Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire: Cotswolds, England

December 9-17, 2025

Once again, we’re taking Go and Write! to England during the Christmas season on an adventure to awaken our creative souls, this time with an extra night and new adventures (chestnuts included!).

Join us from December 9-17, 2025 for an intimate, nine-day writing retreat that focuses on writing in the peaceful Cotswolds: a perfect combination that will see us inspired by greatness, surrounded by luxury and ancient history, and reconnecting with our literary selves.

 

Who hasn’t dreamed of Christmastime in the Cotswolds? What writer hasn’t wished they could leave worldly cares behind and cross the ocean at this time of year and find themselves in an ancient monastery where artists and writers have, for centuries, come to find solitude and fellowship?

When we came across Abbots Grange once upon a December a couple of years ago, we knew we’d found our spot where a writer could feel like a writer—where your imagination can take flight while your soul connects with great writers and artists of the past.

For eight nights before Christmas, we’ll inhabit the ancient halls of a place that time—and the Vikings—forgot. We’ll also visit Stratford-upon-Avon, Oxford, Stow-on-the-Wold, and other Cotswolds highlights.

And new this year, we’ll have multiple meals provided onsite by Abbots Grange, plus a visit to a 15th century pub in nearby Bretforton, where we’ll have a private tour with the owner, share our own stories by the hearth, have dinner by candlelight, raise a pint or two, and literally roast chestnuts on an open fire.

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“In the bleak Midwinter, long, long ago…”

When the English poet Christina Rossetti wrote those lines in 1872, she expressed the eternal optimism of the human spirit at the darkest time of year when hope for brighter days burned strong. That spark, which we associate with the Winter solstice and the Christmas season alike, keeps us leaning forward to the next great adventure in our lives as the sun returns, bringing with it that eternal human yearning for warmth and light.

For us, that next adventure is in the Cotswolds, England, at a most special time of year. There must be something transcendent in that pastoral landscape, particularly during the Christmas/Yule season that inspires a quest for creative greatness.

Check out our video below, featuring Abbots Grange, images from our 2024 day trips, and accompanied by “In the Bleak Midwinter,” with Janie on harp and Gerard on guitar. We made this video for last year’s week-long retreat, but for 2025, we’re hosting you for an extra night at the sumptuous manor house and we’ve incorporated other delights.

We hope you’ll join us at Abbots Grange, our most luxurious venue ever, in the delightful village of Broadway, England. This writing retreat will be our longest ever at this property, as we’ll stay for eight spectacular nights and nine days, so you can truly get lost in time, with multiple meals included. And with exclusive use, we’ll have the quiet and privacy required for uninterrupted writing, evening readings in the Great Hall, and even a night of music.

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Costs start at $5,995 CAD (approx. $4,130 USD) based on double occupancy. See details below.

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“Not all those who wander are lost…”

Go and Write! with Dr. Gerard Collins and Janie Simpson

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kind words from one of our recent retreat participants

“I am beginning to reflect on the joy the trip has brought me… The tenderness and care you showed us was so evident in the choices of lodging, the comfortable bus rides, and the knowledgeable guides. It was your day-to-day presence, while checking on all of us, that was especially meaningful. I am not certain I can explain the impact, but I feel it has awakened a longing in me and an understanding of something deeper that was not previously there.”
~ Ann K., Go and Write! alumnus

To learn more from previous participants, visit our Testimonials page.

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A land steeped in literature

The literary history of England is rich and deep enough to fill this entire page with the names of authors whose works have touched our souls—authors such as Chaucer, Shakespeare, Wilde, Austen, Dickens, Byron, Shelley, Brontë, Woolf, Pratchett, Fleming, Milne, Larkin, and Barnes. These poets and writers, over the years, have formed our lives and left us, like Prometheus, reaching for that which has always burned within us and remained hidden, unreachable, even transcendent. We are writers for a reason—because we eschew the prescribed life and yearn for something more, to seek out surroundings that remind us of who we really are, of our place in this world, and the importance of telling stories—translating thoughts to words.

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As with every Go and Write! retreat, you’ll find yourself in the company of like-minded souls in search of a unique experience together. This Christmastime retreat at Abbots Grange, our most exclusive, unique, and peaceful venue yet, will provide you with respite from the world and sanctuary from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, within close proximity to one of the quaintest, most beautiful little villages you’ll ever see.

Abbots Grange will be decked out for the holidays, while the fire crackles and blazes to keep you warm as you sketch out your next scene or nod off beneath the giant tree.

