5-Night Art & Nature Retreats

Historic Glenalla House has welcomed artists for centuries, displaying many art works of local scenes by resident and local artists throughout the house to inspire you.

When staying with us for an Art & Nature Retreat, you can expect your own spacious double room, with verdant views across meadow, shrubberies or forest. You may have your own bathroom, or this may be shared with one other, depending on the retreat group size (between 8 and 12 people).

Groups, individuals and couples are welcome as all rooms and bathrooms are spacious. Bath towels and cloths are provided along with beach towels for wild swimming in ponds or sea.

There are a multitude of rooms, spaces and escape nooks throughout the house and gardens for solitary contemplation or spontaneous sketching, capturing the vista before you or getting close up to botanics. There is a large drawing room with open fire, hall for music and library sitting area with a wood burning stove when chilly. An outdoor tennis court and full sized billiard table are great ways to expend energy, as well as hiking our forest trails and a fabulous uphill walk to reach a spectacular 360 degree view from our back gate.

During your stay you will have open access to the Old Laundry Studio, equipped with materials and easels as well as en plein air resources, paper, boards and canvases. Other covered areas for en plein air also available if the weather is grim.

There is a boot room for you to leave coats, outdoor layers like waterproofs to drip and your outdoor shoes.

Your stay is fully catered with breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea and 3-course dinner with wine or beer. We serve local, seasonal, organic healthy food mostly from our own walled kitchen garden. Most meals are vegetarian with some fish.

Buffet style breakfast and lunch will be left out for you to help yourself so you can manage your own schedule more easily. Homemade breads, our own garden fruit and honey, yoghurt, cereals, overnight oats and porridge are available. Tea and coffee making facilities are always available to you in the dining room. While tables may be laid up, do feel free to eat in the dining room or on the terrace as you choose according to the weather.

Lunch will be available from 1pm until 2.30pm, when the afternoon art sessions or nature walks start. Tea and cake will be ready for you from 4.30pm in the dining room to take wherever you choose, terrace, drawing room, music and library area.

Dinner is served as a sit down meal between 7-8pm depending on the day’s schedule. There will be an appetiser, main and desert with wine and locally brewed Kinnegar beer. Two dinners are chef prepared by Fergus. Michele and the team will prepare all other meals.

We enjoy a wonderful Saturday evening out at ‘Tap Up’ - a lively popular tapas restaurant in Ramelton, owned and run by our chef Fergus and nominated for best new restaurant in Donegal this Spring; selected dishes feature ingredients from our walled organic kitchen garden. This dinner is at your own expense (around €35 - €40). All feedback has been outstandingly positive by all guests to date.

Drinking water is from our well on the hill and tap water filters through the peat bog providing soft tea-coloured water long known to soften and moisturise. The shade of bath and hand washing water can vary between light Earl Grey to dark English breakfast depending on rainfall. Our water is tested regularly for safe use and for drinking from the well taps.

Dietary Requirements

Glenalla House is a family home with an Aga run vintage kitchen. We can cater for gluten free intolerance not allergy and can make meals vegan if required. Please let us know on booking if you have any dietary requirements. Unfortunately we cannot safely cater for allergies.

Driving to Glenalla House and Estate

Glenalla House, Rathmullan, Letterkenny, Donegal, Republic of Ireland F92 R6F8

Other transport methods

If flying or without a car, details for self booking buses from Belfast and Derry as well as airport taxis can be provided. We can provide transport from Letterkenny to and from Glenalla Estate if arriving and departing by bus.

Thursday arrivals

Whether self driving or arriving via Belfast or Derry Airports please aim to arrive at the house between 3pm and 4pm, in time for welcome tea and introductions.

If you land earlier in the day it might be a great opportunity to explore the cities - the Belfast Titanic Exhibition is fabulous and not to be missed (titanicbelfast.com). If landing at Derry City Airport and have time to spare take a bus or taxi to the city centre for a walking history tour (walledcitytours.co.uk), then a bus to Letterkenny or taxi from Derry to Glenalla Estate. Sharing taxis or car hire minimises your travel costs and will work well for pairs or groups. If travelling as an individual let us know as we may be able to coordinate a car or taxi share for you to and from the airport.

Tuesday departures

Please plan to leave Glenalla House by midday, signing our guest book before leaving 😊

To ensure you’re ready for your restorative creative stay or day with us, please consider the following recommendations:

• Many warm comfortable layers

• Waterproof jacket and trousers - the Emerald Isle is so called for a reason!

• Walking boots / shoes – the Estate and beach hikes can be wet. We have many wellies to lend out but it may depend on your size

• Swimwear - beach towels are provided

• Warm jackets/jumpers/fleeces

• Hat/beanie and gloves

• Reusable water bottle

• Comfortable house shoes or slippers to avoid outdoor shoes indoors. We have a boot room for outdoor shoes, boots and coats to be stored during your stay

• We can provide all materials but your preference may be to bring your own favourite art medium, we will provide paper and boards, easels etc and canvases and can supply watercolours, acrylics, pastels, charcoal and pencils. If wanting to use oils please let us know – you cannot transport these on flights. Completed works can be transported for you by car back to London/ UK for posting or collection if you are flying via UK

• The most important ‘thing’ to bring along is your intention to relax, enrich, immerse, explore, expand and create, whether joining as a group, individual or couple for the five nights or as a day guest.

Thursday - Retreat arrival day

Friday

Saturday

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Please register your interest via the contact form here or email direct at enquiries@HiddenForestRetreats.com

Let us know which dates you're interested in, as well as whether you have a residential retreat enquiry or are interested in joining art or nature activities as a day participant. We will get back to you via email and arrange a WhatsApp call if anything is unclear.

We have found a WhatsApp conversation to be very helpful in the past. WhatsApp gives us the opportunity to respond to any specific queries in full, and provide more details as necessary. For example, to discuss group discounts if coming with friends; partners joining who want to pursue independent activities during the day (eg. hiking, cycling or golf); or if you would like to explore any variation to the format offered.

Our 5-Night Residential Retreats are £850/€990 (fully catered*, with four days art tuition). A deposit of £250/€300 is required to secure your booking, with full payment due one month before the retreat start date.

Our Experience Days are £100/€120 (including lunch). A deposit of £30/€35 is required, or pay in full on booking. Full payment is required two days before your booked retreat day. Cancellations within 48 hours of the event will not be refunded but reschedule dates will be offered.

Payments can be made via bank transfer or Revolut – details will be provided on booking.

*Excludes evening meal at Tap Up in Ramelton. See Food and Drink for details.

Residential Retreats:

Cancellations up to eight weeks before the retreat date can be fully refunded. If cancelling nearer the time, the deposit will only be refunded minus a 20% admin fee if your residential place is filled. Full payment is required one month before the retreat start date.

Day Visitors:

For day bookings a deposit of £30 / €35 is required, or pay in full on booking. Full payment is required two days before your booked retreat day. Cancellations within 48 hours of the event will not be refunded but reschedule dates will be offered.

If Hidden Forest Retreats need to cancel or reschedule your residential retreat or day participation dates, an alternative will be offered and full refund given if the reschedule is inconvenient.