Creative Retreats in the Wye Valley: The Perfect Painting Weekend
Welcome to the creative retreat.
Whether you’re part of an established art group, planning a painting weekend with friends or simply looking for an excuse to rediscover a creative hobby, the Wye Valley and Forest of Dean make a rather spectacular backdrop.
And when everyone stays together in one big holiday house, the retreat becomes about much more than painting.
Why Creative Retreats Are Having a Moment
Life is busy.
Even when we technically have free time, there’s usually something demanding our attention. Phones ping, washing needs doing, emails appear and suddenly the afternoon you intended to spend painting has disappeared.
Going away changes that.
A creative weekend gives you permission to stop doing all the things you should be doing and spend time doing something simply because you enjoy it.
You certainly don’t need to be an accomplished artist.
A painting retreat could include complete beginners, enthusiastic amateurs and people who haven't picked up a paintbrush since school.
The point isn’t necessarily to create a masterpiece.
It’s to create time.
Time to paint. Time to talk. Time to notice the landscape. And, occasionally, time to stare suspiciously at your canvas wondering why the peaceful riverside scene you imagined has somehow turned into something resembling a storm at sea.
It’s all part of the fun.
The Wye Valley Was Made for Artists
If you’re searching for inspiration, you won’t have to look very far.
The Wye Valley National Landscape offers wooded hillsides, winding rivers, dramatic viewpoints, historic ruins, pretty villages and changing colours throughout the seasons.
Settle beside the River Wye with a sketchbook. Capture the view from a hillside. Paint ancient woodland in the Forest of Dean or spend an afternoon drawing the streets and buildings of Ross-on-Wye or Monmouth.
Even the weather can become part of the experience.
Bright summer greens give way to spectacular autumn colour, while misty mornings and atmospheric winter landscapes offer something completely different.
You could spend an entire weekend painting within a few miles of your holiday house and never run out of subjects.
Turn the House Into Your Own Art Studio
One of the biggest advantages of booking a large self-catering house for a creative retreat is having space that belongs entirely to your group.
Large dining tables can become temporary studios.
Set out the watercolours, pencils, brushes and sketchbooks, make a pot of coffee and spend the morning working together.
If the weather is glorious, move outside.
Gardens, terraces and grounds can provide inspiration without anyone even needing to get into the car.
And if the heavens open?
Perfect.
Stay indoors, paint, chat and raid the biscuit supply.
Unlike staying in separate hotel rooms, everyone can continue enjoying the weekend together between creative sessions.
Someone might be sketching at one end of the table while somebody else makes lunch. Others might be comparing paintings over coffee or planning where to go for the afternoon.
That relaxed togetherness is exactly what makes a creative retreat special.
BHHL have 16 large holiday houses dotted around the Wye Valley and Forest of Dean for you to chose from.Check out these for starters:
The Grounds Of Pencaraig Court are crying out for artists easels...
A former hotel, Wye Rapids House is an ideal base for riverside art
if you fancy idily painting while lounging by the pool, Brookside is for you
Bring Your Own Art Tutor
For established art groups, a large holiday house can also provide the perfect base for a tutor-led weekend.
Bring along your usual teacher or invite a local artist to lead a session.
Your retreat could include watercolour workshops, acrylic painting, drawing, botanical art, photography or even mixed-media sessions.
And there’s no rule saying you have to stick to one activity.
One morning might involve painting landscapes, while the afternoon could be spent experimenting with photography, sketching architecture or creating something inspired by objects collected on a woodland walk.
The beauty of organising your own retreat is that you set the pace.
Creativity, Coffee… and a Very Good Dinner
Of course, nobody said you had to paint all weekend.
Half the pleasure of a group getaway is everything that happens around the activity.
Head out for a leisurely lunch at a country pub.
Stop for coffee in a market town.
Take a riverside walk.
Explore the Forest of Dean.
Then return to your house, open a bottle of wine and compare the day's artistic achievements.
One person will inevitably have produced something everyone secretly wants to take home.
