The Clockhouse Writing Retreat Centre - Shropshire - Arvon
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The Clockhouse

Shropshire

The Clockhouse Writers Retreat Arvon

The Clockhouse is Arvon’s dedicated retreat centre for uninterrupted time to write. It sits alongside our writing centre The Hurst in the Shropshire Hills.

The Clockhouse woodburner Group of people in sitting room at The Clockhouse The Clockhouse Kitchen Food at The Clockhouse Clockhouse Closet The Clockhouse bedroom A woman typing in her room at The Clockhouse The Clockhouse Bathroom Clockhouse Bedroom Laptop computer on desk Clockhouse desk Woman typing at Arvon Clockhouse Writers' Retreat Bathroom at The Clockhouse Wetroom at The Clockhouse

Accommodation

Facilities include four comfortable, accessible, self-contained apartments, each with bedroom, study-lounge and en-suite bathroom. You will share communal spaces with up to three other writers, including a cosy lounge with log-burner and shared kitchen-diner with all food provided. The Clockhouse has Wi-Fi and easy walks to the local village with pub and shop. During your time here this is your home so please make yourself comfortable and enjoy the accommodation, grounds and local area.

The Clockhouse writers retreat The Clockhouse building The Clockhouse rear The clockhouse through trees Trees in Shropshire Path at The Clockhouse in Shropshire Grounds at The Clockhouse in Shropshire Grounds at The Clockhouse Shropshire Flowers in the sunshine at The Hurst Countryside at The Hurst Sheep and land at The Hurst Apple Orchard Hurst Bluebells Shropshire Creative Writing Course centre The Clockhouse with autumn foliage The Clockhouse in autumn Colorful plants at the clockhouse writers retreat Flowers at the Clockhouse

The Grounds

The Clockhouse is located in The Shropshire Hills, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. There are some wonderful walks, in every direction. We will provide local maps and recommended walks. The grounds boast redwoods, wild orchids, surrounded by the forest-covered Shropshire Hills. The house sits within 26 acres of woodland, with stunning views and a spring-fed lake.

Writers having breakfast at The Clockhouse Writers in the kitchen at The Clockhouse

Food

All your food will be provided during your stay at The Clockhouse. Breakfast and lunch will be a “help yourself” arrangement. You will find a good range of food in the kitchen, just help yourself. For your evening meal there will be a choice of locally produced frozen meals for you to heat up. We will provide meat, vegetarian and vegan options but for all other dietary requirements please feel free to bring what you need with you.

We encourage you to dine with your fellow writers at 7pm each evening if you would like to. If you wish to drink alcohol please bring your own supplies. There is a general store in Clun, the nearest village, with a good range of wines and beers.

If you would like to do some foraging of your own you will find a small general store and butchers in Clun, 1 mile away, a supermarket, butchers and other shops in Bishop’s Castle, just under 7 miles away, also in Craven Arms, 7 miles away, and a wide variety of food shops, including delis, butchers and bakers in Ludlow, a 30 minute drive away.

Book your Clockhouse Retreat today

Visit The Clockhouse booking page to check availability, make a booking and more info.

Book now

What a glorious week at The Clockhouse! The views alone are worth the trip, and the magnificent Arvon food, the delightful company, the country walks made it a fantastic week of writing, reading and thinking.

— Naomi Alderman

This retreat has been quite special, enabling me to write more in the first three days than I had in the previous three months. The greatest gifts for a writer are time and space to write. The Clockhouse gave both in abundance.

— Patience Agbabi

The Clockhouse is better than a sanctuary: it’s the perfect combination of shared and private spaces. You get your own beautifully appointed apartment with bedroom, study and bathroom - a place to work and be alone. Then downstairs are a smart, well-equipped kitchen and an inviting sitting room, places to meet your fellow writers, to cook, to talk and unwind. I found that balance of solitude and company stimulating, especially when supplemented with long walks in the glorious countryside (and to the pub!). Somehow the knowledge that we were all there to work together was a spur to keep going with a difficult piece of writing. I wrote much more than I had expected, so it turned out to be a productive week, as well as a very happy one.

