A special occasion
It is thirty years since Moniack Mhor opened its doors, welcoming our first poetry course in 1993 with Liz Lochhead, Roger McGough and guest, the late Aonghas MacNeacail. Once a working croft of cattle barn and cottage, the buildings fell into disrepair in the 60s, until it was discovered by Kit and Sophia Fraser in 1991.
After a 24-hour fundraising poethon, lots of letters to trusts and foundations, nearly two years of restoration and many invites to novelists, poets, playwrights and many more, the centre began its new life as a creative hub for writers. It’s with huge admiration for the literary community that they invested their time and energy in the early years to make the centre what it is today, that we venture forth into our 30th year.
From 17th May 2023 to 16th May 2024, we’ll be celebrating this milestone year in as many ways as we can, so look out for more stories, memories, special courses and events on our website, blog, and social media networks.
Residential Courses & Retreats
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2441 Songwriting: Connections with Boo Hewerdine and Hafdís Huld, Guest Reader Xan Tyler
Mon 7th Oct - Sat 12th Oct
Join us for a week of creating new songs and connecting with other songwriters. This week will explore songwriting, as both individuals and also through the joy of collaboration, and the unexpected creative treasures that come from trying something new.
Read more and book your place. -
2444 Creative Non-Fiction: Writing From Life with Adam Farrer and Miranda France, Guest Reader Alice Jolly
Mon 28th Oct - Sat 2nd Nov
Fully Booked
Drawing on a range of examples, we’ll explore ways to write freely and imaginatively about your own and other other people’s experience.
Read more and book your place. -
2446 Tutored Retreat Poetry: Reading Spaces with Nii Parkes and Hannah Lowe, Guest Reader Jacob Sam-La Rose
Mon 11th Nov - Sat 16th Nov
During this week, we want to explore being more deliberate about the wordless element of poems – the spaces. What role do they play, what roles can they play, and how can we be intentional about our use of spaces in poetry – whether in terms of form, syntax or pace?
Read more and book your place. -
2447 Writing Climate – Open Form: Writing Towards the Great Turning with Monique Roffey and Owen Sheers, Guest Reader Charlie Hertzog-Young
Mon 18th Nov - Sat 23rd Nov
In this open-form course we explore what ecologically informed and engaged writing looks like. And what, if anything, can our writing contribute to the challenge of what Joanna Macy calls ‘the Great Turning’ – a turning towards nature, an era of peace, justice and environmental restoration.
Read more and book your place. -
2448 Writing for YA: Turning Ideas into Stories with Melvin Burgess and Emily Barr, Guest Reader Liz Flanagan
Mon 25th Nov - Sat 30th Nov
This week is designed to help you with the entire process of writing for young people, from turning original ideas into full length story ideas, through structuring, polishing and editing your work to completion.
Read more and book your place. -
2449 Tutored Retreat: Immerse Yourself in Your Writing with Zoë Strachan and Louise Welsh, Guest Reader Tendai Huchu
Mon 2nd Dec - Sat 7th Dec
Fully Booked
This week-long tutored retreat offers an opportunity to focus intensively on a work-in-progress: any kind of prose writing welcome!
Read more and book your place. -
2450 December Retreat
Mon 9th Dec - Sat 14th Dec
Fully Booked
Winter can be a time of rest and reflection. This December, under a waxing moon, take a moment of stillness by the fireside. Just you and your words, cooried in by stone walls that have nurtured many a story.
Read more and book your place. -
2503 Winter Retreat: Week 1 of 6
Mon 13th Jan - Sat 18th Jan
Start your year of writing with renewed energy fuelled by cake in front of cosy fires.
Read more and book your place. -
2504 Winter Retreat: Week 2 of 6
Mon 20th Jan - Sat 25th Jan
Settle into the calm of winter and focus entirely on your writing. This retreat offers a peaceful space to step back from daily life and dedicate uninterrupted time to your work.
Read more and book your place. -
2505 Winter Retreat: Week 3 of 6
Mon 27th Jan - Sat 1st Feb
Immerse yourself in a week of undisturbed writing with fellow writers in a peaceful setting.
Read more and book your place. -
2506 Winter Retreat: Week 4 of 6
Mon 3rd Feb - Sat 8th Feb
Join us for an untutored retreat to place your writing at the forefront.
Read more and book your place. -
2507 Winter Retreat: Week 5 of 6
Mon 10th Feb - Sat 15th Feb
Find the quiet and space you need to focus on your writing, accompanied by copious amounts of cake and an never-ending supply of hot drinks.
Read more and book your place. -
2508 Winter Retreat: Week 6 of 6
Mon 17th Feb - Sat 22nd Feb
Fully Booked
Step away from your daily life and immersive yourself in the peaceful environment to dedicate time and space to your writing.
Read more and book your place.
View our Online Courses here
Radical Care Retreats with Childcare
Following the success of our 2022 Radical Care Retreats with Childcare, Moniack Mhor are currently developing plans for future delivery of a similar retreat with childcare support. If this is something you would like to know more about, please email us to register your interest on radicalcare@moniackmhor.org.uk