Cornwall Journaling Retreat
Nestled just outside Padstow, this restored 18th-century manor blends historic charm with coastal luxury. A slower, more reflective escape by the sea.
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Our Cornwall Journaling Retreat is designed as a gentle reset — five days of quiet reflection, creative exploration, and space to reconnect with yourself on the wild Cornish coast.
Set in the same beautiful countryside location as our beloved Cornwall Reading Retreat, this experience swaps page-turning for pen to paper, offering guided journaling sessions, restorative mindfulness practices, and time to simply breathe.
Think slow mornings, fireside conversations, coastal air, and the kind of stillness that allows your thoughts to finally catch up with you.
Whether you’re looking to process, dream bigger, or simply enjoy the act of writing without pressure, this retreat offers the space to do exactly that.
What To Expect
Over five days, we’ll move through a carefully curated programme designed to support reflection, creativity, and rest. The experience blends guided journaling, gentle wellness practices, and time in nature, creating the perfect balance between structure and spaciousness.
There will be moments of quiet introspection, shared conversation, and plenty of time to soak up the beauty of the Cornish landscape. No journaling experience is required — just curiosity and an open notebook.
To support this slower, more mindful atmosphere, the retreat is alcohol-free, allowing guests to fully immerse themselves in the experience with clarity and presence.
Gifting Partnership
As part of this retreat, guests will receive thoughtfully selected journaling materials through a gifting partnership with Paperblanks.
These items have been chosen to support your writing experience throughout the retreat and are yours to take home afterwards — a small reminder of the space you created for yourself during the week.
Location
Padstow, Cornwall
Nestled within the heart of St Issey, a hamlet just outside Padstow, you will find this gorgeous period home. An 18th-century building carefully restored to its original plan, it expertly showcases the building’s past through the use of exposed Cornish slated walls, original beams, restored feature fireplaces.
Formerly a listed Manor House, Courthouse, and Mill, the building is filled with a sense of history as well as its own unique character and sense of place. Lounge in the luxurious living spaces or enjoy a special meal together in the grand dining room that's flooded with that inimitable Cornish coastal light.
One of our favourite things about this home has to be the garden, and we think it is the perfect place to sit back with a glass of wine and really savour that holiday feeling. The hot tub is at your disposal throughout your stay.
Itinerary
Meet & Greet
It all begins with an introduction over cocktails. Meet the other ladies and get ready for a gorgeous few days.
Welcome Dinner
Come together over an incredible meal to chat and take part in our coveted book swap
Intention Setting
A gentle opening session to reflect and set personal intentions for the retreat.
Hot Tub
Wind down with a book in a hot tub surrounded by nature.
Guided Journalling
A reflective writing session using prompts to help explore your thoughts and ideas.
Beachside Sauna
Take self-care to the next level and reap the benefits of the beachside sauna.
Mindfulness Session
A quiet evening session designed to slow down and bring awareness to the present moment.
Country Walk
Stretch your legs with a scenic countryside walk, breathe in the fresh air, and take in the beauty of your surroundings.
Fireside Chats
Relaxed evening conversations by the fire, sharing reflections and connecting with fellow guests.
Breathwork & Movement
A calming practice combining breathwork and light movement to ground the body and clear the mind.
Rooms
10 beautiful rooms, all with bathroom facilities, to enjoy on your own or with one other person. Bedrooms can be offered as a two single-bed option on request.
Solo Occupancy
£1700
Shared Occupancy
£2300
Details
Accommodation, food and drink (the retreat is alcohol free) & full itinerary
Flights, travel insurance, food & drink outside of the accommodation
If you need any assistance on travel arrangements please get in touch, we are a licensed travel agent to accommodate all of your needs.
Secure your spot with a non-refundable deposit, then pay the remaining balance via a payment plan. The full balance is due 60 days before the retreat start date. Prefer to pay upfront? You’ll save 5% when you pay in full at the time of booking.
Padstow, Cornwall, UK. The house is located in the village of St Issey. Just 20 minutes from Padstow Harbour and a 10 minute drive to Newquay Airport.
ARC Padstow is a beautifully restored historic manor house, and as such there are some accessibility limitations. The property has parking next to the house and one ground-floor bedroom with an en-suite walk-in shower and its own entrance from the parking area. Several bedrooms are located on upper floors accessed by stairs, and some of the ground-floor rooms are connected by small steps between spaces. Outdoor areas, including the gardens, may also involve steps. If you have specific accessibility requirements, please get in touch before booking so we can discuss whether the retreat is the right fit for you.
Once your place is secured, you’ll receive a welcome pack with everything you need to know — including your final payment link, full itinerary, and local recommendations. Around 60 days before the trip, you’ll be added to a dedicated WhatsApp group where all further trip communication will take place and you can start connecting with fellow guests.
FAQ
Property-based retreats start at 1pm.Yacht-based retreats begin with welcome drinks near the marina from 1pm, with boarding usually around 3pm.
Hotel-based retreats typically have check-in from 3pm.
While you're welcome to arrive any time after the stated start time, we recommend not arriving too late so you don’t miss the welcome drinks and introductions.
Exact timings may vary depending on the location and property. Guests will be notified closer to their retreat, with confirmed check-in details included in their Welcome Pack.
Property-based retreats (hotels and villas) usually end at 11am.For our yacht Reading Retreats, guests usually disembark at 10am.
Exact timings may vary depending on the location and property.
Guests will be notified closer to their retreat, with confirmed check-out details included in their Welcome Pack.