— Miranda France

I came to the retreat from the United States -- seeking a distraction-free environment to move words out of my head and onto paper. I also wanted to take time to transition writing as a career rather than a hobby. During my time at the Clockhouse, I was included amongst accomplished writers in an environment where every single detail was handled with excellence. I was free to focus on my writing goals. Arvon gathers amazing writers into an incredible space with every resource you will ever need at your fingertips. If you want a peaceful and thoughtful environment to focus on your craft, don't look any further. You will find yourself at home at Arvon with plans to return again and again.

— B Bertrand

Read more testimonials

How to book

Visit the Clockhouse Retreats page for availability and to make a booking for 4-days, 6-days, or longer.

Accessibility

This is a building set in the grounds of the Hurst with four apartments. Each apartment has a bedroom, bathroom, and study-lounge. All food is provided, so you can focus entirely on your writing and relaxing.  

PHYSICAL ACCESS: The Clockhouse has level access throughout the building. All door frames measure the required 825mm, all with door handles at accessible heights.  Power sockets are placed at 500mm from the floor.  There is a shared cosy living room with wood-burner stove. There is an accessible toilet on the ground floor. 

KITCHEN/DINER  : There is a shared kitchen diner on the ground floor. You are welcome to help yourself to food at any time. Meals are provided. All work surfaces are a standard height, but lower tables can be provided.  There are base cupboards with utensils, crockery and other supplies at an accessible height.  We have a portable step for those with restricted height to reach work surfaces etc. For dining, we have a range of seating, benches and chairs. If you want to ensure that a particular type of chair is available, i.e. a chair with arms, please contact us on our dedicated access email or phone number.     

LIFT: There is a three-person lift which can take one wheelchair user with one standing person. 

APARTMENTS : There is one fully accessible apartment for wheelchair users on the first floor, The Mary Webb apartment with ensuite wetroom.   

FIRE SAFETY: The Collection points are in the carpark, which is accessible from both lower and upper levels.  

NEAREST TRAIN STATION: The nearest train station is Craven Arms 8.5 miles. Both platforms are accessible but need to be approached from different roads. Taxi drivers will need to be told ahead of arrival which platform you are arriving on. We have phone numbers of accessible taxis and can organise this on your behalf. You can request this on the booking form or contact us through the dedicated Email or phone number.  

OUTSIDE : The main entrance is accessible from the car park.  There is a level patio area. 

GROUNDS: There are lovely parklands around the Clockhouse. Some of the pathways have level access and hard surfaces. There are some slopes.  There is also some seating situated along the pathways. 

More information on accessibility can be found here. 

Travelling by car

The Clockhouse is about 8 miles west of Craven Arms on the B4368 between Clun and Clunton. Head for Craven Arms on the A49, between Ludlow and Shrewsbury. At the Craven Arms Hotel, take the B4368, signposted Clun. One mile beyond Clunton, you will see a white house on your right. Just past this is a left-hand turn into our driveway. From Wales, or via Bishop’s Castle, head for Clun on the A488. In Clun, take the B4368 signposted Craven Arms. After 1 mile you will come to a left-hand bend with a black-and-white chevron warning sign – the right-hand turn just around the bend is The Hurst driveway that leads to The Clockhouse.

Travelling by train

There are rail connections to London, Wales, the North and South-West England from Craven Arms station, eight miles away. The nearest station is Craven Arms, eight miles from The Clockhouse. It is a fairly well-serviced station on the main line between Manchester and Cardiff, with rail connections to London, the North and South-West England.

Further information

Please see the Clockhouse Retreats page or the accommodation, food and accessibility page for further information.

Contact

The Hurst
The John Osborne Arvon Writing House
Clunton
Craven Arms
Shropshire
SY7 0JA

Tel: 01588 640 658
Email: thehurst@arvon.org

For individual team members please see the Meet the Team page.

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