Sumaiyah Kholwadia (2024)

We had a great time organising a 5-day writing retreat for 15 PhD students at Chapelgarth. They responded to emails quickly and addressed any concerns we had. Marcella was a fantastic co-ordinator and took considerable care in curating a programme for us that was well-balanced with writing blocks and well-being breaks. The food was delicious and the accommodation suited everyone's needs. The estate itself was beautiful and the perfect backdrop to write in. Tiggy and the llamas were a key highlight for us all!

Emma Maslin (2024)

I have been to Chapelgarth three times now for a writing retreat. Marcella is a wonderful facilitator and I always leave feeling truly looked after. The combination of facilitated writing time and 'proper breaks' is excellent. Our group also had a sound bath on our second evening which was a brilliant experience and a great way to unwind after a day of writing.


Lydia Manley (2024)

Fantastic location, food, and atmosphere! Would really recommend to anyone in a writing rut as it provides the ideal reset. I made so much progress on a thesis chapter which had been plaguing me for months. The timetable is strict but this provides you with the opportunity to really relish your rest. Marcella is a wonderful calming influence and runs the sessions to perfection. The surroundings are gorgeous and for me a real highlight was the Poplar trees.  Restorative, relaxing, and rewarding -- what more could you want! Already booked to go again.

Aydan Suphi (2024)

I had an inspiring, productive and enjoyable 3 days at a writing retreat here. Marcella is a wonderful host and facilitator. All the facilities and activities were very conducive to making progress with my PhD thesis. I would definitely recommend attending if you have a piece of academic writing that you want to develop.

Edurne (2024)

Amazing place to focus on writing!

Marcela is a really nice host and organised very well the times for writing and provided very relaxing

activities for the resting times. I would love to come back!

Ilana Pressick (2024)

Brilliant host.  The bedrooms were spotless and the food was truly top quality and delicious.  It's the perfect structured environment to successfully write and meet your goals.

Kate T. (2024)

I have just returned from my 6th writing retreat at Chapelgarth. I've attended 3 as an individual, 3 with a group of my colleagues. Every retreat has been a wonderful opportunity to focus on writing in stunning surroundings with fantastic hospitality and care. I can't recommend Writing Retreats at Chapelgarth highly enough.

Lizette Nolte (2023)

Huge thank you for the wonderful retreat at Chapelgarth. We really appreciated the way the days

were structured, the gentle facilitation of the space and time, the lovely spaces to work and relax in,

and the nurturing and attending to wellbeing that made it such a special experience. The delicious

meals and beautiful walks were such key ingredients of the time there. We particularly appreciate that

that specific requirements of the group were included in the planning. It was a very productive time for the whole group, and we cannot recommend Chapelgarth writing retreat highly enough.

 Arianna Maiorani (2023)

I would recommend this to all academics as a mandatory activity to carry out at least once a year.

The place itself is fabulous: great atmosphere, fantastic light throughout thd day, rooms are gorgeous

and display beautiful antique furniture. Besides, the place is spotless.

Marcella managed to set out a schedule that really works and that makes you commit to work without

feeling forced, as an individual within a committed community.

Very well paced, the working day offers plenty of breaks and healthy activities for the mind and body.

Meals were gorgeous and during breaks you are treated to all sorts of coffee and teas and nice snacks.

I was skeptical when I arrived, now I look forward to going back and not only because it was an

extremely productive retreat.

Xiaoning Lu (2023)

I recently organized a writing retreat for my colleagues in the department, and it turned out to be an

extraordinary experience that truly left a lasting impression on all participants. We were amazed by

the remarkable progress we made through the structured writing sessions.

Marcella, our incredible writing facilitator, designed an excellent program that seamlessly integrated

these well-structured writing sessions with a diverse range of recreational activities. This unique

combination allowed us to work efficiently while also providing ample opportunities for much-needed

rest and rejuvenation.