Each is location-specific! Itineraries are outlined on the individual Reading Retreat pages. Ladies Who Lit reserves the right to make reasonable changes to the itinerary, activities, or accommodation due to circumstances beyond our control. Guests will be informed of any significant changes as soon as possible.
Our Reading Retreats range from relaxing to adventurous. You can find this information on each retreat listing on our website. The itinerary is shared in advance via the WhatsApp group chat, and each day is designed to balance free time with planned activities. Everything on the itinerary is entirely optional, including evening meals, so guests are welcome to spend time on their own if they wish.
The cost of the retreat does not cover flights, so you are responsible for booking your own. We recommend booking your flights as soon as your spot on the Reading Retreat is confirmed, to secure the best options and fares. If you’d like any assistance or support in choosing the best flights, please don’t hesitate to reach out – as licensed travel agents, we’re happy to help.
Depending on the Reading Retreat, a complimentary transfer may be offered. Please check the specific retreat listing under “Getting There” for full details.
Guests are notified of the Book of the Retreat 50 days before departure via the group WhatsApp chat. We always take great care in selecting a title we feel will be exciting and engaging for all guests.
Reading the book is completely optional; however, we do host a book discussion on the final night of the retreat for those who would like to take part.
For our property and yacht Reading Retreats, you’ll be joined by a dedicated host and chef (and a skipper for yachts). For hotel-based Reading Retreats, a host will be on-site throughout, supported by the hotel’s team to ensure a truly memorable experience.
Group sizes can vary depending on the venue, but we typically welcome 12–16 guests per Reading Retreat, plus our host(s), chef, and a skipper for yacht-based retreats.
You will be added to a WhatsApp group chat with the other guests 60 days before the retreat begins, giving you the chance to get to know each other beforehand.
Guest ages generally range from 20s to 60s, but we’ve welcomed people from 18 to 75, so our retreats are truly open to everyone!
On the first evening, we host a blind book swap. It’s a fun ice breaker that sparks conversation – and you get a new book! If you’re not comfortable in group discussions, we’ll do everything we can to ensure you feel at ease. You can also share any preferences or notes in advance on your preference sheet.
For the Book Swap, we ask that guests bring a book they’ve loved and think someone else might enjoy too. It doesn’t need to be new – it can be your well-loved copy, whatever works best. We also ask that you gift wrap the book, as it really adds to the fun of the experience.
The food reflects the local cuisine of the country. We aim to offer a mix of familiar favourites alongside exciting new dishes you may not have tried before.
Guest ages generally range from 20s to 60s, but we’ve welcomed people from 18 to 75, so our retreats are truly open to everyone!
Yes! All dietary restrictions are fully catered for. You’ll receive a preference sheet before your Reading Retreat, allowing you to share any requirements in advance.
There isn’t a daily housekeeper to make the beds during the retreat.
Although we love dogs, our Reading Retreats are for humans only.
A solo occupancy room accommodates one person, while a shared room accommodates two.
If your plans change and you’d like to switch between solo and shared occupancy, that’s no problem – just reach out to us, and the price will be adjusted accordingly.
Yes! We host private Reading Retreats for special occasions such as hen dos, birthdays, or other celebrations. Each retreat can be tailored to create a memorable and personalised experience for your group. Email help@ladieswholit.co.uk to find out more.
While we don’t operate a waitlist, the best way to be first in the know is by joining our Book Club. Members receive early access to newly announced Reading Retreats and get first dibs on any spaces that become available.
As of 2026, we have a new booking system in place. For both solo and shared occupancy, only one deposit is required to secure your room.
In the run-up to your Reading Retreat, you’ll receive a Welcome Pack with a payment link for the remaining balance. Guests have up to 60 days before the retreat starts to pay in full and can choose to settle it all at once or in installments via Klarna. Please note, if the balance is not paid in full at least 60 days in advance, the booking will be forfeited.
As a UK-based business, all of our payments are processed in British Pound Sterling (£). Stripe, our payment provider, will handle the currency conversion for you and you will be responsible for any currency conversion fees.
With our new booking system, the balance needs to be managed together by the guests. You can choose to pay it in full whenever it’s convenient, or spread the cost over time using Klarna.
Unfortunately, we’re unable to transfer your booking to another Reading Retreat. However, we can provide a refund for your trip, minus the non-refundable deposit, if requested up to 60 days before the retreat starts. If you’d like to join a different retreat, you’re welcome to book through the standard process, which ensures fairness and equal opportunity for all our guests.
Passports are required as part of our standard policy, as they’re needed for guest registration at our Reading Retreat locations. In some cases, they may also be necessary for local registration or activity sign-ups.
Explore more of our Reading Retreats

Saas-Fee, Switzerland

Ibiza, Spain

Mallorca, Spain
What our guests are saying about their stay
Pure magic! From the moment we arrived at the most breathtaking villa nestled in the rolling Tuscan hills, Meagan made sure every detail felt like it had been curated straight out of an Italian dream.
I attended the February Caribbean reading retreat and wish I could rate it higher than 5 stars! This was the best vacation I could have imagined. Not only was the resort amazing, the conversation and the ladies could not have been better.
I had such a lovely time on my retreat to Sicily. Megan is an amazing host who really looked after all of the group and made the trip feel like a fab holiday with friends. I went alone and everyone was lovely - I will happily book again next year. Book! You won't regret it.
Find out first...Join the book club
Join the Ladies Who Lit book club and be the first to know when new retreats drop and last minute spaces become available.
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