Hello traveller, let’s pack for the Lake District, shall we?

This is a guitar hiking retreat for the people that like to get out into the wild; that like to jam with other people and that like sit around an open fire talking into the night. It is for people that could think of nothing finer than finding a country pub and sitting in it for a couple of hours;  for those that understand the rewards of a long walk; the hot bath that awaits and  the easing of bones once back home, on a sofa, with a drink, feet elevated, music playing. 

The Lake District  is one of the most stunning places on earth. Breath taking might well be a cliché, but it is advisable to remind yourself to breath as you stand in-front of one of those incredible, awe inspiring peaks. It's also relatively close to where I was born, so It's going to be a personal pleasure to put on a retreat in this radiant gem of the North in a place where time will stand still just for you, allowing you to linger, think, and of course, pack in some guitar playing. 

See you there. Bring your boots. And a flat cap.

We limit attendance to about 15. This is a far cry from a guitar retreat in a conference room in a hotel on the motorway. This is small scale, boutique, bespoke but in big houses.

We’ll be staying in a grand old house with jaw dropping views, quick access to a lake for any wild swimmers and high end indoor facilities. See photos below. 
We only ever take the finest accommodation we can find. This involves big spaces in end houses and apartments. Rooms are shared and room shares are allocated empathetically based on age, interests and gender. It is worth mentioning, the time spent in your room is likely to be very little.

We welcome all levels of player on our retreats. This includes a mix of beginners to advance players. The Guitar Social is a specialist in making mixed groups work. This is achieved through upscaling simple songs so advanced and beginner players can jam together and/or, re-arranging the workshop schedule so that all attendees receive their allocated workshop hours by running additional workshops beyond what is listed below. 

1:00 pm Pick up at Penrith train station

4:00 pm Check in, settle in, tune up 

5:00 pm Folk Jam featuring classic folk songs and music with a pastoral theme to quicken our acclimatisation into our new surroundings

7:00 pm Dinner, featuring local produce cooked to traditional Northern recipes

9:00 pm - until late  Candle Light Live  Our much loved London based event,  in the Lakes.  This is an opportunity for everyone to share a song, in a private, non judgemental setting. Performances are optional, but encouraged. As the week develops, collaborations will form through daily practice meaning that we can look forward to duos and trios forming. You will see this event listed every night. 

8:00- Breakfast 

9:00 - 9:30 Optional Poetry workshop.  We are in the Lakes, home of the great poets. In this session we will be studying one piece by William Wordsworth and taking a view of his life in the Lakes

10:00 Hike 1, A five kilometre trek, moderate. 

12:00 Lunch in a pub 

3:00 Workshop: Fingerstyle Kings and Queens, the best work by the best players adapted to suit the playing styles of all present

4:00 Open tunings and their Prescence in Folk Music 

6:00 Evening jam,  songs brought forward by the group and suggested by The Guitar Social

7:00 Collaboration hour, get with your group and work on some songs ahead of tonight's ...

9:00 Candle Light Live

8:00 Breakfast in Buttermere 

9:00 The William Wordsworth House and Museum 

11:00 In Search of a waterfall, a three kilometre hike 

2:00 The infinity Pools, a three kilometre hike finishing in natures own infinity pools, bring your swim gear 

5:00 Workshop Easy Acoustic songs

6:00 When Poetry meets music-a workshop exploring the difference between lyrics and poetry and examples of when pop music and poetry have crossed paths

7:00 The evening jam 

9:00 Candle light Live 

7:00 Optional five-kilometre Country Run in a forest with Thomas

9:00 Breakfast 

10:00 Songs inspired by the Lake District 

10:45 Song writing workshop-finding your own inspiration from your surroundings 

11;30 A ten kilometre hike taking in some of the Lake's most stunning views. There are many rest points across the way, including pubs.

7:00 The evening jam 

9:00 Candle light live 

10:00 Breakfast 

11:00 Finger style workshop featuring modern music contrasting with song choices from day one

12:00 Workshop The Folk Music of Britain. An exploration of what traditional music is in Ireland, Scotland, England and Wales with key artists, styles and trends discovered

3:00 Wild Water Swimming in a Lake

5:00 Lake Side Performance and picnic. With lush food and gorgeous drinks, we'll be heading to a quiet spot for a couple of hours to sing some songs. 

8:00 The evening jam 

9:00 Candle Light Live 

5:00 Optional 3 kilometre hike. This is a chance to see the Lakes at a time rarely seen, as the sun rises. I appreciate this isn't for everyone, and I may well be doing it on my own, but this is a spectacular and rare way to see these unique locations

9:00 Breakfast 

10:00 Check out 

Drop off at Penrith station

Farewells, arrangements made, phone numbers swapped