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PRACTICAL INFORMATION

Locations
The events take place at the following locations within the United Kingdom:
The Mountain Retreat set in a magnificent secluded valley (between Newtown and Machynlleth in mid-Wales), which so many visitors have fallen in love with. Click here for a virtual tour. A beautiful snug 16th century farmhouse surrounded by woodlands and hills in rural mid-Wales, near Llandridod-Wells. The venue is secluded, situated within two and a half acres of grounds with streams, ponds, mature trees and lawns.
... and various other locations within England, Wales and Ireland.
Event Schedules

All events (except Enlightenment Intensives)
Events start around twilight (19:00-21:00) and finish around 13:00 of the date printed.
Please arrive from 16:00 onwards on the first day of the event.
Please depart on the last day after the closing meeting from around 13:00.

For all our workshops and events, you must be present for the whole event and arrive on the first day. This is also true for "The Cauldron of Plenty." If you are going to arrive later then please discuss this with ourselves in advance. There is a welcome circle on the Friday morning at "The Cauldron of Plenty" and a leaving circle on the Monday morning, and we do like everyone to be present. We like to think of "The Cauldron of Plenty" as a village gathering rather than a festival!

Enlightenment Intensives
The Intensives start on the evening of the first day shown on the schedule. You should aim to get there by 19:30. There is a welcoming meal and tea. The Intensive will formally start at 21.30.

The Intensives finish at 22:30 on the last day shown. We recommend that you do not rush off but take up our welcome to stay the night and leave slowly after breakfast the following day. There is a short talk on the Monday morning. Finish by 10:30 am. If possible do not schedule too busy a time immediately afterwards – there is a delicious period of profound reflection to enjoy.

Places to stay: If you would like to stay somewhere locally either before or after the events, then there are plenty of places to stay in the surrounding areas. See the external links section for some suggestions.
How to get there

Car:
Full directions and travel details will be sent through the post, on receipt of bookings.

If you wish to bring a camper van to Cauldron of Plenty this is usually ok but please mention it on your booking. You may have to leave it in the car parking field since vehicular access down to the camping meadow can be tricky and limited to 4x4s.

Car Sharing:
To reduce carbon emissions, Spirit Horse encourages car sharing. We would love to see more car sharing! If you wish to offer or request a lift then you can use the Freewheelers website.Please note: Spirit Horse can not take any responsibility for the organisation of car sharing.

Train:
If you are planning to take the train, please let us know on your booking.

For the Farmhouse, the nearest train station is Llandrindod Wells, which is 10mins from the Farmhouse.

For the Mountain Retreat, the nearest train station is at Machynlleth, which is a 30mins drive. You may be asked to contribute towards petrol (around £5 per trip) payable to the driver (the cheapest taxi in Wales!)

Machynlleth is on the Birmingham-Shrewsbury-Aberystwyth line.
Due to logistics of getting people to and from the train station and camp, we usually arrange the following :
  • one pickup at 19:00 at Machynlleth to meet the train departing Birmingham around 16:00, on the first day of the event.
  • one drop off, leaving at 13:00 from the camp for the train departing Machynlleth around 14:00, on the last day of the event.
Please check pick-up and drop-off times with Erika before booking your train.

You can check train times at http://www.nationalrail.co.uk

If you decide to get different trains, you may have to make your own arrangements. Taxi's can cost around £35 from Machynlleth.


Shelter

The Mountain Retreat: Celtic roundhouse and our collection of Turkoman gers, yurts, tipis, benders and bedouin tents. We can provide meeting and shared sleeping space for many people during the retreats.

For all events EXCEPT "The Cauldron of Plenty" there is no need to bring a tent - sleeping will be in roundhouses and gers (but you can still bring a tent if you wish.) For Sacred Man:Sacred Woman, you are welcome to bring a tent to sleep in on the first and last night but will be expected to stay with the rest of the men/women in the respective lodges during the weekend.

Please note, that the Mountain Retreat is simple but elegant living - there are no modern facilities, no mains electricity and no shower\toilet block. There is a compost toilet (with proper toilet seat, private and kept clean) near the camping meadow, and a natural bathing pool (waterfall and pool) which is a very refreshing way to start the day!

Farmhouse:There is no need to bring a tent. The farmhouse consists of meeting, eating and sleeping spaces, hot showers and a sauna!

Meals

Meals are provided within the ticket price for all events EXCEPT "The Cauldron of Plenty". We have a fully equipped kitchen and serve three meals a day and cater for vegetarians and non-vegetarians. Please inform us, if you have a food allergy. The meals on The Enlightenment Intensive are strictly vegetarian.

We provide drinking water at the Mountain Retreat, but feel free to bring your own supply as well (e.g. for your tent.)
At "The Cauldron of Plenty" we run a fairly priced kitchen (around £4-£8 depending on the meal) and serve three meals a day and cater for vegetarians and non-vegetarians. We also sell drinks and cakes during the day.

A meal ticket can be purchased for the entire event once you arrive, and costs from £50 for Adults and from £25 upwards for Children (depending on appetite!) The meal ticket entitles you to Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner including a drink, for the whole event. On the first day (Thursday) we will provide Dinner, and on the last day (Monday) we will provide Breakfast.

Please note, the meal ticket and meal prices quoted here are a guide, and may increase if food prices increase.

You are also welcome to bring your own food and cooking equipment to "The Cauldron of Plenty".

What to bring

Essentially: a tent ("The Cauldron of Plenty"), torches and batteries (it can get very dark at night!), insect repellant, sleeping bag, blanket, towells, warm and out-door clothing, waterproof clothing, comfortable clothing, snacks if you get hungry between meals, anything to make your sleeping space soft and warm. Boots: Wellingtons are by far the most useful for crossing the valley’s many streams and for easy on and off (entering and leaving tents) though not so good for longer walks on mountain paths. Walking boots\sturdy shoes are also reccomended.

Additionally (depending which events you attend); meditation stool\cushion, musical instruments, note book, ceremonial artefacts, cloth and threads, offerings, stylish and beautiful clothes (a must for Sacred Man:Sacred Woman, and The Cauldron of Plenty!), and anything else you feel appropriate for ceremony and celebration. Poems, stories and songs.
What not to bring

Dogs.
Other things

We strive to provide a welcoming and inspiring nomadic paradise at the Mountain Retreat - but offer few 21st Century facilities, and we cannot always control the weather! Please expect to live elegantly but very simply.
Prepare yourself

Relax and take time for yourself leading up to the event. Prepare for it carefully; gather your kit, change pace, and slowly get ready to open up for something new.
And finally....

...please respect our neighbours and the countryside: drive carefully, CLOSE all gates behind you, take all your litter home, and leave as you would like others to enjoy it. If you are driving, please read very carefully the instructions which will be sent in the post for parking and arrival on site.

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