Chestnut Review invites you to a special retreat in Criccieth, Wales! Start your summer writing amongst the numerous castles and beautiful landscapes of Snowdonia!

We believe there is a time and place for solitary retreats off the beaten path. But we also believe that there are times when you want to experience life and make memories and impressions that enrich your writing. This retreat is a hybrid experience with cultural immersion as well as time set aside for reflection and writing.

Criccieth, Wales is a tiny town of about 1800 people on the edge of Snowdonia National Park, the largest park in Wales, home to over 800 square miles of stunning scenery and Mt. Snowdon, the highest point in England and Wales. Just outside Criccieth proper is our base: the Tŷ Newydd Writers Centre. In this renovated 15th century home that once belonged to UK Prime Minister David Lloyd George (1863-1945), we will write and relax from our explorations.

Wales (Cymru) is, of course, not England, and northern Wales is the center of Welsh culture and language. As part of our week we will not only take in the physical beauty of the country, but will also learn about the mythology, songs, and language of this Celtic land. 

This retreat is limited to 14 participants. We will subdivide into two working groups but there will be combined activities and our meals will be taken together. This small size will allow for intensive discussions and plenty of time for everyone’s voice (and writing!) to be heard.

To get a sense of our retreat philosophy and read comments from past participants, see this page.

Maria S. Picone, Managing Editor (she/her)
Maria (she/her) is multi-genre writer and artist from Massachusetts and a Korean adoptee. She has been published in Zócalo Public Square, Fractured Lit, and Whale Road Review, among others including Best Small Fictions ’21. Maria is a Kenyon Review fellow and holds an MFA in fiction from Goddard College. She can be found on Twitter at @mspicone, on Instagram at @mspicone, and at mariaspicone.com.

James Rawlings, Editor-in-Chief (he/him)
Founder of Chestnut Review, his poetry and essays have appeared in Rattle, Atlanta Review, Gargoyle, Penn Review, Into the Void, and many others. He earned his B.A in English with a Creative Writing Concentration in Poetry from University of Maryland, College Park. He has over thirty years’ experience in international education, has led all of CR’s past retreats, and has guided adults to destinations in Ireland, United Kingdom, Mexico, Russia, Georgia (საქართველო), China, Latvia, and Mongolia. 

Our home in Wales will be the Tŷ Newydd Writing Centre, located in a large house that was once the home of former Prime Minister David Lloyd George. Located on a hill overlooking the town of Criccieth, Tŷ Newydd will be the site of both our accommodation and our writing sessions. It is also an easy walk into town and to the beach and castle. Our aim is to fill the house with writers so that we will all form a community where nearly everyone you meet will be a writer just like you! 

The house and nearby buildings have rooms in a variety of configurations, some ensuite and some with shared bathrooms. All are modernized and convenient to where we will meet, dine, and work. Do note that rooms in the Centre are not air-conditioned. 

• Pre-trip orientation! Once the group is formed, we will arrange a Zoom meeting to explain the schedule and answer any questions you may have.
• All accommodation! 7 nights in private rooms: 1 night at the Radisson Blu Manchester Airport (arrival day), and 6 nights in Tŷ Newydd. We will assign rooms at the Centre based on preferences and on a first-come, first-served basis.
• All meals! Tŷ Newydd has its own resident chef and so all your meals, from dinner on the day you arrive to breakfast the last day, are included: 7 breakfasts, 6 dinners, and 6 lunches.
• Hiking/Wild swimming! Not only can you dip into the Irish Sea in Cricieth or easily walk to the local swimming spot in the river Dwyfor, but we’ll take a day to hike and swim in Eryri (Snowdonia), the largest national park in Wales.
• Castles! An excursion to Conwy Castle, one of the greatest castles in Wales, that UNESCO describes as one of “the finest examples of late 13th century and early 14th century military architecture in Europe.” (Numerous additional castles are within reach, including one in Criccieth, a 20-minute walk away, and Harlech Castle, a short train trip down the coast!)
• History! In addition to Conwy Castle, we’ll make a stop at Plas Mawr, the best-preserved Elizabethan house in Britain.
• Welsh Language! We’ll dip into the local language with an introductory lesson in Welsh by our Centre hosts.
• Craft/workshops! 12 hours of craft discussion and workshop. Generally held in the mornings, this will be a combination of writing exercises, craft discussion, and workshopping your writing.
• Private mentoring! 1 private 30 minute consultation with your group leader about your work.
• Transport! Private coach pickup from Manchester airport (MAN) to the Centre and transport back for departure.

Excluded: snacks/beverages outside those listed above, flights to/from Manchester, individual excursions, and souvenirs. Note that the Centre expects groups to assist with setup/cleanup for all meals, which includes washing dinner dishes (but not cooking implements or pots/pans). We will rotate responsibility amongst the group (including retreat leaders!) and this usually means only day of work per person during the week.

All prices are in US dollars and are based on the type of room. Please note that quantities of each room are limited: if you are determined to be in one type, you should book as early as possible. Quantities of each room are in parentheses following each type below. As rooms are booked, they will be removed from the listing. All rooms have one bed each except for the final category (2 single beds in room). 