Someone else may have created a painting requiring a lengthy explanation before anyone can identify the subject.
Both deserve displaying.
And because you’re staying in a self-catering property, evenings can be exactly as relaxed as you want them to be.
Cook together, arrange a meal delivery or simply gather around the table for dinner and conversation.
No taxis back to separate hotels.
No disappearing to different rooms.
Just another evening together.
Make It a Three-Night Creative Escape
A creative retreat works particularly well over two or three nights.
Arrive, unpack and settle in on the first evening.
Spend the following day exploring, sketching and painting before enjoying dinner together.
The next morning could bring another workshop or an entirely different location before everyone gathers for one final meal and an informal exhibition of the weekend's work.
You could even make it an annual tradition.
Choose a different season each year and watch the landscape – and perhaps your painting – change.
Find Your Creative Retreat House with Big House Holiday Lets
At Big House Holiday Lets, we have a collection of large holiday houses across the Wye Valley, Forest of Dean, Herefordshire and Monmouthshire, ideal for groups wanting to spend proper time together.
For a painting or creative retreat, look for a property with generous communal spaces, large tables, comfortable bedrooms and plenty of beautiful countryside nearby.
Some properties also offer gardens, riverside settings and wonderful views – inspiration before you've even left the house.
Whether you're organising a weekend for an established art group, bringing a tutor along or simply persuading a collection of friends that spending three days painting, eating and laughing in the countryside sounds like an excellent idea, we'll help you find a house that works for your group.
Because sometimes the best weekends aren't about how many places you visit.
They're about slowing down long enough to actually notice where you are.
Pack the paints. Bring the sketchbooks. Gather your favourite people. And yes, the dogs!
The Wye Valley will provide the inspiration.
Big House Holiday Lets:
www.bhhl.co.uk
enquiries@bhhl.co.uk
01600 732 050
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Bowley Hall
Prices from £3,250.00
Bowley Hall is a 9 bedroom Manor House and a 3 bedroom Coach House sleeping up to 31 guests in stunning Herefordshire countryside. With a bar, games room, cinema room, extensive grounds, outdoor pizza oven and Hot Tub (hire charge) its the perfect venue to relax in style and comfort. 3 lounges, huge baronial dining room, modern kitchen, breakfast room - its has everything you need. Licensed for weddings up to 170 with Marquee.
- 9 Bedrooms in Hall + 3 in Coachhouse
- Sleeps from 18 to 31 plus 4 infants please ask for a quote
- Hot Tub included
- Games room, table tennis, pool,
- Bar/Party Room/Cinema Room
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The Manor on the Monnow
Prices from £2,850.00
Majestic Manor House sleeping 24 in 11 bedrooms, huge lounge and dining room. Big kitchen and separate breakfast room. Games room and covered Hot Tub in 2 acre safe and private grounds. On the banks of the River Monnow, fishing from garden and wild swimming a very short walk. 10 minute flat stroll into town, the Manor is perfect for town and country group self catering in the picturesque border town of Monmouth. Pet friendly.
- Games Room and Hot Tub
- Fishing from riverbank
- Wild swimming 100 yards
- Galleried Hall with woodburner
- 11 Bedrooms, 9 Bathrooms
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Holly Tree House
Prices from £2,450.00
Charming villa above Symonds Yat, sleeping 22 in 9 bedrooms overlooking River Wye. Two lounges, a large dining room and patio plus covered, outdoor Hot Tub and Games Room. Short walk to 3 pubs (with excellent food), river ferry, and flat riverside circular walk - super pet-friendly. Loads of activities inc canoes and paddle boards. verty safe and secure, no traffic. Ideal multi generation holiday cottage. Holly Tree House provides accommodation in an idyllic retreat from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
- 9 bedrooms sleeping 12 - 22
- 8 Bath and Shower/Loos
- Covered Hot Tub
- Pet Friendly
- 3 Pub/Restaurants walkable
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The Anchor
Prices from £2,450.00
Set in the heart of Lydbrook in the Forest of Dean and previously know as The Anchor Inn, this cosy village pub, which dates back to the 15th century, is now a charmingly converted holiday cottage sleeping 22 in 7/8 ensuite bedrooms. Lovely Games Room and covered Hot Tub. Enclosed rear garden, pet friendly. Walk to village pubs, shop and chippie! Easy access to riverside. With Superfast Broadband and full Sky Film and Sports Pack it's ideal for work and leisure.
