Overview
Begin 2026 by cultivating more space, ease and grounding in yourself with our (mostly) silent meditation retreat in beautiful Pylewell Park, a stately home by the sea in the New Forest, Hampshire. We'll be here for five days and four nights of peace, quiet, nourishing food and support from experienced Meditation Teacher Nicola Temporal, and Jenny Clark, Founder of The Wild Times. We will have optional yoga classes in the afternoons - a mix of restorative yin and Yoga Nidra. Read books by the fire, journal, walk the beautiful grounds around the lakes or down to the sea, and eat delicious food by Beth the Free Range Chef. This retreat has been specifically designed to support you into creating more ease and anchoring within yourself in these turbulent times, with structured 'sits', A.K.A meditations, daily Q&As with Nicola Temporal, our lead meditation teacher, a supportive routine to allow you to relax into it, and gentle integrative practices including restorative yoga and beautiful walks in the acres of private grounds, around the lakes and woods or down to the sea. All communal spaces will be silent after our first day of settling in, to support this adventuring inwards. You are welcome to talk on your walks and away from the communal spaces.
Highlights
Meditation throughout the day
Optional restorative yoga every afternoon
4 nights accommodation in a luxury stately home
Delicious, seasonal vegetarian feasts with our favourite Beth the Free Range Chef
Read, reflect, nap or walk the private grounds through the woods and down to the sea
Daily Q&As with Nicola
Hosts
Nicola Temporal
Nicola has been practicing meditation for over 40 years. A certified mindfulness teacher (trained by Jack Kornfield). She trained as a psychosynthesis counsellor, she has spent three decades bringing meditation and conscious awareness into the world of leadership and coaching.
Nicola is a long-time student of AH Almaas and the Diamond Approach. Now in her 60s, she shares meditation from a place of deep devotion and gentle wisdom.
"Did you see the moon in the sky?" "Yes" I said. With a tear of knowingness in her eye, she said, "That's why we're here." - Unknown
Jenny Clark
Jenny is a yoga teacher, paddle board instructor, writer and Founder of The Wild Times. She has created and held over 60 retreats across the UK and in Morocco, Italy and Sweden.
Jenny always aims to create a relaxed, non-judgemental environment on her retreats, where guests can connect to themselves, others and nature. She teaches and blends together a range of yogavinyasa, mandala vinyasa, yin, yoga Nidra, meditation and Paddleboard yoga.
"Nicola has been my coach and teacher for a long time, and I feel so fortunate and excited to be running this retreat alongside her."
Beth Al-Rikabi
Beth is our resident Wild Times chef, cooking on most of our retreats. She takes inspiration from cuisines around the world, from Italy to India, creating nourishing, vegetarian meals for guests to enjoy.
She cooks intuitively using simple seasonal ingredients with minimal waste whilst exploring all the flavours and textures and colours. Over the last 11 years she's learnt to adapt. Whether it’s cooking in the woods over fire, on an Aga in a luxury 13th-century castle, or a Moroccan kitchen with minimal facilities, no shared language and marauding peacocks, it always comes together.
"Bringing together ingredients to feed people is a simple and essential way to show you care, to connect with your tribe and unite over what makes us all human."
Schedule
Example Schedule. The schedule is subject to change sometimes, but here is an example:
Previous
Next
Thursday
4-5pm: Arrive, settle in, tea and snacks.
5pm: Orientation talk.
5.30pm: First sit.
6-7.15pm: Dinner.
7.15-7.45pm: Second Sit.
7.45-9.15pm: Q&A with Nicola. You can ask questions, or sit in silence and listen - we often learn lots from the questions of others).
9.15-9.30pm: Pre-bedtime sit to come back to yourself before bed.
Recommended lights out around 10/10.15pm
Friday
7.30am: Meditation before breakfast.
8am: Breakfast.
9.30am: Guided meditation.
10-10.30/45am: An orientation talk for the day.