 

We’ll have this 14th century former monastery all to ourselves for an extended eight-night retreat, so while you’ll feel at home amid the antiquitous splendour, you can be forgiven for wondering how you arrived at such a perfect place in your life.

The village of Broadway at Christmastime is a special place as lights gleam from every tree and shop along High Street, only steps away from the hobbity garden gate of Abbots Grange.

You can write in the tea shops, pubs, and restaurants in the village, or cocoon yourself in the peace of the Grange. In the Great Hall, you’ll find a crackling fire in the enormous hearth and writing tables placed thoughtfully around the space—oh, and a gigantic, fresh Christmas tree to add to the wonder.

Writers from our previous retreats at Abbots Grange have described it as “the most extreme quiet imaginable,” a place that can soothe your soul and set your imagination soaring. Inspiration will come in the form of group writing sessions and readings, your own daily meanderings and time by the hearth, breakfast each morning and several lunches and suppers, not to mention the discussions with an award-winning author and feedback on a sample of your writing to help you see where you’ve been—and where you might go—with your writing craft or latest project.

Gerard will host two group writing sessions during our stay at Abbots Grange, and, because this retreat—by design—has a low number of participants, he will also be able to meet with each writer twice for one-on-one chats to check in with you about your writing. We will also host group readings of our own work, for those who feel like sharing something they’ve written (it’s never an obligation, just a great opportunity).

With only nine rooms available for participants, space is quite limited on this small-group, nine-day retreat. All the better to bask in the quiet of the Cotswolds, to listen to birdsong—even at this time of year—intertwined with the thrumming of your heart above the scratch of your pen on paper.

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Our adventure begins…

“I think England is the very place for a fluent and fiery writer.”
~ Dylan Thomas, Welsh poet

In the days before the solstice, we’ll arrive in the land of Tolkien, Austen, Lewis, Carroll, Dickens, Shakespeare, and Beatrix Potter, not to mention the world of Harry Potter, Sherlock Holmes, Monty Python, the Beatles, and Bridget Jones. At nearly every turn on the ancient (sometimes cobblestone) streets of Broadway, Stratford-upon-Avon, Oxford, Stow-on-the-Wold, and Bretforton, you’ll find connections to writers of the past and a plethora of people, places, and smaller personal moments to write about.

The Gathering and The Bard

On the first morning of our writing retreat, we’ll gather at the Birmingham airport (be sure to contact us about timing before you book your flights). Many of our participants last year chose to fly into Birmingham the day before and stay overnight at the gorgeous Grand Hotel Birmingham, with the Frankfurt Christmas Market just up the street, and they shared a cab to the airport the next morning. If this is of interest to you, we can help coordinate. Others chose to stay closer to the airport (and with more affordable accommodations) at the Hilton Garden Inn Airport Hotel, so that’s also an option. Either way, we recommend arriving a day early so you can feel relaxed and refreshed, ready to turn your thoughts to writing.

Once we’re gathered at the airport—you’ll receive clear directions about our meeting spot and time—we’ll meet our private coach and driver and make our way to Stratford-upon-Avon, which happens to be on the way to the village of Broadway.

 

Stratford-upon-Avon is a small, easily-navigated village that prides itself on its connections with William Shakespeare and his wife Anne Hathaway, but it’s also well-known for its dedication to Christmas celebrations. If you’re feeling peckish, of course, you might stop at any number of cafés or pubs (we’d suggest The Dirty Duck, the centuries-old The White Swan, the Old Thatch Tavern or one of numerous others).

 

Meanwhile, if you’d prefer to stroll along the bedecked streets of Stratford-upon-Avon, there are myriad shops dedicated to treasures of all sorts, including books, clothing, and the world of Harry Potter.

 

Once we’ve had a chance to meander the shops and grab a bite to eat, we’ll climb back aboard our coach—replete with an unforgettable Christmas shopping/dining/Shakespeare experience—as the day wanes and the lights of the Cotswolds are just coming on for the evening.

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The Lights of Broadway

Darkness descends early here, and you’ll be glad for it when we enter the village of Broadway to a glittering display of shops, restaurants, pubs, and cafés.

The days and evenings are quiet here, except on weekends when many of the locals come to the village of Broadway—known as the Jewel of the Cotswolds—to dine and shop, and to simply celebrate Christmas. Even then, gentleness reigns. The Cotswolds region of England, through the centuries, has always attracted artists and writers, and it still does. To experience its unassuming beauty at a special time of year will afford us the opportunity to enjoy it as a writer should.

