There is something about Scotland that seems to call to the witchy heart long before you ever set foot there. Perhaps it is the rough beauty of the Highlands in November, when mist hangs low between the hills, the forests have turned dark and earthy, the wind moves across the water and the days seem to invite you inward. Perhaps it is the old stories still woven into the landscape, the feeling that every mountain, loch and ancient tree has witnessed far more than we ever will. Or perhaps it is simply that strange sense of recognition some places give us, as though you have never been there before and yet somehow, inexplicably, you are being called home.
For five days, we are following that call.
The Call of the Cailleach is a transformational witchcraft retreat in the Scottish Highlands, inspired by the Cailleach, the witch of winter and wild landscapes, and by the myths and beings that have shaped Scottish folklore for centuries. We will disappear together into a private Scottish Baronial estate in the hills above Oban, where the wildness of November exists right outside the window and absolute comfort waits on the other side of it. Imagine coming in from a long walk with cold cheeks and damp boots, wrapped in wool and tartan after spending the afternoon wandering through the Highland landscape, only to return to a warm house, glowing lamps, deep armchairs and a beautifully laid table waiting for us. Rain tapping softly against the library windows while you disappear into a book for an hour. Steam rising around you as you sink into your private hot tub after a day outside in the mist. Three-course dinners stretching into conversations you are nowhere near ready to end.
And then there are the moments no itinerary can really describe. Standing around a bonfire in the dark, the sound of drums on the night air, hands linked with witches who somehow stopped feeling like strangers the first circle wove together. Someone squeezing your hand when the words don’t quite come. A conversation that begins over breakfast and turns into a friendship you are still treasuring five years later. Laughing so hard at dinner that whatever profound transformation we were discussing five minutes earlier is briefly forgotten. This is what my retreats have always been about. Not simply doing witchcraft together, but creating enough space away from ordinary life that something underneath it gets to come forward.
Throughout our days in Scotland, the old stories of the Highlands will become mirrors for our own. We will meet figures such as the Selkie, the Ghillie Dhu, the Sìth, the Wulver and, of course, the Cailleach herself, and use their stories as starting points for a deeper psychological and magical exploration of identity, belonging, boundaries, transition, instinct, self-trust and the seasons of our own lives. We might ask what parts of ourselves we have tucked away in order to belong. Which version of ourselves we created because it once kept us safe. What we continue to carry long after it has stopped serving us. What changes when we stop treating every quiet or difficult season as something that needs to be fixed. Because the call of the Cailleach also tells about the necessity of winter – in all it’s cold, rough magic. And woven between all of that deeper work will be the kind of witchcraft I love most: creative spellcraft, ritual, folklore, journaling, meditation, plant knowledge and the kind of witchcraft that gets mud on your boots. We will explore the spirit of the land through guided rituals and excursions outdoors, learn from the plants and stories around us, create, make magic, sit around fires, talk until our tea goes cold and spend five wonderfully strange days somewhere between psychological retreat, witchy gathering and the Scottish fantasy you have secretly wanted to live for years.
Glencruitten House is not simply where this retreat takes place. It is part of the story. Built in the Scottish Baronial style and surrounded by woodland, gardens, water and distant Highland views, the estate feels wonderfully suspended between two worlds. Inside, there is old wood, tartan, fireplaces, floral walls, deep colours, beautiful dining rooms and the kind of library that makes you immediately reconsider every plan you had for the afternoon. Outside, there is wind, forest, mist, mud, water, hills and that wild Scottish landscape that makes you treasure the luxuries on the inside even more. It is ancient feeling without sacrificing comfort. Wild without requiring you to rough it. Luxurious without losing its soul.
And for these five days, the estate is ours.
There are no other hotel guests moving around our retreat and no outside events taking over the spaces we are using. Just our little group of witches, tucked away together in the Highlands with enough privacy to actually exhale, let the outside world become very small for a while and give ourselves the space to be changed by what happens here.
