Date/Time
Date(s) - Monday 28 Sep - Saturday 3 Oct, 2026
All Day
Location
Moniack Mhor, Kiltarlity, Inverness-shire, IV4 7HT
Things found in a song
Delve into the world around you to imagine, create and hone songs, with songwriters Yvonne Lyon and Boo Hewerdine. This course is inspired by Yvonne and Boo’s ‘Things Found in Books’ project. It was born in Culzean Castle’s second-hand bookshop, where a noticeboard features the wonderfully random ephemera found in donated books: letters, postcards, photographs and newspaper clippings that all combine to tell their own story. This course will follow the same approach, using our surroundings to create new work. We will look at form, melody, lyric and every element that makes a powerful song.
Our special guest this week will be the extraordinary Lady Nade, who will share her approach to songwriting during an evening talk mid-week.
This course will suit those new to songwriting and those who have a project in progress. Instruments welcome but not necessary.
Tutors
Boo Hewerdine is a singer-songwriter, musician, producer and experienced tutor and mentor. He has written songs for Eddi Reader, k.d. lang, Chris Difford and many others. He has produced numerous albums, run a record label and been involved in music as a business for many years. His latest album, Understudy (a commercial and critical success), was released in 2022.
Yvonne Lyon is among the UK’s brightest and best singer songwriters. Her most recent album Things Found In Books is co-written with award winning songwriter Boo Hewerdine and is her eleventh studio release. Yvonne has been writing songs professionally for over 20 years. She holds an MA in English Literature from Glasgow University (including 2 years of Music) and a Masters in Songwriting from the University of the West of Scotland. She is also a graduate of Strathclyde University with a PGCE in Secondary Music.
Guest reader
Lady Nade is one of the UK’s most emotionally resonant and distinctive voices. Blending folk, soul, Americana, jazz and roots influences, her songs offer space for reflection, resilience and connection in a restless world. Her songwriting began as a way to navigate grief and personal transformation, evolving into work that now speaks to listeners who have lived through love, loss, reinvention and quiet strength. A Song of the Year winner at the UK Americana Awards (2022) and nominee for Artist of the Year at the AMAUK Awards (2023), she has become a respected figure within the UK roots landscape. Her album Willing charted in both the Official Folk and Americana Charts, while her music has received widespread support from BBC Radio 2 and BBC 6 Music. In 2023, her name was engraved at the historic Bristol Beacon alongside icons including Nick Cave, Grace Jones and Portishead, recognising her as one of Bristol’s most influential women in music.
Fees
The full fee for this course is £745. This includes your accommodation in a single room with shared bathroom, all meals, hot drinks and snacks from Monday afternoon until Saturday morning, and your tuition. For more information about the format and practicalities of our courses, tutored courses, and retreats, please visit our About the Residential Courses & Retreats page.
A limited number of en-suite rooms are available, which can be booked in advance for a £50 surcharge. We will also reserve an en-suite room for anyone who may need it due to a medical condition. This will be offered out as an upgrade nearer the course start date if it is not needed.
A small single room with a skylight is available at a discounted price of £720. Please note this room does not have an ordinary window, only a small skylight.
Two non-residential places are available on this course at the price of £440. This includes all meals, hot drinks and snacks from Monday afternoon until Saturday morning, and your tuition. You will not be assigned a room, but you will be able to access communal spaces and evening events throughout the week. You will not be able to stay overnight at the Centre. Read our non-residential frequently asked questions for more information.
A deposit is required to secure your place, which is non-refundable after a 14-day cooling-off period. The remainder of the course fee is due six weeks before the course begins. Please read our Terms & Conditions for full details about our cancellation policy. If you would like to pay the full amount in advance, please email info@moniackmhor.org.uk.
Bursaries are always available, and you also have the option to pay in instalments. If you have any problems paying online, or wish to discuss paying in instalments or applying for financial help, or would simply like assistance, please contact us by emailing info@moniackmhor.org.uk.
Access
Please let us know in your booking form if you have any access requirements, for example a ground floor bedroom and/or access to a step-free accessible shower room. We also reserve one en-suite bedroom per course for anyone who may need this due to a medical condition.
We have a limited number of twin rooms available on site. If you need to book a twin room for access reasons, please book a standard single room and mention in the comments box that you will need a twin room.
For more information about access to our courses, please visit our Access page.
Terms and Conditions
Please read our Terms & Conditions before booking.