- 7/8 ensuite bedrooms sleep 22
- G/F room, sofa bed & bathroom
- Dogs and other pets welcome
- Covered Hot Tub
- Dine 20 round one table
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River Wye Lodge
Prices from £2,850.00
Converted Coaching Inn on the banks of the River Wye, with park and canoe launch - short walk to village shop, pub, Indian takeaway and fish and chip shop. Sleeps 26 in 12 bedrooms, 10 having glorious views of the River Wye. Accessibility ramp to the front door and the ground floor houses a wheelchair friendly twin room with an en-suite wet room. Huge dining room and lounge, 2 connected kitchens, playground outside. Games Room. Pet friendly.
- 12 Bedrooms sleeping 26
- Covered Hot Tub
- Games Room
- Dine 26 round one table
- Twin disabled bedroom wet room en suite
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Wye Rapids House
Prices from £2,850.00
13 bedroom (11 ensuite) converted hotel overlooking the River Wye rapids at Symonds Yat. Large dining room , bar, lounge, patio, riverside garden plus outdoor hot tub (that can be hired) and games room. Plenty of room to relax and enjoy the sights and sound of nature all around you. An ideal pet-friendly cottage for large group holidays. With flat walks and 3 nearby pubs and restaurants, Wye Rapids provides an idyllic retreat from the hustle and bustle of everyday life for up to 30 guests (26 adults max plus 4 children)
- 11 ensuite Bedrooms plus family room and shared bathroom sleeps 26 adults plus 4 children
- Hot tub hire available
- All dine together
- Fully commercial kitchen
- Offroad parking for 16 cars
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Monnow Valley Studio
Prices from £2,850.00
Sleeps 24 in 11 bedrooms , world famous recording studio on banks of the River Monnow, full of memorabilia with Party Room, Games Room, Cinema Room, stunning dining room, huge modern kitchen, hot tub (hire charge) . Pets are not allowed. peaceful, quiet , safe with no traffic, fishing and swimming from the garden. Licensed for Weddings - 50 max.
- Outdoor Hot Tub for hire
- Huge soundproof Party Room
- Games and Cinema Room
- 11 bedrooms sleeps 24
- Licensed for weddings up to 50
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Brookside
Prices from £2,450.00
Grand Georgian Manor — A Luxurious Countryside Escape for up to 24 Guests. Experience the charm and elegance of this stunning Georgian manor house, featuring eight large bedrooms and five bathrooms. Perfect for large groups, family gatherings, or special celebrations, the property offers a grand dining area where everyone can dine together, a large lounge for relaxing evenings, a fun-filled games room, and an inviting outdoor swimming pool. Combining classic style with modern comfort, this exceptional home provides the perfect setting for an unforgettable countryside getaway.
- Heated outdoor swimming pool
- games and Social barn
- Hot Tub can be hired
- Ground floor bedroom for elderly or infirm
- Village location with local shop, cafe & pub
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Forest House
Prices from £2,850.00
This 11 ensuite bedroom converted 4* Hotel sleeps up to 25 in the centre of Coleford, the heart of the Forest of Dean - Hot Tub, 2 Lounges, Games Room with pool table, Large dining room, fantastic kitchen. Off road walks and cycling from door. Pet friendly. Short walk to shops, pubs, restaurants. A perfect location for sampling the huge array of activities and attractions in the Forest of Dean.
