Wincombe Park has been described as a Shangri-La nestled as it is in a valley where the River Nadder rises, a place of idyllic beauty and tranquillity. We have been blessed to feel its natural nurturing and healing powers during the past year and having been part of the Quiet Garden movement for a number of years, we are now offering it as venue for retreats and courses.

The house, built in the 1820's in Georgian villa style, overlooks the park and lake - originally one of the Abbess of Shaftesbury's fishponds. It is a house of perfect proportions which caused a visiting Norman Foster architect to comment, "it means I can feel its heart beat".  It is a happy house and also a much loved home to the Fortescues who have lived here since the early 1960's when they bought it from the historian , Arthur Bryant.

The estate of 375 acres that surrounds the house is made up of parkland, grazed farmland and woods some of which are ancient woodland. It also encompasses an Iron Age fort which is a scheduled Ancient monument and commands views across the Cranborne Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty within which it lies.  Cranborne Chase has recently been granted Dark Sky Status so there are opportunities to stargaze on clear nights.

Accommodation is available in the family home and as in many older country houses bathrooms are shared but there is plentiful hot water supplied by our biomass boiler.

It comprises:

                                                   Three double rooms (single occupancy) share one large bathroom 
                                              One twin has an en suite
                                              One double (single occupancy) and a twin/triple share a jack-and-jill bathroom.

If a couple wish to share a double they would be allocated one of the two with a basin in the room and the twin would not be let as a triple as the maximum number staying is 9. If all rooms are taken, extra rooms can be booked locally for those participants who wish to join a retreat on a daily basis. 

Full board includes a buffet breakfast and lunch and a served dinner .  Hot and cold drinks are available

throughout the day

.

All meals are vegetarian with most of the produce homegrown or locally sourced.

Guests can use the reception rooms and gardens to relax in . There is the possiblity of wild swimming in the lake, forest bathing in the woods and guided walks in and around the estate.  The guests can play tennis.

Yoga sessions are outside in a tent or in the dining room depending on the weather. 

Numbers - It is possible for groups of 8 or 9 to book by the day or with full board for 2 nights minimum.

Enquiries and availability  - email pacfortescue@gmail.com or by using the form below.