Your Retreat

The retreat is designed to give you as much time and space as you require to write in conducive surroundings. We encourage you to come to Le Verger (the orchard) with a firm idea of what you will be working on so that you can get stuck in immediately and be assured a productive stay. While geared primarily to writers, Le Verger welcomes people working on any creative project. Everyone works to a different schedule (or none), so we leave this entirely up to you.
If you prefer more guidance, by arrangement, David will provide you with extra input before or during the retreat (a set writing task, an idea for a short story or poem).
Accompanying partners who want to walk, bird-watch or just relax (!) are welcome on the same terms.

Feedback on your writing

On two evenings, you are invited (but not obliged) to briefly share your work-in-progress with the group and receive constructive feedback.

When you are not writing

You are in Dordogne, a glorious part of Sout-West France! Relax on our land or feel free to take yourself off on well-signposted walks to Le Puy des Ages (2 km), the chateau-forge of Savignac-Lédrier or the village bar (1.5km).

Your Hosts

David and Michèle Lambert have run writing retreats for 14 years at their house Le Verger. David has a Masters in Creative Writing from UEA and was lecturer in Creative Writing at Anglia Ruskin University. His novel The House in Bacolet is due out with Peepal Tree Press in 2025. We’re committed to making sure you eat well, sleep well, get inspired and write lots during your retreat!

Dates:

June / July 2025 dates TBA

September dates 2025 TBA

*Prices:

£450 Shared room or writer’s cabin

£515 Own room or writer’s cabin

*prices include full board and group airport /rail station transfers from Limoges

Accommodation

You’ll be accommodated in your own simple but comfortable room with a desk and lamp. ‘The Piggery’, a separate gite in the grounds, is suitable for two (or more) writers: it has a large open mezzanine space upstairs (4m x 6m) with further accommodation below (5m x 6m) separated by curtains. There is wifi in all the accommodation. Two Writer’s Cabins (3 x 3.5m and 3 x 3 m) each provide ‘rustic’ but comfortable individual accommodation (occupant uses main house bathrooms) There’s also a glamping option –– a tent ( 3m x 3m) you can stand up in, with single bed, electricity. Subject to availability, retreaters may have their own room or share accommodation in the main house with another writer or an accompanying partner.

*While we do our best to satisfy your accommodation request, please note that in the event that this is not possible you will be offered the alternative at the advertised price.

Meals

Breakfast is on a help yourself basis and can be from as early (or late) as you require it. A buffet lunch will be laid out in the kitchen from 12.30-1.30. Tea- and coffee-making facilities are available whenever you require. A sit-down home cooked dinner with wine is served from 7.00pm and we encourage all retreaters to join the group for this (let us know on the Booking Form of dietary needs or other intolerances). Retreaters take turns after one evening meal to help clear away.

Getting there

The course fee includes transfers between Limoges and Le Verger (80km). It is important you are all on the same outward and return Ryanair flight to Limoges to facilitate this. NB. Wait for us to let you know when you can go ahead and book your flight or train.

Travelers by train can be picked up / dropped off at Limoges-Benedictins at a time which coincides within an hour or so with airport collection/drop offs.

If you can’t make the group transfer, a local taxi to Le Verger will charge around 120-160 euros. We will do our best to pick up separate travelers and charge 80 euros.

In the unlikely event of a Ryanair flight rerouting to more distant Poitiers or Bergerac airport, an adjusted pick up /drop off charge will be applied.

What to bring

We recommend you travel light ( we provide a towel and a hair drier) as luggage space in the transfer cars is limited. A warm jumper is recommended in all seasons — at the highest point in the Dordogne (410 m) even hot days can have cool evenings. Please ensure you bring the dietary essentials you need. We provide vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free and soya alternatives.

The nearest pharmacie is 7 km away (and costly) so please bring supplies of any personal medication you know you will need (hay fever, travel sickness). French supermarkets can’t sell even aspirin. We recommend you bring an effective anti-tick preparation as there have been reports of ticks in the region. Rose Geranium (pelargonium graveolens) essential oil, or anything with 30% deet is effective. Recently there has been the odd mosquito at night so a repellant is recommended.

Bring euros as cards are not always accepted and there are no ATMs in deepest France.

Bring your own European plug adapter.