It's Summer!

Summer is here and this week, not for the first time, we face soaring temperatures in Corwen with 30 degrees celsius predicted by the weekend! After the recent burst of rain the gardens look fantastic with flowers blooming everywhere and the stables looking in particularly fine fettle. And this year, for the first time, we have been running retreats through this early part of summer: two in the second half of June and now three back-to-back in July.

The Stables in Summer

One of the benefits of a summer retreat is the fine summer weather: walks at Rhug Estate or to the top of Caer Drewyn or Pen Y Pigyn are always a delight but the views are particularly spectacular at this time of year. Taking these walks on a sunny day with a cooling breeze is simply idyllic: clean air, birdsong, surrounded by nature, the River Dee winding its rippling way through the valley - all adding to the sense of freedom and relaxation that our retreats are associated with. And then there are the occasional non-natural noises that somehow enhance the atmosphere further: the steam train pulling into Corwen station, historic planes flying over the valley, even the handbell ringing at Bron Y Graig to signal the start of lunch, dinner or a refreshment break!

This summer it is just over three years since Wendy and I moved here in 2022. Despite the limited time available for us to get away and explore North Wales when the sun is shining, we have come to recognise the tremendous joys of summer we benefit from just here at A Place to Write. Not surprisingly, summer is our favourite season of the year from the point of view of the weather, but every season brings something different and every season changes the landscape in unexpected and sometimes mysterious ways (as the pictures below show). But more importantly, every season brings new people, new guests, new friends to our retreat and, for that, we are both tremendously grateful. Today it's summer! What season will it be when you join us for a unique retreat?