Frequently asked questions

The place

  • The farm is in West Gloucestershire, hidden away beyond the village of Clifford’s Mesne, ten minutes’ drive from the market town of Newent. Gloucester is a 30min drive, where trains to London Paddington take just 1hr40mins. Bristol is around 1hr20min drive.

    Our postcode will not guide you to the farm – when you book we will provide you with detailed instructions for how to get here!

  • Yes, there is dedicated space for one car just outside the annexe. Please make sure you are comfortable with the house approach, along a mile of single unpaved track. There are other users, so reversing may be required!

  • Absolutely!  We love people to come by public transport and are happy to provide transfers from nearby train stations (Gloucester, Ledbury, Cheltenham, Hereford), or from the bus stop in Newent, for a small fee. We can also provide lifts during your stay by arrangement.

  • Sadly, due to its remote rural location and seventeenth-century buildings, Ravenshill is not suitable for wheelchair users or people with mobility issues.

    If you have any questions about access, please do contact us – we will always make adjustments where we can.

  • Yes, the annexe has a good dedicated Wi-fi signal.

  • Dogs are very welcome. However, please be aware that our resident collies can be noisy about ‘their’ territory, so guest pets will need to be tolerant and well-behaved. The retreat annexe garden is secure and private.

  • The retreat annexe is self-catering. The well-stocked kitchen has fridge, freezer, induction hob, microwave and oven. We include a welcome basket with enough food supplies for your first night and first breakfast.

    You can bring your own food supplies or visit local shops during your stay. Newent (10 minutes’ drive) has a Co-op, deli and health food shop, while Ross-on-Wye (20 minutes’ drive) has Aldi, Morrison’s, Sainsbury’s etc.

    If you don’t drive or if you prefer, we can supply you with groceries during your stay. Please discuss with us before booking.

  • Yes, the secondary bathroom has a washing machine which you are welcome to use.

  • Of course! The annexe contains a guide to the stunning local area, including walks and maps. We are also very happy to help you with your explorations. 

    While most facilities are a short drive away, confident walkers can easily access Newent and other local pubs. There is also wild swimming within easy reach.

  • Bring whatever you need to write, and your research materials. But if you forget something or if something comes up, don’t panic! We will always support you as far as possible.

    Basic toiletries and a welcome pack of food supplies will be available in the annexe. Make sure you bring layers, suitable walking shoes, and casual clothes you don’t mind getting muddy.

  • The annexe is designed as a secluded, private space of solitary (or couple’s) retreat. Your host Ellen and her partner Tom live on site in the main farmhouse, and Ellen will be on hand during your stay. Ellen’s brother Michael will often be found working on the flower farm during the day, so people will be coming and going. We have close neighbours, and a number of footpaths run near the house, so it is not as isolated as it might first appear.

    That said, Ravenshill’s very appeal is its deeply rural setting, and we cannot guarantee there will always be someone on site. If you are concerned, please speak to us before booking.

  • Yes! To our delight, a pair of these incredible birds have made their home here – obviously they looked at the map and thought the place was designed for them. They are particularly fond of our Lebanese cedar tree, and you’ll often hear their distinctive, guttural croaks from within its sheltering branches.

The Project

  • We understand the power of uninterrupted time and space to work on a creative project, and our approach has been developed through years of delivering writing retreats and courses at other centres. In addition, your host is an experienced writer, editor and creative writing facilitator.

    At Ravenshill you can select your preferred length of retreat. You will work in exceptionally beautiful and peaceful surroundings, with the option of tailored mentoring to maximise your focus and inspiration. 

    Set on a working flower farm, you will be part of a place devoted to quiet industry and creativity. The Ravenshill Project is all about helping you to get the most out of your writing time.

  • No, you can book the annexe to work on any creative project or just to take some time for yourself. 

  • Please visit our mentoring page for all details.

  • If you’re interested in joining our panel of mentors, we’d love to hear from you. Just get in touch using the Contact page with a short summary of your experience.

  • Founder of The Ravenshill Project, Ellen Hardy was previously Centre Manager at Moniack Mhor, Scotland’s centre for creative writing, and Manager at Tŷ Newydd, the national writing centre for Wales. She has also worked as an Associate Tutor at the University of East Anglia and taught creative writing for The Restoration Trust and The Crito Project. She has been a first reader for Representing Wales, and for three years on the Emerging Writer Award. Ellen is passionate about perfecting the creative retreat experience, about supporting early career writers, and about welcoming people to Ravenshill.

    Read more about Ellen here.

  • For now, the annexe is The Ravenshill Project’s only available retreat space. The main house is in need of renovation – watch this space!

  • The Ravenshill Project was founded in the belief that the gift of time and space in a beautiful setting should be shared. Every year, we reserve four weeks of our calendar for unpublished writers who face barriers to their practice. We have an annual window for applications, after which writers are selected according to their  circumstances and literary merit. We aim to select four writers and host them for a week each, but we are guided by the needs of our selected applicants. Awards do not include mentoring.

    To find out more and to apply, click here.

The awards

  • If you are an unpublished writer whose circumstances put retreats beyond your reach – if the idea of a secluded writing week sounds like it is for someone else – we want to hear from you. We do not have specific selection criteria, nor do we ask for proof of circumstances.

    For more detail on eligibility, please visit our Awards page.

  • No, there will never be an application fee for Awards time at Ravenshill.

  • The Ravenshill Project is designed to support literary potential in any genre. Every year, we will choose the four writers whose work we feel would most benefit from the time and space we can provide.

  • If you are selected for an award, we will contact you to discuss your availability. Awards are for a week as standard, but this can be flexible. 

    Awards include return travel to Ravenshill (up to £150), your time and support on site, and a stipend of £10/day (reimbursed).

    Awards include a 2,500-word manuscript assessment and an hour’s tutorial with the founder of The Ravenshill Project (optional).

  • Visit our Apply for an award page to complete your application and upload your writing sample. Read the guidelines carefully before you click ‘submit’!

    The deadline for 2026 award applications is 31 May. 

  • Our 2026 awards will be confirmed by 30 June 2026.

  • Unfortunately we cannot give feedback on unsuccessful applications. But as our award places are limited, we encourage you to apply in future years.

  • In order to keep the opportunity open to as many people as possible, our awards are non-transferable. We would encourage you to apply in a future year.

  • The Ravenshill Project funds awards before it makes a profit. We are a small operation on a family property, and it is important to us that Ravenshill is open to people who would not otherwise have the opportunity to prioritise their creative selves.