Moreover, the retreat provided us with a vital communal space where we could connect with one

another on both personal and professional levels. It was a platform for sharing and exchanging

valuable writing tips and insights. Our research endeavours were propelled forward, and we now have

the necessary momentum to embrace the approaching summer with enthusiasm!

Wei Chen (2023)

This is a stunning venue, with a location is so romantic that has far reaching views to take your breath

away. Our hosts are so friendly and were available to ensure our days and evenings were filled with

precious memories.

The menu was varied and the food was fabulous, there was plenty of it too!

The Chapelgarth is a magical place for academics and writers. My friends and I all had an amazing

experiences this week.

It is a extraordinary writing retreat. I would love to come back soon!

The Compass Project  (2023)

The writing retreat completed superseded all expectations! Marcella has managed to create a

peaceful and ambient atmosphere that simultaneously boosts productivity and motivation - a very

clever balancing trick! It is clear that Marcella has invested a huge amount of time, effort and

dedication to this, and I believe many other writers will benefit greatly from a trip here. I just wish we

could have stayed longer, but I hope to return as soon as possible. The food is absolutely delicious

and the portions are very generous. The location and surrounding areas are breath-taking. The rooms

are very comfortable, bright, large and airy. Highly recommend to all!

Hannah Davies (2023)

The Chapelgarth Writing Retreat was a wonderful experience. The combination of structured writing,

relaxation and group discussion created a perfect academic writing context. Marcella Sutcliffe was a

gracious and expert facilitator - providing the right balance between sympathy and discipline. The

food was amazing and the overall atmosphere was extremely supportive. I was delighted to be able to

actually finish my PhD thesis while I was there! And to plant a tree. Massive thank you to everyone

involved.

Alessia Cargnelli (2023)

The Chapelgarth Writing Retreat has been a fantastic experience and it really helped me to get back

to an healthier, more manageable and productive (yet, more enjoyable!) writing routine for my PhD.

The Estate itself is an amazing, peaceful place and the food was truly delicious. Never underestimate

the power of a good breakfast! Thank you to Marcella (pictured below with homemade croissants) and

all the Chapelgarth team.

Ange Lawrence (2022)

The writing retreat at Chapelgarth was everything I had hoped for, and more. A peaceful and productive few days in the most beautiful surroundings with a wonderful group of people. My aim was to complete a chapter of my thesis and I achieved this, but I also relaxed, took walks in the countryside, spent valuable time chatting to other academics, ate  healthy and delicious vegan food and shut myself off from the constant demands of work and home life. Marcella is an amazing host and a thoroughly lovely person to spend time with - she ensured that we kept to our writing times with firm but gentle guidance...and a stroke of the gong! I'm 100% ready to book my next retreat and tackle my next chapter and hope to enjoy many more writing retreats.

Leisa Rea (2022)

My time at Chapelgarth was a precious thing. After a long and challenging lockdown, I surrendered to the special tranquillity of this wonderful place, on a writing retreat. I was instantly charmed by the

atmosphere of the house itself and felt so at home, so cosseted from the distractions of the outside world. I wrote every day, following the structure of the self-directed sessions. Writing was broken up with many opportunities to explore the private woodlands, see the llamas, observe the antics of the

roaming hens or go on a country ramble. I found the walks were a great way to exchange views and ideas with others, though of course I could go off by myself too, if I wanted solitude. I met some brilliant people and learned a lot from them. Mealtimes at Chapelgarth are announced by a sonorous gong, which was music to my ears every time, as the vegan and vegetarian food is absolutely

delicious. Marcella runs wonderful retreats, engenders real productivity and is the very capable Captain of this lovely ship.

Nicola K (2022)

The most productive, focused and inspirational 2.5 days! Thank you Marcella for cultivating such a

perfect space to get focused work done whilst still enjoying being in the Yorkshire countryside.

Accommodation, food and company all fantastic and I will definitely be rebooking the next opportunity I get!

