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Dartmoor Retreat 2025

Take some time for yourself and reconnect with others in one of Englands' most beautiful natural places. Our professional team of experienced coaches, counsellors and outdoor experts create the perfect opportunity to talk, reflect, and share without pressure or expectation.  We'll help you to experience nature at its most beautiful and benefit from the proven healing power of the outdoors.

Dartmoor is a gentle undulating landscape perfect for a broad range of abilities. Depending on weather and group requirements, various local and historical landmarks may be included along the way, including the prehistoric settlement of Grimspound, Bowerman’s Nose, Jay’s Grave and the RAF stone.

 
Funded places are available for our retreats - please take a look at the details below & do get in touch, we are here to help.

Event Date

Event Time

Arrive from 6pm Friday, depart approx 4.30pm Sunday

Event Details

We couple the weekend retreat with two virtual coaching and mindfulness sessions on Zoom to meet the group beforehand, build confidence, support connection and ease any anxieties.

FRIDAY (arrive from 6pm)

We’ll meet for tea and coffee whilst we settle in with a welcome brief and meet the team. We will then join for dinner with a chance to share our stories. Our catering facilities are limited, but you can expect hearty and home-cooked plant-based food to fuel up for days of adventure. After dinner we’ll have an introduction to mindfulness to unwind and enjoy the surroundings.

EXAMPLE walk itineraries - these are to give you an idea, but they may vary at your event.

SATURDAY

Hike: Hamel Down, 9 miles, 620m of ascent

On Saturday the early risers can take in the serenity with a morning mindfulness session before we head out walking. Our chosen walk will be gentle with gradual slopes, walking the paths of folk stories, up to the wide empty acres of Hamel Down. At the northern end, where the moor drops down, is a memorial to a RAF bomber that crashed after a raid in March 1941 during WII. Throughout, we will keep the pace steady with plenty of opportunities for breaks, one on one conversations with our team and mindful moments.

As the sun sets we’ll return to reflect on our day together with tea and cake. An evening session with wellbeing team, will help us to look inwards, re-discover purpose and build inner resilience. After dinner we’ll unwind with an inspirational talk from a special guest.


SUNDAY (approx 5pm departure)

Hike: Bowermans Nose, 7 miles, 426m of ascent

After breakfast, those with the energy can head for a second walk. We chose a slightly more steady route to ease those aching limbs with a route up to Bowermans nose, a stunning view point to end the weekend. Bowerman was a man exhausted, but as the story goes, his exhaustion gave life to others, which we'll experience as we walk these historic paths before convening back at Heatree House for reflection and ‘afternoon tea’ before making our farewells approx. 4.30pm and departing, refreshed, recharged and inspired!

Please note our itinerary is subject to change dependent on weather conditions and other factors. All activities are optional, but designed to stretch you within a supportive environment.

Start Point

Heatree Activity Centre, Manaton, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ13 9XE

Parking

Available at the retreat location

Accommodation

Heatree Activity Centre, Manaton, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ13 9XE

Find out more about the accommodation at Heatree House here.

Heatree House is surrounded by Dartmoor’s beautiful landscape ready to set you on the path to freedom amongst the wild. A great place to return to after a day's walk to refuel, wash and enjoy peoples company, or maybe sit outside for fireside chats. Accommodation is same-sex bunkbed-style dorm rooms with separate bathrooms. We keep our groups limited to 16 participants, the Farmhouse Wing can sleep up to 30 people, so there’ll be plenty of space.

Pre-Event Zoom Briefing

Thursday 16 Jan @6pm

Post-Event Zoom Briefing

Wed 29 Jan @6pm

Our bursaries are there so everyone, no matter what challenges they have in their lives can find support and respite.

If you are experiencing financial hardship, long-term illness, abusive circumstances, have suffered loss or are in a role of long-term care for another we’re here for you.

Head to this page to find out more & apply, then you can return here to book.

What's included

  • 2 days of hill-walking with our qualified Mountain Leaders
  • 2 nights shared dormitory style accommodation
  • All meals provided (two dinners, two lunches, two breakfasts)
  • 1-2-1 life coaching & counselling opportunities whilst walking
  • Mindfulness in nature sessions
  • Virtual check-ins before and after the retreat
  • An opportunity to share your story with others in a safe, non-judgemental space
  • Recharge & respite from the stresses of our hectic modern lives
  • Build confidence & resilience with physical & mental challenges

What's Not Included

  • Travel to the meeting point
  • Food/drinks during the walk
  • Walking equipment (although we will carry some spare essentials if you need to borrow anything, and we recommend Kitsquad who can help if you are on a low income and need some good kit.

