Writers’ Retreat at Lumb Bank

Leave the world behind and escape to the newly refurbished Lumb Bank in the heart of the stunning Calder valley for a week free of interruptions. Give your writing the time and focus it needs, whatever stage your project is at, with all day to yourself and near-infinite supplies of tea and cake on hand. When you’re in need of a break, take a walk into Hebden Bridge or Heptonstall where Sylvia Plath is buried or just curl up in a window seat with a book. Then spend the evenings with like-minded people for dinner and lively discussion.

An untutored writing retreat is all about you. There are no tutors or guest speakers; no distractions but the occasional owl. Apart from shared meal times, your days are yours to structure as you see fit. Lunch and dinner will be provided by the Lumb team to allow you to concentrate on your writing in the deep tranquility of this beautiful old house.

Room with a valley view: £995

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: £930
These rooms have low ceilings and extra stairs to climb.

Concessions: Room with a view £696.50

Concessions: Room without a view £651

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.

What your course fee covers:

Your accommodation: A week an 18th-century millowner’s house in West Yorkshire, set in 20 acres of steep woodland with breathtaking views to the valley below.

All meals:  We hand over our well-stocked and welcoming kitchen to you, offering a fresh, tasty seasonal menu prepared from local ingredients where possible (with dietary requests catered for), as well as a constant supply of coffees, teas, and home-baked cakes throughout your stay.

Time and space to write: an opportunity to step away from the distractions of everyday life and focus solely on your creativity.

A community of writers: our writing weeks have a relaxed and sociable atmosphere and offer the perfect opportunity to meet like-minded people. Many of the writers who attend our residentials stay in touch and continue to share work and support one another’s writing journeys – sometimes even decades later.

Support for our charitable activity: Arvon is a charity, and each year over 40 of our courses are with vulnerable groups and schools, from young people who have experienced bullying to adults recovering from an addiction. Your course fee helps to support groups who would otherwise not have the opportunity to access our transformational courses.

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.