A poetry-led writing retreat in Somerset
Friday, 2 October 2026 - 3 nights
This three-night poetry writing retreat invites you to explore landscape as archive, using observation, memory and place as the starting point for new writing.
Guided by multi-award-winning poet JLM Morton, the retreat creates space for creative focus, gentle structure and support within the beautiful natural surroundings of Oakhill Ponds in Somerset.
All meals, accommodation, workshops, sauna & wild swimming included
From £645 (sharing) or £795 (single occupancy) / deposit £150
Landscape as Archive is built around the idea of place as something alive: a presence that carries traces, memory and meaning.
Over the weekend, you will work with pond, marsh, meadow and woodland as sites for attention and response. Using poetry, field notes and sensory mapping, you will be encouraged to read the landscape more closely and shape writing that grows directly from what surrounds you.
The retreat places emphasis on slowing down, noticing, and allowing writing to emerge from the lived experience of place.
By the end of the retreat, you will have created new writing, deepened your attention to place, and gained fresh ways of approaching your writing practice.
Oakhill Ponds offers an immersive landscape of water, woodland and open meadow, alongside the main retreat house.
Writing spaces are spread across the large retreat house and the 25-acre site, giving you the freedom to move between settings and find the environment that best supports your process, whether that is beside a roaring fire, in the quiet library, at the water's edge, in sheltered pavilions, or in your own room.
The retreat house, part of the original Oakhill brewery, is well equipped with two living rooms with open fires, a well resourced library and spacious bedrooms. The wider site is intentionally simple and includes a horse lorry library, two warm Shepherds Huts and many places to explore, creating the conditions for focused creative work.
This retreat is open to:
No prior experience is required.
Wood-fired sauna sessions throughout the retreat
Swimming in spring-fed ponds
Time to rest, reset and reconnect with the landscape
The former Oakhill Brewery country house sits at the heart of the retreat site. Set across several floors and featuring generous living spaces and a library, it offers a comfortable and characterful setting for reading, rest and creative retreat.
Beautifully handcrafted shepherd's huts are set within 25 acres of ponds, woodland and meadow. Each includes a private garden, a wood-fired hot tub, and access to the wild-swimming pond and wood-fired sauna.
Spacious canvas tents among meadow and willow offer a balance of comfort and off-grid living. Each includes a private outdoor kitchen, hot shower, and access to wild swimming and sauna.
A light-filled three-bedroom apartment in the village of Oakhill, with a private garden for slow mornings and evenings. This is a comfortable, on-grid stay with access to wild swimming and sauna nearby.
JLM Morton is a poet, writer and teacher whose work explores place, memory and the living world.
Her poetry has featured on BBC 6 Music and appeared in leading journals and broadcasts. Her debut collection Red Handed (Broken Sleep Books, 2024) was highly commended in the Forward Prizes and named a Poetry Society Book of the Year.
She teaches for the Poetry School, the Poetry Society and Women Poets Network, and is the founding director of Dialect Writers Collective. Her second collection, Borrowed Ground, is forthcoming in 2026.
Upper Beeches is a bright, welcoming three-bedroom hideaway in the village of Oakhill, only a short walk from the much-loved Oakhill Inn. Comfortable and well equipped, it makes a great choice for families or groups of friends looking for an easy, relaxed stay.
Outside, a small sun-trap garden creates the perfect setting for slow breakfasts, BBQs, and quiet evenings at the end of the day. Although the ponds are not visible from the windows, the apartment sits right next to Oakhill Ponds, the retreat land with spring-fed swimming ponds and wood-fired sauna sessions, which can be booked separately when available.
The apartment can be reserved on its own or as an add-on to Oakhill Ponds, offering a more traditional accommodation option alongside the huts and tents, or helping to bridge early- and late-season dates when some glamping units are unavailable. Please note that the layout spans two floors and stairs are required.
On the main floor, you’ll find a king bedroom with an adjacent family bathroom, along with a fully equipped kitchen-diner and an open-plan lounge. This space includes a Smeg coffee machine, dining area, Smart TV with Netflix, and high-speed Wi-Fi.
Upstairs, reached by a narrower staircase from the lounge, there is a second king bedroom and a twin bedroom accessed through it in a walk-through layout. This arrangement works especially well for parents and children or for close friends.
Guests have exclusive use of the private garden and patio with BBQ, and are provided with towels, organic toiletries, and a simple welcome basket with fresh bread when available, milk, tea, coffee, and biscuits. Local food deliveries can also be arranged.
Step inside a handcrafted Shepherd’s Hut where rustic charm meets quiet luxury, creating a peaceful escape surrounded by nature. Set across 25 acres of wild, unspoiled land, this welcoming hideaway offers a beautiful balance of comfort, craftsmanship, and natural scenery. Guests can relax in a private Hikki Bohemen wood-fired hot tub, tucked into a secluded garden area made for slow, restorative moments. A short walk away, spring-fed ponds, a hidden grotto, and gentle waterfalls invite exploration and stillness in equal measure. For a deeper sense of renewal, take a swim in the spring-fed pond or reserve a session in the off-grid sauna for hot and cold therapy. If you prefer a gentler pace, settle into the horse-lorry reading room with nature-inspired books, or enjoy an easy stroll to the nearby pub, celebrated for its excellent food and warm atmosphere.
Located within Oakhill Ponds, a 25-acre off-grid retreat, this hut offers privacy and calm while remaining closely connected to the surrounding landscape. In winter, the site is shared with just one other hut; in summer, a few Lotus Belle tents are thoughtfully placed across the meadow, keeping the setting open and serene.
Created by the respected Blackdown Shepherd Huts, the hut is clad in solid oak and designed with both elegance and ease in mind. Inside, a drop-down king-size bed is dressed in luxurious French linen bedding and wool Devon duvets for a deeply restful night’s sleep. The hot shower is supplied with quality organic toiletries, while the well-equipped kitchen includes a fridge and gas hob for simple, relaxed cooking. A wood-burning stove adds warmth and comfort, and Wi-Fi throughout means you can stay as connected as you wish. Robes, towels, and toiletries are all provided, ensuring a stay that feels effortless and indulgent.
With the best of Somerset close at hand, including Wells, Bath, Frome, Glastonbury, Cheddar, and the Mendip Hills, this enchanting hideaway offers a memorable blend of seclusion and adventure.
JLM Morton is a writer, celebrant, and creative producer. Her poetry has been featured on BBC6 Music and published in Poetry Review, Poetry London, Rialto, Magma, Mslexia, The London Magazine, Poetry Birmingham, The Sunday Telegraph, and other outlets.AccoladesHer prose has received the Laurie Lee Prize and been longlisted for the Nan Shepherd Prize, while excerpts from her nonfiction Tenderfoot have...
Read more
Fri, Oct 2 – Mon, Oct 5