Welcome to Abbots Grange

There’s a palpable excitement as we drive through the village of Broadway, admiring the lights that are just beginning to twinkle on, and approach the gates of Abbots Grange. And then comes that breathless moment when the coach makes its way through the gates, tires crunching stones, and we get our first glimpse of the ancient manor house.

 

Once you enter the magnificent halls of Abbots Grange and we’re greeted by the friendly staff, you’ll immediately understand why we chose this out-of-the-way venue for our writing retreat. For eight nights and nine days, we’ll have the privilege of calling this exquisite, private space, home. You’ll have a cozy, gorgeous room with luxurious bedding and toiletries, and we’ll enjoy evening readings, morning group writing sessions, afternoon teas, and quiet writing time in The Great Hall, with its exquisite décor and roaring fireplace—perhaps with a glass of wine that you can purchase from the Pulpit Bar.

 

We’ve had the privilege of experiencing this space several times over the years, and it’s an inspiring and soothing place in which to imagine, write, and relax. Withdrawn from the hustle and bustle of everyday life, Abbots Grange will replenish your soul. And with the luxury of nine days here, with exclusive use and no other guests onsite, we will truly be able to settle in.

 

The history of Abbots Grange runs pretty deep. A former monastery where famous artists and authors have gathered for centuries, Abbots Grange is just a short stroll from the lovely village of Broadway, and both the venue and the village are naturally quiet and creative spaces. Mark Twain, Oscar Wilde, Henry James, and Claude Monet all contribute to the lore of this place, while the stories of William Morris and Frank Millet are intertwined with the narrative of the Grange.

 

Built in 1320 as a summer home for the Abbot of Pershore, Abbots Grange is the oldest dwelling in Broadway and boasts unobstructed views of the Cotswold hills. With extensive upkeep over the centuries, the Grange looks and feels pretty much as it has since its early days, largely thanks to its owners and caretakers, Richard and Topsy, as well as to the intriguing fact that it has somehow survived raids from Vikings and other warriors over the centuries.

Today, Abbots Grange also offers the use of its private gardens and grounds that overlook the Cotswolds countryside, great for a morning ramble.

After we’ve been shown to our rooms, we’ll have time to relax before we gather for dinner. Over the years, we’ve found that sharing our first dinner together as a group is a great way to get to know each other, and new this year, our hosts at Abbots Grange will cater some lunches and evening meals onsite so we can stay even more focused throughout our retreat.

 

Each morning, we’ll gather in the rich, wood-panelled dining room for an English breakfast from locally-sourced, fresh produce, and set the tone for a day of writing with conversation about the craft, publishing, and matters that matter to writers.

 

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It’s really all about the writing

The emphasis for this retreat, even more than most, will be on writing, although there’s plenty for non-writers to do as well, particularly because we are right in the heart of both the village of Broadway and the Cotswolds.

We’ll begin each day with breakfast in the dining room, and on our first morning at Abbots Grange, we’ll gather for our first group writing session.  Later that afternoon or early the next day, you’ll have your first one-on-one session with experienced mentor, university professor of English language and literature, and award-winning author Dr. Gerard Collins, to discuss your goals and challenges. Enjoy a complimentary Nespresso or cuppa tea from the Pulpit Bar while talking about your writing with someone who’s truly invested in listening and offering words of encouragement or advice as required.

If you’re an emerging writer hoping to see your work in print someday soon, Gerard will talk with you about any part of writing and publishing you might want. You’ll have an opportunity to submit a short writing sample in advance, and this document will help form the foundation for this discussion.

If you’re a published author—like many on our Go and Write! adventures—you’ll find the empathetic ear and keen eye of a peer with years of experience.

 

 

No matter how long you’ve been writing or how much you’ve published, the keys to getting the most out of a retreat are mutual respect and dedication to writing.

The Cotswolds, of course, are a mecca of the arts. There’s hardly a famous English author or artist who hasn’t visited here at some point, while many spend their lives coming and going, yearning for its vibrant culture.

Participants

Go and Write! retreat participants range from beginning writers who want to start jotting down their thoughts, to experienced writers who’ve published extensively. Previous attendees include playwrights, poets, novelists, television producers, short story and memoir writers, and everything in between.

Writers can register as individual participants or bring someone to share their room (please note that all rooms at Abbots Grange have one bed only). We often have non-writers join us on retreats, and they’re welcome to participate in as few or as many of the writing activities as they wish. These folks are invited to join us for all of the meals, readings, and any outings that are part of the program, as these elements are included in everyone’s registration.

