‘Every part of it was just right. A real treat for all the senses.’

Every year I teach at least two non-fiction writing retreats, ranging from one day ‘Writing in Nature’ courses to five-day Arvon retreats. I also teach weekend (and longer) courses with my good pal Lois Pryce, author and adventurer extraordinnaire. We love teaching together and - from the feedback we’ve had - seem to be doing something right!

Between 28th June and 3rd July, 2026 we’ll be running a five-day non-fiction writing retreat on Scotland’s Isle of Jura, at the farmhouse where George Orwell lived between 1946 and 1949, and wrote his his final, most famous novel, 1984. Still owned by the family who rented it to Orwell, the house is otherwise closed to the public. We will be the first people to run a writing retreat at this historic, beautiful place, and there are just seven places available.

Like our annual Wild Writing Weekend, this will be a chance for writers to gather, hone their craft, share stories, walk, swim, sit around a campfire, eat delicious food  – and write, write, write. All in the wildly remote and beautiful surroundings of Scotland’s Inner Hebrides.

To find out more about the course, and book one of the seven places, head over to Lois’ website here.

I also offer 1-1 online writing tutorials. If you’re interested in booking one of these please drop me a line here.

Here are what a few people have said about mine and Lois’ retreats.

Thank you both so much for organising it and giving us all so much inspiration – both in the writing, and the walking in beautiful Wales.

A really wonderful weekend, thank you Lois and Ants and Anna for everything you put in to make it such a joy. Lovely to meet everyone too and what weather!

Thank you for a weekend to be remembered and inspired by words, food and lives. A joy to meet you all and our amazing hosts Ants and Lois.

Every part of it was just right. A real treat for all the senses.  

Thank you for a hosting wonderfully inspirational weekend. I felt like I came away with not only the tools but also the motivation to get my book underway.

I want to thank you both for such an incredible time. I feel empowered.

I could not go to bed without taking the time to thank you both for a truly life-changing weekend. I am bowled over by your generosity of time and spirit, your skill in creating such a safe place for us to explore ourselves, and your permission for us to enhance our writing by exposing our vulnerabilities. I feel very privileged to have been part of the course.