Nature’s Song

Beltane Retreat

30th April - 6th May, 2025

Join us for the triumphant return of Nature’s Song, now in its third year! 

Herald, the return of Summer with a 'Bell's Fire' Retreat to remember, embracing the light of lengthening days and all that flows from the Earth.  Beltane is the festival of fertility, where the God and Goddess are entwined - the sun gathering strength to bless the Earth with warmth, awakening her potential. Holding the divine masculine and feminine, your hosts Garwyn Linnell and Verity Megan, will guide you to explore what is being re-born in you during this magical time.

The Earth would Die

If the Sun stopped kissing her ~ Hafez

The word Beltane is said to derive from old Irish, meaning 'bright fire' or 'fire of Bels'. It is a magical pivot within the turning wheel, representing our emergence from the darkness into the most expansive, radiant part of the year. At this peak of Spring when all around us sings with life, it is impossible to ignore the calls for growth within us too!

What  to Expect

An elemental immersion to embody Nature’s wisdom

We will journey through an alchemy of the elements, exploring the landscape within while connecting with the Spirit of the land that holds us.

Each day will begin with an inner orientation through embodied movement before venturing into the wilds for mountain hikes, Forest Bathing and water immersions.

To draw us into the nights, we will end the days with restorative movement, sound meditations and storytelling through the spheres of Cello, Crystal Alchemy singing bowls, voice and Shamanic drum.

Retreat Gallery

Retreat Venue

Our venue is the stunning Mas Vilalte Retreat, a secluded hamlet on the South-facing slopes of Mount Canigou. At an altitude of 920m it offers breathtaking views over the surrounding mountains and hills. 

Vilalte is at the end of a mile-long private drive, 10km from the small village of Corsavy. Due to its isolated location, you will leave behind the hum and distractions of the modern world. Only the sounds of nature can be heard, and the most beautiful, starlit skies can be seen, a gift of the absence of light pollution. Wild boars, Pyrenees vultures, eagles and much other wildlife can be spotted in addition to a great diversity of botanical species.

Mas Vilalte, Corsavy France

More About Vilalte

The ancient stone buildings dating back to the 17th century have been sensitively renovated and restored to provide a comfortable stay to guests throughout the year. The hamlet consists of a large mansion house and a newly constructed, large wooden barn (The Yoga/Meditation Hall), and five other smaller buildings, one of which is inhabited by the owners.

The Meditation Hall is a striking and spacious eco-building (150m²), where we will gather morning and night to explore movement practices, host group work and sharing circles. The high ceilings and grass topped roof make the acoustics fantastic for sound journeys and give it an immersive, yet contained feeling.

The property also boasts a Finnish sauna, a steam bath and a large bio-pool with a natural, biological filtering system (no chemicals) surrounded by large decking areas, lawns and gardens. There are several drywall terraces where fruits and vegetables are grown organically—drawn from the earth to the table for seasonal, self-sourced meals year-round. 

Vilalte is nestled in acres of pristine forest, offering adventurous trails between enormous granite boulders and ageless oaks. Inside the property grounds, you’ll find an ancient stone circle, called Cromlech. which we will use in ceremony and is available for your own meditations and practices. Vilalte's pure drinking water comes from a private well and is mechanically then UV-filtered, while a natural spring provides the water for the garden.

Your Guides 

Garwyn and Verity have a collective wealth of knowledge from different spiritual traditions to draw on.

Working with the Shamanic directions and Spirit realms, weaving Eastern and Western traditions to understand the powers of nature, the rhythms of the cosmos and our place within it. Practices that effectively heal, inspire and transform – cultivating a deeper connection to self, each other and the natural world.

Yoga, Somatic Experiencing, Qi Gong, Energy & Sound Healing, Mysticism, Folklore & Shamanic Practices.

Garwyn

​​Born in Vancouver, Canada, Garwyn spent six years living in Germany, studying at the Folkwang University of the Arts, where he completed his bachelor's degree. He later moved to London, receiving a master's degree from the Royal Academy of Music. An avid chamber musician, Garwyn has also had the opportunity to perform as a soloist and an orchestral musician in various venues and countries, from small churches in Italy to concert halls in China. While classical music is his primary area of focus, he also has had the pleasure of collaborating and performing with various artists within the fields of dance, contemporary music, folk, improvisation, jazz, and even poetry.

In 2019, after being confronted with a life-threatening illness, the direction of Garwyn's life took a significant shift on a journey of healing and spiritual development. His own process of physical, psychological, and emotional recovery led him to explore and train in different forms of healing modalities, including Humanistic Counselling, Somatic Bodywork and Movement Therapy; various forms of energetic healing, including Shamanic healing and Reiki, and most significantly using sound as a healing modality through sound journeys, baths, and medicine music.

Verity

Verity first came to the mat over 20 years ago, discovering the transformative power of movement and its ability to create pathways of presence, offering space to process life and emotions. Passionate about sharing an integrated, gentle, seasonal, and intuitive approach to wellbeing, she has devoted her life to this work.

An experienced senior teacher in the ISHTA Yoga tradition, Verity has been teaching and sharing yoga since 2016. She has also studied Ayurveda, Yoga Therapy for Women, Somatic Therapy, Mind-Body Integration, Reiki, Sound Healing and Mystical Wisdom.

