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Plan Your Solo Writing Retreat in Scotland 2022

Plan Your Solo Writing Retreat in Scotland 2022

Writing retreats in Scotland aren’t essential for writing a book, but they can be a way to make the writing process more enjoyable.

As I’m a UK writer, I knew I wanted to explore some scenic locations in the country as part of my first solo writing retreat, so I was over the moon when I was offered to stay in Fort William for a few nights at an Air BnB.

I was kindly gifted this stay at The Garage in Fort William but there was no obligation to post a review and all views are my own. Prices start around £80 a night depending on the time of year.

Here are some tips on how to plan your solo writing retreat in Scotland:

Pick a remote location

When planning solo writing retreats in Scotland it’s a good idea to pick somewhere that’s slightly out of town. Let me explain. This means that you can minimise distractions and the temptation to ‘nip out’ for a coffee, yet still have access to the supermarket and transport links. Smart, right?

Look at the accommodation photographs

Pick accommodation with good lighting and an inspiring view. This will make staying in a lot more enjoyable and you might even find your creativity is boosted as a result of the change of scenery. Creative flow, incoming!

Check the wifi connection

Make sure to ask ahead of time if the accommodation for your writing retreat has a wifi connection. For some, this might be a dealbreaker, especially if your writing project requires a lot of research or you’re submitting work via email. For others, the absence of a wifi connection might actually help you stay focused.

For me, I really wanted to have wifi for safety reasons and was glad that The Garage had a strong connection.

Set a goal

Don’t head off to your highland writing retreat with nothing more than a blank notebook. You’ll likely be totally overwhelmed with possibilities and feel unable to write anything at all.

Think about what you want to achieve. A book outline? The first few chapters? Character development? A non-fiction proposal? Redraft an existing manuscript?

Think big and then break it down into smaller chunks that can be tackled every day. Even better, write a list and check them off as you go. So satisfying.

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Take regular breaks

Short bursts of writing is a smart way to make sure you sustain your energy over the course of a week-long writing retreat. Set a timer for 25 mins and write (I like to turn the wifi off for this) uninterrupted and then stop for 5 minutes.

Take a break, get some fresh air, pop to the loo, do whatever you need to do and then get straight back to work for another 25 mins. Repeat this a few times and then take a longer break.

Solo writing retreat in Fort William

With 2022 in full swing and a writing deadline on the horizon, I hopped on the train from Glasgow to Fort William on a brisk Monday morning in March, just after 8am.

The journey up north takes just under four hours and the views are nothing short of spectacular. From start to finish, it’s rugged mountain tops, vast lochs, and barren landscapes that look like they’ve been plucked straight out of a Scottish Highlands tourist video.

Fort William Airbnb Accommodation

Once I arrived in Fort William, there was a 20-minute walk up a (very) steep hill to my accommodation.

The Garage is tacked on to the hosts’ home but comes with a private separate entrance and isn’t overlooked by the main house. As a solo female traveller, I actually liked knowing that there were people (and an adorable doggo called Dexter) in the house attached because there was always someone to call on if required making me way more relaxed during my writing retreat.

Beautiful writing room with a view

Lorna and Brian were around to show me the accommodation which is a converted garage (hence the name) and has been renovated with real care, attention to detail and high-quality fixtures and fittings.

It was easy to spend a good twenty minutes hypnotised by the view from the window. The mountains are so magnificent.

One morning I managed to catch sight of the clouds rolling in under blue skies, it really was something special.

Spacially, the studio is laid out open plan but with two distinct areas.

Naps are a must on the double bed which comes with space to store suitcases underneath and bedside lights, plug sockets and handy shelves for your phone on each side.

The living room area has a gorgeous brown leather sofa, a wall-mounted TV, tea and coffee making facilities and a mirror for getting ready.

Cupboards are well-stocked with a great selection of tea, coffee (decaf too), hot chocolate, green tea as well as porridge pots to make for breakfast.

