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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 in a secluded valley of it's own, 4 fields from the nearest house, within 2 and a half acres of it's own 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 aim to arrive no earlier than 16:00 on the first day of the event.
Please depart on the last day after the closing meeting from around 13:00.

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

Car Sharing:
To reduce carbon emissions, Spirit Horse encourages 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.

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.

SHELTER - 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 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 bottled drinking water at the Mountain Retreat (there is no mains water at the camp), but feel free to bring your own supply as well (e.g. for your tent.) We strongly advise that you do not drink the water from the streams, at the Mountain Retreat.
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 £45 for Adults and from £20 upwards for Children (depending on age.) The meal ticket entitles you to Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner including a drink, for the whole event. On the first day (Thursday) we will only provide Dinner, and on the last day (Monday) we will only 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".

CHILDREN
  
Children are welcomed and very much part of "The Cauldron of Plenty" and we also run Children/Youth camps.
Please note, all our other events are aimed at Adults, and not suitable for children.

At "The Cauldron of Plenty" we make provision to look after the children at certain times within the Children's Circle, but parents must come prepared to look after their own children and take full responsibility for them.

WHAT TO BRING
  
Essentially: a tent ("The Cauldron of Plenty"), insect repellant (for the midges at the Mountain Retreat), 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.
PLACES TO STAY IN THE AREA
  
Unfortunately, it is not possible for you to arrive earlier or stay later than the published event dates.

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.
For the Farmhouse, the nearest town is Llandrindod Wells, where there are various guesthouses, hotels and B&Bs.
For the Mountain Retreat, there are also many B&B's, guesthouses and campsites around Newtown and Machynlleth and nearby villages.
Here are a couple of the webmaster's reccomendations:
  • The Star Inn, Dylife in Powys - The nearest pub which does B&B. Telephone 01650 521345
  • Cefn Colwyn, between Caersws and Trefeglwys in Powys. Very friendly and helpful hosts Ceryl and Joan Williams. Telephone Joan Williams on 01686 430648

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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