Solitary Spiritual Retreat Centers

The TAT Foundation guide to hermitages, cabins,
and other places for spiritual reflection.

Solitary Retreats: TAT Foundation's guide to hermitages, cabins, and other places for spiritual reflection.

This listing of retreat facilities will help you find a place of solitude to spend quiet time in reflection. Places offering only communal meals are included, and noted as such, for consideration of those doing fasting retreats. Places with shared kitchen facilities are included and noted as such. Facilities requiring previous instruction, active guidance or a particular belief-system are not included.

Many facilities require reservations, sometimes months ahead due to popularity. (For a last minute budget alternative, try an inexpensive motel room with kitchenette, especially during an area's off-season.) The majority are run by religious organizations but welcome all guests. Also, many either operate on a suggested-donation basis or reduce charges for those unable to pay the full amount. Costs under $40/night or the equivalent are noted as "economical." Stays of a week or longer are sometimes discounted. Note: click on the facility's site link for additional information.

Wondering how can you make the best use of time while in solitude? Check the TAT Forum articles on solitary retreats titled Isolation by Shawn Nevins and Solitary Spiritual Retreat by Bob Fergeson.

Please with recommendations on locations that aren't listed, or to share your experiences with a facility, or for other communications.

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USA Listings

 

Retreat Facilities - Australia:         Map of Australia

State/Territory Locale Facility Comments Contact
New South Wales Burradoo Hartzer Park, Conference and Retreat Centre Bowral Range of accommodation available. Picturesque Southern Highlands countryside. No email, fill out enquiry form on contact page. Contact Form or phone 02 48 61 3223
New South Wales Douglas Park St Mary's Towers Retreat Centre Prayer, Retreats, Spiritual Accompaniment. A Special Place of Silence Will cater for the solitary retreat, just clarify your circumstances. Contact Form or Phone: 02 4630 0233
New South Wales Galong, NSW 2585 St. Clement's Retreat Centre Hermitage for solitary retreats. or phone 02 6380 5222
New South Wales Mulgoa Shoenstatt Mount Schoenstatt Shrine & Retreat Centre Mulgoa Australia Accommodation available for individual retreats. or phone 02 4773 8338
New South Wales Norwest St. Josephs Baulkham Hills Range of accommodation available. Cater for personal retreats. or phone 02 9634 2317
New South Wales Rydal Self Realisation Sevalight Centre Accommodation available for personal retreats. or phone 0415 543473
New South Wales Varroville, NSW 2566 Mt. Carmel Retreat Centre Two hermitages available for solitary retreats. Set in scenic hills of the Macarthur region. or phone (02) 8795 3400 or 0435 857 690
Queensland Eudlo Chenrezig Institute Range of accommodation available, including 5 retreat huts. or phone 0491 873 258
South Australia In the northwest of Kangaroo Island De-Tong Ling Retreat Centre Range of accommodations available, caters especially for solitary retreats. Contact Form
South Australia Point Pass Lokananda Retreat Centre Caters for individual retreats. or phone +61 8 8581 1758
Tasmania Island Lorinna Valley Dorje Ling Retreat Centre Cater for solo retreats. Contact Form
Victoria Healesville Maitripa Centre Cater for individual retreats. or phone (03) 5962 6167
Victoria Northwest of Bendigo Atisha Centre Provide accommodation for solitary retreats. or phone 03 5446 3336
Victoria Rocklyn Rocklyn Yoga Ashram Provide a range of accommodation for individual retreatants. or phone 03 5345 7434
Victoria Warburton Sancta Sophia Meditation Community Hermitage available for private retreats. or phone
Western Australia Shoalwater St. John of God Retreat Centre Range of accommodation available for solitary retreats. Contact Form or phone (08) 9527 2101 or (08) 9346 9444

 


