A Private Bereavement Retreat

A purposeful pause to honour your loss, find your bearings and begin to discover a way forward — in your own time, and in your own way

on the Camino de Santiago in the sun-blessed southwest of France, hosted by Dr Margaretha Montagu and her small herd of Friesian and Falabella horses.

Bereavement Retreat Summary

This 3-day, 2-night, bespoke, one-on-one bereavement retreat offers you three days and two nights away from the demands and expectations of everyday life. A little breathing space in which you can grieve, remember, rest, and reconnect with yourself without having to reassure anyone that you’re doing all right.

Hosted in a 200-year-old authentic French farmhouse, on the Camino de Santiago in south-west France, it offers a modern-day sanctuary to women preparing for, living through, or adjusting to life after a bereavement. This retreat draws on the clarity that comes from walking the Camino de Santiago, the wisdom of spending time with a small herd of Friesian and Falabella horses, and the grounding power of guided storytelling and storywriting— all intentionally woven together to support you through a pivotal moment in your life. It will help you reconnect with the inner strength, clarity, and confidence you need to move forward in a way that feels right — without rushing.

Bereavement can leave you feeling as though your familiar landmarks have disappeared. The person you turned to may no longer be there, the future you imagined may have changed, and even ordinary decisions can require more energy than they once did.

It has a way of taking far more out of you than you ever budgeted for. One minute you’re managing life more or less competently, the next you’re wondering how you ended up feeling so drained, so disoriented, and so lost.

The part worth keeping in your back pocket, even on the days it feels theoretical at best, is that this moment does not define you, and it certainly doesn’t diminish you. Someone you love has died, yes. But you are still very much here— thoughtful, capable, and more resilient than you currently feel between your fourth and fifth cup of tea while late-night overthinking.

Life, inconveniently and reassuringly, does not stop when someone you love dies.

There are practical, grounded ways to find your footing again, even when the path ahead feels foggy and uncharted. There is no prescribed way to grieve here. No timetable for feeling better. No expectation that you must emerge with a bright new outlook on life. Strength in this season isn’t about marching forward heroically; it’s about choosing what actually matters, and taking the next step without needing to see the entire road.

Sometimes what’s needed most is simply a quiet place where nothing is required of you — where you can rest, reflect, and find balance naturally.

Bereavement is a season, not a life sentence. It can be painful, disorienting, and occasionally spectacularly inconvenient — but it is also temporary. Slowly, in your own time, you will find your footing again.

This Bevreavement Retreat is for you if:

• Your idea of self-care has evolved beyond green juice and bath bombs. You need something with more… substance. Something that actually meets you where you are.
• Everyone calls you “the strong one,” even as your life is quietly — or not so quietly — falling apart. You’ve been holding it together for everyone else, while inside, something fundamental is shifting.
• You’re tired of advice. Tired of being told to “stay positive,” “move on,” or “trust the process.” You’d rather have a root canal treatment than sit through another well-meaning conversation that misses the point entirely.
• You’re allergic to quick fixes, motivational platitudes and dramatic reinventions. You want somewhere safe to steady yourself — to walk, to breathe, to let your thoughts untangle at their own pace, not just a new morning routine.
• You feel emotionally exhausted, disconnected or uncertain about how to navigate life without the person who died. You want space to remember and reflect without being expected to talk, share or participate all the time.
• You are beginning to wonder what life might look like in the months and years ahead, even if you aren’t ready to answer that question yet. You need clarity that cuts through the fog, resilience that lasts, and the inner compass to make your next move feel right — not just look right.

Why Do You Need A Retreat Hosted by Dr Margaretha Montagu?

Meet Dr. Margaretha Montagu, the woman who turned nervous system regulation into an art form:

“After two decades as a medical doctor, working in psychiatry and general practice, and nearly as many hosting retreats, I’ve mastered the art of helping you remember you’ll get through this. My credentials read like alphabet soup (MBChB, MRCGP, MedHypDip, NLP Master Pract Cert, Prof Life Coach Cert, EAGALA Cert), but what really matters is this: I get it.

I’ve worked with enough women to suspect you might be reading this late at night, when the house is finally quiet and you’ve told everyone you’re “fine,” handled what needed handling, and only now allowed yourself to notice how tired you actually are. You may be convinced you don’t have time for something like a retreat — while privately suspecting you need one more than you care to admit.

You know what? I know how much quiet strength it takes to keep showing up and functioning while the foundations of your life are being rearranged beneath your feet. It’s a lot to cope with — even if, from the outside, you make it look deceptively easy.

