You used to love creating. Now it feels diluted, tiring, and a little hollow. In the hills of the Peak District, we’re building something rare: a retreat where you feel it again. A space to reconnect, reflect, and reignite your heart for the work you actually care about. We didn’t want WYRD to be just another Photography Workshop, We’re bringing together photographers, artists, and makers who see the world just a bit differently and know that creativity is something to be nurtured, shared, and explored. a real life, in person community that seems to be dwindling, especially as we run our solo businesses!
Highlights
Creative Talks: Real-Time Conversations That Matter
At Wyrd, we’re creating space for real-time, open conversations led by creative minds who’ve been there and done it. We’re aiming for genuine dialogues where you can ask questions, share your thoughts, and be part of the discussion. With the intimate setting and small group vibe, these talks become something deeper. Insightful, thought-provoking, and unfiltered. Sharing ideas and stories, giving you the kind of knowledge you only get from honest conversations with people who understand the creative journey.
Morning Rituals: Start With Something That Isn't Doomscrolling
Begin each day how you need to. Maybe it’s yoga. Maybe it’s coffee in total silence. Maybe it’s just staring into the woods and questioning everything. This time is yours with no pressure, no hierarchy of wellness.
Reflective Walks: Let Nature Fuel Your Creativity
Sometimes the best ideas come when you’re not sitting in a room. A guided camera walk with our speakers to gain insight into their way of working. they’re an intentional way to let the surroundings inspire new perspectives.
Onsite Private Chef - Shared Meals, Big Tables and Big Conversations
Our version of connection is wood-fired, slow-cooked, and eaten with your hands if you like. We’re big believers in bonding over food and building a good sense of community. Sitting down together where the pressure is off and people can share stories, getting to know each other beyond the small talk. Food is at the heart of this retreat and we’ve planned nourishing meals, designed around sharing and community with our very own private chef for the retreat.
Fireside Gatherings: Off Script and On Point
This is where the lines blur. Speakers become attendees. Tangents become insights. You might cry. You might start a zine. You might just sip something nice and listen in. These sessions are the glue that binds the Wyrd experience.
Practical Insights from Industry Voices: Learn From Those Who've Been There
Yes, you’ll learn. Yes, it’ll be useful. But no one’s here to sell you a funnel or seven-step system. This is candid insight from creatives who’ve actually done the work. The kind of stuff you usually only hear at 1am in the smoking area. We’re bringing in creative minds from different backgrounds to share their stories, not as polished presentations, but as real conversations about what they’ve learned along the way. You’ll leave each session not just feeling inspired, but equipped with practical insights and ideas to take back into your own work.
Hosts
Pause, connect and learn from like-minded creatives in an inspiring setting. This purposefully isn’t a packed-out theatre event with an overwhelmingly long list of guest speakers.. Wyrd is different. It’s a retreat with space to breathe, curated sessions that spark real conversations, and plenty of time to think without the pressure of a packed schedule. Wyrd works best when you show up, willing to share and learn from others attending! Set in the heart of the Peak District, in the remote village of Wildboarclough. We’ll take ourselves away from the grind for a couple of days, and come away refreshed and inspired with some golden nuggets from the incredible minds we have joining us!
Luke
Hey, I’m Luke, a photographer and creative based in Nottinghamshire. I’ve spent the past 15 years working in the creative arts and music industries, and for the last 5 years, I’ve been a full-time professional photographer.
Before photography took over, I was deeply involved in the music industry in sales & marketing as well as writing, recording, and touring across the UK. That’s where I first learned the power of community and how important it is to build real connections.
After years of working with people through photography, I realised that some of the most meaningful moments happen when there’s space to just be yourself. No pressure, no performance, just real conversations and shared experiences. That’s what led me to create Wyrd Retreat.
To connect with like-minded people who get it, in a real and open setting. It’s a chance to reflect, recharge, and have the kind of conversations that leave you feeling inspired and grounded. It’s those chats around the fire or a walk through the Peak District, the unexpected and unassuming moments that build something lasting.
I know how isolating the creative journey can sometimes feel, and I wanted to create a space where we could break through that. Where honesty and openness are the norm. I can’t wait to welcome you to Wyrd and share this space with you.
Schedule
Over three days, immersed in the Peak District landscape, Wyrd will pull apart the real anatomy of running a creative business. The messy stuff, the breakthroughs, the marketing ideas that don’t sound like LinkedIn manifestos. The aim is not to stack up a hundred strategies you’ll never use. It’s for those who slow down enough to actually think, swap notes with others walking the same crooked path, and hear practical insights and a ton of inspiration from some of the best minds working today. We’ll deep dive into what it really takes to build something meaningful and sustainable, By the end, you’ll leave clearer, quieter, and with something real to lean into.
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What's Included
Exclusive welcome gift
Full access to all retreat activities and workshops
Optional morning yoga sessions to start your day with intention
Fireside gatherings for honest, open conversations
Creative talks led by industry experts
Reflective walks and group activities
All meals prepared by private chefs, including the final night’s Celebratory feast.
Snacks and refreshments throughout the day
Personal retreat guidebook and journal
Gallery
Your Venue
With a collection of purposefully restored homes across the UK, ARC promises guests the luxury of a boutique hotel without compromise.
Nestled deep in the valleys of the Peak District, ARC Peaks is a thoughtfully restored space, where nature hums, the river runs, and the wild is never far. Think wood-fired hot tubs, an indoor pool, alfresco kitchens, pizza ovens, a yoga studio, and even a South African-style Braai — all wrapped in sweeping views and soft silence.
At the heart of the property is The Old Post Office — a 200-year-old building reimagined with care. Originally a printworks, it’s been lovingly restored using traditional techniques.
Outside, the River Dane winds its way around the grounds, bringing a hush that settles into your skin. A long stone table, carved from reclaimed on-site stone, stretches toward a flowering orchard — the perfect place for shared stories and late-night chats.
Every ARC is newly renovated and designed for large groups - combining stunning architecture and interiors with state-of-the-art indoor/outdoor kitchens, spacious communal areas and extensive amenities.
Expect modern ensuites, 1,000 pocket spring luxury mattresses, Egyptian cotton bedding, bespoke ARC welcome jumpers and LA-EVA organic toiletries as standard, whilst enjoying facilities such as hot tubs, swimming pools, cinema rooms and fire pits.