 

We ask that all participants, writers and any travel companions, commit to the spirit of mutual respect and mindfulness that we set, and actively avoid distracting others. Be sure to review our Expectations, Rules, Refunds page to be certain our retreats are a good fit for you and, if applicable, your travel companion. We host Zoom calls with all potential new-to-us participants in advance of registration, and we’d be happy to discuss this in greater detail.

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The village of Broadway—The Jewel of the Cotswolds

While we envision this retreat to be creative and inspirational, it’s our close proximity to the beautiful, small village of Broadway that makes it the ideal location. Abbots Grange is literally just across the road from Broadway’s ‘picture perfect’ village High Street.

We can personally attest that  the village of Broadway, with its delightful variety of boutique shops, inns, pubs, and restaurants, is an ideal place to roam for a while as you work out an idea or seek distraction. As the town website says, “The pretty High Street is lined with horse chestnut trees and includes a mixture of period houses and picturesque honey-coloured Cotswold stone cottages which have lured visitors for centuries.” We’re quite sure those same qualities will have you enthralled as well.

You’ll find plenty of shops along High Street, along with interesting places to visit, and, of course, myriad pubs, cafés, and restaurants where you’ll find great food and libations, as well as a cozy corner to ponder, take notes, and write. There are several places with wood fires to light your imagination.

 

There’s also the Broadway Museum and Art Gallery, where you can learn more about the world famous colony of artists who visited Broadway, many of whom stayed at Abbots Grange.

The village of Broadway was originally centred around the old church, St. Eadburgha’s, and the stream at Bury End (records from the 9th century) and is recorded in more detail in the Domesday Book of 1086. High Street, or the “broad way,” after which the village is named, grew as the centre of the village gradually expanded northwards to its present location. The coaching route opened up in the 1500s, and Broadway became a busy stage coach stop on the route from Worcester to Oxford and London. According to the Lygon Arms website, “Documentary evidence from 1377 indicates that a coaching inn stood on this site…”

A number of inns, in fact, were built to accommodate travellers, including many authors and artists who have walked these roads and stopped in these same places, such as Abbots Grange, which, itself, has hosted many esteemed personages over the years.

Abbots Grange is just a 1-2 minute walk from the village. Below is a short video that shows how you get from the Abbots Grange manor house to the Village of Broadway:

The Cotswolds region is well-known as a walker’s paradise, and the village of Broadway lies on the “The Cotswold Way” National Walking Trail. There’s a great website dedicated to walking in the region, complete with maps,  recommended routes, and time estimates here.

For an in-depth idea of where we’ll be immersed for our nine-day retreat, have a look at the charming video about the village of Broadway below—there’s prominent mention of Abbots Grange. Having spent a fair amount of time in Broadway, ourselves, we can say without hesitation that, for as beautiful and peaceful as he makes it look, the reality is far better, and Abbots Grange itself is a world within a world where many artists, writers, and philosophers have come seeking solace and inspiration. We, like many other Go and Write! participants, are fortunate to count ourselves among those who have found exactly what we needed at Abbots Grange, and we’re joyful to be returning with like-minded souls.

 

 

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Accommodations at the Abbots Grange

Although we’ve taken Go and Write! retreats to castles, villas, and island hideaways, Abbots Grange is easily our most luxurious venue yet. All of the rooms are well-appointed and impressive, and they’re arranged into two price categories based on the venue’s recommendation. See pricing details below.

Heritage Rooms: Millet, Monet, Morris, and Sargent

Each of the spacious, lavish, and individually-designed Heritage Rooms come with solid oak, four poster beds dressed with a canopy and the finest Egyptian cotton sheets, seating areas, flat screen televisions and Wi-Fi, adjustable lighting, fluffy bathrobes, and welcome trays with tea and coffee making facilities. We’ve borrowed the descriptions below from the Abbots Grange website.

Millet
Named after Francis Millet, the renowned American artist and previous owner of Abbots Grange who died on the Titanic, this en-suite room features an impressive barrel-vaulted ceiling and triple aspect views over the grounds and Cotswold hills beyond.

The Millet is bright and spacious, offering a King-sized four-poster bed, private seating area, and a fluffy bathrobe. There’s also a window seat for enjoying the in-room welcome tray with tea and coffee making facilities.

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Monet
Named after the French artist Claude Monet (another regular at Abbots Grange), this superbly proportioned room—with separate, private bathroom—boasts a 10 foot wide, feature window overlooking the grounds and formal gardens. While this room does not have an ensuite bathroom, we have exclusive use of the venue and the bathroom is private and just across the hall (see layout illustration).

