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Milford Retreat 2025
10th - 17th May
at Gladstone's Library, Hawarden, North Wales

Between us we wrote over 230,000 words in a week, and that's not counting the people who were editing and/or doing artwork

First time at the retreat, second time at Milford—a happy writer seems to be the rule
by Adriana Kantcheva

Last September, I did something I’d been wanting to do for a very long time: go to Milford Conference. It was an absolute eye-opener and resulted in me regaining my confidence as a writer and a story being published. I signed up for the next conference immediately.

So it happened, though, that I ended up at the retreat because of family commitments later in the year. Thank goodness! I’m so glad fate decided I should experience this very different Milford. I might have not tried it for some time, considering how much I loved the conference. But I loved the retreat as much.

The May gathering had a completely different feel compared to the autumn conference. The atmosphere was far more introspective; the socializing toned down—yet, whenever it happened, just as full of camaraderie and laughter. People—about twenty of them this year—would go about their individual writing routines and come to the common room for some company only when drawn to it.

That’s something I noticed about Milford also before: all minds and ways are accepted without judgement as long as they are within the bounds of kindness and respect. This was even more clear during the retreat, where everyone was focused on their goals, but we were all focused on cheering and supporting each other. I couldn’t imagine for a better atmosphere to unleash one’s creativity.

Personally, perhaps for the first time in my life, I could investigate what my best routine looks like without the distracting tug and pull of everyday life to obscure the picture. I found a lot of answers for myself and some lessons to carry over to my life outside the sheltered, nourishing space of the retreat. And when I say sheltered and nourishing, I mean it. The peaceful garden, the stunning library, the quiet of the residents’ rooms, the easily available food, the friendly staff, and—most of all—the wonderful group of writers which Milford seems to always gather makes Milford at Gladstone’s Library the perfect place to find peace of mind and hear one’s muse.

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Milford Retreat 2024
at Gladstone's Library, Hawarden, Nr. Chester

Milford Retreat May 2024 - Report by Jacey Bedford

This was our first retreat at Gladstone's Library in North Wales, just a spit over the Welsh border and only 8 miles from Chester. I'd been to Gladstones before, on a three day retreat organised by Shona Kinsella from the British Fantasy Society, and a bunch of us had taken a brief trip there on our last Milford at Trigonos. Making the move from a longstanding venue was not something we did lightly, but due to the Society of Authors discount that Gladstones offers we were able to offer a much better weekly rate for both the retreat week in May and for our critique week in September. So the venue being delightful and the finances making a lot of sense, we moved to Gladstone's Library in May. We had twenty people sign up for the retreat, so it muct have been a popular move. Whether prompted by curiosity or not, everyone said that the venue was delightful and that they would be back.

Between us we wrote a quarter of a million words in a week, and that's taking into account that some of us (me included) were editing and therefore likely to be producing words in minus figures.

The library at Gladstones is like a cross between a posh university and Hogwarts (without the chained books), and it's a pin-drop-silent working environment. Residents can use the library from 9.00 a.m. to 10.00 p.m., but there are also very handy writing desks in every bedroom, and also space in the comfy common room if you like writing while life goes on around you.

The rooms are clean and comfortable with ensuite bathrooms, tea and coffeemaking facilities and a radio. Some are single rooms other are twins or doubles, but we have single occupancy.

Food was easily taken care of in the onsite cafe, Food for Thought. The weekly rate included bed, breakfast and evening meal, and lunches were available to buy in the cafe, or you could nip out to the nearby post office and village store for a sandwich, or go to one of the two nearby pubs.

I found a handy book nook in the main library and colonised it for the week. It was an excellent working environment and even had a plug to charge my laptop.

One morning we arranged a tour of the library, which was enormously helpful. William Gladstone (yes THAT Gladstone) endowed the library with his own book collection, so if, for instance, you wanted to read a copy of a biography of Robert Peel from his own library you would likely find his notes in the margin, and he knew the man. You can't get much better insight than that.

I'm delighted that Milford has found such a congenial home and look forward to many more retreats and critique weeks to come.

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Milford Retreat May 2023 - at Trigonos, Nantlle, North Wales

Back Row L - R Al Robertson, David Allan, Liz Williams, Kari Sperring, Russell Smith
Front L-R - Dale Hay, Gaie Sebold, Juliet McKenna, Jacey Bedford, Terry Jackman, Liane Gabora.

Report by Jacey Bedford

After a truly awful drive from Huddersfield to Nantlle, which took over 2 hours to negotiate a horrendous traffic jam caused by a motorway closure, Terry Jackman and I managed to arrive at Trigonos almost three hours later than we had planned, but pulling into the car park I could feel the tensions of the journey begin to lift. We were almost the last to arrive. Several people had had difficulty arranging rail travel because of the strike, and those driving brought passengers. Luckily the writing retreat week is wonderful for de-stressing. Trrigonos has a lovely relaxed atmosphere, and I even managed a short walk down to the lake.

I usually have the smallest room at Trigonos because, well, someone has to, but this year I was in Room 4 which has a lovely view towards Mount Snowdon. Of course this does mean that I tend to stare out of the window rather than write, but that's OK. I also spent quite a lot of time watching squirrels stuffing themselves with seed pods from the wych-elm tree outside my window.

I managed a short trip into Caernarfon one morning for a quick mooch around the shops, and coffee in the gift shop by the castle, though I did avoid buying anything expensive.

So did I get any writing done? Yes, I did. Editing mostly. I completed the piece I was working on and got halfway through the edit on a second book. Both are YAs and thanks to my week at Milford, they are just about ready for my agent.