The Wisp Retreat

My first retreat done✅🙏🧡.
Class of 1st-5th Sept 2025.

Me and 7 wonderful other humans. Along with Alison and Eddie the owners, and wee April the dog, our merry band of first-retreaters had a fantastic time.

‘What is this retreat malarkey?’ I hear you cry.

Their website is very detailed about what it is and what it isn’t so do start there. It is not the height of luxury but for the price you’d be daft to expect that. I was half expecting some youth hostel vegan infused vibe though. But it’s not.

What it is, is back to basics living, in a former hotel/pub/restaurant with cabins outside too, with a group of strangers who become beautifully connected. Within 24hrs, our group of 8 had gelled lovely, and I was the only male too, but I never felt excluded or alone. And we had all we needed.

Alison and Eddie offered a warm welcome and were wonderful hosts and wonderful human beings.

I did have my reservations in the run up, like what have I agreed to do here. Vegetarian food for a week!! I thought that would be bloody awful and bland, and derail me so much being the avid meat eater keto follower I am. But the food was great, I never went hungry and it was good for me to become less rigid in my food choices. I did take protein powder!

I opted for an inside room, no3 in the main building. More space to write at a desk. And 240v plugs.

The week was just great. The group came together with all our talents and we did little workshops and crafting sessions. And some reiki too. Who knew on a rainy day that making jam-jar lanterns was so fun.

Our trips out were Samye-ling Buddhist temple for 3.30pm prayer/meditation. En-route to that was the glorious old school cafe for the meat based sarnie and a scone too.

Wednesday a house day due to the rain, plenty to do, with others or solo. I loved the gym and the sauna.

Thursday, 3 of us went for 6am meditation at the Buddhist temple. This was well worth it.

I had a lovely easy walk with our Thuy. And I went to Hermitage Castle with our Jacqui. These were bonding and belly-laughs.

I had plenty time to spend alone too. And whilst some folk went wild swimming, I opted for the solo challenge of hiking to the top of the Wisp, the large hill behind the retreat. I’m a fairly fit fella but not a hiker at all so a steady hike took me exactly 1hour to reach the top. And 40mins to get back down. It was amazing to get to the top and I’m so glad I chose to do it solo. It was great thinking time too.

In summary, I’m just so glad I did this retreat. Of course you can come up with reasons not to if you want. I had to leave work alone, and my wife and 3 kids for 5 days, to go to a strange place with strange people, a bit unsure of my why.

But cost isn’t a barrier so that can’t be an excuse. I just needed time to think and ponder my next moves work wise, having sold a business to start in a new industry. And I wanted to also do a recce of the place as a potential venue to host my own affordable Men’s Retreats.

What I received was a very warm welcome from Alison & Eddie, so much love, kindness and support from them, and with the 7 fellow retreaters, I made a bunch of new friends too.

I loved the communal gatherings, the chores, the solo time and the trips out. They all provided something for me in their own way.

So if you’re sitting there over-thinking it, just book it, do it. Book your first retreat. You’ll find an excuse not to go if you want to. But get past the fear and embrace the initial discomfort, you’ll soon find yourself at home and bonding with everyone. And if it’s not for you, then that’s a lesson in itself too. Find what works for you.

For me, the Wisp Retreat is a wonderful place with glorious scenery around it and I will definitely go back on a ‘returners retreat’ which is much the same as a first retreat, you just know the craic this time!

And watch this space for my own retreat being hosted there with the wonderful support of Alison and Eddie. Thank you both.

And thank you to my fellow retreaters too. You all helped make it special and memorable.

I’ve just returned from a completely revitalising weekend at this truly special place, and I can’t recommend it highly enough. From the moment we arrived, hosts Alison and Eddie welcomed us with genuine warmth, friendliness, and care, instantly making us feel at home.

I went in with very few expectations, and I can honestly say I was blown away. I’ve attended many retreats over the years, and this one is right at the top of the list. I stayed both in the cabin and the main house, and both were exceptional — spotlessly clean, incredibly comfortable, and thoughtfully equipped with everything you could possibly need. A real highlight was that every room has its own double bed and private en-suite, offering complete comfort and privacy. The electric blankets were a blessing too, keeping us cosy and warm on the edge of a wintery Scottish landscape.

Set within the house is a Sauna and a gym. What more do you need. Alison done a sound bath each morning for us, bliss!

The food deserves a special mention. It was absolutely superb — nourishing, creative, and full of flavour. This was not the bland vegetarian fare you often find at retreats, but meals that were genuinely satisfying and a joy to eat.

Set within beautiful, peaceful surroundings, the retreat offers the perfect balance. Whether you want to explore nature, take gentle walks, or simply rest and relax, the choice is entirely yours — with no pressure or expectation. Everything unfolds at your own pace.

We were also treated to a visit to the Buddhist Centre at Samye Ling, which was a truly memorable experience. A huge thank you to Eddie for safely driving us there despite some quite treacherous weather conditions — very much appreciated!

We only just scratched the surface of everything the Wisp has to offer. There is so much more to explore, and I already can’t wait to return. If you’ve never been on a retreat before, I honestly can’t think of a better place to start — it would be very hard for anything else to live up to this experience.

Thank you once again, Alison and Eddie. I’ll definitely see you again soon ❤️❤️