Even the bedrooms and villas carry Scottish mythology through the house, with spaces named after figures and beings from folklore. It means the stories we explore during our circles are not something we leave behind when the workshop ends. They are already woven into the place where we sleep, wander, eat and wake each morning. The secluded villas sit amongst the trees and combine that feeling of being tucked into the wild with the deeply appreciated luxury of private hot tubs and saunas. Inside the main house, historic rooms overlook the gardens, forest, sea and distant islands. Somewhere on the grounds a peacock may wander past, the alpacas are going about their considerably less psychologically complicated lives, and around all of us is the spirit of a landscape we will spend five days slowly getting to know. Our deeper circles, workshops and meditations will take place in the beautiful Seelie Hall, the estate’s light-filled orangery, where we have enough space to sit together in circle, stretch out on the floor, move, meditate, create and go wherever the work takes us.
The programme is intentionally designed with enough space for everything to actually sink in. I do not believe transformation happens because we cram every waking hour with workshops, rituals and activities. It happens because something is opened up, explored, felt, and then given room to settle. Possibly while you soak in your private hot tub under the Highland skies. l There will be moments of deep inner work and moments where absolutely nothing is required of you. Time to disappear into your room for a while, sit quietly with your journal, have a long conversation with someone you only met two days ago, take a lovely nap, or simply follow whatever your nervous system is asking for in that moment. Because some of the most important parts of a retreat never appear on the schedule. They happen somewhere between the planned moments, when you suddenly notice that something feels lighter, clearer or more possible than it did when you arrived.
After years of hosting retreats, I have realised that the things people carry home with them are rarely the things you could put neatly onto a schedule. They remember the person they sat beside during the first circle who somehow became one of their closest friends. The conversation that began over breakfast and simply never really ended. The moment somebody squeezed their hand when they couldn’t quite find the words. The night everyone sat around the fire and something that had felt impossibly heavy became slightly easier to carry. They remember feeling understood without having to explain every strange, witchy part of themselves first. They remember belonging.
And this time, I want you to take home something else too. A professional photographer specialising in witchy transformational and archetype photography will join us during the retreat to create a series of portraits with you in the Scottish landscape. This is not simply about having beautiful photographs taken in a beautiful place. Throughout the retreat, we will already have been exploring identity, archetypes, the versions of ourselves we have outgrown and the ones we are beginning to step into. The photography becomes a way of making that transformation visible. Perhaps that version of you is wild. Perhaps regal. Perhaps soft, strange, powerful, sensual, grounded, ancient, playful or something you do not yet have a word for. Against the forests, hills, old stone and November landscape of the Highlands, you will have the opportunity to embody them. And as part of your farewell bundle, you will receive your own archetype portraits to take home with you, not only as beautiful photographs, but as a visual anchor to the version of yourself you met in Scotland.
Something tangible that says: I met this version of myself here. And I am bringing it home.
The magic begins the second you set foot on Scottish soil. On Wednesday, 10 November, our private shuttle will collect the group from Edinburgh Airport at 12:00 pm, and from there you make your way west together towards Oban. The drive gives you time to meet the people sitting beside you, get those first slightly nervous introductions out of the way and watch the scenery change outside the window as we head deeper into Scotland. By the time we pull into Glencruitten, names will already be familiar, conversations will have started and that first evening together will feel a little less like walking into a room of strangers.