The Monet is also the most luxurious of the Heritage Rooms, with a gorgeous, King-sized four-poster bed with canopy, a writing desk and seating area, and a fluffy bathrobe. There’s also a window seat for enjoying the tea and coffee making facilities.

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Morris
Named after William Morris, who supervised the restoration of Abbots Grange by Millet, this en-suite room is beautifully proportioned with double aspect views and an impressive, walk in Travertine shower.

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Sargent 
Named after renowned impressionist artist John Singer Sargent—a regular visitor to Abbots Grange—this delightful, double aspect en-suite room overlooks the croquet lawn and gardens.

 

Learn more about the Abbots Grange Heritage Rooms.

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Luxury Suites: Abbot’s Chambers, Elizabethan Suite, Carriage Room, Coach House Suite, and Stable Room

Abbots Grange Manor House is one of Britain’s best preserved medieval, monastic manor houses. The venue has won several hospitality awards, and it shows in their extraordinary, luxurious suites. Many celebrities have chosen to stay in these rooms, though the Abbots Grange staff are rightly circumspect and careful not to divulge names of those who wish to remain anonymous.

Abbot’s Chambers

The ancient stone stairway off the Great Hall leads to the Abbot’s private chambers and oratory.  Generously proportioned, the spectacular monastic medieval architecture blends with modern day comforts, including adjustable lighting and a small refrigerator.

With a 25-foot high vaulted ceiling, ancient oak beams, and your very own huge, open fireplace, the Abbot’s Chambers is a celebration of medieval craftsmanship and offers unmatched creative inspiration.

Note: The stone stairway leading up to the Abbot’s Chambers, while not steep or long, requires care due to the unusual step arrangement and original rope hand-rail and is not recommended for individuals with walking difficulties.

Learn more about the Abbot’s Chambers.

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Elizabethan Suite

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Coach House Suite

A few steps from the main house you’ll find the beautiful Coach House Suite, occupying an entire floor and accessed from an outside set of stairs. With 20-foot high vaulted ceilings, a King-sized four-poster bed, and a Romeo and Juliet balcony with unrestricted quadruple aspect views out over the grounds and Cotswolds hills, you can’t help but be inspired.

Designed for privacy, the Coach House Suite, with its exposed timbers and Cotswold stone, has an open plan with separate lounge and bedroom areas and an in-room, duo-bath as well as a walk-in shower. It features a built-in Bluetooth sound system for those who like to listen to music when they write, adjustable lighting to help set the mood for creativity, and a small refrigerator.

Learn more about the Coach House Suite.

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Carriage Room

Learn more about the Carriage Room.

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The Stable Room

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Yuletide, from College to Inn—a day tour of Oxford and the Cotswolds, ending with a traditional English pub experience

Because Go and Write! is about going as well as writing, we’ll take a day to properly tour the area with an experienced local as our guide. Naturally, we try not to schedule too much of your adventure—you’ll want to see and do the things that matter most to you, and while there’ll certainly be common ground, it won’t be the same for everyone. So, while there’s a healthy amount of social time throughout our retreat, we also leave plenty of time for you to engage in your own way and to make time for writing as you go. Also, we encourage—and provide—alone time, because that’s when words get written.

Oxford

“If you knew Time as well as I do,” said the Hatter, “you wouldn’t talk about wasting it.”

~ Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

We’ll begin our day with a quick breakfast before whisking you away to Oxford, a place so other-worldly it inspired W.B. Yeats to muse, “I wonder anybody does anything at Oxford but dream and remember, the place is so beautiful. One almost expects the people to sing instead of speaking.”

Along the way, our private guide, Tom—who owns and operates GoCotswolds Tours along with his wife Lisa—will share his insights from having grown up in the region. A marathon runner who has literally explored all around the countryside, Tom is the perfect guide for our Cotswolds day tour. Once we arrive in Oxford, Tom will drop our group just outside the college gates and meet us after our private guided tour of the Christ Church.

There are too many literary associations to name in Oxford, from Lewis Carroll to C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien and, of course, Evelyn Waugh, as well as the university where scenes from Harry Potter were filmed—the dining hall at Christ Church will be of particular interest to Potterites, as well as certain other places that will seem strangely familiar. You can also catch a glimpse of the Bridge of Sighs, familiar to readers of Evelyn Waugh’s Brideshead Revisited and some other places once occupied by now-revered authors.

The Cotswolds Region—an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

“Think of England as a very large book, and the Cotswolds would be an unfussy chapter in the middle somewhere where there is lots of limestone and even more sheep.”