Retreat Facilities - Canada:         country index         Map of Canada

Province Locale Facility Comments Contact
Alberta (AB) Cochrane T4C 1A8 King's Fold Three hermitages (two for fasting retreats). Economical. or phone (403) 932 3174
Newfoundland (NL) Doyles A0N 1J0 St. Mary's Solitude Two hermitages for year-round retreats. Economical. or phone (709) 955-2150
Nova Scotia (NS) Baddeck BOE IBO Big Hill Retreat Cabins for solitary retreats. or phone (902) 295-2726
Nova Scotia (NS) Cape Breton B0E 2P0 Gampo Abbey Cabins for solitary retreats of 14 days or longer. Shambhala. or phone (902) 224-2752
Nova Scotia (NS) Middle River B0E 1B0 Willow Healing Space Peaceful, private woodland campsites with washroom facilities & communal meals. Indoor meditation space available. Silent retreaters welcome. or phone (902) 295-9009
Nova Scotia (NS) Tatamagouche B0K 1V0 Dorje Denma Ling Cabins in summer. Communal meals. Shambhala center. or phone (902) 224-2752
Ontario (ON) Port Perry L9L 1B4 Clearpath Retreat Ctr Cabins and tent facilities. Open July to September. or phone 905-982-0243. No web site.

 


Retreat Facilities - Colombia:         country index         Map of Colombia

Department Locale Facility Comments Contact

 


Retreat Facilities - Great Britain:         country index         Map of Great Britain

Section Locale Facility Comments Contact
Berkshire, England Upper Woolhampton RG7 5TQ Douai Abbey En-suite rooms for solitary retreats. or or phone +44 (0)118 971 5399
Borders, Scotland Hawick TD9 7PH Chisholme Institute Purpose-built retreat cell for solitary retreats. or phone +44 (0)1450 880215
Cambridgeshire, England St Neots PE19 5TA St Claret Centre Self-contained flats for solitary retreats. or phone +44 (0) 1480 810344
County Antrim, Northern Ireland Larne BT40 1DT Drumalis Gate-lodge cottage for solitary retreats. or phone (028) 28272196 or 28276455
Denbighshire, North Wales Corwen LL21 0EN Castell Retreat Castell Retreat Cottage for solitary retreats.
Devon, England Exeter EX6 7LE Sheldon Centre Chalet for short solitary retreats. or phone +44 (0)1245-237251
Essex, England Chelmsford CM3 1HA Pleshey Retr. House Gatehouse for solitary retreats. or phone 01245 237251
Hereford, England Hereford HR2 9RZ Belmont Abbey Guesthouse (Hedley Lodge) for solitary retreats. or phone =+44 (0) 1432 374750
Leicestershire, England East Norton LE7 9XB Launde Abbey Hermitage for solitary retreats. or phone (44) 01572 717254
North Norfolk, England Trimingham NR11 8 EQ The Hidaway Large self-contained open plan static caravan for solitary retreats. or phone 07444707466
Northumberland, England Belford NE70 7EN Outchester & Ross Farm Cottages Cottages for solitary retreats. Contact form or phone +44 (0)1668 213336
Northumberland, England Belford NE70 7LJ Swinhoe Farm Houses Cottages for solitary retreats. or phone +44 (0)1668 213370 or +44 (0)7762 773559
Northumberland, England Nr. Holy Island. TD15 2PB Bee Hill Cottage for solitary retreats. Contact form or phone +44 (0)1289 381418 or +44 (0) 7884 077729
Northumberland, England Holy Island and nearby Holy Island of Lindisfarne A variety of cottages by various owners. See individual listings.
Northumberland, England Riding Mill NE46 6AF Shepherds Dene Lodge for solitary retreats. or phone 01434 682212
Powys, Wales LD1 6NU Llandrindod Wells Dyffryn Farm Self-catering cottage for solitary retreats. or phone 01597 811017
Snowdonia National Park, North Wales Snowdonia, LL54 7YY The Eniya Barn Detached Barn, solitary, meditation, silent & self catering retreats. Contact form
Somerset, England Radstock BA3 5SW Ammerdown Centre Self-catering flat for solitary retreats. or phone 01761 433709
Somerset, England S. Petherton TA13 5ES Community of St. Francis Accommodation in houses. Contact form
Surrey, England Croydon, CRO 1ND Rivendell Retreat Centre Chalet in secluded part of the grounds. or phone 0845 459 4015
Wales Brecon LD3 9PP Llannerchwen Individual hermitages or small cottage and bungalow. 8 rooms. or phone +44 (0) 01874 622 902
Wales Pembrokeshire SA65 9UA Ffald-y-Brenin Stone-built buildings and camping. "Donation in line with running costs." or phone +44 (0) 1348 881419
West Yorkshire, England Ilkley LS29 9BW Briery Centre Individual Guided Retreats. or phone +44 (0) 1943 607287