After settling into your room and having some time to explore, we will meet for our first mini-workshop, followed by a three-course dinner in the beautiful Aithir Dining Room before opening the retreat circle that evening. From the next morning onward, each day will unfold around a new main theme, inspired by Scottish mythology and woven together with the psychological and magical exploration that sits at the heart of the retreat. The rhythm of the days is intentionally balanced. You might begin with an optional meditation, gentle movement or yoga before breakfast, followed by our main morning workshop. After lunch, there will always be time to simply be for a while, whether that means talking with the others, disappearing into your room, reading, walking through the grounds or doing absolutely nothing before we gather again for the afternoon session. Dinner then becomes the natural closing point of the structured day, after which the evening is yours to shape. Some nights you may want to head back to your room, put on your pyjamas and enjoy the luxury of an early night. On others, you might join us for a witchy movie in the library, gather outside for our bonfire ritual beneath November’s Beaver Moon, or come along to a relaxed Share Your Magic evening with the group, exchanging stories, practices and little pieces of witchy wisdom over a good glass of whisky, a hot chocolate or whatever feels right that night. The intention is that each day has depth, direction and a clear thread running through it, while still leaving enough room around the edges for rest, spontaneity, connection and all the moments that cannot be planned in advance.
On our final full evening, we will gather in Seelie Hall for The Cailleach’s Table, a five-course tasting menu created as the culmination of our time together. By then, the room will feel very different from the one we first entered a few days earlier, and the evening is simply there to celebrate that: the work we have done, the friendships that have formed and the strange little collection of memories that now belongs only to this group.
Sunday begins gently with our final sessions, closing circle and brunch before our shuttle leaves Glencruitten at 1:00 pm for Edinburgh Airport. From your arrival in Edinburgh on Wednesday until we bring you back on Sunday, the practicalities are taken care of completely.
Four nights all-inclusive at Glencruitten House, in your chosen accommodation category
Five days of a full transformational witchcraft retreat programme, blending psychology, folklore, ritual, seasonal living, mindfulness and self-exploration
Daily workshops, meditations, journaling, rituals, spellcraft and creative practices
Exploration of Scottish mythology and folklore as mirrors for your own identity, boundaries, belonging, inner wildness and personal transformation
Guided outdoor exploration, plant lore, nature connection and getting to know the spirit of the Highland landscape
A professional archetype photography experience with a photographer specialising in women’s transformational photography, plus your own selected portraits as part of your farewell bundle
A bonfire ritual beneath November’s Beaver Moon
Use of private hot tubs and saunas where included in your booked accommodation
Gorgeous breakfasts, nourishing lunches and beautiful three-course dinners throughout the retreat
The Cailleach’s Table, our final five-course tasting feast together in the orangery
Tea, coffee and retreat refreshments throughout your stay
All materials needed for workshops, rituals, spellcraft and creative sessions
A beautiful Witches’ Retreat goody bag
Private group transportation to and from Edinburgh Airport, including collection at 12:00 pm on Wednesday and return from Glencruitten at 1:00 pm on Sunday
Four magical nights of belonging, laughter, deep conversations, quiet moments, wild landscapes and the kind of friendships that have a habit of continuing long after everyone flies home
Your retreat place includes four nights at Glencruitten House, and the only decision left is where you would like to call home while we are there. Choose between one of the beautiful House Rooms & Suites within the historic main house or one of the secluded Hebridean Villas tucked into the forest a short walk over the property. Every accommodation has its own personality, views and little luxuries, so have a look through them and choose the one that feels most like yours. Glencruitten divides its accommodation between the Baronial Wing, Lorimer Wing and its collection of secluded Hebridean Villas.
Stay right inside Glencruitten House, surrounded by its Scottish Baronial interiors, cosy fireplaces, beautiful views and all the glorious little details of the estate. These rooms are booked privately for one retreat participant.
A wonderfully cosy forest-facing room inspired by the gentle Ghillie Dhu, with views towards the woodland and library and a beautiful bathroom made for disappearing into after a November day outside.
For anyone who secretly hoped their Scotland bedroom might be inside a turret, this one may have your name on it. Kelpie Spire sits high within the estate and looks out across the gardens towards the sea and islands beyond.
A calm, elegant room named after Morag of Loch Morar, with large windows looking across the estate gardens and towards the sea.
Overlooking Glencruitten’s Fairy Forest, Sidhe Glen feels wonderfully tucked away while still keeping you right inside the main house. It also has its own sitting area, so you have a little more space to retreat into when you want some time to yourself.