Victoria Rodner (2022)

Chapelgarth is a writing oasis! Breathtaking accommodation in the middle of the Yorkshire

countryside and being utterly pampered by Marcella with her delicious and healthy meals, snacks and

good old Yorkshire tea, means that you can focus fully on achieving those writing goals that seem so

challenging in the real world. A structured, supportive and incredibly friendly environment that not

only gets words on paper but also gives you a boost of confidence in your writing skills. The formula

totally works and can't wait to come back ! Don't miss out on a tennis match, walks through the fields

and of course feeding the gorgeous llamas (beware of big boy, Leche - very keen on food and

cuddles ! ). Grazie Marcella :)

Sophie Nixon  (2021)

I have been on two Chapelgarth Writing Retreats now, my second was during lockdown, and I will

definitely be back for more. The venue is stunning, the food excellent, and the facilitation is just

enough for me to get a couple of very productive days' work done on writing projects without feeling

pushy. The measures Marcella has taken to ensure retreaters stay safe during lockdown are great,

and at no point did I feel nervous about being there in the current situation (and I'm 6 months

pregnant!). If you are struggling to achieve the deep level of focus required for writing, I cannot

recommend these retreats enough. I will be back!

Laura Walton-Williams (2022)

This was my first writing retreat and I had a wonderful and incredibly productive time. The whole

schedule was well planned and the balance between writing and down time was ideal. Marcella and

her husband were very welcoming and supportive and the food was incredible! I have already booked

on to my next retreat!

Ashley Lewis (2022)

I became a serial retreater after I discovered writing retreats during the second year of my PhD. While

looking for more dates and locations to attend, someone introduced me to Marcella's retreats in

Yorkshire. I have now been to her retreats more than once and plan to attend another in 2022.

Although I have finished my PhD (thanks to retreats!) and have a job in the private sector, I still come

to work on publications and connect with others in the academic community. The setting is very

supportive, it provides physical and mental space to get projects done and is a safe environment to

focus just on your work with NO distractions. Although I have been on a few different retreats, the

best part about visiting Chapelgarth is the food and the setting in the house. The meals are so good

and homecooked, so you know that you are getting the nourishment you need to support your writing.

Thanks to this space I can still connect with academia by writing to join the discussions in my field.

Laura Whittle (2020)

I attended a writing retreat at Chapelgarth a few weeks ago and it was amazing. I have been trying to

complete my PhD and due to a job with a very heavy workload, as well as family commitments I have

found it very difficult to get the PhD finished. One of the key problems is that often I have trouble

finding the head space; in which to write because I am often mentally overloaded with tasks I have to complete for work. I can honestly say it was the first time for many weeks that my mind was clear enough to allow me to work and this was due to the location, but also to the calming nature of Chapelgarth. Secondly the very simple structure to the day enabled me to have a very concentrated

amount of time to get work done. The vegetarian food was excellent, and just the need not to concern

myself with cooking meals for myself and others meant I could concentrate purely on writing. Marcella

who ran the course was so welcoming and the strict adherence to times meant that I had to be

focused on my work. It was also really good to meet academics, as a part-time student I work in

isolation and it was good to meet others who were also trying to complete doctorates or writing

papers. I would really recommend this writing retreat to anyone who is in my situation where it is

difficult to concentrate at home no matter how supportive everyone is or if you just need time away to

get your writing completed. Having the time to think and to write was invaluable. I returned home

feeling enthusiastic and positive about my ability to actually complete the doctorate, which I had been

doubting. Chapelgarth was a very positive experience, Thank you Marcella.

Alexandra Gormally (2020)

Had a fantastic time at Chapelgarth on a recent writing retreat. The house is beautiful and

atmosphere welcoming, and lovely food! As well as getting lots of writing done I felt very relaxed and

well taken care of by our host, the grounds and house were wonderful to explore on breaks. Would

very much recommend.

