7 Reasons to Enjoy a Writing Retreat in Scotland
Posted on 01. Dec, 2009 by joanna in News, Scotland
I have to confess to being something of a fan of Scotland.
It’s the country where I live, work and walk, hour after gorgeous hour, drinking in its beauty. But what is it about Scotland that makes it a perfect venue for writing reatreats?
Here are 7 reasons that I came up with:
1. The landscape reflects and illuminates your inner landscape: towers, castles, bridges, mountains, rivers, falls.
2. It works in any season. Your mood, your words, your powers of reflection shift and adjust with the natural cycles of the year.
3. It’s never too hot. I don’t know about you, but I find it hard to write when I’m too hot.
4. There’s plenty of space. It’s easy to get away from the madding crowd.
5. There are rich seams of history wherever you go, reflecting the time lines and layers of your life
6. The light is constantly changing, creating the space for every shade of light and dark to emerge through your words
7. It was good enough for George Orwell 
What would you add to the list?
PS The collage of photos is from my Images of Scotland set on flickr. Click on the link for more images of Scotland.
For me in addition perhaps it’s the air. Having escaped from those madding crowds, to breathe clean, fresh, often crisp, then again, often soft air; revitalising and ‘creative imp’ nurturing.
Jan that’s a good point about the air – probably something I take for granted, living as close as I do to the hills. But when I manage to get even further ‘away’… you’re right, it’s like breathing in a bit of the source
I’m Scottish so I’m slightly bias on this but I think you are spot on. There are so many beautiful villages and B&Bs that you can stay in that are incredibly remote but will fill you with such joy.
The ever-changing light morphs the landscape so often it feels like you are somewhere different every minute.
Most stunning country in the world.
Thanks for a lovely blog post and for making me a little homesick.
What would I add?
McEwan’s 80p
Scottish Salmon
Atholdene House in Inverness (www.atholdenhouse.co.uk)
The Ness Islands
The Great Glen Way; Walk from Inverness to Fort William!
Two-for-one Scottish Shortbread; Walkers brand
Warm, woollen wraps for £39 from Neannie Scott’s on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh
Mary King’s Close, also on the Mile
Culloden
Beaulie Firth
Nairn’s beautiful beaches
Nairn Oat Cakes!
The locks at Fort Agustus
Single track road from Dores above the lochs
Sheep. Lots and lots of sheep.
So sorry for the delay in replying everyone – Christmas got the better of me
Scott thanks for chipping in with those thoughts – sorry for making you a little homesick… Know what you mean about the ever-changing light, I think that’s a big part of what makes this a fantastic place to get soul space, and to write.
writerwriter you should be working for VisitScotland!
Thanks for those great additions