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🎨 Art Retreat Itinerary
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21st –25th September 2026
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This itinerary is a gentle guide, not a rigid schedule. Locations and timings may adapt to light, weather and group energy. Dartmoor is wonderfully changeable and that’s part of the creative magic.
Where weather is unsettled, painting will take place in our Garden Room, with 180-degree views across our private 36-acre Dartmoor valley, a warm, sheltered space with uninterrupted inspiration.
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🗓 Day 1 – Monday: Arrival & Settling In
Afternoon
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Arrive at Lydgate House from 2pm
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Welcome homemade cake and tea
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Time to unpack, explore the garden, or simply relax
Late Afternoon
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Introductory session with Karen Pearson
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Sketchbook setup, materials overview, and a short warm-up exercise
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Painting from the garden or Garden Room if weather dictates
Evening
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2 course dinner in the dining room
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Relax by the fire and an early night if you wish
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🗓 Day 2 – Tuesday: Postbridge & River Dart
08:00 – Breakfast
09:15 – Head out on foot from the hotel
We begin close to home, easing into observational drawing around:
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Postbridge Clapper Bridge
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The River Dart and surrounding meadows
This is a gentle walking day, ideal for building confidence and sketchbook work.
Lunch
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Lydgate Lunch (either enjoyed outdoors if fine, or back at the hotel weather depending)
Afternoon
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Continued sketching and painting
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Mini watercolour demonstrations from Karen
Wet-weather option
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Garden Room painting, using the valley, trees and changing skies as reference
Terrain & footwear
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Grass paths and uneven stone
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Sturdy walking shoes or boots recommended
Evening
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2 course dinner
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Optional informal sketchbook sharing
🗓 Day 3 – Wednesday: Bellever Forest & Ancient Trees
08:00 – Breakfast
09:15 – Short drive to Bellever Forest (just 5 minute walk away)
A day focused on:
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Trees, bark, light and shadow
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Movement and texture in watercolour
Lunch
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Lydgate Lunch picnic-style if weather allows
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Alternatively enjoyed indoors at Lydgate House
Afternoon
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Developing sketches into more resolved studies
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Individual guidance and demonstrations
Wet-weather option
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Painting forest studies from photos and sketches in the Garden Room
Terrain & footwear
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Woodland gravel paths, pine needles, tree roots
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Good grip footwear essential
Evening
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2 course dinner
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Free time to relax or continue sketchbook work
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🗓 Day4 – Thursday: Wistman’s Wood or Valley Day
08:00 – Breakfast
09:15 – Weather-dependent plan
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Option A: Wistman's Wood (fine weather)
A truly special Dartmoor location, ideal for expressive drawing:
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Twisted oaks, moss-covered boulders, atmosphere and tone
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Focus on line, shape and mood rather than detail
Important note
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Access is uneven and rocky
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Painting here is mainly sketchbook-based
Terrain & footwear
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Steep, uneven ground
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Walking boots essential
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Slower pace, plenty of pauses
Lunch
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Lydgate Lunch picnic or return to the house depending on conditions
Option B: Lydgate Garden Room Day (poor weather)
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Full day painting from the Garden Room
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Panoramic views across our 36-acre private valley
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Focus on:
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Skies and weather
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Colour harmony
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Developing a more finished piece
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This often becomes a favourite day, warm, calm, and deeply productive.
Evening
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Final 2 course dinner
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Gentle celebration of the week’s work
🗓 Day 5 – Friday: Reflection & Farewell
08:00 – Breakfast
Morning
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Final sketching or painting session
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One-to-one feedback with Karen
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Group reflection and ideas for continuing work at home
Late Morning
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Late check out at 11am.
🎒 What to bring
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Art materials (list provided in advance)
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Sketchbook(s)
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Walking boots or sturdy shoes
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Waterproof jacket & layers
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Small backpack or carrier
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Folding stool (optional)
🌿 A gentle note
All outdoor painting is weather-dependent, and flexibility is key. Dartmoor’s changing conditions are part of the inspiration, and sheltered indoor options are always available, ensuring comfort, creativity and enjoyment throughout.