Helen Mort (2021)

I have been lucky enough to take part in two socially-distanced, covid secure retreats at Chapelgarth

this year and can't praise them highly enough. The most productive times I've ever had as a writer!

The retreats are a perfect mixture of structure and relaxation, designed to create efficient working

conditions for your project, whatever it may be. Safety was paramount with all the appropriate

measures (one way systems, ventilation, face coverings, social distancing, sanitation stations) but the

retreat was still friendly and enjoyable too. Beautiful surroundings, gorgeous food, lovely

accommodation. Highly recommend.

Jenny Deane (2022)

I cannot begin to describe how much I loved (and needed) this writing retreat. From start to finish this

was a relaxing and productive retreat. The house is beautiful, and my room had stunning views

across the countryside. The retreat itself was calm, peaceful, productive and fun. There were 8 of us

in total split across 3 writing rooms, the sessions were well managed meaning that we we were all

very productive. There was fresh tea and coffee at each break, lovely homemade cake and the meals

were excellent- lovely breakfasts to set us up for the day, a very filling lunch and then 3 course

evening meal with a glass of wine, ended each day. There was a chance to go on a walk each day or

take part in a yoga/stretching session. This very much felt like a reset, you were fed well, and given

perfect writing conditions and I was really lucky to be part of a lovely supportive group of women. I am

already looking at booking another one and would highly recommend it to anyone looking for some

space (physically and mentally) to write.

Elena Pershina (2021)

I have been to Chapelgarth Estate several times. This place is stunning (amazing food, great scenery

and great facilitator) and highly recommend it to everyone! The last two times were post-lockdown in

July and August 2020 and I was amazed at the great length, Marcella, the Programme Director has

gone to make the retreat safe for us. She thought of every little detail and I felt very carried for and

comfortable. I had a very productive time and felt very recharged afterwards. It helped me to regain

my focus and find new motivation and energy to finally complete my dissertation!

Katrina 2020

I have attended the writing retreat in this incredible place last week and I’m still in the awe of how

much I managed to write there. The structured sessions allowed for headspace to plan, assess and

fulfil the set goals. I really enjoyed meeting other writers at varies stages of their projects and careers

and gain the sense of shared writing journey. The house is truly wonderful, with focussed, warm and

kind hosts and a very skilled chief (I mean it, the food was scrumptious! Thank you Roma). It felt like

home from home when it came to comforts, exceptional in terms of surrounding area and very

productive regarding writing. I completed majority of my 20 000 words chapter for doctoral thesis and

I’m really glad I came as I would have never achieved that in three days at the university with family

life at each side of the working day. I can’t recommend it enough for anyone who would like to

complete any writing project.

Charlotte 2012 (2020)

This is a wonderful place for a writing retreat, relaxed and calm atmosphere, you are made to feel

very welcome and at home, the food is fabulous and Marcella is an excellent host. I managed to write

a good section of a PhD chapter here and hope to return. Highly recommend.

Jasmine Gideon 2020

Everything about the retreat lived up to expectation - food and location were lovely and there was a

very calm and relaxed atmosphere throughout the few days which really did facilitate writing and a

very focused approach to writing. I am already hoping to book my next retreat!

Helen Mort 12/20

I have been lucky enough to take part in two socially-distanced, covid secure retreats at Chapelgarth this year and can't praise them highly enough. The most productive times I've ever had as a writer! The retreats are a perfect mixture of structure and relaxation, designed to create efficient working conditions for your project, whatever it may be. Safety was paramount with all the appropriate measures (one way systems, ventilation, face coverings, social distancing, sanitation stations) but the retreat was still friendly and enjoyable too. Beautiful surroundings, gorgeous food, lovely accommodation. Highly recommend.

Alice Wilson 03/20

Surpassed my expectations in every way. A fantastic cohort of people, exquisite food, beautiful rooms, warm and encouraging environment, and a torrent of writing productivity. Marcella is truly wonderful and does a brilliant job of keeping us happy and focused. Can’t thank her enough. Highly recommend.

