sharphamtrust.org
Retreat at the Cabin
Retreat at the Cabin
First of all, I had a very enjoyable solitary retreat experience at the Barn, staying in the Cabin. I had a warm welcome, was shown around the place and been given some tasks for the days ahead as a work contribution to the running of the Barn Retreat Centre.
The Cabin is located at the very edge of the Barn s compound, next to the vegetable garden and a neighbouring field, placed in between the trees. As leaves were falling, I enjoyed very pleasant views down to the river Dart and beyond onto the rolling hills of the lush Devon countryside and towards the sea (not visible). You probably won t have such a view when the trees have developed a dense canopy.
The inside of the Cabin is equipped with some old pieces of furniture, still functional but, considering the price scale Sharpham is aiming at, some could do with replacement, e.g. the bed and the kitchen needs some attention too. However, everything essential you need is being provided, including cushion/safu and the extra blanket. It was very cosy when the fire was crackling in the wood burner, which produced good warmth, despite the cabin lacking insolation, and some lit candles and fairy lights were adding to the ambience in the evenings. The only thing which was missing was some sufficient light to read during the darker hours (if you want to allow yourself this distraction ). I found a lamp, hidden in one of the cupboards, and the friendly staff supplied some batteries on request, which solved this obstacle. There is a compost toilet nearby for your use and, at least during Covid 19 restrictions, there is a toilet/shower room, allocated to the Cabin retreatants, in the main building, which I appreciated. What I appreciated less was that the Cabin, which previously had not been used by retreatants and probably not by anybody for some time, had not been properly cleaned and little attention had been given to the food, particularly essentials in the kitchen, some of which looked like very dated leftovers from long gone users. When moving in, I spend the first hour or more removing cobwebs from the walls and ceiling, cleaning the area around the cooker and clearing out the woodstove. I had expected doing such chores during my stay, but not necessarily when moving in. As there is no access to the pantry during Covid 19 restrictions, expect to communicate whatever you need via writing on a blackboard at the main house. This might be a reasonable solution during these strange times, but I felt one should not be expected to ask for every little thing. However, when I did, most things arrived miraculously in an allocated tray to be picked up. I d like to thank the staff for their efforts, including the nice cooked lunch, which was provided in an Indian-Tiffin to picked up at the main house. You are also welcome to pick your own vegetables and fresh herbs from the garden and there were more than plenty of apples on and under the trees, should you be lucky to be there in the right season. I m sure there will be other healthy delicious fruit and veg at other times.
I am aware that I have made a few critical remarks. The intention was to improve some minor issues for future retreatants. The main message I would like to convey is that the Cabin offers a wonderful space for solitary retreatants, nestled in protected and supportive surroundings, in a beautiful setting. There are wonderful walks to be made on the extensive Sharpham Estate and beyond if you like. Should you be looking for a suitable place, go for it, it is a truly immeasurable gift to yourself.