Super Early Bird registration: through December 31, 2025 (rates as below)
Early Bird registration: through January 31, 2026 (+$400 to rates below)
Standard registration: through February 28, 2026 (+$800 to rates below)

$2499   King bed, ensuite bathroom (2)
$2199   King bed, shared bathroom (3)
$2099   Double bed, shared bathroom (2)
$1799   Single bed in shared room (2 single beds) with ensuite bathroom for two people (1). Must be booked by two participants; price is per person.

• Initial deposit is $520 to hold a place. Date of deposit determines your rate for the retreat. Full payment is not required at time of deposit.
• Non-writer partner rate is $699. Partners are included in all non-writing activities listed above: meals, excursions, transport.
• We don’t believe in big hefty bills, so once you pay your deposit the remainder of the cost may be paid over multiple months, depending on when you register.
• For cancellation policy, see below in the FAQ.

Scholarships

As in the past, we will offer reduced-price spots to participants as we are able. These will be announced on our social media channels. If your participation is dependent on a scholarship, please indicate so when applying, but realize we cannot hold places for participants without deposits.

How do I get there?

The nearest major airport is Manchester (MAN), which is a destination for many nonstop US flights. We are including a hotel stay the night before because the trip to the Centre is significant and this way we will all be present and ready to take the bus the morning after arrival. The trip cost includes pickup from the airport on the arrival day and dropoff on departure day. Participants should plan departure from Manchester for June 21st as we cannot guarantee making flights on June 20th; this hotel stay or additional travel is up to each participant.

Can rooms be shared?

The only rooms suitable for sharing for writers who are not partners are the single-bedrooms (2), which have 2 single beds but an ensuite bath. If you would like to share these, each writer needs to communicate that to us and then we will be happy to book you into those rooms. We cannot book only one writer in them unless you pay the double rate.

I have dietary restrictions. Can I participate?

Most definitely. We will take into account any restrictions you have. The Centre chef is vegan and can prepare a variety of meals for those with restrictions, but of course to best plan we need to know ahead of time.

Can I plan my own activities?

Absolutely! You’ll receive the weekly schedule at orientation and can make arrangements of your own for unscheduled times. The Centre staff are happy to provide recommendations as well. There are far more things to do in Snowdonia than anyone can fit in a week!

Can I stay at the Centre before or after the retreat?

Theoretically, but you will need to contact them directly to inquire. We cannot make arrangements for you. Be aware that the Centre is not a hotel but runs many of its own writing programs throughout the year and thus may not have the availability you might need. There are other accommodation options in Criccieth as well as Airbnb/Vrbo stays available throughout Snowdonia. June is also a busy season for the Centre and usually they are entirely booked. We make our arrangements over a year in advance.

What if I have mobility issues?

We are happy to discuss what accommodation you may need–please consult with us as soon as possible. Some activities are easily adaptable; others may be harder to do so, so we need to be in communication. We are happy to make alternative arrangements; however, those that incur extra costs must be covered by the participant (e.g. hiring taxi).

Can I bring a partner/family?

Partner–absolutely! Family–unfortunately, no. The Centre does not have extra beds and so there is no easy way to accommodate extra family members. Also please note that not all rooms have double or larger beds and will be assigned on a first-come, first-served basis. If you wish to accommodate family in a nearby Airbnb/Vrbo, this is fine, but we cannot provide meals for them. Please contact us to discuss if this is your plan.

Do I need to know Welsh?

No. While we strongly support learning languages, Wales is bilingual and accessible to English speakers! You may find, though, that even a dozen words in Welsh will open up interesting interactions with people and of course using them indicates a level of respect for the region and its history. That said, no one wants to be a turnip-head (pen rwdan), so we will have an introduction to Welsh offered to our group by the Centre staff as part of the program. 

What about Covid?

We support whatever masking level you are most comfortable with. Of course, we know that Covid is here to stay and so we do require that all participants be vaccinated, boosted, and bring a mask not just for Covid but for any time when you may wish to either protect yourself or others. Masking will also be subject to any local guidelines and Centre policy that may be in effect.

What will the weather be like?

Temperatures typically peak in the low 60’s and drop into the upper 40’s at night. At higher elevations, of course, there can be dramatic differences, and the coast can be quite windy. North Wales is known for its rain, though in summer there is less than at other times of the year. Our 2023 retreat had seven days of 100% sunshine and very warm temperatures, which statistically you should not expect! But regardless of weather, there is plenty of daylight: the sun rises before 5:00am and sets nearly at 10:00pm. 

What is the refund policy?

Per New York law, deposits are fully refundable for three days after payment. After that point, no refunds can be issued. You may wish to purchase trip insurance. If something catastrophic occurs which makes it impossible to travel, all writing activities will be delivered in the hours listed via online format. 

What is your cancellation policy?

Per above, if you cancel within three days after deposit, a full refund is issued. Later cancellations may be credited towards a future retreat, but are handled on a case-by-case basis. No refunds can be issued after the three-day window for participant-initiated cancellations. If CR finds it impossible to hold the retreat, we will issue full refunds.

In order to secure your place, please use the apply button below and pay your deposit here. We’ll then be in touch so you can choose your accommodation and arrange other details.