5 Day Weekend Meditation Retreat in Devon
- Devon, Southwest England
5 Days to Relax, Reflect, and Recharge Body & Mind
Thu 15th May – Mon 19th May, 2025 Available
About the retreat
Join us for a 5-day Buddhist meditation retreat in the beautiful countryside of Devon
Join us for this Buddhist meditation retreat where you will be gently guided through a variety of deeply relaxing meditations, helping you to unwind, release stress, and let go of tension. The retreat schedule features inspiring workshops and guided meditations rooted in Buddhist psychology. Mornings begin with laid-back yoga, while afternoons invite you to enjoy peaceful countryside walks.
We gather three times a day for Buddhist teachings and workshops, with each session including one or two meditations. Our workshops delve into the inner causes of stress and anxiety, offering practical tips and innovative techniques from the Buddhist tradition to help you de-stress and find calm in your everyday life. This structure ensures that you gain a practical understanding and experience of these transformative teachings, for your own wellbeing and for the benefit of those around you.
We believe you will leave feeling refreshed, nourished, and stress-free, equipped with new tools to manage stress and anxiety for a more positive and peaceful mindset.
About The Venue
Tranquil retreat centre in with stunning views
Nestled in the picturesque Devon countryside, Sharpham House offers a warm and inviting atmosphere, stunning views, and comfortable accommodation. Located on a 550-acre estate with beautiful gardens, ancient woodlands, and rolling parkland that sweeps down to the River Dart, this historic house provides an idyllic setting for a meditation retreat focused on relaxation, reflection, and renewal. With its blend of natural beauty and serene surroundings, Sharpham House is the perfect place to unwind and connect with nature. Read more about the Grounds.
Accommodation
Clean, bright and comfortable rooms
We have rooms available in two different buildings.
Firstly, the rooms in the historic Georgian house overlooking the River Dart where you can stay amid history and art. This Palladian villa has a mixture of rooms: from the very grand to comfy singles. See our details & prices for information about the different options available in this building.
Because the building is a Grade I-listed mansion (with limits to the changes that are allowed to make to the building), few bedrooms come with an en-suite bathroom and toilet. There are shared bathrooms on every floor.
The second building is a beautifully converted 18th-century stable block, known as the Coach House. These rooms are more modern, having been renovated in recent years. There is a variety of comfy, single rooms.
Catering
Vegan & delicious!
In line with sustainable and non-harm practices, the cooks will produce seasonal, plant-based food which will nourish our bodies while we engage in retreat.
The cooks are skilled at creating tasty dishes that are freshly cooked and nutritious. The emphasis is on fresh and seasonal produce, using home-grown whenever this is possible. The venue grows as much of their own produce as they can in their organic gardens, with some supplements from local suppliers. You can visit the gardens whilst on retreat.
The Grounds
A unique atmosphere of peace and tranquillity
Our retreat takes place in a majestic location high above the River Dart. The house and gardens exude a sense of peace and tranquillity. Set within a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, this special places feels close yet a world away from the frantic world outside – allowing you to immerse yourself in the quietude and beauty of nature.
There are networks of paths around the estate to enjoy, including along the river, and various points at which you can stop and be, with amazing views of the estuary and its wildlife. There are organic orchards planted with traditional fruit varieties, organic vegetable gardens, a pool, woodlands, and more.
What's included
Everything you need for a unique experience
- Tea, coffee and refreshments on arrival
- Four nights accommodation in a single-occupancy room with your own space in which to rest
- Continental breakfast with a wide selection of items to choose from
- Seasonal homemade meals followed by fresh fruit, teas and fresh coffee
- Complimentary car parking for the duration of your stay
- Relaxing and restoring yoga sessions each morning
- Workshops with international meditation guide and retreat leader, David Oromith
- Relaxing guided meditations – which are easy to follow and can be practiced at home
- Dharma talks – exploring the theory and practice of shamatha and Buddhist psychology
- Opportunities to discuss with others and ask questions
- Vast acres of beautiful grounds to explore and enjoy
- Daily access to the outdoor swimming pool
- Local countryside walks and places of interest nearby
Reviews
Hear from our previous attendees
Contributing Together - Engaging in Community
Nurturing one another through acts of kindness
During your stay, you’ll have the opportunity to foster a sense of community, generosity, and cooperation with fellow participants and staff at Sharpham. To help keep the retreat affordable and bring participants together, we invite you to join in some light activities, such as tidying the kitchen and dining room after meals, or assisting with some brief vegetable preparation on certain days.