Tucked just beyond the archway, Faerie Veil Hideaway is one of the more secluded rooms inside the house and even has its own outdoor space looking onto the gardens.
If part of your Scotland fantasy involves retreating into your own little hideaway amongst the trees, this is your category. The Hebridean Villas sit separately from the main house and are designed as secluded forest retreats. For our retreat, each villa can be booked privately for one participant, giving you your own wonderfully indulgent space to disappear into whenever you need a little quiet.
The villas follow the same luxurious basic layout: a super king-size bed, large bathroom with freestanding bath and shower, wood-burning stove, enormous windows and a private deck. And then comes the particularly dangerous part for anyone trying to convince themselves they do not need the upgrade: your own hot tub, sauna and cold-water plunge bucket.
Inspired by the living spirit of the forest, Sìth Thicket is tucked amongst the trees and made for anyone who wants to fully disappear into the woodland once the retreat day is done.
Hidden amongst towering trees and named after the elusive woodland Urisk, this is a beautifully secluded little world of its own.
Tucked deep into the forest and looking across the estate’s little lochan, Liosalden Glade probably comes closest to living inside your own Scottish woodland fairytale.
Inspired by the gentle Wulver and tucked into a quiet part of the estate, this is a warm, secluded forest retreat with all the cosy November-in-Scotland energy you could possibly ask for.
Named after the mischievous water spirit of Scottish folklore, Shellycoat Dell pairs all that folklore with the considerably more modern magic of having your own sauna and hot tub waiting outside.
Named after one of Scotland’s eerier folkloric figures, Bean Nighe Pool gives you a wonderfully atmospheric private base amongst the landscape.
Inspired by the legendary water horse of Scottish folklore, Each-Uisge Nook gives you your own private corner of the estate to retreat into at the end of each day.
Named after the sea spirit Seonaidh, this final villa carries the water mythology of the western Highlands into another peaceful private hideaway.
Stay right inside Glencruitten House, surrounded by its Scottish Baronial interiors, cosy fireplaces, beautiful views and all the glorious little details of the estate. These suites are available for double occupancy with two proper king-size beds.
You can book a space (per person) in on of these room when travelling alone and you will be matched with a new witchy friend. Or, if you are already coming with a friend, you can book both spaces to share the suite. Bedrooms are seperate.
Perfect if you are travelling with a friend, partner or family member, or are happy to share a larger suite with another retreat participant. Selkie’s Haven has two separate king-size beds as well as generous living space and views across the Fairy Forest towards the distant sea and islands.
Spread across three storeys and overlooking the Fairy Forest, the Morrigan Wing gives two retreat participants plenty of space while still allowing you to share the experience and accommodation. One particularly gorgeous detail is the freestanding copper bath on the upper floor.
It feels rather fitting that the retreat named for the Cailleach should also have a Cailleach Suite. This spacious accommodation has panoramic views across the gardens, forest and sea towards the Isle of Mull, with two king-size beds and shared living space.
Choose the room, suite or villa that feels like yours and secure your place for The Call of the Cailleach. Once a particular accommodation has been booked, it is gone, so especially if your heart is already rather attached to that turret room or that private hot tub in the woods, I would not wait too long to claim it.
A non-refundable deposit is due at the time of booking to secure your retreat place and chosen accommodation. The remaining balance is then split into two further instalments, due in February 2027 and June 2027.
If you would like a rough idea of the amount beforehand, you can simply search the euro price in your own currency on Google; please keep in mind that exchange rates can fluctuate, so the final converted amount shown at checkout may differ slightly.
This retreat is open to ALL practitioners (18+) and is meant to be a safe space for those who attend. Being respectful and open-minded towards all is a non-negotiable condition.
In order to join, a small non-refundable deposit is needed to hold your space. Full payment must be sent until 3 months before the start of the retreat.
