EarthSpirit Centre — Compton Dundon, UK

Eco retreat venue in restored 17th-century farm buildings near Glastonbury

Five miles from Glastonbury, on the edge of Compton Dundon village in Somerset, EarthSpirit lies within what the centre describes as the 'temenos' (sacred enclosure) of Avalon. It sits in a landscape between two nature reserves, two minutes' walk from St Andrew's church, whose cemetery holds a yew tree 1,800 years old. The seventeenth-century farm buildings have been restored and converted for use as a venue, set in seven acres of fields and gardens. The complex is based around a converted barn 52 feet (15.5m) long, with oak timbers, reed torching lining the inside of the roof, and stone walls. The feeling is medieval, with modern comforts: underfloor heating, a large woodstove, and a high roof with skylights that keeps the space light and airy. A dining room seats up to 48 and leads into a tea room and onto the terrace. The meditation and sitting room, 23' x 19' (7 x 5.7m), has underfloor heating, a piano, French windows and a large south-facing glass panel. It can be set up with rugs, cushions, blankets, sofas, chairs or mattresses, as a group chooses. Outside are a spa, a bonfire area and a sweat lodge. Guests sleep in the Cordwood building, the Dairy, the Cowsheds, the Skylights rooms and the Apple Loft, whose roof timbers are fully exposed. There are also caravans, Lotus Belle tents and a camping field. In summer there are two furnished yurts with beds and electricity. A second site, Little Earth, has its own group room, summer house and accommodation. The offerings listed include sweatlodge, forage walks, tea ceremony and tea tastings, sound baths, and sports, remedial, holistic and chair massage.

Traditions: Sweat Lodge, Sound Healing, Tea Ceremony, Foraging, Meditation

Programs: Sweatlodge, Relaxing Sound Baths, Forage Walks, Tea Ceremony, Tea Tastings, Sport Massage, Remedial/Holistic/Chair Massage