Our second in-person Writers’ Retreat in the Scottish Borders.
We are excited to host our second writers’ retreat, returning to a sprawling 350 acre farm in the Scottish Borders, just 40 minutes drive South of Edinburgh. You’ll be sharing your weekend not just with fellow writers, but a whole menagerie of animals, such as pigs, horses, goats, donkeys and alpacas.
Dates: Thursday 4th March to Monday 8th March 2027 (4 nights)
Location: Airhouses at Airhouse, Oxton, Near Lauder, Scottish Borders, TD2 6PX, Scotland, UK. Attendees will be put up across a number of houses on the farm, from the main house to a number of Nordic Lodges.
Travel: Airhouses is tucked away in acres of peaceful farmland, but easy to reach by car, and well-connected by train and bus. The Cymera team stands ready to shuttle attendees to the venue from various public transport stops, and we will also arrange for lift shares and such.
Price: From £450
Spaces are limited. To secure yours, a non-refundable deposit of £175 is payable at time of booking. The remainder of the payment is due by 27th December 2026 and a payment link will be sent to each attendee.
What to expect
This long weekend will offer attendees plenty of writing time, with the option for writing sprints and communal writing. In addition, there will be optional workshops on developing your craft and of course plenty of time to hang out with your fellow writers in an informal setting.
We will also be welcoming two guest tutors, who will run workshops and share industry and writing tips in an Ask Me Anything session. In 2026, we welcomed Claire North and Hannah Kaner - watch our socials for our tutor announcement at the beginning of November.
The full programme will be announced in January.
Accommodation Options
Attendees have a choice of shared and single occupancy accommodation, with the option to go catered or self-catered. The catered option will include breakfast, lunch and dinner.
Shared Twin Room - Share a twin room with a fellow participant. You will have the opportunity to specify if you have arranged to roomshare with a friend. Price: £550 catered/ £450 self-catered
Shared Double Room - Share a king-size bed with a friend or partner. Booking this room commits you to bringing your own room buddy. Price: £900 catered/ £700 self-catered (price for two attendees sharing)
Double Room for Single Occupancy: Price: £650 catered/ £550 self-catered
The Lodge: A lodge to yourself! This accommodation sleeps two in a super-king-sized bed and comes with its own kitchen and living space. Price: £1100 catered/ £900 self-catered (price for two attendees)
If you have any questions or concerns about the retreat, please don’t hesitate to drop us an email on info@cymerafestival.co.uk
Testimonials and pictures from our 2026 Retreat
“I've come away from the Cymera Retreat invigorated and inspired! I made several writing breakthroughs and learned more about the realities of publishing in five days than in five years of studying creative writing at university. The atmosphere was wonderful and I feel I've made many new friends!”
“The Cymera Writing Retreat provided me with a wonderful container for my freshly hatched book idea. I was able to outline my book within the weekend; receiving feedback from peers and attending workshops that helped me hone my craft. It was a truly magical experience that I recommend to anyone at any stage of their writing.“
“The Cymera writing retreat brought together writers of a range of backgrounds and levels of experience, in a beautiful setting that provided the ideal conditions for a writing retreat - whether you wanted to focus solely on writing, attend workshops, write in the company of others, wander the grounds and meet the animals, or socialise. The amenities were good, and the opportunity to meet with other authors and get support and expert guidance was also very valuable. The practical guidance on Agent Query letters was outstanding!“ Alys Einion, novelist and academic author.
“I had a wonderful and inspiring time at the retreat! To be surrounded by like-minded people who are also on their own writing journey helped me to better reach my goals! I enjoyed the scenic location as it was inspiring and beautiful! Would 10/10 recommend!”
“A fabulous retreat in the countryside to get the creative juices flowing with ample amounts work and play. Come for the words, walk away with the memories!”
"I'm so grateful to the Cymera team for organizing this wonderful retreat! For one rejuvenating weekend in the countryside, I was immersed in a supportive community of fellow SFF writers. Everyone was warm and welcoming. We exchanged ideas about our writing projects, learned from inspiring faculty, enjoyed delicious meals, and fed the farm animals together. I'll never forget the memories and connections I made in Scotland.”
“Do it!
