Words, Art & Wellness Retreat
Where the land meets the sea, Isle of HarrisJune 4th -10th , 2026
£2700 Early Bird till 1st July – Please enquire
Please note Carien Borst will be organising this retreat so all enquires will be redirected.
overview
A unique experience during one of the most beautiful seasons on the Isle of Harris—an immersive retreat that gently blends art, writing, nature, and well-being.
This retreat invites you to explore self-expression through both words and art. Whether painting freely in the studio or on the beach, or journaling alongside your art, you’ll be guided closer to what your heart truly wants to express.
To support this, we’re weaving in moments of stillness and connection within nature. Wild swimming, sauna, and surfing (weather and availability permitting) will be offered in collaboration with local wellness practitioners. These experiences are designed to ground you, energise you, and bring you into deeper alignment with your creative flow.
9 participants, led by Margaret Soraya & Carien Borst
INCLUDED: pick up from Stornoway or Tarbert, all food and drink (excluding wine), all creative activities and art supplies, outdoor led trips, inspirational sessions, swim trips, surf lesson and sauna session ( subject to availability
EXCLUDED: travel to Harris, insurance
Who is this for:
- For women who would like to step away from the noise to find their inner voice. Who love creativity community and friendship as well as inspiration. For creatives, seekers, writers, dreamers — and anyone longing to create from the heart. You don’t need to be “experienced” — just open to exploring.
Painting sessions
Writing & journalling sessions
Your own space to create
Painting :
We will have dedicated sessions with Carien leading you into creating freely, expressively and without holding back
There will be visits to local galleries to gain inspiration
Writing :
Led journalling and writing sessions to help you explore and open up your words.
Discussions around how writing best fits into your creative practice, whether that is simply jounally for self exploration or writing to consider more deeply the concepts behind your art work, or if you are more of a writer than an artist, there is plenty time for you to simply sit quietly with your writing.
Wellness :
Making space in a beautiful and quiet place for being creative is wellness in itself. But we wanted to go a step further and provide some activities that help you go one step further into play, letting go and being immersed in the landscape in Harris.
We will be offering optional wild dipping trips and either a beach sauna or surf lesson—availability and weather dependent.
Other collaborations locally may include exploring A.S. Apothecary’s use of plants for well-being and a movement session.
Wild dipping/sauna/ surf / mindful movement
Walks on beaches and rocky landscapes
Location :
Single occupancy double / king-sized or twin room with its own bathroom within a 3-bedroom lodge. Each lodge has a shared kitchen and lounge and a sauna within one of the bathrooms.
The lodges are set within the rocky landscape of the east side of Harris, close to Margaret’s home and gallery. You can walk to the shoreline to watch the seals and birds and sit a while in perfect quiet.
Food :
Delicious food is standard on our retreats
Most food is homemade and tailored to your needs. Soups, salads, hearty dishes as well as pickles, local cakes and energy bites, all provided in your lodge or on location. Dinners are catered for in your lodge to share with your housemates as and when you prefer.
There may be some cafe visits as extra options outwith the retreat.
Your leaders
Margaret Soraya
Margaret specialises in encouraging and inspiring others in a genuine way. She teaches others to find their voice and live in line with their core values.
She has a deep love of creativity, the coast, and quiet places and a belief in retreat to revitalise and replenish.
Living on Harris she has a special love and connection with the Island. She knows best where to find those special places on the Isle of Harris that will give you that special quiet connection that you need.
Carien Borst
Carien is a visual artist and mainly makes intuitive oil paintings and ‘soul landscapes’. She finds inspiration for her paintings in being outdoors, immersing herself in silence and preferably by the sea or ocean. After a career in mental health management, originally trained as an art therapist, she chose a new path to follow her heart.
Travel
AIRPORT: Fly into Stornoway Airport
FERRY: Catch the ferry from Uig ( Skye ) to Tarbert ( Harris ) or Ullapool to Stornoway