~ Susan Meissner, American author of A Charmed Life

We wouldn’t bring you to the Cotswolds without actually seeing the Cotswolds. The entire region is a protected landscape and designated as an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), which has afforded it strict protections. Spanning nearly 800 square miles, the vast region is some of the most beautiful countryside in all of England. While we’re not sure you’ll take one step farther from home than you’ve ever been, we’ll make sure you have a chance to see Stow-on-the-Wold, where you won’t even need to speak “friend” in Elvish to enter a famous door.

And then, we’re off to Bretforton to visit an ancient pub owned by the National Trust, Europe’s largest conservation charity.

A Day at The Fleece

Early that afternoon, as the sun rises and falls with spectacular decisiveness that is peculiar to the UK in December, we’ll settle in at one of the oldest inns in all of England for a pint or cuppa something warm and a greeting by the host who will tell us the history of the establishment, including a ghost tale or two. Then we’ll roast some chestnuts on an open fire (yes, it’s a song of the season for a very good reason), entertain each other with readings from our own work, and have a Yuletide feast beside the fire with another pint or what-have-you.

The Fleece Inn, headed by Landlord Nigel Smith, is a local favourite, and has been for hundreds of years. Nigel supports the old ways by hosting age-old practices at the Inn—there’s the annual Asparagus Festival, which takes place in April, as well as traditional cider making, and Nigel himself is a Morris Dancer. We were fortunate to visit the Inn on the winter solstice last year and had the rare opportunity to bear witness to the community’s ancient celebration, which included the dances.

The Fleece Inn has won numerous honours, including the Shakespeare (Worcestershire) CAMRA Pub of the Year, the Good Pub Guide Top Ten Country Pubs, Best Beer Garden in the Cotswolds, Daily Telegraph / Sawdays Pub of the Year, Visit Worcestershire Pub of the Year, and Open Table’s Diner’s Choice, among others.

At the end of our evening in Bretforton, we’ll return to our Abbots Grange home for a rest. What a day it will have been, possibly unlike any you’ve ever known or will ever know again.

Famous for its ancient, unspoiled beauty, the Cotswolds have clear and strong connections with many authors: Jane Austen, Lewis Carroll, Beatrix Potter, J.R.R. Tolkien, and T.S. Eliot—among many others—have found inspiration and respite in this idyllic region. The point here, of course, as with all such lists, is that you might find yourself in tune with the spirit, not only of these famous authors, but of the place itself. It’s the quiet majesty of these towns and communities that lure us, as they’ve done for millions of people over the centuries—and again we’ll remind you, that’s a major reason why we’re going in mid-December—all the better to ponder a menu, or your work in progress, in relative peace.

Whether the Cotswolds, Stratford, Broadway, Oxford, or Abbots Grange, one might well anticipate that if so many have come here before for inspiration, so might you.

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Back to Birmingham

“O Good night, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow.”

(Bonus points if you can identify—without the help of an internet search engine!!—which Shakespeare character utters those pained words)

On our last morning, we’ll have a final, fare-thee-well breakfast at Abbots Grange before checkout at 11:00 a.m., and we’ll have private transportation back to Birmingham Airport, where you can catch a flight home or continue your travels.

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Join us on our next adventure

 

Sure, you can write anywhere, but you can also write in a 14th century manor house in the Cotswolds, maybe even a little bit in Stratford-upon-Avon, Oxford, and Bretforton, too. Join us as we find inspiration in a country that honours its writers as if they were gods and goddesses.

On Go and Write! retreats, you won’t find expectations of daily word counts, but you will find plenty of encouragement. Like something out of Canterbury Tales, you’ll find yourself among like-minded souls with hopes, aspirations, and stories to tell.

We always suggest you bring something to write on, because you really can write anywhere. Pubs, coffeehouses, park benches, or outside the house of a famous literary figure—the world is yours to write about. It’s up to you to value your own time, which sometimes will mean saying, “Not today” to the gods of distraction. Other times, it will mean going down the rabbit hole.

Join us, then, for a Christmastime retreat at an ancient monastery, a creative haven of inspiration and reflection for artists and writers for countless years.

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A note from a recent retreat participant

“It is not an exaggeration to say this retreat changed my life! I have been struggling for years to finish a personal memoir draft. Just a few days on our retreat, and my writing and I turned a corner. I had the breakthrough that had eluded me for years. The combination of Gerard’s insightful guidance, the support of the other writers who became instant soulmates, and the Irish tradition of storytelling in an 18th century castle proved to be life-changing.

