Summer yoga Holidays

Mill Retreat France 2010

29 July - 5 August with Sue Pendlebury £650 7 nights (£50 off)

26 August - 1 September with Clare Calvert £575 6 nights

or Special Offer on Bank Holiday weekend £345

Costs from £345 for long weeekend

The Mill Retreat Centre is a newly converted venue, an historic mill, located on the River Bresle. Set in 30 acres of natural beauty, the mill stands within a stone’s throw of a ten acre lake, all surrounded by the peaceful, green Bresle Valley of northern France.

Venue Location
Located in Northern France, one hour inland from Dieppe, on the border of Normandy and Picardy, the Mill Retreat Centre is easy to reach from the UK, (about three hours from London via Eurostar), and all over Europe. For people from further away, Orly and Charles de Gaulle Airports are within easy reach, about one and a half hours from the Centre. Beauvais airport is only 53 minutes by train from the Mill.

Conservation and Ecology
The Mill stands in an area of outstanding natural beauty; surrounded by water and woods in almost equal proportions, it offers a rare tranquillity. The concept of conservation is at the heart of the Mill Retreat Centre and is a main motivation for this beautiful venue. Preservation of the ten acre lake, a swift flowing river and canal, all surrounded by woodland and a wetland nature reserve, set the highest environmental standard.

There will be early morning meditation and pranayama (breathing exercises) classes as well as morning and evening asana classes to still the mind and open the body. There will be plenty of time to relax and stroll around the beautiful grounds of the Mill.

With the genuine warm hospitality provided by the venue, where guests are openly welcomed and made to feel at home within the tranquility of the retreat centre, there is little doubt you will leave feeling that the stresses of everyday life have melted away. This is a real treat for those who know their mind, body and soul will benefit deeply from it.

A covered seating area with views of the river, canal and lake to sit and relax.

For the more energetic, aA rowing boat with life jackets. Some bicycles are available including a bicycle made for two!

A wonderfully situated firepit where we can enjoy evening chat and singing. The site is in the garden next to the house where the river and canal converge. Solar lights line the edge of the river and canal.

The Mill is situated just north of Aumale, next to the farm at Breteuil (La Ferme de Breteuil), down a drive in a beautifully secluded spot. Surrounded by water and farmland, in a wide open valley, the grounds are wonderful  to walk in. There are four natural habitats: lake, river, woodland and a designated wetland reserve, all in all a complete haven for wildlife.

Deer roam through the area, trout, pike and a wide variety of other fish swim in the lake. The swans had cygnets hatching on its edge last year, (water voles live on the edge too) and there are over 40 other species of birds on the site.

The river 'La Bresle' runs through the garden. It forms the boundary between Picardy and Normandy. A  rustic yet beautifully made wooden bridge takes you from Picardy (where the house is situated) into Normandy to the lake, about 15 meters from the river. It is extraordinary to find this fast flowing river, right next to the deep, still lake. The walk around the lake takes approximately 20 minutes and is kept mown for easy access. You can use the rowing boat or swim in the lake too. The riverside walk is very wild and overgrown. A walk around the whole grounds can take between one or two hours depending on how much you linger!

You can also walk to Aumale. This is the nearest town, just over a mile south of the Mill which has one of the oldest Gothic churches in the whole of Northern France. There you will find a full range of shops including patisseries and other food shops, electrical shops, and a wonderfully stocked and idiosyncratic hardware store - pretty much anything you would possibly need whilst on retreat, can be found in Aumale.

The area around the Retreat Centre, the Bresle Valley, is beautiful walking country. There are many lovely walks from the Retreat Centre and there are maps and written directions available.

The accommodation at the Mill Retreat Centre consists of an impressive Mill house with spacious rooms.

Our chefs place a strong emphasis on the use of local, seasonal and organic produce to create beautiful vegetarian food of the highest standard. Menus are often inspired by and based around the regional dishesof northern France will feature often. Main meals are eaten together in the delightful, and very French, dining room.