A rota will be provided, and Sharpham staff will offer guidance on these tasks at the beginning of the retreat. Additionally, we kindly ask that you strip and remake your bed on the final day before departure. These activities offer a chance for us to consider our interconnectedness and invite you to practice mindful awareness in simple everyday tasks.
There is no obligation for you to get involved in the mealtime duties. We hope that with enough of us helping in small ways we will make very light work. If you are unable to make up your bed on the last day, please let us know so we can make alternate arrangements (Sharpham charges us a fee to cover the additional housekeeping cost).
Meet the Hosts
Reserve your place today
Dorje Gyalpo 'David' Oromith
International Buddhist Meditation Teacher & Retreat Leader
David will lead this retreat, run the workshops and guided meditations, and be on hand as a mentor to support you.
David is an experienced Buddhist contemplative and meditation guide who has studied and taught internationally for several years. He is the Co-Founder of Samadhi and a qualified mindfulness teacher, and an active member of the Association for Spiritual Integrity. His teaching style is clear and practical, and his warm and humorous approach makes him a popular mindfulness teacher.
Manu Oromith
Accredited Yoga Teacher & Retreat Leader
Manu is our retreat co-ordinator and accredited yoga teacher. He will guide our morning vinyasa yoga sessions and, alongside our venue hosts, will be around to assist you during your retreat and make sure you have a wonderful experience.
He is the Co-Founder of Samadhi and a Mental Health First Aider. Manu’s laid-back approach and kind heart has a warming and inspiring impact on our retreatants and he is much loved by all.
Details & Schedule
What to expect
Pricing >
Getting There >
Schedule >
Cancellation Policy >
Mental Health & Wellbeing >
Pricing >
Pricing & Rooms
**Early bookings get £100 off**
Accommodation is spread across two buildings, the Coach House (the newer barn conversion in the court) and Sharpham House (historical grade listed mansion over multiple floors with varying views). See pictures here.
Coach House
All rooms in the Coach House are similar sizes, each with a small double bed or zip and link twin. You can choose between an ensuite or a room with shared facilities:
• Standard Room (Single Occupancy, Full Board) – £645 £545
• Ensuite Room (Single Occupancy, Full Board) – £695 £595
Sharpham House
Rooms in this historical building vary by size. There are three options which vary on their size/grandiosity. En-suites in this building are very limited and only offered on a first come, first serve basis for those with a medical need. Please contact us for latest availability.
• Standard Room (Single Occupancy, Full Board) – £685 £585
• Premium Room (Single Occupancy, Full Board) – £735 £635
• Heritage Room (Single Occupancy, Full Board) – £785 £685
Prices shown are per person. If you would like to share a room with family or friend please mention this in the ‘Any other comments’ box and a twin or double room can be allocated to you.
An example breakdown of where your money goes:
Typical Fee: £585
Food & Accommodation (4 nights/5 days): £460
Course fee (5-day course): £125 – this covers the costs of running the event, and any surplus supports our activities and fundraising for our own Retreat Centre.
BOOK NOW, PAY LATER – Book with a £100 deposit, with the rest due 4 weeks before the retreat.
This retreat is all-inclusive, and includes everything listed here.
There are limited bursaries available, we invite you to find out more here. If you’re purchasing a gift, you can choose to buy a gift voucher which your recipient can use on a retreat of their choosing.
Getting There >
Getting to the Retreat Centre
By Car
Sharpham Estate is three miles outside Totnes on the edge of Ashprington village.
From the A38/Devon Expressway take the Totnes/Buckfastleigh exit. On arriving in Totnes, at the first traffic lights, turn right onto the A381 towards Kingsbridge. Half a mile outside Totnes turn left to Ashprington (about two miles).
On reaching Ashprington village turn left up the hill and onto the Sharpham Estate. Follow the road downhill until you get to three way junction, if you’re staying the Coach House, follow signs for parking, if you’re staying in the House and wish to drop off luggage, you can take the middle road straight to the front of the House, unload your luggage at the front of the House and then move your vehicle to the car parking areas.
By Train
Frequent direct trains run from London, Birmingham, and the North. The journey time by train is less than three hours from London Paddington via GWR (www.GWR.com) and under four hours from London Waterloo.
Find train times and buy tickets from www.thetrainline.com
Trains to Totnes are on the Exeter, Plymouth and Penzance lines. Totnes railway station is a 5-10 minute walk from the town.