 


Retreat Facilities - Ireland:         country index         Map of Ireland

County Locale Facility Comments Contact
Cavan Bawnboy Jampa Ling Tibetan Budhist meditation centre Has a retreat mobile at a reasonable rent rate specific for solitary retreats and other options of accommodation. Visit the contact page or phone 353 (0)49 9523448
Cork Banteer Palpung Irish Budhist Centre Accommodate for solitary retreats and provide quiet peaceful environment. or phone 353 (0)29 56862 or mobile: 353 (0)83 1447769
Cork Beara Dzogchen Beara – Budhist meditation centre Three separate cottages and budget hostel accommodation available. or phone: 353 (0)27 73032
Cork Ennismore St Dominic's Retreat Centre A lodge house available for quiet sabbaticals. or phone 353 (0)21 4502520
Donegal Dundrean, Burnfoot St. Anthony's Retreat Centre Six en-suite hermitages. Meals provided. or phone 353 (0)74 9368370
Dublin Donnybrook, Dublin 4 Avila Carmelite Centre Two purpose built hermitages, in a garden setting. Visit the contact page
Laois Portarlington Mount St. Anne's Retreat and Conference Centre Three self-contained Poustinia for self-reflection retreats available. or phone 353 (0)57 8626153
Limerick Murroe Glenstal Abbey Provide two hermitages or god pods in remote locations on site. or phone 353 (0) 61 621000
Sligo Skreen Holy Hill Hermitage Have a number of hermitages available. or phone 353 (0)71 916 60 21
Wexford Enniscorthy Ballyvaloo Retreat and Conference Centre Select number of rooms available for solitary retreats. Just off the beach. or phone 353 (0)53 9137160
Wicklow Glendalough Glendalough Hermitage Centre Five cillins (hermitages) for solitary retreats. Designed for privacy in the scenic mountainous area. or phone: 353 (0)404 45571 or 353 (0)87 935 6696
Wicklow Glendalough Tearmann A range of guest accommodation. Caters for silent retreats. ; Phone: +35385 2501706

 


Retreat Facilities - Italy:         country index         Map of Italy

Province Locale Facility Comments Contact
Tuscany Pistoia Apuan Hillside Retreat Apartment for solitary retreats, adjacent to new Buddhist meditation center. Use e-mail form on web site; phone +44 783 437-1393

 


Retreat Facilities - Mexico:         country index         Map of Mexico

Area Locale Facility Comments Contact
Baja California Todos Santos, BCS La Tierra Sagrada Cabañas, tepees, camping. or phone 011-52-612-108-4189

 


Retreat Facilities - New Zealand:         country index         Map of New Zealand

Area Locale Facility Comments Contact
South Island Marlborough Maitreya Meditation Centre Cottage, caravan, flat; economical camp sites. or phone +63 3 574 1234

 

View the United States listing

 

The Order of Saint Benedict maintains a list of Benedictine Retreat Centers. Visit their Directory of Retreat Centers.

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Please with recommendations on locations that aren't listed, or to share your experiences with a facility, or for other communications.