Please note that there will be no refunds or discounts for arriving late, leaving early, flight cancellations, travel delays or illness. If you cancel your participation in a retreat for any reason, the cancellation policy described here will apply, with no exceptions. If unforeseen circumstances occur (ex. injury, illness, work issues, family emergency etc.), you’re welcome to find someone else to take your spot. If we have people on the waitlist, we’ll do our best to replace you and refund your money, but cannot promise this.
If for some unexpected reason, The witches’ cookery cancels the retreat, we’ll refund you in full for all payment including deposits, but cannot compensate you for airfare or travel costs incurred. We do recommend purchasing Travel Insurance, if that’s a worry.
By paying the deposit, you agree to abide by all of the above policies.
Any questions, worries, concerns?
Please use the contact form in order to ask additional questions. Don’t be shy 🙂
No. I highly recommend joining the main morning and afternoon workshops because they often build on one another and each day follows a new overarching theme, but you are always allowed to listen to what you need. If you are having a low-spoon day, feel completely peopled out, have just worked through something that hit particularly deeply, live with a chronic illness, or simply need an hour behind a closed door, take it. There is no gold star for attending every minute of a retreat. You can step out, rest in your room, make a cup of tea or join us again later without having to justify it. The structure is there to hold you, not trap you.
No two days will be exactly the same, and each day will have its own main theme inspired by Scottish mythology and the psychological and magical exploration connected to it. Generally, there will be an optional practice such as gentle yoga or meditation before breakfast, followed by breakfast together and our main morning workshop. After lunch, there is proper downtime before we meet again for the afternoon workshop or experience. We then gather for dinner, after which you can either retreat to your room for the evening or join whatever optional programme is happening that night, perhaps a witchy movie in the library, our bonfire ritual, or a relaxed Share Your Magic evening over a good whisky, hot chocolate or whatever is calling your name.
Yes. Group transportation is included from Edinburgh Airport to Glencruitten House on Wednesday, 10 November at 12:00 noon, and our return shuttle will leave Glencruitten at 1:00 pm on Sunday, 14 November to bring the group back to Edinburgh Airport. If you miss the group shuttle, arrive at a different time or need to leave earlier for any reason, you will need to organise and cover your own transfer. There is also a bus connection between Edinburgh and Oban that can be used as an alternative.
If your flights allow it, I actually highly recommend it, particularly if you are travelling internationally. Arriving in Edinburgh the day before gives you a buffer in case of delays, lets you recover from travelling and means you can enjoy Wednesday morning without anxiously watching an airport arrivals board and wondering whether you are about to miss a shuttle full of witches. You are also completely welcome to extend your Scotland trip before or after the retreat. Your travel and accommodation outside the official retreat dates are simply organised independently.
Absolutely fine. Check-in at Glencruitten is possible from 3:00 pm on Wednesday. If you are arriving independently, you can simply meet us there rather than taking the group shuttle. On Sunday, bedrooms need to be checked out by 11:00 am, and the property needs to be fully vacated by 2:00 pm. Our group shuttle leaves at 1:00 pm, but if you are continuing your travels independently, you are welcome to arrange your own onward transport.
Yes. Tea, coffee and retreat refreshments will be available throughout the stay, so you do not need to ration your cups of tea according to some tragic little hotel-room teabag allowance. There will also be refreshments and snacks available between meals, alongside your full-board food throughout the retreat.
Absolutely. The kitchen is very happy to accommodate dietary preferences and requirements including vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free diets, as well as food allergies wherever possible. Before the retreat, I will send you a detailed questionnaire where you can tell me about allergies, intolerances and dietary requirements so everything can be communicated to the kitchen in advance.
Not at all. You do not need to identify as a witch, believe in anything supernatural or follow a particular spiritual path or dogma. You can be deeply involved in witchcraft already, quietly curious about it, or arriving with absolutely no idea what half the things we are talking about mean yet. We have had complete beginners at previous retreats who left feeling empowered, inspired and considerably more curious than when they arrived. Most importantly, quite a few of them came back. The only thing you really need is an openness to explore yourself, nature, folklore, ritual and a little bit of magic in whatever way feels authentic to you.
