Do you have a poetry pamphlet or full collection nearly ready, but still feel it needs refining before you send it out into the world? This course is designed for poets at that exact stage, whether you’re writing your debut collection or you’re already a veteran.
Zoë Brigley and Rhian Edwards, co-editors of Seren Books, work with poets at all stages who want to give their work the final polish it deserves in a supportive and encouraging environment. The Gentle Poetry Boot Camp combines the focus of a writing retreat with the warmth of a creative community. Every day, you’ll join workshops led by Zoë and Rhian, exploring ways to strengthen your poems’ shape, voice, and emotional clarity. Afternoons are for one-to-one tutorials, writing time, and reflection, with space to work intensively but gently: no competition, just good work and good company.
By the end of the week, you’ll have renewed confidence in your manuscript, a clearer sense of its arc and coherence, and a set of poems ready to meet their readers.
This course is best suited to poets who have a pamphlet or collection in progress and are seeking thoughtful feedback and finishing guidance rather than a full introduction to writing poetry.
Over the week, you will:
• Work through any poems that are worrying you or don’t quite seem to be working
• Use one-to-one tutorials to look closely at individual poems or to discuss your publishing journey, ambitions, and next steps
• Take dedicated time for focused writing, reflection, and careful attention to the craft of your poetry
• Share your work with other poets in a supportive and nurturing environment, benefiting from feedback and conversation
You’ll leave the week with renewed confidence, a polished manuscript, and practical tools for taking your work forward.
*Please use the expandable links below to reveal timings and further details of the course schedule.
Room with a valley view: £640
Rooms in this price band have a single or double bed, and most are on the first or ground floor. One room in this price band is in the attic but has a valley view.
Attic room without a valley view: £590
These rooms have low ceilings and extra stairs to climb.
Concessions: Room with a view: £448
Concessions: Room without a view: £413
As part of our effort to increase participation in the arts, we offer limited concessionary places at a 30% reduction. You can select this option at checkout if available.
Physical access at Lumb Bank:
The upper floor of the barn is accessible by lift, and the ground floor is level access or ramped. There is an accessible all-gender toilet on the ground floor. Lumb Bank’s main building is accessible for wheelchair users, but the access to the house itself is down a steep country lane, and the initial part of the driveway is bumpy and uneven. If you are coming on a course and require assistance to enter the building or are a wheelchair user please contact us on access@arvon.org or rozie.kelly@arvon.org so we can meet you on arrival and guide any vehicles in. If you need to park onsite please contact us to arrange this in advance (one space available per course).
Please see our access page for general access information for residential courses.
Our grants scheme may be able to cover a portion of your course fees. Disability costs and additional living/support costs are taken into account when considering your grant application. You may also be entitled to concession pricing on selected courses.
If you have any questions or concerns and want to chat to a member of staff prior to booking please contact us on access@arvon.org
The Ted Hughes Arvon Centre, Lumb Bank is an 18th-century millowner’s house in West Yorkshire, which once belonged to Ted Hughes. It’s set in 20 acres of steep woodland with breathtaking views to the valley below.
You’ll find many quiet places to write in the house and garden – and a well-stocked library. All rooms are single occupancy, and bathrooms are shared. The shared bathrooms are all-gender.
All your meals are provided, locally and sustainably sourced wherever possible. Help yourself to breakfast, our team will prepare lunch, and dinner is prepared in groups each evening using the delicious recipes and ingredients provided.
Explore the Pennine landscape of woods and rivers, weavers’ cottages, packhorse trails and ruins of old mills. It is half a mile from the historic village of Heptonstall and two miles from Hebden Bridge.
See here for more information on Lumb Bank.
Zoë Brigley
Rhian Edwards