- 11 Ensuite bedrooms sleeping 25
- Covered Hot Tub
- Games Room with Pool Table
- All Dine Together
- Pet Friendly for 2 dogs
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Fairlea Grange
Prices from £2,450.00
This striking gothic townhouse in the heart of Abergavenny is full of character and inspired Alfred Hitchcock's classic movie The Lady Vanishes. It was the childhood home of Ethel Lina White who wrote the original novel. If you want your stay to evoke a dramatic atmosphere this is the holiday home for you! 10 bedrooms, sleeping up to 24 people with 2 lounges , 2 kitchens , games Room, Hot Tub, enclosed garden in walking distance of town centre and Station. Pet friendly.
- 10 bedrooms, 6 ensuites plus 2 bathrooms
- Pets Welcome
- Games Room
- Covered Hot Tub
- Near Brecon Beacons
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High Cloud Farm and Barn
Prices from £2,450.00
The secluded hilltop retreat of explorer, adventurer, and author Christina Dodwell, High Cloud Farm, a perfect location for 3 generation celebrations, with maps, books, pictures and artefacts in evidence everywhere. This remote rural cottage on the Wales borders offers total privacy as a large party house or holiday retreat. Hot tub and heated Swimming Pool (May till October). farmhouse sleeps 12 and Barn sleeps 12. Everyone can dine together in the Barn. 3 Kitchens, Games Room, pet friendly.
- Dining table seats 24
- 10 bedrooms sleeps 24
- Large games room
- Heated outdoor swimming pool
- Covered hot tub
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Pencraig Court
Prices from £2,850.00
Classic country house sleeping 36 in 11 bedrooms midway between Monmouth and Ross on Wye overlooking the river. Pet friendly, stunning rooms, large grounds, games room. On site 3 bed cottage sleeping a further 8 available. Large grounds and gardens and a drive with an extensive parking area, totalling 3.6 Acres. Hot tub hire available.
- 11 Ensuite Bedrooms sleeping 36
- Attached 3 Bed cottage sleeping 8
- Games room with pool and table football
- Hot tub Hire available
- Pet Friendly
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Bromsash House
Prices from £2,950.00
Bromsash House is a grand Manor house boasting six acres of land. 5 bedrooms in the main house sleep 12 adults . There is a Lodge with 3 double bedrooms sleeping a further 6 and Games Room.. The gardens are huge and boast a huge array of unusual trees, fruit trees, rose bushes, and magnolias, creating perfect areas in which to play and explore. Patio with lovely furniture and Hot Tub. Bromsash House sleeps 18 in total.
- 1 Hot Tub
- 2 Pets Welcome
- Max sleepers 18
- Linen Provided
- Sky TV
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Symonds Yat Lodge
Prices from £4,250.00
A comfortable 25 bedroom (all ensuite) converted guest accommodation situated on the banks for the River Wye. Huge dining room, lounge,bar, games / party room and mature gardend. With flat walks from the door Symonds Yat Lodge is the perfect place for celebrations and large group holidays. Pet friendly, parking. Sleeps 50 guests. Prices are based on 30 guests in 15 bedrooms with 10 extra bedrooms available at an additional charge.
- 25 ensuite Bedrooms
- All dine together in huge dining room
- Licensed for Weddings - for up to 100 guests
- Pet friendly
- Country pub within 5 minute walk
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Pencraig Cottage
Pencraig Cottage is a pretty 3 bedroom cottage sleeping 8 midway between Ross on Wye and Monmouth
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Hope Mansell Hall
Prices from £4,250.00
Hope Mansell Hall is an 18 ensuite bedroom Georgian estate in 11 acres of winding gardens and tranquil woodland outside Ross-on-Wye. Perfectly equipped for family and corporate events, intimate celebrations and weddings. Sleeps up to 36 guests plus 4 children on Z beds. With games room for the children, huge dining room, gorgeous kitchen , gardens, the perfect getaway.
- 18 Ensuite Bedrooms sleep 36 plus 4 children on Z beds
- Games Room, pool, table tennis, table football for children
- Huge Dining Room seats 40
- Professional level kitchen
- Bar, perfect for socialising