No. The Call of the Cailleach is open to people of all genders and gender identities. The group is brought together by shared curiosity, openness and the desire to experience a witchy retreat in the Highlands, not by gender.
Yes. There is no required cultural, ethnic, religious, spiritual or witchcraft background for joining this retreat. You do not need Scottish ancestry, Celtic ancestry or any particular connection to the traditions we will be exploring. Scottish mythology and folklore will give us a framework for learning, reflection and discussion, while always remembering that we are guests engaging with stories connected to a particular place and culture. The retreat itself is for anyone who wants to learn more about themselves, experience the Highlands and explore witchcraft and folklore with curiosity and respect.
You do not need to be particularly, or at all for that matter, fit to join. We will spend time outdoors and explore the estate and surrounding landscape, but this is not a hiking or endurance retreat. I will also adapt what we do to the abilities and needs of the actual group so that nobody is left behind. If you live with chronic illness, fatigue, mobility limitations or anything else that might affect your participation, just let me know beforehand. We can talk through what you need and make sure you feel comfortable with the programme.
Then you don’t have to. There will be opportunities for reflection, conversation and sharing throughout the retreat, but nobody will ever be forced to disclose something personal, speak in circle or explain what they are working through. You are completely welcome to simply listen and take in whatever feels useful to you. That being said, something rather lovely often happens in retreat spaces. Being away from everyday life and surrounded by people who are not connected to your usual roles, history or expectations can make certain things surprisingly easy to say out loud. Sometimes something simply loosens. If that happens, there is space for it. If it doesn’t, that is equally fine.
Think warm, waterproof and layerable rather than trying to win an Outlander costume competition, although I fully support acquiring an unreasonable amount of tartan for the occasion. You will want comfortable outdoor shoes or boots, a genuinely waterproof jacket, warm layers and clothes you are happy to wear outside in November weather. Closer to the retreat, you will receive a proper packing guide, including anything useful for workshops and your archetype photography session.
A non-refundable deposit is required when booking to secure your place. The remaining retreat balance will then be divided into two further instalments, one due in February 2027 and the final payment in June 2027. Because your place, accommodation and many of the retreat costs are reserved long in advance, please make sure you are comfortable with the payment commitment before booking. I also strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance that includes cancellation and travel disruption.
Your booking deposit is non-refundable because it immediately secures your place and contributes towards costs that I am committing to well in advance of the retreat. The full cancellation and payment conditions will be included in the booking terms, and I strongly recommend taking out appropriate travel insurance as soon as you book, particularly if you are travelling internationally.
Yes. Your transformational archetype photography experience is part of the retreat, and selected finished portraits will be included in your farewell bundle. You will receive more information beforehand about the session and what you may want to bring, but you do not need to arrive knowing exactly what your archetype looks like. Part of the point is that the work we do during the retreat helps you discover what you actually want to embody in those photographs.
The private hot tubs and saunas belong to particular Glencruitten villas, so access depends on the accommodation category you have booked. The Hebridean Villas, for example, include their own private deck, hot tub and sauna. Your room description at booking will make it clear which amenities are included with your particular accommodation.
Please reach out. You can send me an email or use the contact form on the website and ask me absolutely anything that is still unclear. And if your question is easier to talk through than type out, I am also very happy to quickly hop on a call with you. I would much rather straighten out any concerns or practical questions beforehand than have you sitting there wondering whether this retreat is right for you.
| Pick your stay | Bean Nighe Pool, Cailleach Suite, Each-Uisge Nook, extra-person, Faerie Veil Hideaway, Ghillie Dhu Retreat, Kelpie Spire, Liosalden Glade, Morag's View, Morrigan Wing, Muirgen cove, Selkie's Haven, Seonaidh Water, Shellycoat Dell, Sidhe Glen Suite, Sìth Thicket, Spot Leah, Urisk Hollow, Wulver Den |
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