Please take a moment to read our cancellation policy in full before you book, thank you. As a small charity we have to commit our resources to each event - so we do have policies regarding changes to bookings which we ask you to read & commit to. We appreciate you doing this.

Spaces available on this retreat
  • £329.00
    • | 50% Bursary: £169.50 | Full Bursary: £50.00
Mind Over Mountains welcomes all, regardless of race, gender, religion or sexual orientation. Our inclusive retreats and walks ensure a comfortable, supportive environment. Join us to experience nature's healing power and a community where everyone is valued and respected. 


Mental Health Continuum

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Retreat Booking Form

Thank you so much for joining us for this event - we really look forward to welcoming you.

Please complete ALL the fields on this form so we have all your info and can fully support you. You will need to reply to each one in order to submit your form.

We are here to help you at any time - all questions are welcome. You can email us info@mindovermountains.org.uk with your question, & ask us to give you a quick call if you would like.

Please input the name of the person attending the event.
Optional

We ask for this information so that in the event of a medical situation or emergency, our team can take the appropriate actions, protect you from risk and provide appropriate information to medical professionals. Your medical information will be removed from your data record held by Mind Over Mountains after the event.

Depending on your answers, we may get in contact with you for further information or we may need your doctor's consent before you can participate in the activity.

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Type Yes or No
Type Yes or No
Type Yes or No
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Type Yes or No
Yes or No (if yes - please give full details & medication info here)
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Thank you so much - looking forward to seeing you on the day!

Frequently asked questions

We are a walking charity - with walks/hikes which vary in how easy or challenging they are - so we give each of our walks a grading to give you a guide. Do take a look at the section on each walk or retreat listing titled 'Is this the right walk/event for me?' to help you. If you are still unsure please just contact us using the form below and we will get back to you quickly. Our fundraising challenge events do require higher levels of fitness & we are always happy to chat about what's involved.

Our walks & retreats are for anyone who would benefit from the opportunity to take some time walking in nature, with likeminded people, and listening support if needed from our coaches & counsellors. Or just a break from the day to day, to reset, reframe, refocus. We are all about mental fitness, wellness, and overall wellbeing. Managing overwhelm, anxiety, stress - or freeing you to make decisions that are feeling a bit much. We create a safe, confidential space to talk openly with no judgement, no pressure, and we enjoy wonderful walks and time in a group in the beautiful outdoors.

We recommend our walkers wear walking boots with ankle support, walking shoes or off-road running trainers - the most important thing is having a more rugged sole/grip to prevent slips and potential injuries on rocky, muddy or uneven terrain. This doesn't have to be expensive or high-quality brands at all - Go Outdoors or Mountain Warehouse are generally very good value. 

We do work with a fantastic organisation called KitSquad who can help with providing second-hand kit so please do feel free to contact them with what you need and hopefully they can help.

All the food at our retreats is tasty vegetarian. We do our best to cater for most food intolerances or dietary requirements - we just ask you to let us know when booking your place.  

Dogs, other than registered assistance dogs, are not permitted on our events given the potential negative impact on other participants. Sorry!

Walks

Vaping/Smoking: We try to discourage vaping/smoking on our walks if possible; but if you do need to vape/smoke we ask that you only do it during breaks in the walk; and that you are 10 metres away from the group, to be mindful of others.  Please ensure any cigarette butts are carefully and thoughtfully disposed of to respect the natural environment.

Retreats

Vaping/Smoking: We try to discourage vaping/smoking on our walks if possible; but if you do need to vape/smoke we ask that you only do it during breaks in the walk; and that you are 10 metres away from the group, to be mindful of others.  Please ensure any cigarette butts are carefully and thoughtfully disposed of to respect the natural environment. At the retreat accommodation there is a no vaping/smoking rule in the venue, and we ask that you remain a minimum of 10 metres away from the main building outside. 

 

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Photography copyright Giles Thurston Photography. Site by Nilexia