Black Mountain Meditation Retreat
Olchon Valley, near Hay-on-Wye, UK
Monday 17th - Sunday 23rd August, 2026
Perfect, Whole and Complete
Join us in the magical Olchon Valley this summer, for a week of
meditation, somatic healing and nature-connection.
What if our very body, our very life, is already the expression of awakening we seek? What if nothing needs to be added, fixed, or transcended? What if we can move away from our neurotic mind to experience our true open heart and Buddha Nature?
On this retreat we will enter these questions together through meditation, somatic healing practices, nature connection, and deep discussion. Within this, we will explore the practice of Zen Koans, allowing the voices of the ancient Buddhas to keep us moving in their direction.
Beginners and old hands - Join us for a week together on the mountainside in the beautiful and remote Olchon Valley! Here we’ll let the natural world permeate our experience, settle our nervous systems, and remind us of our connection and wholeness.
Together we will practice closing the gap between ourselves and the world around us, allowing our hearts to be gently opened.
Age: The retreat is open to all ages (18 and above).
Experience: We warmly welcome people at all stages of discovering meditation – brand new meditators, sometime-dabblers, as well as serious long-term practitioners seeking some company on the cushion.
“Go back and take care of yourself. Your body needs you, your feelings need you, your perceptions need you. Your suffering needs you to acknowledge it. Go home and be there for all these things.”
- Thich Nhat Hanh
What to Expect
Over the course of the retreat we will be guided in Buddhist meditation practice, engage with dharma talks and workshops, share wonderful food, stretch your body, enjoy campfires, and spend lots of time in nature. There will be periods of silence, as well as time to share and socialise.
To get the most out of the retreat, participants should be looking forward to 3 - 4 hours of meditation a day. Sessions will always be broken up with walking and body-work, and we will not be sat down continuously for more than 30 minutes. Meditation cushions and chairs will be provided, and we will be able to help you find a sitting position that works for your body. We are more than happy for participants to bring their own cushions if they have them, though this isn’t essential.
Team
This year we’re excited to announce that the retreat will be guided by Mathew Cunningham, Anne Lepelaars, and Cailin Burney-O’Dowd, as well as our wider staff constallation. Jessie Watkins and Naomi Pratt are coordinating. We’ll also have wonderful help from our wellbeing person and our cooking team.
Location
It is said that the five ridges of the Black Mountains are like the five fingers of a giant whose hand has been pressed onto the earth. At the eastern edge, between the thumb and forefinger is the Olchon Valley; secluded and magical, there is only one road in and one road out. It is a place where sky and earth meet very powerfully, this makes it a perfect place for meditation as it is somewhere where the open space of our mind mixes easily with the ground of our body.
The Olchon Valley is situated between Hay and Hereford, on the Welsh/English border. To find out exactly where we’ll be, check out The Olchon Valley Campsite.
Site and Accommodation
Olchon Valley Campsite is a small, family run business who have kindly let us rent the whole site for the duration of this retreat. There will be large communal tents for meditation, eating and socialising, and we will be using the open fields and woodland whenever the weather allows. There are hot showers and composting toilets, which are cleaned daily. We ask participants to bring their own tents for sleeping, and if this is not possible or comfortable, there are a limited number of spots in dormitory style yurts (which sleep 3-4 people each). You are also welcome to sleep in a camper van. There is flat space to park up for this! Please let us know your preference with the drop-down menu when booking. Prices are the same.
An important aspect of this retreat is being outdoors, which can help us to connect with our senses and heighten our awareness. Participants must be ready to embrace the elements in this beautiful and wild location! Glorious sunshine and heavenly downpours - it can all happen in Wales at this time of the year.
The retreat will be held on rough, countryside terrain, and we are aware that this may pose issues for those in wheelchairs or who have reduced mobility. Please reach out if you have questions, and we can provide more information and photos in order to assess together whether you would be able to access the site.
Arrival and Departure Days
Arrival is at 4pm on Monday 17th August. Departure is at 9am on Sunday 23rd. A shared taxi is available to-and-from the nearest train station (Hereford) for arrival and departure. We will send you all the information to book this once you are signed up.
Alternatively you are of course welcome to drive.
“We haven’t really lost anything; we just have to tune in. The majesty of the world is always there.” - Chogyam Trungpa
Costs
£385 | Standard Price
This includes six nights camping and all your delicious, vegan meals throughout the retreat. Plus six days of dharma talks, activities, detailed meditation instruction, and campfires in the evening, all set amongst this beautiful landscape.
£285 | Concession Price
This is for people who are currently unemployed, in full time education, or earning a low income. There are six concession spaces, available on a first-come-first-served basis. Please only take these spots if you truly need to.
If lack of money is an issue, please email us as we can connect you with a local funding body which you can apply to for financial aid.
£485 | Pay It Forward
Paying a little extra helps enable other people to attend who might not otherwise be able to. Your donation will be given to help those on a low income join the retreat. And we cannot state enough how much this generosity is appreciated!
We’ve kept these prices as low as possible. Everyone at Black Mountain Meditation is working in a voluntary capacity. These costs cover the practical costs of running the retreat.
“The true essence of our being is to delight in others.” - Lama Shenpen Hookham
