The Peak District
Penmaenmawr, North Wales
Lane End, Buckinghamshire
The Nightingale Centre is situated in the very small quiet village of Great Hucklow, set in the Derbyshire countryside with wide views from the centre across the surrounding fields. The outdoor space is quite extensive and when the weather is nice the gardens offer welcomed opportunities for relaxation. It’s very easy to wander from the Nightingale Centre into the nearby countryside or simply take the opportunity to truly rest and relax.
There are a number of different room configurations, but in order to keep things simple we are charging for solo rooms with shared bathroom, or solo room with ensuite. Please note that if you may be in a single, twin or double room. We will allocate rooms on a first come, first served basis.
By Car
Great Hucklow is situated just off the B6049, north of the A623 (Stockport to Chesterfield road), near Tideswell. From Chesterfield take the A619. From Manchester and Stockport take the A6. From Sheffield take the A625. For Sat Nav use SK17 8RH. There is ample free parking at the Centre. Note that the car park is at the rear of the centre and accessed via the entrance opposite the Old Chapel.
By Train
From Manchester and Stockport there is a regular service to Buxton. From the east the connection is via Chesterfield or Sheffield (15 miles) or Hope (4 miles) Connections can be made by bus (see below) or taxI (see below).
By Bus
There are regular bus services running through the village. Timetables vary according to the season. Please check availability via Traveline East Midlands 0871 200 2233 or the useful website www.travelineeastmidlands.co.uk
By Taxi
Taxis are usually available at Sheffield, Chesterfield and Buxton stations. From Hope station (4 miles from the Centre) taxis for both ways need to be booked in advance. 2Nice Taxis are able to transport able or disabled people. You can contact them via 01298 212352 or 07917 710771.
If this is feeling like something you'd like to do you can use this booking form. A deposit of £50 will save your place.
Hope to see you there!
We used Noddfa, Penmaenmawr for the first time for the 2017 New Year and then again in 2018 and we had fabulous feedback, particularly about the nuns - they are so very hospitable, and the food - filling and tasty, just like Grandma would make! Added to that, in the winter the house was warm and we always have the place to ourselves, so plenty of room to move around. We have the sea out in front and the mountains behind us, hugging us. We loved it, so we're really happy to be making it a regular venue.
Noddfa is a place of rest and reflection, it's a huge old house in a beautiful setting. It's a quirky and peaceful place to be.
By car
Noddfa, Conwy Old Road, Penmaenmawr, North Wales
LL34 6YF
Here is a map - the sat nav may bring you just short of the destination - persevere along Conwy Old Road and you’ll find Noddfa.
Train
The nearest station is Penmaenmawr. It’s a small local station so you need to let the guard know that you’re wanting to stop - it’s pronounced pen -mine- mower (rhymes with flower!). The nearest main station is Llandudno Junction. From Llandudno Jct you can either get a local train to Penmaenmawr or take a taxi.
The nuns are happy to meet people arriving on the local Penmaenmawr trains (that's how gorgeous they are).
There are direct trains from London Euston to Llandudno Junction.
A new venue to us, the Lane End Conference Centre has been in our sights for a number of years but this year we've decided to give them a whirl! They're a little more expensive than our more northern venues which has been one of the factors against using them in the past, but we are hoping that the 26 acres of woodland grounds, the fitness trail, the inhouse gym, jogging route, sauna and steam room and the fact that all the rooms are double ensuites will convince you that the extra cost is worth it. (It's the 26 acres of woodland that we're most excited about....).
It's in a very beautiful part of the Buckinghamshire countryside, near to High Wycombe.
By car
Lane End Conference Centre, Church Road, Lane End, HP14 3HH. Plenty of parking on site.
Train
There is a direct train from London Marylebone to High Wycombe which takes 24 minutes. High Wycombe Train Station is 7 miles from Lane End.
You can call the reception team at Lane End to prebook taxis but there are normally plenty waiting outside the station. It'll cost about £14.
Our average review score is 5 and we're happy!
We've been reviewed in the Guardian AGAIN!
January 2019: 10 of the Best Meditation Retreats in the UK and Europe January 2014: 10 Wellbeing Retreats for 2014
National Geographic Traveller. We're featured in the Top 5: Meditation retreats in Europe.
We're very proud to be in Psychologies Magazine - July 2018. You can see the article here.
"Take a breath and refocus yourself on these wonderfully afordable beach-front meditation-based holidays for solo travellers on the laid-back island of Lefkada. Led by Zen Buddhist teacher Kim Bennett, they offer meditation sessions with the option to join other wellbeing sessions and enjoy treatments and trips. Rejuvenate with sea and mountain views, just a 30-minute drive from the airport"
We had our first mention in the Sunday Telegraph Travel Section in April:
"For a beach holiday that is also a retreat, head for the island of Lefkada in Greece where Serenity Retreat offers just that: guided walks, qigong and meditation. It's geared towards solo travellers and you can do as little or as much as you want- and I'd say the place is tranquil rather than silent. Should you want to try complete silence, the company offer weekend silent retreats in Yorkshire as well".
Our latest review in the Daily Mail, January 2018
Confessions of a Retreat Junkie
As well as The Times as a 'Top 50 Spa Holiday':
"It’s great for solo travellers interested in spirituality and personal growth or just pure relaxation, and tends to attract people who have started to question their lives and who want to live more meaningfully".
Queen of Retreats reviewed us too! Check out our page on their site.
Metro had this to say:
Set up by Zen meditation teacher Kim Bennett, Serenity Retreats are aimed at solo travellers looking for self development. The week long retreat has an easy-breezy approach and while there are mindfulness walks, guided meditations and excursions on offer, nothing is compulsory. "Our emphasis is on giving our guests space", Bennett says. "Our accommodation is on the beach and we encourage guests do nothing other than watch the sea and the mountain for a restorative effect".
Need more information or have some feedback? Contact us on 01422 752545, or send a message below...