Break.
11am: Meditation
Break.
12.15pm: 30 minute walking meditation.
12.45pm: Meditation.
1.15-2.30pm: Lunch.
2.30-4.30pm: Restorative, integrative practices, you decide - practice restorative yoga with Jenny (3-4pm), walk, meditate, journal, nap or read.
4.30-5pm: Tea time.
5pm: Meditation.
5.45-7.15pm: Dinner.
7.15-7.45pm: Meditation.
7.45-9.15pm: Q&A with Nicola.
9.15-9.30pm: Pre-bedtime sit.
Saturday
7.15am: Meditation before breakfast.
8am: Breakfast.
9.30am: Guided meditation.
10-10.30/45am: An orientation talk for the day.
Break.
11am: Meditation
Break.
12.15pm: 30/45 minute walking meditation.
1.15-2.30pm: Lunch.
2.30-4.30pm: Restorative, integrative practices, you decide - practice restorative yoga with Jenny walk, meditate, journal, nap or read.
4.30-5pm: Tea time together.
5pm: Meditation.
6-7.15pm: Dinner.
7.15-7.45pm: Meditation.
7.45-9.15pm: Q&A with Nicola.
9.15-9.30pm: Pre-bedtime sit.
Sunday
7.15am: Meditation before breakfast.
8am: Breakfast.
9.30am: Guided meditation.
10-10.30/45am: An orientation talk for the day.
Break.
11am: Meditation
Break.
12.15pm: 30/45 minute walking meditation.
1.15-2.30pm: Lunch.
2.30-4.30pm: Restorative, integrative practices, you decide - practice restorative yoga with Jenny walk, meditate, journal, nap or read.
4.30-5pm: Tea time together.
5pm: Meditation.
6-7.15pm: Dinner.
7.15-7.45pm: Meditation.
7.45-9.15pm: Q&A with Nicola.
9.15-9.30pm: Pre-bedtime sit.
What's included
What's Included
Daily guided meditation
Yoga mats, blankets, bolsters + blocks
Goodie bag
All meals and snacks
All delicious meals, snacks + drinks
Unlimited tea, coffee, water and fruit
Four nights luxury accommodation
Exclusive use of Pylewell Park
Three x 1/1.5 hour yoga classes
Daily Q&As with Nicola
What's Not Included
Transport to and from the retreat
Travel insurance
Tickets
Sophie’s Bedroom
King bed | En-suite with bath
$1,732.38/pp
Peter’s Bedroom
Double | Bathroom with shower
$1,732.38/pp
Ben’s Bedroom
Twin | Bathroom with bath (shared with Alice's bedroom)
$1,517.56/pp
Alice’s Bedroom
Twin | Bathroom with bath (shared with Ben's bedroom)
$1,517.56/pp
Jonny’s Bedroom
Superking | En-suite with shower
$1,732.38/pp
Emma’s Bedroom
Double | En-suite with bath & shower
$1,794.74/pp
Lucy’s Bedroom
Double | Bathroom with bath & hand-held shower head
$1,732.38/pp
David’s Bedroom (Suite)
Double | En-suite with 2x copper baths
$1,794.74/pp
William’s Bedroom
Double | Bathroom with bath
$1,732.38/pp
Hermione’s Bedroom
Double | En-suite with bath
$1,794.74/pp
Gallery
Location: Pylewell Park in the New Forest, Hampshire
Yoga, stillness and meditation in the beautiful New Forest, by the sea
OUR RETREAT VENUE
Our home for this retreat is Pylewell Park, a privately-owned estate in the New Forest is a place where time seems to soften, and nature holds you.
Surrounded by sea views across to the Isle of Wight, woodland, lakes and gardens, it's a haven of stillness and charm.
You’ll stay in the main house which we have exclusive use of throughout the retreat; a beautifully curated space of history and heart. You can walk straight from the house across the lawns and down to the beach, where you may even spot a New Forest pony or two on the shoreline.
