Alpine Writing Retreat

A writing retreat in the idyllic Swiss Alps

Make time and space for yourself: gain focus, find inspiration and hone your craft through daily workshops, independent writing time and feedback sessions. Enjoy writing in breathtaking alpine surroundings in the company of like-minded people and enhance your day with a walk. A maximum of 3 attendees offers you a high degree of personal attention. Your tutor will guide you through workshops and discussions on key elements of creative and life writing, such as characterisation, story structure and plot development, sense of place, and dialogue. The retreat takes place at a large apartment in a modern, luxury chalet. Tuition, accommodation, and meals are all included.

Why this retreat?

• For participants at any level of writing experience, from beginners to advanced
• Small groups (max. 3 participants), to guarantee personal attention
• Hosted by a published novelist with many years of creative and life-writing teaching experience. A tutor’s experience and skills distinguish the best retreats, enabling your individual goals to be addressed, irrespective of whether you’re multi-published or on your first project
• Outstanding testimonials (see here).

This retreat takes you to the spectacular Bernese Oberland: to the unspoilt Hasliberg area of the Jungfrau Region, which inspired Goethe, Turner, Conan-Doyle and Tolkien, among others. A vast choice of well-maintained paths on your doorstep allows you to enhance the day with a short walk to stimulate your creativity. The village is easily reached by public transport from Zurich or Basel airports.

Where will I stay?

You’ll stay at a luxury apartment in a modern chalet in Hasliberg-Reuti, a postcard-pretty village at c. 1070 metres above sea-level. It’s an easy walk (c. 200 meters) from the flat to the local cafés, restaurants, shop and public transport. There you can also board aerial cablecars to explore the charming town of Meiringen in the valley or the high-alp meadows of Mägisalp (1710 meters above sea-level).

You’ll have your own space: a double room put to single-occupancy use, with stunning views of the mountains (including the famous Wetterhorn, Wellhorn, Engelhörner and Eiger) and bathed in natural light; there are three bath/shower-rooms. A generous lounge with a log burner, and a large kitchen-diner, offer the perfect atmosphere for relaxing and chatting. Breakfast, lunch (at a lovely restaurant on days 2-6) and home-cooked dinner are all provided.

Notable attractions are only a short drive away. They include the Reichenbach Falls of Sherlock Holmes fame, the Aare Gorge, Lake Lungern, the Giessbach Falls, the Rosenlaui Glacier gorge, the lakeside towns of Brienz and Interlaken, the historic Ballenberg open-air museum…

Price:

• CHF 1700 inclusive of workshops, accommodation, meals and tourist taxes for the six nights (at the time of writing, CHF 1,700 are equivalent to approx. US$ 2,100 / Euros 1,810 / GBP 1,550).
• A 25% deposit is payable upon acceptance of a place on the retreat; and the balance 60 days before the start date  

To apply, email mvaleriavw [at] outlook.com