For your own well-being and the well-being of other people on the retreat (some of whom may be immuno-suppressed or otherwise vulnerable to infection) please do not come on retreat if you have, or believe you may have an infectious disease. If you are unsure of the level of risk please consult your GP. Please note it is unlikely that we will be able to provide single room accommodation or special support at the last minute. Also, please do not attend a retreat if you are suffering from a cold, as they quickly spread to others within a retreat context.
For Covid-19 specific information, you can see our policy here.

If you have a stable underlying medical condition but may require special conditions or support during your retreat, then please email us at hello@botanicalinks.com to discuss these prior to booking so we can clarify what support you may need and whether or not we can reasonably provide it. Single, ground floor, and/or ensuite rooms may be available but should be agreed with the office team prior to booking.

If you have food allergies or other medical dietary requirements please let us know when you book so we can ensure appropriate arrangements have been made or advise on whether or not we can reasonably provide it.

Please ensure you have enough of any prescribed medication you need to cover the entire duration of the retreat. The location is remote and we cannot guarantee the availabitily of particular medications in the area.

If you have an unstable medical condition, and there is the possibility that you may need to see a doctor whilst on retreat, please bear in mind that local surgeries are not validated by our team; that suitable travel insurance is required for any medical emergencies, however this does not cover pre-existing medical (including mental health) conditions. We therefore advise against travel in case of any possibility that medical support may be required.

Retreat team members are not medically trained.

Please note that if you normally receive care at home, are looking for convalescence, or are unable to self-medicate, then a retreat may not be the best place for you as we are not able to replicate these levels of support.

The retreat centre can unfortunately create access issues for some people, although we do endeavour to make our retreats accessible. We currently have a limited number of ground floor ensuite bedrooms, and a limited number of first floor rooms. Ensuite bedrooms have wetrooms and do not have handrails. We cannot provide shower seating.

We do not have wheelchair-accessible ramps to the main retreat centre reception areas, private villa or accommodation blocks.

The gardens are accessible via pathways (no steps).

Most buildings are accessible via a small number of steps and many bedrooms are on the first floor, accessed via two flights of stairs.

People can at some point in their lives suffer from some sort of emotional distress or vulnerability. In many cases, retreats can help and the tools we learn on retreat can be beneficial in coping with emotional difficulties in your life. Please be aware however that retreats are not therapeutic environments and, although many of our retreat team members will be able to offer kindly support, they are not counsellors or therapists and the amount of time they can offer you will be limited.

Please also be aware that the content of the retreat may be challenging to you and on retreat you will be around other people quite intensively – sharing a bedroom, participating in a collective programme, a change of diet and sleep patterns, etc. Please consider whether or not this kind of environment will be helpful to you or not. Single bedrooms must be requested when booking and paid for with the relevant fee.

Mental health covers a wide spectrum of issues. Having a diagnosed mental health condition or a suspected mental health condition does not mean you cannot come on retreat, particularly if your condition is stable, and you are used to managing your life independently and being around people. However, for some conditions, being away from your familiar environment and in intensive contact with other people can represent a risk of relapse. If you require help and support at home to manage your condition or organise your life, then a retreat may not be the best place for you. Meditation is not helpful for those experiencing any kind of psychosis. Please note that we do not accept referrals from health professionals.

If your mental health is unstable at the moment, please talk to our Safeguarding Officer before booking to make sure being on retreat is really going to be the best thing for you. We may also ask you to talk to a member of the team running the individual retreat you want to book on so they can discuss whether they are able to appropriately support you.

A retreat is not a suitable environment to withdraw from drugs or alcohol. Before coming on retreat, someone in recovery should be free from dependence and free from any medication they have used to support their recovery. Recovering addicts who have achieved this level of independence may of course find the environment offered by being on retreat a supportive condition for moving forward in their life. A retreat can also be a challenging experience so please give very careful consideration as to whether it is appropriate to use your retreat as an opportunity to give up smoking. Smoking and vaping are not permitted anywhere on the retreat centre site.

We hope this guidance has been useful. If you are in any doubt as to whether or not a retreat is appropriate or whether we will be able to adequately support your needs, please contact our office via email via at: hello@botanicalinks.com to arrange a phonecall.