“I am close to finishing my memoir draft, and I give all credit to Go and Write for providing the environment that enabled me to write and organize my thoughts.  I have opened myself up to the possibilities ahead, and I’m feeling better about my writing than I have in years.

“My deepest thanks to Gerard and Jane…”

~ Gloria R.B., Go and Write! alumnus

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Go!

• 8 nights, 9 days at the Abbots Grange manor house
• 8 breakfasts—second breakfast is up to you—3 dinners and 2 lunches
• A visit to Stratford-upon-Avon where Shakespeare was born and lived
• Day tour of the Cotswolds and Oxford
• Festive afternoon and evening at The Fleece Inn, with a talk from the Landlord, a commemorative book, dinner and two refreshments, and roasted chestnuts included
• Time to explore the village of Broadway, a 2-minute walk from Abbots Grange
• Non-writing participants (who accompany a writer) are welcome to take part in as few or as many of the elements of the retreat as they wish
• Land transfers for included events as well as to and from Birmingham Airport

 

Write!

• Professional, honest, and thoughtful written commentary on your pre-submitted writing sample from Dr. Gerard Collins, an award-winning author and university professor of English language and literature—helpful for all writing levels
• Two group writing sessions
• Two one-on-one chats with Gerard and regular check-ins throughout the retreat
• Group readings and discussions with Gerard and other writers
• Ample quiet time and opportunity for writing, inspiration, idea-gathering, and solitude

 

A major difference between Go and Write! and most travel companies or writing retreats is the personalized aspect of our tours. We ensure there’s both social time and alone time built into the itinerary, as well as plenty of time for wandering and gathering thoughts in a solitary fashion. We encourage writers to give each other space, although social time also guaranteed, if that’s what you’d like. Note, also, that we don’t compel strangers to share a room as most writers prefer solitude or, at most, the company of a friend or family member of their own choosing.

In all, we pride ourselves on being open and inclusive and, being writers ourselves, we imagine the best writing retreat possible and try our best to deliver on that ideal.

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COST

We have split the rooms at Abbots Grange into two categories, as per the venue’s recommendation and fees.

Please also note that there is NOT a surcharge for single travellers. The true cost of the retreat is based on the single price, but if you register as a double and travel with someone else, you share the room costs, which lowers the price per person. You must be prepared to share a bed as there are no twin options in any of the rooms at Abbots Grange.

Retreat including a Heritage Room at Abbots Grange
Double occupancy, per person: $5,995 CAD (approx. $4,130 US) per person, including tax.
Single occupancy: $7,895 CAD (approx. $5,440 US) per person, including tax.
See Heritage Rooms.

Retreat including a Luxury Suite at Abbots Grange
Double occupancy, per person: $7,095 CAD (approx. $4,890 US) per person, including tax.
Single occupancy: $9,995 CAD (approx. $6,885 US) per person, including tax.
See Luxury Suites: Abbot’s Chambers, Elizabethan Suite, Coach House Suite, Carriage Room, and Stable Room

Contact Us

 

Contact us for more information and to reserve your space, and to see which rooms are available. 

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See below for the payment schedule and specific cancellation policy associated with this retreat.

Please note that there is NOT a surcharge for single travellers. The true cost of the retreat is based on the single price, but if you bring someone else, you share the room costs, which lowers the price per person. We do not pair strangers on our retreats, and numbers will be limited to approximately 16 registrants to allow for a more intimate, connected, and focused experience. 

Listed price is in Canadian dollars and includes tax; gratuities are at participants’ discretion. We have estimated the price in US dollars for our American participants’ convenience, based on the rate of exchange at the time of publication; the actual cost in American dollars will depend on the conversion rate at time of payment. 

Rates shown do not include credit card processing fees. For those paying by credit card, we will have to add 2.4% and that fee is non-refundable. For Canadians, we’re able to offer an e-transfer option to save you processing fees. For other registrants, we also accept international bank transfers; please research the processing fees charged by your bank as you’re responsible to pay those fees. Contact us for more information.

Some people choose to pay by credit card, particularly if it has an associated trip insurance policy. It is your responsibility to research and understand details around any insurance coverage associated with your credit card. Visit our Expectations, Rules, and Refunds page for more information about the importance of trip insurance.

Register by contacting us.

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Payment schedule
*Timing can be adjusted for registrants who sign up after deadlines, and we can create an individual payment plan at no additional cost.