By Taxi
There are a number of taxi companies in the area, please contact us for recommendations.
If you’d like to share a taxi from Totnes Railway Station, Sharpham has a taxi share arrangement with South Hams Cabs – call 01803 840404 or you can text or whatsapp them on 0777 2744 598. It takes approximately 10-15 minutes to get to Sharpham Estate from Totnes Railway Station. To join a taxi share, book your taxi in advance on the number above giving your name, phone number, date and time of arrival. The taxi company will meet you and any others sharing a taxi and the cost will be divided. We recommend you aim to arrive at Totnes Station around 2.30pm.
For more information, visit this link.
Address & Postcode:
Sharpham House, Ashprington, Totnes, Devon, UK TQ9 7UT
Schedule >
Typical Schedule
This schedule may change – you will receive a final copy of the schedule during our orientation session on day one.
DAY ONE
3.00pm – Check-in & arrival
5.00pm – Introduction & Orientation
6:30pm – Dinner in the Dining Room
8:30pm-9:00pm – Evening Guided Meditation
DAY TWO, THREE & FOUR
7:30am-8:00am – GROUP 1 – Morning Yoga (with Manu)
8:00am-8:30am – GROUP 2 – Morning Yoga (with Manu)
8:30am – Breakfast
9:30am-11:00am – Session 1 – Meditation & Teachings (with David)
11:00am – Mid-Morning Tea/Coffee Break
11:45am-1:00pm – Session 2 – Meditation & Teachings (with David)
1:00pm – Lunch
2:00pm – Rest & Personal Practice
5:00pm-6:30pm – Session 3 – Meditation & Q&A (with David)
6:30pm – Evening Meal
8:30pm – Evening Guided Meditation (with David) or Pranayama and Singing Bowls (with David & Manu)
DAY FIVE
7:30am-8:00am – GROUP 1 – Morning Vinyasa Yoga (with Manu)
8:00am-8:30am – GROUP 2 – Morning Vinyasa Yoga (with Manu)
8:30am – Breakfast
9:30am-11:00am – Closing Session with David & Manu
11:00am – Mid-Morning Tea/Coffee Break
12:00pm – Departure
Arrival on Day 1 is from 4pm and the retreat will begin at 5.30pm with a welcome session and guided meditation and dinner will be at 7.00pm. You are free to go home after 11am on the final day, with our official departure time of 12pm. You will be provided with a finalised schedule on arrival.
Cancellation Policy >
Cancellation
By booking you agree to our cancellation policy and the booking terms and conditions.
Our cancellation and refund policy for overnight retreats is as follows:
- Cancellation 6 weeks or more before the event: full refund minus a 10% admin and payment processing fee
- Cancellation less than 6 weeks before the event: deposit non-refundable (unless your place is booked by someone else, in which case a refund of your deposit minus a 10% admin and payment processing fee)
- Cancellation less than 4 weeks before the event: no refund (unless your place is booked by someone else, in which case a refund of any amount paid minus the deposit)
Full payments are due 4 weeks before the start of the retreat.
Due to the cancellation policies of our third-party venues, we are still required to pay the full amount for your accommodation and meals even if you cancel last minute. We also may be unable to fill your space at such short notice. We can therefore not offer a refund under these circumstances. This is why we strongly recommend adequate travel insurance, including cancellation insurance, to protect yourself against medical or other unforeseen emergencies that prevent you from attending.
Our Booking Swap policy (moving your booking to a future date) for overnight retreats is as follows:
- Request 6 weeks or more before the event: booking can be moved to a future date without problem
- Request less than 6 weeks before the event: we can move your booking only if your place is booked by someone else. If your place cannot be filled, the above cancellation and refund policy applies from the date which you notified us.
Mental Health & Wellbeing >
Mental Health & Wellbeing
Please read our health and safety information carefully.
While meditation, yoga and Buddhist psychology have been proven to be beneficial for mental health and wellbeing, our events are not presented as a treatment for serious mental health problems or addiction. Exploring the realm of the mind and emotions can be in itself an emotional experience and we always strive to create a safe, supportive environment for participants to embark on this exploration. However, for certain individuals experiencing psychological or emotional difficulties, this event may not be appropriate at this time. This is especially true when it comes to silent retreat, and attendees must feel mentally well in order to attend. Read more.
Before booking, please read our full terms and conditions and contact us via [email protected] if you have any doubts.
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When booking with us you are accepting our retreats terms and conditions.
