"On a creative high!"

Still on a high after the inspiring Writers' Retreat at Middleham! The welcome was warm, the care from Jan and her team was faultless and unobtrusive, the accommodation perfect, and the opportunity to write was enanced by a supportive and interesting group of fellow-retreatants. I was very comfortable in The Red Room with its fabulous views over the church and the racing stables, but there were so many other places to choose to write - the library, the squashy sofas in the drawing-room, and the extensive garden. I didn't have time to play snooker! Steven was a supportive and helpful mentor but my only reservation would be to suggest that more specific help with the creative process would have been possible if he had known more about each person's writing before the first session. Altogether the Writers' Retreat was a hugely positive experience which I would strongly recommed to any aspiring, struggling or already successful writer.

"Writer’s Retreat: An experience worth every penny"

Not knowing what to expect from my first retreat I left there with definite improvement in my writing and having thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Jan and the team could not have been more helpful while letting their guests enjoy special own time. Great location and only reason it’s not 5 stars were some logistical issues with the house that were not the fault of the team. Thanks.

"Anti-Writer's-Block Retreat"

If you want to get unblocked and be inspired then this is the place to go. During my stay, I didn't have to worry about anything except my writing. The food was amazing and Jan and Ann were always there if i needed anything. The rooms were clean and spacious with a desk if I needed some alone writing time.
The mentoring sessions were also really helpful and the other writers in the retreat made me feel welcomed and we had some great conversations.
If you are a new writer do not hesitate, thinking this is for established authors. You will find people from different stages in their author path that will inspire your journey too. Definitely will do it again!

"Middleham House"

Spent three days at this historic house at my first Writer's Retreat.
I was met by Jan and warmly welcomed, had a tour of the beautiful house, then afternoon tea and scones. What a fabulous start and the remaining three days carried on in the same vein. Ann was also a lovely host, serving honest home cooked meals.
Our group of ten proved delightful to be with. We shared a common love of books and enthusiasm for writing. Everyone was very supportive of each other's work and projects.
I will definitely book again in the future.

"I had a fantastic 3 days with Jan and…"

I had a fantastic 3 days with Jan and Ann and met some truly amazing people. The venue was perfect and the hospitality was faultless. I will be going again next year.

"The Writers Retreat was incredible."

The Writers Retreat was incredible.
The venue was full of character and the rooms were squeaky clean and the beds super comfy.
It was wonderful to have a chance to rest and write. The meals were delicious and I enjoyed meeting and bonding with fellow writers.
I will book again soon!
Thank you to Jan and team!

"The perfect setting for writing"

I had a wonderful time at Middleham House. The house is beautiful, clean and comfortable. It was motivational to be in such a charming place and I loved the period features in the house. It is filled with beautiful art and comfortable writing spaces. The weather was lovely during this retreat, so we even got to sit outside and do some writing in the garden too. I also wandered up to the castle, where writing retreaters got free entry. A nice break from writing and a chance to get some steps in. The village is very picturesque with many pretty cottages. During the retreat, we had mentor sessions and a relaxation session where we did meditation. It was useful to discuss my work with a professional and I enjoyed the meditation too, it was so relaxing I wanted to sleep after. We were so well looked after during our stay. All meals were lovely and wine was plentiful too. I didn’t expect for Jan to be doing all the cooking herself! Jan and Ann went out of their way to make sure we were all comfortable. Everyone had a ball. I would love to go on another retreat, however I think next time I would be keen to stay a little bit longer! I’d say what seperates this retreat from the others is that writers aren’t expected to contribute to chores like cooking, making it a relaxing time away. Exactly what I had been longing for. A holiday where I could also write at my own pace with no pressure. We received welcome packs upon arrival and now my writers retreat tote bag and notebook will be cherished souvenirs.

"I would have given five stars if it wasn’t…"

I would have given 5 stars if it wasn’t for the wasps in the room (there was a nest outside) but I don’t think this is any reflection on the people running the course. Jan and Ann were amazing. The owners should have dealt with the wasp nest at the property and the price reflected to Jan and Ann as that room should have been unusable.
Fantastic retreat excellent food and hospitality and a great writers retreat.

"I had a fantastic retreat"

I had a fantastic retreat! I was a little anxious as I had never been on a retreat before having some academic writing to complete, so I was not sure if a creative writing retreat was the best place for me to go. I wanted to escape the pressures of work and life to give myself time to focus and so after talking to Jan the lady who runs the retreat I who was really helpfuI thought I would try it. I was so glad I went! I planned to lock myself away and had explained this and they were happy to do as much as they could to support me with this and how I wanted it to work for me. What I actually found was that I achieved not only what I had hoped for but also had a lovely experience with the other people who were there and looked forward to the mealtime gatherings to share ideas and experiences about all sorts of things.

I came home feeling inspired, refreshed and well looked after! The Principus ladies were so caring and helpful - the food was lovely and the mentoring and relaxation gave me a new experience that was really great and I also found that the different perspectives and sharing helped me to shake off some of my anxieties about my writing with some great advice and ideas. I met a great bunch of people who all were there with different types of writing to do and everyone got on so well - it was a very cathartic experience and surprised me. The house we stayed in was beautiful comfy beds, and with a fantastic bag of useful things that I wasn't expecting waiting in my room. I really cannot recommend the experience highly enough. I have already booked onto another retreat with them in a different venue in a couple of months and am looking forward to being looked after by the lovely ladies who run it and enjoying the beautiful countryside setting too.

"Great experience"

Great experience. Lovely location, excellent catering, interesting and entertaining company and lots of time to write. Will definitely do this again.