The Autumnal Earth Retreat

In September 2026, we took the train down to Cornwall to visit a very special venue in the countryside near Newquay.

I first heard about Tresillian House four years ago, and it has taken us until now to begin working with Jonny and his team.

We're delighted to announce that our Autumnal Earth Retreat will take place here in autumn 2027, in this Grade II-listed Victorian house built in 1848.

When we first visited Tresillian House, I felt instantly at home and knew it was the right place to bring our retreat community.

Surrounded by gardens, fields and ancient woodland, the house has an immediate warmth and calm. The air carries the scent of herbs, seasonal flowers and plants, and freshly cut grass. I could already picture it in autumn: apples ripening for their own cider, damp green moss, mushrooms along the paths and dew on the grass.

The walled garden will be full of root vegetables, kale, cabbages, pumpkins and more, a perfect fit for the Autumnal Earth Retreat.

Then there is the house itself, beautifully decorated and well cared for by our hosts, Jonny and Alan. Most bedrooms are ensuite, with a mix of antique and modern furniture that gives each room its own character.

It feels like stepping back in time, the perfect setting to slow down, reconnect with the earth and feel its calming effects.

Nearby, you'll find the Eden Project and the historic harbour villages of Charlestown and Mevagissey. If you fancy a bracing cold swim, Watergate Bay, one of the finest surf beaches on the north coast, is within easy reach.

Here, the days unfold gently.

You'll practise deep grounding tools like somatic and mindful yoga, breathwork, deep relaxation and meditation to the sounds of nature; enjoy nourishing meals made with Cornish produce and cooked by our resident chef, Lucy Charlesworth, founder of Lucy's Ladle; and take time simply to be, whether wandering the grounds or heading out to explore.

Tresillian House is around four and a half hours from London, by direct train to St Austell and a taxi from the station. Cornwall Airport Newquay is a short drive away, and the house is also easy to reach by car. You'll find full travel details below.

It's October, and together we'll explore practices that support the changes of autumn, both in nature and in ourselves.

I had no hesitation in choosing our theme to guide us through this change: the Autumnal Earth Retreat.

The Earth gives and sustains life; quite literally, she is the ground beneath our feet. She supports us through the natural cycles of growth, rest and renewal, and gives us a sense of stability and of being rooted in time and place.

Earth and Autumn

In autumn, the Earth takes a long, slow exhale. All summer, life has reached up towards the light; now the leaves let go, and the sap draws back down into the roots and the soil.

Nothing that falls is wasted.

It breaks down and becomes nourishment for spring and a gentle reminder that what we let go of can feed what comes next.

The Art of Earthing in Autumn

Grounding allows us to move freely, rest fully, and face what lies ahead.

As the days cool and shorten, our nervous system follows the same rhythm as the leaves, shifting from the active, outward energy of summer (the sympathetic state) to the slower, settling energy of autumn (the parasympathetic state).

Throughout the week, we'll support this shift with grounding and restorative yoga, somatic exercises, deep guided relaxation techniques and breathwork, with a particular focus on the exhale, learning to let the earth hold us, rather than holding ourselves up.

We'll practise together in the barn, a warm, welcoming space with a large wooden floor, underfloor heating and a wood-burning stove.

All props are provided, so you can settle in comfortably, whatever the weather.

Feel free to bring your own props, favourite blankets or pillows.

I've prepared a series of practices and reflections that build through the week, guiding you step by step towards balance and stability as nature prepares for winter, trusting the slowing down rather than resisting it.

This retreat offers several daily classes, from early morning to evening. Download the brochure for the full programme →

Set in 22 acres of private gardens and woodland near Newquay, Tresillian House is a Grade II-listed Victorian manor, built in 1848 on the foundations of a medieval house.

Facing south over an ornamental lake and open fields, it lies about four miles from the north Cornish coast and its surf beaches at Watergate Bay, Fistral and Holywell.

At the heart of the grounds is one of the few remaining Victorian walled kitchen gardens in Cornwall, complete with its original greenhouse and potting shed.

The head gardener and his team grow the fruit, vegetables and flowers that supply the house, and apple and pear trees, some more than a century old, are trained along the old brick walls.

Beyond, paths wind through camellia woods, orchards and new wildflower meadows. There is also a tennis court and a gym, and your hosts, Jonny and Alan, can arrange beauty treatments and guided garden tours during your stay.

The Manor House has a full-height hall with an oak staircase, a library, a drawing room overlooking the garden and lake, and a dining room seating 20.

Throughout, rooms are furnished with antique and modern pieces in a relaxed country style, with White Company bedding and REN bath products.

Payment options

Free time each afternoon, from Friday to Sunday, gives you space to explore the house, the grounds and the north Cornish coast at your own pace.

Within the estate, paths wind through the woods, orchards and wildflower meadows, and around the lake. The Victorian walled kitchen garden is worth a visit on its own, and Jonny and Alan can arrange a guided garden tour during your stay. There is also a tennis court and a gym.

Trerice, a National Trust Elizabethan manor house with fine interiors and gardens, is just a mile away.

The north coast beaches are a short drive from the house: Lusty Glaze is around 4 miles away, Watergate Bay 5 miles, Crantock 6 miles and Holywell Bay 7 miles. In October the beaches are quiet, and a bracing walk or a cold sea swim is a good way to spend an afternoon.

Further afield, the Eden Project is around 13 miles away, and the historic harbour at Charlestown is around 15 miles away. The Lost Gardens of Heligan, near Mevagissey, are around 17 miles away.

Opening hours for Trerice and Eden Project can be shorter in autumn, so we recommend checking opening times before you go.

Massage and therapies can be arranged on request.

Address

Tresillian House, Newquay, Cornwall TR8 4PS

By train

The closest station is St Austell, around four and a half hours from London Paddington by direct train. From the station, it is easy to take a taxi to the house. We suggest checking trains to St Austell on Trainline's website.

By air

The closest airport is Cornwall Airport Newquay (NQY), 15 minutes by car from the house. Routes and timetables change by season, so we suggest checking current flights on Google Flights’ website.

Transfers are not included in the retreat price.

Arrival and departure

Arrival is from 4 pm on Thursday. Departure is between 12:30 and 1 pm on Monday, after a light lunch.