A spring retreat weekend in East Devon
A weekend on a working regenerative farm in a quiet East Devon valley: two cottages, room for 16, about 100 acres of meadow, streams and woodland to walk from the door, and the Jurassic Coast nearby.
A group stay for friends and family, outside course leaders bringing their own group, or a small team getting away. Day visitors are welcome for sessions.
Who it’s for
Friends and family
A slower weekend together: long walks, shared meals and evenings by the wood-burner.
Facilitators and course leaders
Outside course leaders are welcome to bring their own group of up to 16, with woods and meadows on the doorstep. Tell us about your plans when you enquire.
Small teams
Time away from screens to walk, talk and think, in a quiet valley.
What’s included
- Both farm cottages, Vine and Groom, for up to 16
- Walks and paths across about 100 acres of meadow, streams and woodland, with bluebells in spring
- The farm tennis court, with a basketball net
- Fully equipped kitchens in both cottages
- Help from us before and during your stay, at hello@lovehayne.com
Can be arranged on request, subject to availability: a yoga session, a guided forest-bathing walk, a walk round the farm on how we manage the land for nature, and a local caterer.
Practitioners and collaborators
Sessions with these practitioners can be arranged on request, and they aren’t included unless agreed.
Lyndon Forster
We Need Music CIC / Pan Kind
Lyndon leads handpan workshops and retreats with Pan Kind, part of We Need Music CIC, and uses the instruments in wellbeing and therapeutic settings. He also leads sensory walks, and can offer sessions that draw on his work in ecology and countryside management.
Kate Bickerstaff
Equillation
Kate is the founder of Equillation. Her practice includes equine-facilitated therapy and systemic constellations, and sessions can be arranged at Lovehayne on request.
Chris Beale
Photography
Chris is a professional photographer and part of the team at Lovehayne. He can offer nature and landscape photography workshops on the farm, with time to practise in the woods and meadows.
Beck Floyd
Arts-based activities
Beck offers arts-based activities at Lovehayne, which can be arranged as part of a retreat weekend.
Paul Carter
Ecology
Paul is an ecologist and environmental manager, and part of the team behind the Lovehayne feasibility study. Ecology sessions and guided looks at the farm’s habitats can be arranged on request.
Linda Grant
Generating Opportunity CIC
Linda founded Generating Opportunity CIC, an inclusive arts project that encourages everyone to take part in the arts. Creative and learning sessions can be arranged on request.
A sample weekend
This is one way a three-night stay could look, arriving on a Friday and leaving on Monday. Sessions with our practitioners can be arranged on request, and they aren’t included unless agreed.
Friday
- Arrive from 16:00 and settle in
- An evening handpan session with Lyndon Forster (on request)
- A dusk sensory walk with Lyndon (on request)
- Supper together
Saturday
- A morning equine-facilitated session with Kate Bickerstaff (on request)
- An ecology walk with Paul Carter (on request)
- In the afternoon, a photography walk with Chris Beale, or a creative arts session with Beck Floyd or Linda Grant (on request)
- Time in the woods and meadows, or on the coast
Sunday
- A slow breakfast
- A morning session with one of the practitioners (on request)
- Time in the woods and meadows, or an afternoon on the coast
- Supper together
Monday
- A slow breakfast
- A short, gentle closing session with one of the practitioners (on request)
- Check-out by 10:00
Where you’ll stay
Vine Cottage is a south-facing renovated farm building with four bedrooms (three king-size and a bunk room), two bathrooms and a downstairs cloakroom, a large kitchen and a sunny garden.
Groom Cottage is a refurbished stone barn with four bedrooms and two bathrooms, including a downstairs king-size room with its own en-suite, plus a boot room and a private decked courtyard.
Both have consistently 5-star guest reviews. More on staying together as a group of 16.
The farm
Lovehayne is a working regenerative farm in its own quiet valley in the East Devon National Landscape. There are about 65 acres of woodland, which fill with bluebells in spring, and streams run through the meadows. Heating and electrics on the farm are run from solar energy generated on site.
Please keep to the paths in the woods, so the bluebells and wildlife stay undisturbed. Read more about a regenerative farm stay.
Getting here
Lovehayne Farm, Southleigh, Colyton, Devon EX24 6JE. The Jurassic Coast is about 3 miles away, with Beer, Branscombe and Sidmouth a short drive away. Honiton is the nearest market town.
The nearest stations are Honiton (about 5 miles) and Axminster (about 7 miles), both on the London Waterloo to Exeter line, roughly 10–20 minutes’ drive.
Both cottages have private parking. We’ll send directions when your weekend is confirmed.
FAQs
When are the retreat weekends?
Tell us your preferred dates on the enquiry form and we’ll confirm availability.
Who is a retreat weekend for?
Groups of friends or extended family who want a slower weekend in nature, outside course leaders who are welcome to bring their own group of up to 16, and small teams on an away weekend. Day visitors are welcome for sessions.
Where will we stay?
In both of our farm cottages, Vine and Groom, which sleep 16 between them. Each has four bedrooms. Vine has two bathrooms and a downstairs cloakroom; Groom has a family bathroom and a ground-floor en-suite.
What about food and dietary needs?
Both cottages have fully equipped kitchens, so you can self-cater. A local caterer can be arranged on request. Tell us about any allergies or dietary needs when you enquire, and any caterer will give full allergen information.
Are yoga or guided walks included?
The weekend is yours to shape. Guided extras such as yoga, a forest-bathing walk or a walk round the farm can be arranged on request, subject to availability.
Can we book sessions with local practitioners?
Sessions with the practitioners on this page can be arranged on request, subject to their availability. They are not included in your stay unless we agree them with you. Tell us what you would like when you enquire.
What should we bring?
Walking boots or wellies, waterproofs, layers for cool spring evenings, and a torch for dusk walks. Bring yoga mats if you plan to practise. Bed linen details are on each cottage page.
How do we book?
Send us the enquiry form on this page, or email hello@lovehayne.com, with your group size and preferred dates. We’ll check the dates and reply to confirm your retreat weekend. Once dates are confirmed we’ll send a secure card payment link for the deposit.
Enquire about a retreat weekend
Tell us about your group and your preferred dates. We’ll check the dates and reply from hello@lovehayne.com. Once dates are confirmed we’ll send a secure card payment link for the deposit.