You don’t have to fall apart to justify needing support. You don’t have to “get through this” on sheer willpower alone. And you certainly don’t have to accept emotional exhaustion as the price of being functional and responsible.

Whatever stage of bereavement you’re in — there is a way to move forward that doesn’t require you to harden or hurry. I’ll show you how to steady yourself, regain clarity, and navigate this season with far more patience, hope and self-compassion than you may think is possible right now.”

The Foundation Blocks of this Private Bereavement Retreat

This private, one-on-one Divorce Retreat is designed as a peaceful waypoint along the way — a place to pause, rest, and regain your bearings before taking the next steps forward. No fixing, no forced optimism, just thoughtful guidance, quiet support, and the tools needed to continue your journey with more clarity, steadiness, and self-trust.

The foundational blocks of this retreat are:

• Reflection while walking the Camino de Santiago de Compostela:  On the Camino, you’re gifted long, uninterrupted stretches of time to simply walk and be—an especially powerful experience in the midst of bereavement. Mile after mile, the steady rhythm of your steps creates space for introspection—gently acknowledging what you feel, without judgment, and gradually returning to yourself. Surrounded by open skies, quiet trails, and the changing countryside, you can process the practical and emotional realities of losing someone you love at your own pace, away from the questions, opinions, and constant demands of everyday life. This time alone isn’t about replaying the past; it’s about making room for honest self-assessment, reclaiming your sense of self, and letting new possibilities take shape—one grounded step at a time.
• Equine-assisted Experiential Learning and Equine-Guided Meditation: You’ll also meet my Friesian and Falabella horses, who have strong opinions and absolutely zero interest in polite small talk. In this session, we don’t just talk about what you’re going through; we explore it in real time through gentle, ground-based interactions with the horses (no riding, and no surprise pop quizzes). Because horses respond to what’s happening in the present moment, they’re excellent at reflecting patterns like overthinking, shutting down, or holding it all together—usually with more honesty than your friends, and without needing to “get it right.” This session is a safe, confidential, non-judgmental space to share your grief, your anger, and your despair—without having to be “fine,” or “positive,” on demand. With the horses’ clear feedback and my guidance, you’ll practice practical coping skills for regulating your emotions. We’ll also practice self-compassion—because you’re going through a lot, and you deserve effective support.
• Guided Storytelling and Storywriting: With 7 books under my belt, personalised storytelling and storywriting sessions tailored to where you are in your bereavement—emotionally, practically, and in the “I did not see this plot twist coming” category, have to be an integral part of this retreat. Together, we’ll turn the swirl in your head into something clearer: what happened, what it meant, what you’re ready to put down, and what you want to take with you into the next chapter. With guided prompts, flexible structure, and a few moments of lightness, you’ll have time to get it all out of your head—without needing to polish it into a “learning experience” before you’re ready. We’ll use narrative tools like reframing, perspective shifts, and rewriting your story to help you spot patterns, loosen the grip of old roles, and create new boundaries that actually hold. Expect tears when they come, laughter when it sneaks in, and the steady relief of realising can get through this. By the end, you won’t be pretending the loss didn’t hurt—but it won’t get to be the author of your future, either.

No need to be any good at writing, I use the concept of Julia Cameron’s morning pages, which everyone can do.

This retreat gives you the time, expert guidance, and nurturing environment to cope with the emotional rollercoaster. You can move through this chapter with support, come back to centre, and emerge feeling steadier, more empowered, and quietly interested about what’s possible next—even if you’re still figuring out what “next” actually looks like.

What My Retreat Graduates Are Saying (And Why They Keep Coming Back)

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More testimonials (40+)

Here’s how your hiking adventure unfolds:

Day 1: Arrival and check-in at 2 PM. Equine-assisted Experiential Learning at 3:30 PM Dinner at 6 PM. Processing your Loss Writing Meditation (choose from a variety of prompts) at 7 PM.

Day 2: Meraki Morning Routine (self-guided) at 9 AM. Brunch laid out on your own patio at 10 AM. 11 AM Transport to the Camino: Ease into your stride with a gentle 11km (7miles) stroll from Eauze to Manciet. It’s a bit like a walk in the park, if that park stretched for 11km and was steeped in centuries of history. Time: 2.5-4 hours (depending on how many photos you stop to take – and trust me, you’ll want to take plenty). 3 PM. Pick up in Manciet. 4-6 PM Equine-guided Meditation under your favourite 200-year-old oak tree (choose from Merlin, Morgana, Melchior or Methusalé). 6 PM Dinner. 7 PM Your New Story Writing Meditation Yoga Nidra under the stars (no light pollution)

Day 3: Meraki Morning Routine (self-guided) at 9 AM. 10 AM Equine-guided experiential learning session. Brunch laid out on your own patio at 11 AM. The retreat ends at 12h00.