Expect sweeping views, deep bathtubs, fire-lit drawing rooms, and quiet corners for reading, journaling and simply being.
Trip Tips
Do
Settle in before starting the retreat with tea, arrival snacks and our orientation talk with Nicola. The New Forest is in easy reach of London, the train is 1 hour 40 minutes to Brockenhurst and then we can help you organise a taxi (20 minutes) to Pylewell. Friday, Saturday and Sunday will have the same rhythm and schedule, which helps to creates further holding and support with the meditation practice. Meditations will all be 30 minutes long, with breaks in between. There will be a walking meditation before lunchtime, and every afternoon there will be space for integrative practices of your choice. Jenny will hold a 60/90 minute restorative, slow and gentle yoga class that you can join, or you can walk, journal or rest. The meditation room will also be open during this time so you can meditate too. Tea will be served before further meditation practice, dinner and then a community Q&A with Nicola. Before bed we will have a short 15 minute meditation, to come back to yourself, before heading off to bed. Communal spaces will be silent, including meal times.
Stay
Held at the breathtakingly beautiful Pylewell Park on the Hampshire coast, this is a chance to take a break from the noise of modern life, to reconnect with the quiet wisdom within, and to remember how it feels to simply be. In the New Forest, down by the sea on the outskirts of the Georgian market town of Lymington you will find Pylewell. There is a long, sweeping tree-lined drive up to the house, which is usually used as a wedding venue. The grounds include woodland, lakes and go all the way down to Tanners beach. There is a choice of twin rooms, shared doubles or solo doubles. The rooms are all individually furnished and beautiful. We have exclusive use of the house throughout the retreat.
Eat
All the food on the retreat is prepared by Beth the Free Range Chef, our chief Wild Times chef. It is all nutritious, wholesome and vegetarian. Snacks, drinks and meals are provided. There will be fruit and a hot drink station for you to help yourself to throughout, with herbal teas, coffee, fresh mint, lemon and ginger. We can cater for dietary requirements if you let us know beforehand - we will send you booking forms 6 weeks before to get your dietary requirements and more information.
FAQs
Who is it for?
This retreat is best suited for those with some prior experience of meditation who are looking to deepen their practice in a supportive, sacred container. It’s for anyone craving space, stillness, and connection in a world that rarely stops. It’s for those seeking tools to return to a grounded inner state in turbulent times.
Expect a quiet, reflective atmosphere with extended periods of silence, gentle routine, and deeply restorative practices.
Please note, a reasonable level of mobility is required to take part in some of the activities, and an ability to sit for extended periods of time. You can sit on the floor or a chair. If you're unsure if it's for you, drop us an email.
Do I need previous meditation experience?
Yes, some experience of meditation is required. However, you do not need to be advanced. You could be someone who has simply completed an introduction to meditation course, or practiced daily on a yoga retreat, to the point that your body and mind are familiar with the techniques of meditation. If you have further questions about your suitability please get in touch.
Do I need previous yoga experience?
If you're just finding your yogi legs you are very welcome!
Do I need equipment?
For walking: Bring warm clothes, waterproofs and walking shoes or wellies.
For swimming: If you would like to swim in the sea or in the pond, bring warm layers and swimmers.
For the yoga and meditation: Yoga mats, bolsters, blankets, straps and blocks are provided, but you may want to bring your own cushion and blanket for the meditation.
Please bring comfortable clothes, cosy socks and warm layers which are always useful for the yin yoga and yoga Nidra classes.
You may also want to bring a notebook for journalling, and one book for reading that is linked to personal development and/or spiritual growth.
Where is it?
Pylewell House, Pylewell, East End, Lymington SO41 5SJ, UK.
The easiest way to find us is via the Google Maps link for Pylewell. To reach us by train, our nearest station is Brockenhurst (20 minutes) or Lymington Pier (10 minutes), where you can arrange for a taxi to bring you here.