Her practice combines Eastern training with progressive methods, working in harmony with the shifting seasons to live in relationship with these living, breathing, ever-evolving rhythms. Devoted to the path of supporting others on their journey, her work emphasises our interconnectedness with nature, self, and other, honouring the wisdom of the body as an integral part of the living, breathing Earth.

When all around us sings with life it is impossible to ignore the calls for growth within.

The Details

Dates & Times

Arrive 2:30 pm Wednesday, 30th April 2025

Depart 12:30 pm Tuesday, 6th May 2025

Exchange

Your stay includes six nights all-inclusive accommodation at Vilalte, with full access to the amenities, pools, and gardens. Enjoy nourishing, delicious meals lovingly prepared by our hosts, along with snacks, tea, and coffee available throughout the day. Prices vary based on room type and occupancy.

Triple Room £1100 - Fully Booked

Twin Room £1250 - Fully Booked

Private Room £1500 - Fully Booked

New for 2025

As the Mansion House is fully booked, we’re excited to offer three additional spaces in a private chalet, featuring a cosy living room, private kitchen, and stunning south-facing mountain views.

Twin Room £1,250 per person

Double Bedroom £1,350 per person

Entire Chalet £2,700 (exclusive booking option)

A non-refundable deposit of £300 is required to confirm your place, with the remaining balance due by 1st March, 2025. Any payments made beyond the deposit are refundable up to 50% of the total cost until six weeks before the retreat. After this point, no refunds will be issued. We highly recommend investing in travel insurance to ensure peace of mind for your trip..

What’s Included

  • Six nights accommodation at Mas Vilalte

  • Teachings and guidance from Garwyn & Verity

  • Use of facilities, Finnish sauna, steam bath and natural bio-pool 

  • Enjoyment of the gardens, grounds, stone circle and nearby forest 

  • Foraging and connecting with native plant medicines

  • Embodied movement practices; Yoga, Qigong, Somatic Experiencing and Authentic Movement

  • Sound Baths and Shamanic Journeys 

  • Creative and crafting activities, all materials provided

  • Organised hikes, meditative walks and forest bathing 

Not Included

  • Healing treatments booked during your stay.

  • Flights and Transfer* Flights cost £170-£220 during the Spring season, with return travel from London airports to Barcelona (BCN).

    *Transfer - logistics made easy! Upon arrival in Barcelona, a scenic train journey awaits to the local station Figueres Vilafant. Fear not, as we've got you covered from there with a convenient group transfer, where costs are shared among the group.

If you feel a whole body 'yes' to journey with us, can you secure your spot by clicking the button below. If this sparks your curiosity you can send any questions or queries directly, via email.

  • ‘The structure was so beautiful, with each day relating to a different element, where we were very much immersed physically, emotionally & spiritually in that element.

    From walking in the surrounding woodlands, stone circle & glorious gardens, to the water immersion in the emerald pool, a crackling fire at sunset, different exercises & meditations a-plenty, as well as, of course, the wonderful yoga, Shamanic influences & other movements, & the sharing circles, to express our experiences, & ground them. And the innovative & evocative daily sound bath combination of crystal singing bowls & cello, which captured the essence of each day so spectacularly, for me! I was back in the woods, with cracking twigs underfoot, or bathing in the silky, calm waters.’

    Hilary - 2023 Retreat Guest

  • ‘All these aspects helped us to be a close knit community, sharing this fabulous experience. The panoramic mountains, sunrises & sets, as well as the gorgeous vegetarian cuisine, created a very beautiful experience, one I will always treasure.

    I had a notebook, logging our activities, my thoughts & emotions; I have so many `take away`s` from my time at Mas Vilalte - I am still processing it all, really.

    Massive thank you, Verity & Garwyn.`

    Hilary - 2023 Retreat Guest

  • ‘There is no need to prove that healing is to be found in nature, light, companionship, in awe with reverence, gratitude and faith.

    And it wouldn't have happened without the tender loving care of Verity and Garwyn in the paradise that is the Pyrenees where a retreat means just that- a quiet or secluded place in which one can rest and relax, withdrawing for a time. Forever grateful!’ 

    Naomi - 2024 Retreat Guest

  • 'Words really don't seem enough to thank you for our special Retreat. You put so much of YOU into it, every tiny detail was a part of your very special soul.

    Mas Vilalte is a magical place; the views, the silence and bird song so special. The food was incredibly wholesome and delicious, and each meal went with the theme of our day - air day was a sensational soufflé!

    We felt safe, held and it was very healing for Katy & I... this retreat was life changing for me and I will never forget it!'

    Helena - 2023 Retreat Guest

  • I absolutely loved the Beltane retreat in the Pyrenees Mountains. Immersed in nature, the elements, beautiful gardens, and bird song, it was a true sanctuary. The movement classes, yoga, and qigong were deeply enriching. A highlight was the hike down to the river through the forest for a refreshing swim. Verity and Garwyn were superb hosts, infusing so much love into all the practices. Each day, they concluded with a sound bath, where Verity's crystal alchemy bowls and Garwyn's cello intertwined perfectly, creating a profound experience.

    Something in me has shifted and I feel more at peace and connected, a kind of a reset and I would highly recommend this retreat at Mas Vilalte to reconnect with nature and yourself.’

    Julie - 2024 Retreat Guest