Laura Palczynski 03/20

Fantastic setting for a writing retreat. Marcella is a welcoming and wonderful facilitator and host and the grounds are perfect for taking a break and getting some fresh air. I am about to book onto my third retreat - nothing like escaping 'real world' commitments for a couple of days to really advance writing progress.

Steve Legg 03/20

This is an exceptional venue, way more beautiful than the (stunning!) photos on the website suggest. A group of 9 of us had a two night writing retreat. Marcella is very disciplined with the time keeping, which helps everyone get the most out of the writing, but also out of the stunning country walks and the excellent vegetarian food.

Fouz Jimin (2020)

I was lucky enough to do a writing retreat in this truly beautiful comfy house. This amazing house provides me as a PHD student to develop my individual creativity and meet new people. I never thought that writing could be enjoyable if I didn't work in this place of relaxation and peace. Thanks Chapelgarth Estate for this amazing experience.

Emma Parry 02/20

I have just returned from my second writing retreat at Chapelgarth and cannot recommend this place highly enough for anyone wanting to carve out some protected writing time in lovely surroundings with supportive people and wonderful food! I am in the last stages of my PhD and have come back from the retreat re-energised about my writing. There seems to be something magical that happens at Chapelgarth about getting excited again about the topic you are writing about because it is the main focus of your time there with no distractions. It definitely feels like a 'retreat' with the opportunity to go on country walks, do yoga or just chill out on the breaks between writing and the amazing home made chocolate brownies and cakes on every break are definitely something I could get used to :-) On that note as well, I am Coeliac so have to eat a gluten free diet and the food at Chapelgarth is all vegetarian/vegan and gluten free so it seems as though nothing is too much trouble for the facilitator Dr Marcella Sutcliffe. Both times I have been on the retreat I have met some lovely people, writing PhD theses, journal articles or books and have found the atmosphere really supportive to each other, whatever stage of academic career. Dr Sutcliffe facilitates the retreats in a highly organised yet empathic way and she sets the tone creating a calm environment where everyone can focus on their own work - it's just perfect!

Mariana Lamego and André Nova  03/20

We attended the writing retreat invited by colleagues from Nottingham University. We came from a very different background since we are professors at a public university in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Although in our academic lives the writing retreat is not a practice, we face the same challenges regarding the pressure of publishing and the absence of further discussions on the process of writing itself. That is why we are convinced that the experience at Chapelgarth Estate has been so fertile. (..) We are going to come back to Brazil with good memories of our stay as well as with good ideas and writing practices that we want to share with our students.

Millie Light 2020

Everything about it was fantastic - productive, nurturing, collegial, comfortable and exquisite! It has

easily been the best part of my PhD journey, after what has been a difficult few years with ill

health/treatment and then the pandemic. It felt like the first time I'd been happy in a long time, and I didn' t want to leave!

Niki McWilliams 2020

The virtual writing retreats Marcella has been offering during lockdown, have provided a wonderful

sense of structure to an otherwise incredibly unstructured time. I am very grateful and very much look

forward to our weekly meetups, and to a real life/physical retreat in the not too distant future.

Wendy Fitzgibbon

I had planned to attend a writing retreat in person but sadly due to lockdown it was cancelled.

However Marcella then very kindly offered me the opportunity to join her virtual writing retreats which

have been really helpful and supportive. They take place with fellow writers from a wide range of

backgrounds. I find the writing retreats refreshing and motivating. They certainly helped me organise

my time better during lockdown not just during the sessions but at other times too. Marcella is a great

facilitator and manages to make everybody feel welcome and part of a community.

I would highly recommend Marcella's writing retreats and I can't wait to be able to attend one in

person at Chapelgarth as it looks a really beautiful place.

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2019

Elsbeth Robson (2019)

I attended a writing retreat at Chapelgarth Estate in February 2018 and it was a really great couple of

days - lovely hospitality, wonderful house and grounds. I enjoyed the retreat in so many ways and got

lots of writing done in a positive supportive environment. I hope there will be more writing retreats at

Chapelgarth and I hope to be back again in the future.