FAQ's
Everything you need to know
Meditation & Buddhism with David
This retreat is primarily for those who feel ready for silent retreat. We recommend that attendees have prior experience of meditation retreat or an established meditation practice. If you’re unsure if this is you but you’re keen to come along, please get in touch with us at [email protected] or by using the messenger button in the corner.
Some understanding or experience of Buddhism can be helpful, but this is not required.
Yoga sessions with Manu
No experience required. Before the event, you will be asked to fill out a form related to your yoga ability and health and safety. The classes will be adapted to the group depending on the overall level. Our group will be split into two groups for yoga, these may be split depending on level.
All rooms are single occupancy, unless you would like to share with someone attending with you. If so, please note this on your booking form in the ‘Any other comments’ box. Fees are per person, not per room (this reflects how the venue charges us for your attendance).
Ensuites in the Coach House are plentiful and can be reserved by choosing this option when booking online.
Ensuites in the historic Sharpham House are very few, and are reserved for those who have a genuine medical need on a first come, first serve basis. Please contact us to find out about ensuite availability in the main house.
Yes, the chef does cater for a wide variety of dietary requirements. Please ensure you have submitted your dietary information to us at the time of booking to make sure that our chef caters accordingly. If a diet is extremely specialised, then there may be a supplementary charge.
For the meditation and workshop sessions, you just need to wear something comfortable. If, weather permitting, the yoga sessions are held outside, you can take your yoga mat from the hall with you to the outside space. For the yoga sessions, wear some comfortable clothes in which you can move freely. You are welcome to bring any additional cushions, mats or blankets if you wish.
At this venue, the maximum group size will be around 40.
During your stay, you’ll have the opportunity to foster a sense of community, generosity, and cooperation with fellow participants and staff at Sharpham. To help keep the retreat affordable, we invite you to participate in some light activities, such as tidying the kitchen and dining room after meals or assisting with vegetable preparation on certain days.
A rota will be provided, and Sharpham staff will offer guidance on these tasks at the beginning of the retreat. Additionally, we kindly ask that you strip and remake your bed on the final day before departure. These activities offer a chance for us to consider our interconnectedness and invite you to practice mindful awareness in simple everyday tasks.
There is no obligation for you to get involved in the mealtime duties, the rota may get covered by other participants. If you are unable to make up your bed on the last day, please let us know so we can make alternate arrangements (Sharpham charges us a fee to cover the additional housekeeping cost).
You can find out more about meditation retreat etiquette here.
We take the mental health and wellbeing of all our participants seriously.
While meditation, yoga and Buddhist psychology have been proven to be beneficial for mental health and wellbeing, our events are not presented as a treatment for serious mental health problems or addiction.
Meditation is not harmful in that it does not create any mental issues or emotional challenges, but as we relax into stillness and venture towards mental balance, we may bring awareness to afflictions we were not aware of before. In this way, exploring the realm of the mind and emotions can be in itself an emotional experience. We always strive to create a safe, supportive environment for participants to embark on this exploration.
Our events may be less suitable for individuals who are currently (or recently) under treatment for a serious psychological condition. Difficult life circumstances such as a recent loss of a loved one can also be a difficult emotional time for many people and if you are going through such a challenging time, the practices of this event may feel too demanding at this time. When you are in a heightened state, meditation can be challenging. This is because it can be just too difficult to concentrate and thoughts and feelings can quickly start to feel overwhelming. This very much depends on where you are at in your journey, your current psychological health and the support networks that you have around you, such as friends, family and mental health professionals.
If you are currently taking medication for a mental health condition, then we recommend that you do not change your medication, other than in close collaboration with your medication prescriber.
If any of these circumstances apply to you, then we recommend that if you have concerns or feel we should be aware of something, and you have not done so already, please contact the group leader to discuss your situation and the support networks you have in place and to explore how best to proceed. If you felt safe enough to attend but experience difficulties during the event, please speak to the group leader personally between sessions to discuss whether this is right for you at this time.
Please contact David via [email protected] if you have any concerns.
Yes, the venue has ample free parking available for guests.
Arrival is from 3pm on the first day. On arrival, go straight to the Coach House or Sharpham House where you will be greeted by our venue hosts. They will show you to your room and the welcome area for refreshments. Our introductory session will begin at 5.00pm, with dinner at 6.30pm.
Our retreat finishes by 12pm on the final day.
Please advise us in advance if you expect to be delayed. This will allow us to make arrangements for you.
Have another question? Please send us an email or a message us using the chat in the corner of the screen.
