Writing Autumn Retreat Suffolk 2026
Writing Autumn Retreat 2026
Relax and Refocus on your writing in Suffolk, UK, in October 07-11th, 2026
Join the Autumn Writing Retreat from the 7th-11th of October at the Dairy House near Aldeburgh Suffolk. This retreat is centred around taking time out of busy life patterns to have a space to write with like minded creatives, to dip your toes into workshops that help expand your writing practice, join in on reading group discussion and share in a crit on the final afternoon. The Dairy House is a beautiful home, secluded, with space inside and outside to spend reconnection with your writing practice or giving time to a project you’ve been working on.
The days will be structured around a 1-2hr workshop in the morning, then a reading group discussion of supplied extracts of texts in the afternoon. On Friday or Saturday depending on the weather we will also aim to take some time to head to Aldeburgh beach to walk and be inspired by the coastal landscape. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included, made as communal meals to foster a caring and safe space to create over the 3 days.
The house has 4 solo bedrooms (3 double and 1 single) and 1 shared room with 2 single beds, alongside a lovely kitchen, communal area and garden. The Autumn retreat is about giving time to sit with your writing and spend time collecting ideas with fellow writers. In between the workshop, meals and reading group you are welcome to go for walks in the local area or set up across the house to write. During October Suffolk weather can vary from sunny skies to classic English rain, so we ask that you bear this in mind when booking - we feel it will add to the nurturing and cosy atmosphere of the retreat.
Daily Routine
Day 1- Arrival Evening - On the 7th you are free to come join from 5pm onwards or arrive early morning on the 8th if needed. For our first evening in we will share our writing goals, do some fun writing activities and have a group meal, before a good rest to start fresh the next day.
Day 2 -4 - Main Retreat Days - Each morning we will provide breakfast, and you are encouraged to use the space around the house for a morning walk, or begin some of your own writing and reading. By mid-morning we will come together for a 1-2hr writing workshop to help push our craft to develop new ways of approaching, and re-ignite our creativity. From then you have free writing time where you are welcome to research, write, socialise or walk the countryside area. We invite you to set up within the Dairy House and enjoy having time for your writing practice. Lunch will be provided in a buffet style most days. Mid-afternoon we will regroup for a reading group discussing texts sent before the retreat to look more critically at writing. Then the rest of the day is yours before our communal dinner and social time in the evening.
On Friday - weather dependant - we will aim to go to Aldeburgh beach front in the afternoon to explore the art and beach of the area, looking at how space and nature can help invigorate writing.
For Saturday’s reading group we will have a small critical discussion session on work that you have sent in advance. This could be something you are working on, something you’d like feedback on or something you wanted to share.
This retreat is open to all writing styles and levels, it is a space to work on your practice whilst taking time out of your routine to give it time to grow.
Day 5 - Leaving Day - We will have the final breakfast in the morning and check out is by 10am.
The retreat consists of 3 main days and 2 arrival/departure days.
The retreat is run by Elspeth Walker, a writer and visual artist, with a BA in English Literature & Creative Writing from Warwick University, and a MA in Writing from the Royal College of Arts, London. She has been published in a variety of magazines and literary journals including Ache, SICK Magazine, Delicate Rebellion, Tamarind, Culturala. Elspeth has also written for organisations such as The Poetry Archive. She had her first chapbook Dedications published with If a Leaf Falls Press, and is currently working on longer collections. In 2022 she was the runner up for the Whitechapel Gallery Young Writers in Residence. Elspeth has over 4 years experience in running writing workshops both in person and online, and will lead an experimental retreat in Chios, Greece May 2026.
Her and her partner Rashmi Gunathilaka, artist and architectural assistant, run creative retreats cultivating a space of calm learning, sharing and creativity, with hopes to expand them further.
Introducing The Dairy Farm
Join the Retreat!
The price includes accommodation, three meals a day and all workshops. What is not included is travel too and from the retreat. To get to the Dairy Farm you will need to make your way to Saxmundham by train or bus, and either book a taxi or arrange to pick up with us to the house. You can also choose to drive to the retreat, there is limited parking but there should be space. If you would like to bring a partner to share in one of the double rooms please let me know in advance, this will add an extra £150 to the room price to cover food and workshop fees. A non-refundable deposit of £200 is required to book the retreat, with final payment due by September 2026. If you require a payment plan please let us know.