Irene Hardill (2019)

The retreat was especially timely for our project, we had outline plans for each academic output, but

being co-located at Chapelgarth enabled us to have the time for combining deep thinking and lively

debate, which resulted in exponential progress with our writing plans (Irene Hardill, Northumbria

University)

Laura Whittle 08/2019

I attended a writing retreat at Chapelgarth a few weeks ago and it was amazing. I have been trying to complete my PhD and due to a job with a very heavy workload, as well as family commitments I have found it very difficult to get the PhD finished. One of the key problems is that often I have trouble finding the 'head space' in which to write because I am often mentally overloaded with tasks I have to complete for work. I can honestly say it was the first time for many weeks that my mind was clear enough to allow me to work and this was due to the location, but also to the calming nature of Chapelgarth. Secondly the very simple structure to the day enabled me to have a very concentrated amount of time to get work done. The vegetarian food was excellent, and just the need not to concern myself with cooking meals for myself and others meant I could concentrate purely on writing. Marcella who ran the course was so welcoming and the strict adherence to times meant that I had to be focused on my work. It was also really good to meet academics, as a part-time student I work in isolation and it was good to meet others who were also trying to complete doctorates or writing papers. I would really recommend this writing retreat to anyone who is in my situation where it is difficult to concentrate at home no matter how supportive everyone is or if you just need time away to get your writing completed. Having the time to think and to write was invaluable. I returned home feeling enthusiastic and positive about my ability to actually complete the doctorate, which I had been doubting. Chapelgarth was a very positive experience, Thank you Marcella.

Ceris Gibson 09/19

We attended the Writing Retreat as a group of 8 PhD students from the same University and all found it an incredible opportunity to get to know each other better and focus on our writing in beautiful surroundings with an incredibly friendly, supportive host. Will definitely be coming back!

Nazlin Bhimani 09/19

The structured writing retreats at Chapelgarth Estate, facilitated by experts, the beautiful and peaceful surroundings and the home comforts, including delicious home-cooked food, provide the perfect space to write in the company of like-minded scholars. So if you want to get away from the pressures of daily life and want the time to reflect and write, than Chapelgarth Estate is the place to go to.

Sam Saville 03/2019

Chapelgarth is a wonderful place for a writing retreat. Lovely, comfortable house, perfect spaces for writing and chilling out in between times. I felt at home straight away. Great options for a stretch of the legs - lovely grounds to walk in and tennis/ table tennis options as well. The food was perfect, Marcella is an amazing host and cook, we were extremely well looked after - meaning we could really focus on the writing we were there to do. Elsbeth was also excellent at facilitating the writing sessions and schedule. Thank you!

Justa Hopma 06/2019

Wonderful place for a writing retreat. Peaceful surroundings, lovely house. Plenty of possibilities for both indoor and outdoor activities. Supportive environment where people are interested in your story and then I haven't even mentioned the fantastic food yet! I would choose Chapelgarth again without any hesitation.

Jericho Road 04/2019

A perfect few days on an academic writing retreat. I made big progress but I also really loved the time because Chapelgarth is just so lovely - the place, Marcella as host, and the wonderful llamas (!), not to mention great weather. Beautiful food. It couldn't have been better. I sent the PhD chapter that I wrote there to my supervisors today!!!

Alexandra Gormally 03/2019

Had a fantastic time at Chapelgarth on a recent writing retreat. The house is beautiful and atmosphere welcoming, and lovely food! As well as getting lots of writing done I felt very relaxed and well taken care of by our host, the grounds and house were wonderful to explore on breaks. Would very much recommend.

Helen Williams 04/2019

Had a lovely few days at Chapelgarth. A really productive retreat with a good balance of writing sessions and free time for walks etc. And the food was AMAZING!