ashton, Exeter, EX6 7QQ
+44 (0) 1647 252983
By train
Exeter St David’s is the closest station which serves most of the UK. It’s approximately 7 miles from Embercombe. There is a taxi rank outside (one-way to Embercombe: £20-25) or you can walk to Exeter Central Bus Station which is approximately a 1.5 mile walk into town. We offer a return transfer to/from Exeter train station for £30 both ways (add-on when booking).
By bus
There is a 360 Dartline bus service from the Central Bus Station in Exeter which stops 1.3 miles from Embercombe. Look for route name Exeter-Dunchideock-Bridford and get off the bus at the Belevedere Castle stop. On leaving the bus, continue along the top road. After 400 yards you’ll reach the Belvedere Castle entrance on your left. Opposite, there is a little road going down to the right, signposted Trusham and Ashton. Follow this road for approximately 20 minutes until you reach Embercombe’s main gate on the right.
By car
-From the Southbound A38:
Follow the signs to Exeter Race Course. Climb the hill slowly and get into the left hand lane, at the top of the hill (Haldon Hill) take the left exit marked Dunchideock and Exeter Race Course. Pay particular attention as you do not get much warning of the exit! Turn right at the roundabout at the end of the sliproad towards Dunchideock and follow this road through Haldon Forest. After 1.7 miles, the road goes downhill into trees and just opposite is a forest car park area on your right. Take the sharp left turn signposted Trusham & Ashton. Entrance to Embercombe is 1.2 miles down on the right.
-From the Northbound A38:
At the top of Haldon Hill (A38) take the exit marked Dunchideock and Exeter Race Course immediately after the petrol station. At the ‘T’ junction turn left and follow the road through Haldon Forest. After a 1.7miles, the road goes downhill into trees and just opposite a forest car park area on your right, take the sharp left turning signposted Trusham & Ashton. Entrance to Embercombe is 1.2 miles down on the right.
Satellite navigation systems: We recommend that you don’t use your Sat Nav system to reach Embercombe. They’ve been found to be unreliable in the rural areas around Embercombe and visitors often arrive at the wrong address.
A single bed in an extra-large yurt (shared with 3 other women) with woodburner & sink. Compost toilets and running water nearby. Bathroom facilities with hot showers available in the main building. Bedding provided.
A single bed in a yurt (shared with 2 other women) with woodburner. Compost toilets and running water nearby. Bathroom facilities with hot showers available in the main building. Bedding provided.
A single bed in a yurt (shared with 1 other woman) with woodburner. Compost toilets and running water nearby. Bathroom facilities with hot showers available in the main building. Bedding provided.
A double bed in a yurt with woodburner. Compost toilets and running water nearby. Bathroom facilities with hot showers available in the main building. Bedding provided.