Solo Room with Double Bed £620 (£770 if sharing) - 3 available
Solo Room with Single Bed £580 - 1 available
Shared Room with Single Bed - £500 - 2 spaces available
This Autumn Retreat is going to be a cosy, welcoming and nurturing space for writers who want to take time for their craft.
Arrival will be from 5pm Wednesday, and check out by 11:30am on Sunday morning, providing 3 full days to relax, write and tap into your creativity. In some circumstances you may be able to arrive late in the evening Wednesday but please contact Elspeth about this.
If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to Elspeth anytime.
Images of the The Dairy House are copyright of owners.
FAQs
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This retreat is open to all who want to spend some time away from their daily lives to connect with their writing practice.
It is great for those who want to return to their writing, continue on a project or get inspiration for something new. The retreat will have workshops and reading groups so it is for those who are open to being social and learning from other creatives too.
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The food will reflect the retreat - we will provide breakfast, lunch and dinner. Breakfast and lunch will be buffet style, with dinner being a communal meal lovingly made by our team.
Although we will try to ensure that dietary requirements are accounted for, the kitchen is a communal space and we cannot ensure a nut free environment.
Please email: elspethkwalker@gmail.com if you require a dietary assistance during your stay.
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All materials for the workshops will be provided, and towels and amenities will be available. You should bring your own writing materials and other additional snacks and toiletries you would like as we are staying in a semi-remote house.
During October the weather can be changeable in Suffolk so we suggest warm clothes and those suitable for rainy weather. If you want to go on walks around the house please bring appropriate shoes.
If you have any medical conditions please ensure you bring enough medication with you, and extra if possible.
Please feel free to bring extra materials with you, but check your transport luggage rules before traveling.
We would advice brining extra money with you just in case you for additional food, transport and other amenities, although most of the retreat will take place at the Dairy House.
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Suffolk is a beautiful county. inthe East of England. To get to the Dairy Farm you will need to make your way to Saxamundham by train or bus, and either book a taxi or arrange to pick up with us to the house.
You can also choose to drive to the retreat, there is limited parking but there should be space, please et Elspeth know if you are planning on driving to the retreat.
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Unfortunately The Dairy House is not a step free home, and at this moment we cannot provide step free accommodation or wheelchair access. We are working to improve this for the future.
If you require any access requirements please email: elspethkwalker@gmail.com and we will endeavour to ensure you have a great retreat.
Terms and Conditions:
Each retreat is organised with a lot of love and dedication. We invest considerable love, time, and energy into planning our retreats, but we must also make non-recoverable payments in advance to ensure their success.
Deposits are required to confirm your space on the residency and are non-refundable. The remaining fee is due by September 2026 or we reserve the right to offer your room to another. The initial deposit is non-refundable, with a percentage of the final payment to be offered as a refund due to extreme circumstances of cancellation up to 21 days before the retreat.
Prior to the retreat you will be asked to fill in two forms with extra details so we can help ensure a great stay. We ask you to complete this before, and failure to do so might result in removal from the retreat.
Although we expect it to all run smoothly we suggest getting travel insurance before joining the retreat to ensure you are covered if any flights, trains or coaches cancellations or damages occur during your travel. We are not responsible for the damage of any of your own equipment during the stay, and advice to get insurance that covers contents too.
We reserve the right to remove a guest from the experience if their behaviour is disruptive; no refunds will be issued. We expect all guests to treat one another with respect, dignity and equity - failure to do so will result in removal from the retreat without refund. We also reserve the right to hold guests responsible for any damages they cause to the house, nature, or belongings at The Dairy House. This is a borrowed home for the 4 days and we ask everyone to treat it with total respect for the duration of their stay.
Additionally, we reserve the right to change the program, instructors, or team members anytime. Thank you for understanding and respecting our terms and conditions.
By signing up to the retreat you agree to our terms and conditions of the retreat and understand the above.