None of the activities is mandatory. If you prefer to skip an activity and just relax, read or write, you are more than welcome. The program is not set in stone and may be altered according to circumstances, e.g. inclement weather.

Why This Retreat is One-of-a-Kind

• It is hosted by a fully qualified medical doctor with more than 20 years of experience, plus nearly 20 years of experience hosting retreats.
• The setting is exceptional: a 200-year-old, authentic Landaise farmhouse that has seen more history than your average museum and accumulated more charm than should be legally allowed. Nestled among Armagnac and Côtes de Gascogne vineyards, in the southwest of France, surrounded by woods, meadows, sunflower fields and of course, the horses’ paddocks, it’s the kind of place that doesn’t just let you reconnect with nature—it practically insists on it.
• The opportunity to walk a section of the legendary and potentially life-changing Camino de Santiago de Compostela: the rolling countryside that you walk through doesn’t just look like a painting—it actually makes you feel like you’re living inside one. Fair warning: you may find yourself using words like “bucolic” and “pastoral” in casual conversation after this.
• Equine-assisted experiential learning and equine-guided meditation make a unique contribution to this retreat because horses respond to what’s real in the moment—no judgment, no pep talks, and no patience for “I’m fine” when you’re not. In simple, ground-based exercises (no horse riding during the retreat), you’ll see your less-desirable relationship habits show up in real time—overthinking, shutting down, over-controlling—and you’ll practice new skills right there: calming your nervous system, setting firm boundaries, and communicating your needs clearly.
• The storytelling and storywriting component doesn’t just help you recover—it helps you re-author your life after a major plot twist. With personalised prompts, you’ll spot patterns you’re ready to retire, rebuild a new sense of identity beyond the loss, and find clearer language for setting boundaries in the future (absolutely NO writing skills required).

This retreat is not just a getaway—it offers an experience so unique and unforgettable that it’ll have you planning your return before you’ve even left.

Bereavement Retreat Dates

As these retreats are private retreats, they are available year-round on demand, although I do also host a variety of other retreats, so your chosen dates might not be available. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with me at MargarethaMontagu@gmail.com or fill in the form below if you have any questions and to check availability.

How do you get here?

Maison Meraki is a 2-hour drive south-east of Bordeaux, and 2 hours south-west of Toulouse, between two small towns: Eauze and Nogaro.

The easiest and most effortless way to get here is to rent a car at Bordeaux, Toulouse, Biarritz, Pau or Lourdes airport. It is a highway nearly all the way here, a breathtakingly beautiful drive with the Pyrenées mountains as background and the road signs are clear, even if you don’t speak a single word of French.

The retreat is short but intense; most of my guests choose to spend a day in Bordeaux or Toulouse on their way here so that they arrive well rested, and then again a day or two in Bordeaux or Toulouse while they process what they have experienced during the retreat.

Direct transfers by taxi are available from the airports or from the train stations (Mont de Marsan for Bordeaux and Auch for Toulouse) but need to be booked well in advance.

Accommodation

Location

Cancellation

Investment

Investment in a Steadier, Stronger You: €1,599

includes all activities, transport to and from the Camino, accommodation in a private bedroom and bathroom, access through double French doors to a private patio, shaded by 200-year-old oak trees, a view of the horses’ paddock (they are excellent company), 2 scrumptious brunches and 2 generous Gascon dinners, coffee, tea and biscuits at any time during the day(or night.)

To reserve your place, a €450 deposit is payable at booking.
Flexible payment plans are available, with full payment due 30 days before the retreat begins.

Before booking, please take a moment to read the Terms and Conditions
By reserving your spot, you confirm that you’ve read, understood, and accepted them—including the Cancellation Policy.

Think of asking your employer to pay for this as a stress management retreat; you can motivate your application by mentioning that, according to Forbes, approximately 70% of people experienced burnout in the last year. Work-related consequences include job dissatisfaction, decreased productivity, poor performance, professional mistakes, absenteeism, quiet quitting and resignations, resulting in a high turnover rate. Although conditions at work may also need improvement, a retreat focused on stress management, led by a medical doctor, can contribute significantly to preventing burnout in employees.

If you have questions or feel unsure, you’re very welcome to reach out before booking, just send a quick e-mail to MargarethaMontagu@gmail.com.