• At registration, to confirm your space: $1,200 CAD per person, non-refundable, non-transferable deposit
• On or before June 10, 2025: next instalment of $3,200 CAD per person is due
• On or before August 10, 2025: balance remaining is due

Fees are in Canadian dollars and include applicable taxes. If you’re interested in paying in instalments within this schedule, please let us know so that can be arranged—we do not charge an additional fee for this service. Payment deadlines must be met or you risk forfeiting your space, and the cancellation and refunds policy and dates specific to this retreat apply (see below). Registrants who run into difficulties meeting the payment schedule must contact us immediately to see if alternate arrangements can be made.

See additional details about missed payments, cancellations, and refunds below. We may extend these dates for later registrants.

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Insurance, cancellations

You are responsible for arranging for trip insurance, including cancellation insurance! Life can throw curveballs at us: we HIGHLY recommend that all participants get travel insurance, including cancellation, interruption, and health insurance, as soon as they register for a Go and Write! retreat.

We have seen situations where participants who have NOT arranged for insurance lose all of their investment when they’ve had to cancel, and we’ve seen participants who HAVE arranged for insurance recoup 100% of their investment.

Participants are responsible to research and make arrangements for their own insurance.

Participants are responsible to research the implications of travel restrictions and requirements at home and abroad before and at the time of travel. Ensure you have everything you need so you aren’t turned away from establishments or airports.

Missed payments, cancellation, and refunds — please note this policy and these dates are specific to this retreat

We strongly encourage you to purchase the appropriate travel insurance, and to do so at the appropriate time.

Payment deadlines must be met or you risk forfeiting your space and the cancellation and refunds policy and dates specific to this retreat apply. If you run into difficulties meeting the payment schedule, you must contact us immediately to see if alternate arrangements can be made.

• Your deposit as well as any processing fees associated with retreat payment(s) are 100% non-refundable and non-transferable, regardless of the timing or circumstances of your cancellation.
• If you cancel on or before June 9, 2025, any other payments you’ve made to us are returned to you, less the non-refundable deposit and any payment processing fees.
• If you cancel between June 10 and August 9, 2025, you forfeit 75% of all monies paid, in addition to the non-refundable deposit and any processing fees.
• If you cancel on or after August 10, 2025, no fees paid will be returned.
• You must notify us, in writing, of your intentions to cancel.

While we present our information in good faith, sometimes things happen that are beyond our control and circumstances may force us to change certain aspects of the retreat.

• If the retreat or any aspect of the retreat needs to be postponed or adjusted, we will make every attempt to reschedule or offer an alternative.
• We can only offer refunds if our providers also refund monies to us.
• Prices are subject to change due to provider and supplier changes and availability, unforeseen travel conditions, cancellations, and culpability.

Due to contractual obligations with our suppliers, we cannot make exceptions to the cancellation policy, regardless of the reason.

All participants (and travel companions, if applicable) are required to review our Expectations, Rules and Refunds page and acknowledge agreement with the contents before registering for a Go and Write! retreat.

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A few notes

Passport

A valid passport is required—you could be turned away at the airport if your passport is within a few months of expiry, so be sure to check your passport expiry date against what the host country will allow. This almost happened to us—it was only by the grace of the airport attendant that we were allowed to board the plane!

New for 2025: Entry requirement to the U.K.

New for 2025, all travellers to the United Kingdom are required to apply for an electronic travel authorization (ETA). We applied for ours and it was easy and quick; that said, we highly recommend applying well in advance. It costs £10 (approx. $13 USD, $18 CAD) to apply. Learn more here.

Amenities

We are staying in a venue with no elevator; participants may be required to climb stairs to get to their bedrooms. At some points during our retreat, there may be limited or no Wi-Fi or cellular phone service, as well as no air conditioning in our accommodations.

Logistics

The retreat begins on December 9 and ends on December 17, 2025. On the morning of December 9, we will gather at the Birmingham Airport to meet our private coach. Check-out at Abbots Grange is at 11:00 a.m. We will provide transportation to the Birmingham Airport after checkout. Please communicate with us before making flight arrangements.

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Check out our 2025 retreat lineup!

 

Return to Kingsbrae: St. Andrews by-the-Sea, New Brunswick, Canada, May 18-25, 2025

Return to Kingsbrae: St. Andrews by-the-Sea, New Brunswick, Canada, June 4-11, 2025

Retreat to the New World: Newfoundland, Canada, August 7-23, 2025

Return to Kingsbrae: St. Andrews by-the-Sea, New Brunswick, Canada, September 17-24, 2025

A Grand Writing Tour of Ireland: October 4-26, 2025

Mountains, Lochs, and Lore: Scotland 2025

Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire: England 2025