Whether you’re new to poetry or have been writing for many years, this course aims to help you develop your skills within a safe and supportive environment.
A blend of workshops, readings and tutorials will explore the craft and mystery of poetry, its many devices: image, metre, rhyme, lineation … and how an awareness of both traditional forms and free verse can influence the choices we make as a poem evolves.
Drawing upon a variety of poetic voices and themes, we’ll write out of memory and from close observation. We’ll also explore what poets can learn from songwriters, in terms of musicality and memorability. As the week generates the beginnings of new poems, a one-to-one tutorial will include advice on drafting your work.
‘Writing Poetry’ offers a chance to extend the range of your voice in the supportive company of fellow poets.
 |
Tutor: Paul Henry – Poet/Songwriter Paul Henry is a poet and songwriter. Since receiving an Eric Gregory Award he’s published eight collections of poetry, all with Seren. The Brittle Sea: New & Selected Poems, from the same publisher, appeared in India as The Black Guitar. His work has been widely anthologised and translated. A popular Creative Writing tutor, Paul has worked with many poets who’ve progressed to publication. Described by U.A. Fanthorpe as “a poet’s poet”, he’s read and performed his work at festivals in Europe, the USA and Asia. He’s also presented programmes for BBC Radio Wales, Radio 3 and Radio 4. His recent collection, The Glass Aisle, led to a musical collaboration with Stornoway’s Brian Briggs which toured UK festivals. Originally from Aberystwyth, Paul has guest-edited Poetry Wales. His latest collection, As if to Sing, won the Wales Book of the Year Poetry Award in 2023. “One of the best lyric poets currently writing.” – Hugo Williams “Henry is working at the core of lyric poetry, with love and loss and the ‘deeper river’.” – The Poetry Review Photo: Zed Nelson |
|||||
 |
Thursday Evening Guest Reader: Ilse Pedler – Poet Ilse Pedler has had poems published in many magazines including, Stand, Magma, Poetry News, and several anthologies. She was shortlisted in The Rialto Nature Poetry competition in 2014 and 2015 and in the Bridport prize 2016 and commended in the Hippocrates 2017. She is the winner of the 2015 Mslexia Pamphlet Competition. Her pamphlet, The Dogs That Chase Bicycle Wheels was published by Seren in March 2016. She was long listed in the National Poetry Competition in 2018. Her first collection, Auscultation, was published by Seren in 2021. Ilse currently runs Dove Cottage Poets in Grasmere. She is the poet in residence at Sidmouth Folk Festival and joint editor of Bending The Ark, a Substack magazine of Thrutopian writing. She has a book coming out in March 2026 with Dialect press, a collaboration with poets Alice Willis and Hilary Watson on Thrutopian poetry. Ilse was recently announced as a runner-up in the 2025 Poetry Business International Book & Pamphlet Competition. She has also been a Morris dancer for over 30 years and no longer tries to hide it. Photo: Clare Park |
|||||
| PRICES |
Fee includes all day and evening tutored workshop sessions, individual tutorials, tutor and guest readings, accommodation, inc. sheets and towels and all meals (not including alcohol). Single – En-suite room £1,150 |
|||||
| TO BOOK |
£200 deposit payable on booking by bank transfer, PayPal or cheque, to secure place. Balance due six weeks before the start of the course. Please see Terms and Conditions. |
|||||
| STRUCTURE OF THE WEEK | See Structure of the Week (tab above) | |||||
| WHAT TO BRING |
|
|||||
| START TIME |
Please arrive between 3:00pm and 4:00pm on Monday 9th November 2026 Tea, cake and housekeeping information 4.30pm Introductory Workshop 5.30 – 6.30pm |
|||||
| END TIME |
After breakfast, 10:00am on Saturday 14th November 2026 |
|||||
| LOCATION | The Garsdale Retreat, Clough View, Garsdale Head, Sedbergh, Cumbria LA10 5PW Nearest railway station: Garsdale, on the Leeds – Carlisle line. For directions, see Find Us section on the Contact page. |
All courses start on Monday afternoon.
3.00 – 4.00pm: Arrival time
4.30pm: Housekeeping/Course information with tea and cake
5.30 – 6.30pm: Introductory workshop
7.00pm: Dinner
All courses end after breakfast on Saturday (10.00am).
Course Structure Tuesday – Friday
8.00 – 9.00am: Breakfast
9.30 – 11.00am: First workshop – Participants explore particular aspects of poetry and take part in writing exercises to further their understanding and expertise. All participants have opportunities to share their work with the tutor and fellow writers in a safe, supportive and nurturing environment in which individual work is respected and confidence developed.
11.00 – 11.30am: Coffee break
11.30am – 1.00pm: Second workshop
1.00pm Lunch. After lunch, participants are free to do whatever they like, such as: relax, go for walks, read or work on individual writing projects.
4.30pm: Tea and cake
5.30 – 6.30pm: Third workshop
7.00pm: Dinner
All participants on a course have one individual tutorial of 30 minutes with the tutor in the course of the week. These will take place in the afternoons.
Each evening, at 8.30pm – c.9.30pm, there is an after-dinner event:
Tuesday – the tutor will read from their work.
Wednesday – poetry/music performance from Hamish and Rebecca.
Thursday – reading from a guest writer.
Friday – a shared reading of the ‘work-in-progress’ anthology produced during the week.
