A springtime retreat led by Cliff Brown (Brother Phap Vu) in the beautiful surroundings of Wiston Lodge, Lanarkshire
Well known to the Scottish sangha as Brother Phap Vu, Cliff Brown was a monastic Dharma Teacher in the Plum Village tradition for 18 years. He recently returned to lay life and currently resides in Michigan, USA.
During this retreat we will enjoy Dharma talks from Cliff and we will sit, eat and walk together as a sangha – strengthening our mindfulness practice in order to embrace the challenges of our lives with clarity, peace and joy.
We hope you can join us!
Embracing and Looking Deeply at Suffering | Br Phap Vu
Retreat Info
Schedule
Thu 7 May
2:00 PM onwards – Arrival
6:00 PM – Dinner
Before 6 PM you are invited to settle in and explore the beautiful surroundings of the lodge and its gardens.
Sun 10 May
1:00 PM – Lunch and departure
Location
Wiston Lodge is equidistant between Edinburgh and Glasgow, approximately 1 hour’s drive from each.
The postcode may not bring you directly to the Lodge. Once in Wiston Village, find the Primary School. The Lodge is located at the top of the hill, right next to the school.
Lift Sharing
We encourage retreatants to lift share when possible. If you would like to request or offer a lift, you can specify this when booking.
Trains and Buses
The nearest train station is Lanark, from where it is possible to travel on to Wiston by bus or taxi. There are also bus services from Edinburgh that stop near the village. More details can be found on the Wiston Lodge website here.
Photo Wiston Lodge
Accommodation
Wiston Lodge is an outdoor learning and education centre nestled amongst the rolling hills of Southern Scotland.
Staying in the House
The house is a beautiful old Victorian building dating from 1850. Accommodation is in shared, dormitory-style rooms, including some bunk beds. Please let us know if you are not able to stay in a top bunk or if you have any other mobility issues or concerns and we will do our best to accommodate everybody comfortably.
Camping
Camping will also be available in in a large, tree-lined field, with toilet facilities nearby and easy access to showers in the main house. The field overlooks the pond and offers great views of the surrounding landscape including Tinto Hill
What to bring
— Please bring a mat and a meditation cushion or stool.
— Appropriate clothing for a retreat and Scottish weather in May.
— Your own towel.
— Personal items such as toiletries and pen and notepad.
— You will be encouraged to turn off your phone during the retreat.
Food
Vegan food will be served. If you have any other dietary requirements or allergies you can let us know when booking.
Cost
£290 to stay in the house
£200 camping
We have kept pricing for this retreat to a minimum.
Pricing is at cost for the accommodation, facilities and catering at Wiston Lodge plus a small contribution (around £20 pp) towards the travel and accommodation costs for Cliff Brown.
This is made possible by a very generous donation from a sangha member. There will be the opportunity during the retreat to offer dana (donations).
We expect this to be a popular retreat and – as it is a fairly small venue – places are limited so please book early to avoid any disappointment.
Bursaries
We are hoping to be able to offer bursaries to those for whom the cost of the retreat is difficult to manage. If you are able to generously donate to this fund, you can make a donation when booking.
If you would like to be considered for receiving a bursary, please email the team on wistonretreat2026@plumvillage.uk, informing us why you the cost is difficult for you at this time. Any information given will be treated with total confidentiality.
Cancellation Policy
Wiston Lodge requires us to book for a minimum number of participants. We are therefore only able to offer refunds if we are able to fill your place with another retreatant. Thank you for your understanding.
Health
If you have any requirements you would like to make us aware of that will help to make the retreat possible and enjoyable for you please mention these on the booking form. These might include mobility issues and any other health/support needs. All information shared will be treated confidentially and with respect.
Contact Us
If you have any questions or if you need to contact us for any other reason please email
wistonretreat2026@plumvillage.uk
Top image by Flor Saurina on Unsplash