For your convenience, there is even a minifridge with loads of milk on hand and Lorna and Brian said that they would supply dairy-free milk too, just send them a message ahead of time. A few biscuits (Tunnocks, of course, the lifeblood of Scotland) were stashed in the cupboard which I was grateful for.

Because I was using the break as a writing retreat, the hosts offered to put a desk and chair into the studio which was so kind and thoughtful! Feel free to message them ahead of time and they’ll do the same for you.

Meals for a writing retreat

With no cooking facilities in the space, I managed to get creative with the kettle and made some noodles, cuppa soups and couscous then stored some cooked chicken, yoghurts and fruit in the mini-fridge.

Plates and cutlery were available too which made it all very simple. Because this was a writing retreat, I was happy to forego cooking any elaborate meals in favour of lots of writing, staring out the window and early nights.

Shower room essentials are on hand; plenty of towels, facecloths, soap, toilet paper and loo cleaner. There was also cleaning supplies, a first aid kit, iron and ironing board, hairdryer, space to hang up clothes, extra blankets (you’re in Scotland, remember!) and bedding is provided.

This shower was SO powerful, I just wanted to mention that because it was honestly better than a lot of hotels I’ve stayed in and made me way more motivated to get up in the morning and start writing early.

Outside, there is a private seating area where I liked to drink my coffee in the morning. It has space to light a fire and all the tools required to get that going as well.

Essentials to pack

You’ll need to pack toothpaste and shower gel but other than that my rucksack was filled with a few bits of clothing, pyjamas, my Kindle, a notebook, laptop, headphones and some snacks to see me through the first few days of writing.

I popped down to the Tesco on the high street halfway through the week and stocked up on more food to keep me fuelled for the rest of my writing retreat.

Local cafes to eat

Whilst I was in Fort William town I visited Rain Bakery where I had an obscenely delicious toasted goat’s cheese mozzarella pesto grilled sandwich followed by the most beautiful apple streusel danish.

Washed down with a coffee the whole thing set me back about £12 total. I think this might be the best bakery in Scotland.

Next day I went back for another serving. I saw one person sitting with a laptop in the bakery but it is quite a small shop so I wouldn’t recommend going in there to write as I think they would need the tables back pretty quickly as it can get very busy around lunchtime.

Final thoughts

Four nights spent at The Garage in Fort William and am genuinely so sad to leave! The good news is that I managed to write a lot, getting my book ready and into a solid second draft which I’m so happy with. I’m already thinking about booking a summer writing retreat later in 2022.

Hand on heart, I swear I did more writing in those four days than I’ve done in the four weeks leading up to the retreat. It just goes to show the power of a room of one’s own (especially when it has a breathtaking view.)

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Book your writers retreat with Lorna and Brian via Air Bnb

Holiday self-care tips and how to make it a priority

Holiday self-care tips and how to make it a priority

Do you ever feel like you need a holiday just to recover from being on holiday? I get this all the time, and I realised it’s because I wasn’t setting aside time for self-care when I was away. We often feel obliged to cram in as much sight-seeing or partying as possible, instead of actually taking time to rest when we have the chance. If you’ve got a holiday coming up I suggest being mindful of a few things in order to make self-care a top priority…

Fuel your body

Although being on holiday is a great excuse to enjoy a few treats that doesn’t mean neglecting what your body really needs. I love this post from Rachael about how overeating at the weekend can make you feel terrible, and it’s exactly the same for holidays. Eat what makes you feel good (cake and chips, obvs) but also eat what makes you actually feel good (you know… the odd carrot, lettuce leaf and potato).

It’s easy to get carried away with trying everything on offer just because it’s there, but remember that self-care means listening to your body and knowing what it wants. I like to eat a big breakfast otherwise I get hangry and all of a sudden I’m ordering a burrito, fries and planning dessert before I’ve even finished lunch.

I personally find that fuelling my body early with a big bowl of porridge and fruit helps be feel satisfied and mentally ready to start the day without feeling deprived. I also like to avoid alcohol (just my preference, no judgements) and drink lots of water, eat plenty of greens and avoid too much sugar before bed.

