The Retreat ~ 22nd -26th June
The Retreat.
Imagine yourself surrounded by the timeless beauty of a Celtic Rainforest, where midsummer’s golden light dances through the trees, and the whispers of nature invite you to slow down and breathe deeply.
This isn’t just a retreat, it’s a heartfelt invitation to step away from the noise, the distractions, the endless demands, and into a space where you can truly connect. This is your moment to nurture your soul, care for your heart, and rediscover the profound stillness and strength within. Let the rhythm of nature guide you back to yourself, to a life of balance, calm, and belonging.
The Transformation.
What if you could feel safe, supported, and seen, all while embracing the comfort of community and the beauty of personal growth? This retreat offers just that, a sanctuary where busy hands calm minds, where the warmth of a fire invites kinship, and where every moment is crafted to help you feel grounded and whole. This is your choice to set aside the weight of daily life and embrace a journey of transformation. Choose connection over disconnection, nurture over neglect, and profound self-acceptance over doubt.
Over five unforgettable days, you’ll embark on a journey carefully designed to soothe, inspire, and renew:
We’re offering a small, week‑long Wilderness Retreat at the beautiful Wye Valley Sculpture Garden near Tintern Abbey, Monmouthshire. It’s a place of quiet, history, and deep green space.
Important details:
When: 22 - 26th June
Where: Wye Valley Sculpture Garden, Tintern, NP16 7NX
Time: 9:30 - 4:30 daily
Cost: £250
What to Expect
Set in a peaceful natural environment, each day offers a balance of guided experience and spacious freedom:
• Guided reflections to help you process and reconnect inwardly
• Time to simply be in nature—without pressure or agenda
• Fun, play, and lightness to rediscover joy and connection
• Sound baths to support deep rest and nervous system regulation
A central thread of the retreat is learning to work with fire. Step by step, you’ll build confidence and skill, culminating in the final day where you’ll have the opportunity to light your own fire from scratch, a powerful, grounding experience.
Why This Matters
Burnout often comes from being constantly “on” and disconnected from what truly nourishes us. Nature offers a different rhythm, one that invites rest, presence, and clarity.
Who It’s For
This retreat is for anyone feeling:
• Burnt out or overwhelmed
• Disconnected or depleted
• In need of space, simplicity, and restoration
No experience is needed, just a willingness to step away from the noise and return to something more natural.The retreat is for people who sense that something wants to change, even if it’s not yet clear what that is.
It’s a gentle, grounded week of time outdoors, shared fire‑based themes, learning wilderness skills, reflection, conversation, and space to rest back into yourself without having to lead, organise, or be “on”.
As this is our first pilot retreat, offered as part of our Wilderness Therapy training, we’re offering it at a reduced price of £250 for the week. Once we’re fully qualified, the price will change. This is for the retreat only, we can share details to help you find your accommodation.
Every element is intentionally woven together to support your nature connection, inspire self-discovery, and create a transformational experience that stays with you long after the retreat ends.
Your Hosts
Jackie Roby
For over fifteen years, I’ve been creating and leading meaningful outdoor experiences for children, adults and communities, with a particular focus on nature connection, outdoor learning and helping people feel more at home outside.
Alongside my outdoor learning work, I hold a PGDip in Education, am trained in Montessori practice, and am also qualified in Sound Healing and Reiki. I am currently training in Wilderness Therapeutic Approaches, exploring how time outdoors, practical skill, reflection and human connection can support people through change.
A large part of my work is creating spaces where people feel safe to arrive exactly as they are. I love creating environments where people can relax into things in their own way, without pressure to perform or get things ‘right’. Rather than being prescriptive, I aim to create experiences that allow people to engage in their own way and at their own pace, whether that is through practical activity, quiet observation, creativity, conversation or simply sitting by the fire with a cup of tea.
Outside of work, I am happiest making pottery, gardening, cooking outdoors and spending time in wild places with people I love.
Dr Sophie Payne
I am a Clinical Psychologist who finds my home in the wild. It comes naturally to me to help people on their journeys, using the wilderness to support them in feeling safe, challenged and to grow.
I have twenty years’ of experience working with people as a clinical psychologist and coach. I have provided psychotherapy to people living with stress, trauma, physical health conditions and mental health issues. When I coach people it is often about getting balance in their life. I know what it is to lead a busy and sometimes frantic life and to be on the road to burnout. I find joy in being active in wild places, travelling far and wide and finding adventure. These days the adventure is more about my personal journey and finding balance and peace in nature.
In terms of my career I am Chartered with the British Psychological Society . I have worked in Academic and Clinical Psychology. I have been a Consultant Clinical Psychologist working in Mental Health Services in Military Mental Health, and an Operational Manager working in Physical and Occupational Health Services in the NHS. I now have my own private practice providing Psychotherapy and Coaching.
I use lots of tools to help people; my favourite being Compassion Focused Therapy. Helping people to find compassion for themselves and others and to receive compassion is so important in a world that can feel harsh and unrelenting. Now I use the outdoors to help clients go on an inward journey of self care and adventure.
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The Retreat runs from Monday 22nd to Friday 26th June.
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The Retreat will be held at the beautiful Wye Valley Sculpture Garden in Tintern, NP16 7NX.
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This retreat is for anyone who who senses that something wants to change — even if it’s not yet clear what that is - and wishes to reconnect with themselves.
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No.
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No. But we will give you tea and cake.
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No. See here for recommendations.
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As community is at the heart of what we do, you’re welcome to come as your own, safe in the knowledge that you will find your tribe. You’re also welcome to bring a (paying) friend!