Preparing for your stay
Questions guests ask before they arrive.
Helpful answers about daily rhythms, dining alone or in company, digital boundaries, dietary care and hosting your own retreat group.
Do I have to join the scheduled sessions on a solo stay?
Never. Morning stillness, gentle movement and sauna hours are open invitations. You are welcome to sleep late, walk, write at your desk all day or spend your whole stay in quiet solitude without explaining your schedule to anyone.
What if I do not feel like small talk at mealtimes?
Half of the dining room is always kept as a Quiet Table, and small wooden silence pins are available if you are keeping personal silence. The communal table welcomes gentle conversation, and you can choose whichever feels right at each meal.
Is there Wi-Fi if my family needs to reach me?
Bedrooms, the dining room, gardens and shared rooms stay screen-free, with no televisions in the rooms. Fibre Wi-Fi is available in the study annex for residents and check-ins with home, and families can always reach us on the house telephone during desk hours.
What are the meals like, and can you cook for allergies or vegan diets?
The harvest kitchen prepares three generous meals a day, plus afternoon baking, fresh fruit, herbal tea and morning coffee. Menus centre on seasonal vegetables, whole grains, sourdough, eggs, legumes and responsibly sourced fish or poultry, with gluten-free, vegan, dairy-free and allergen-aware plates at every meal. Tell us your needs when you confirm your stay.
Are rooms shared, or do solo guests have a private bathroom?
Every solo stay and residency has a private bedroom with its own en-suite bath, and you are never paired with a stranger. Shared rooms are used only when friends or partners book together, or when a group leader assigns rooms for a buyout.
Is the house tied to a religion or spiritual tradition?
No. Redleaf is an independent, non-sectarian house rooted in contemplative hospitality, time outdoors and mindfulness practice. Guests of every faith, or none, are equally at home here.
How far ahead should a group leader book a full-property buyout?
Spring and autumn weekends often book six to eleven months ahead, while winter hearth weekends and midweek dates often have openings two to five months out. We offer a free 14-day date hold while you gauge interest with your community.
What should I pack?
Pack for comfort: soft layers, wool socks or slippers for the timber floors, walking shoes for the garden and woodland paths, a swimsuit and robe for the cedar sauna, and a favourite book or notebook. Linen, towels, hair dryers, mats, cushions and toiletries are provided.