 

Find comfy holiday clothes

Wearing summer outfits gives me the fear. I’m not made to exist in a hot climate, so finding clothes that are appropriate is a real struggle for me. I want to wear long, flowing skirts and little white cotton dresses but the truth is chub-rub is REAL. These thighs were not made to meet on such a regular occurrence.

As much as I’d love to look all flirty and feminine on the beach it’s just not comfortable for me. How can I be expected to catch a break when I’m physically uncomfortable? I say wear what feels right.

For me, that’s loose-fitting harem pants, leggings and big-old denim shorts. Being at ease with your physical self is SO important to allow your mind to unwind, so wear what you want and feel free.

Stay active

You should absolutely take time to catch up on some sleep when you’re on holiday. I remember when we were on our honeymoon, we didn’t make it to the breakfast buffet once the entire week and it was fabulous! Waking up naturally without an alarm is an amazing feeling, but try to stay as active as possible throughout the day to avoid any unnecessary fatigue.

Walking outside is so helpful to keep your body ticking over as well as induce those mood-boosting endorphins. It will also help you get a better sleep in the evening meaning you should naturally rise earlier the next morning.

self care holiday tips

Plan some alone time

As an introvert, I personally find a week stuck in other people’s company a little overwhelming at times. I crave downtime on my own because that’s how I recharge my batteries and find energy for the next day.

My favourite way to find alone time on holiday is to go to the gym. It’s my own space where I can reflect but still do something productive that I enjoy and I generally leave the gym feeling more energised that when I went in. Weird, right?

I know this isn’t everyone’s idea of fun though, so try and find the thing that works for you. It might be a soak in the tub, a massage or a good hour getting lost in your favourite book. Whatever works.

Have you made a self-care plan for your next holiday?

Our time at Cannes Film Festival

Our time at Cannes Film Festival

10365198_10154158736670338_1675740539_oI couldn’t resist sharing some of my Cannes experiences with you all. It all happened last minute thanks to the film below which Life Up! made for the 48 Hour Film Project, but my boyfriend and I simply couldn’t pass up this once in a lifetime opportunity to get passes for the festival.

10364508_10154158709265338_1456730243_o 10358611_10154158731770338_1582908512_o 10388694_10154158732840338_110009141_oWe wandered around for the first day in awe of everything we saw. There were hundreds of stands promoting what must have been thousand of feature films, from every genre and country you could think of. Covering three floors of a building and about a mile of coastline, the tents and portakabins brimmed with tired but still eager film makers, producers, writers and actors from every corner of the world. We made our way onto the beach and observed the festival from a distance which looked like a bustling village within the city.

10381010_10154156999310338_1145928634_o 10412365_10154177652675338_1799085524_o 10364568_10154158695855338_259444147_oWe ate out twice a day, as our accommodation was 20 minutes away by train and the food in Cannes was cheap and easily accessible. I imagines long queues and terrible fast food as the city struggled to cope with the 40,000 people who descend everyday. Little did I know the French have been thriving in this festival for 60 odd years and have seemingly unlimited resources when it comes to delivering fresh local produce in beautiful restaurants. We always found the service to be friendly and fast, and of course the food itself was to die for. I was all over the croissants, goats cheese salads and fresh bread. The cheapest thing to get was pizza which was always thin, crispy and less than 10 Euros.

10381205_10154158730565338_154035118_o 10411808_10151996345366652_8217169384142707148_n 10365922_10151996345026652_7627331832116238141_n 10392540_10151993483581652_6881645372733105165_nObviously the dress code for the red carpet was strictly black tie, but day to day most people were rocking their own version of Riviera chic. I floated about comfortably in a black maxi dress or skirt, with two blazers on rotation to make it a little smarter and cover my shoulders from the sun. Add sunglasses and some people double take thinking you might be a celebrity! On the last day, my wonderful boyfriend Joe asked me to marry him and I said yes. What a magical way to end the trip of a lifetime. I celebrated by finally getting one toe on the red carpet and with some champers on the flight home courtesy of some lovely fellow passengers.

Best holiday ever!