breath of the land retreat

A 4- day retreat at Carlton Towers where you’ll reconnect with nature through guided animism practices, meditation and gentle movement, led by land whisperer Dr. Patrick MacManaway.

UK Retreat leader Patrick McManaway

There is a language older than words. The trees speak it. The soil holds it. The wind carries it.

Breath of the Land Retreat is a rare opportunity to step beyond the noise of modern life and into a living relationship with the landscape at the beautiful Carlton Towers.

Led by Dr. Patrick MacManaway - dowser, geomancer and healer with over 30 years experience in the subtle arts of nature consciousness — together with Mariska Gunter, Carlton Towers’ own retreat facilitator, this retreat offers you the tools, practices and the space to truly tune into what the land is saying.

“An Immersion Into Elemental & Nature Consciousness”

About Patrick

Dr. Patrick MacManaway is a land whisperer, dowser, and geomancer with over 30 years of professional experience. Raised and initially trained at his parents’ Healing and Teaching Centre in rural Fife, Scotland, he is a third-generation practitioner dedicated to the subtle arts of healing and communication with the many natural realms of consciousness in our environment.

For further information, please click here.

Retreat leader Patrick Macmanaway

what to expect

A transformative, sensory-based uk retreat designed to reshape your experience of everyday life. Relax and rediscover one’s awareness of the natural, living world as a community of interconnected, living beings rather than a collection of resources. Move beyond simply being outdoors to fully experiencing the environment within and around the body. Your classroom is Carlton Towers’ 250 acres of beautiful parkland and mature woods.

You will learn the principals of animism, elemental consciousness and other practices which focus on nurturing the ancient connections between the human experience and nature.

Some gentle physical movement deepens the sense of connection with oneself and the universe around us.

Your accommodation is the comfortable and well-appointed en-suite state bedrooms of Carlton Towers - where heritage and hospitality meet to create lasting memories. Food is locally sourced, and carefully presented by our in-house chefs. Your retreat group has exclusive use of Carlton Towers during your stay.

2027 DATES

Monday 5th July - Thursday 8th July 2027

~

Prices

Single Occupancy - £950.00 per person

Double Occupancy - £750.00 per person

CONNECT WITH OUR TEAM

Looking for assistance or more information regarding our Wellness Retreats?

Talk to a member of our friendly team - 9:00am to 5:30pm, Monday to Friday.

your facilitator

Born in South Africa, Mariska carries the spirit of the African earth, forests, woodlands, and sea within her soul. Her early experiences of finding peace and understanding through solitude and deep reflection have shaped her into a guide for those seeking meaningful connection, with themselves, with others, and with the natural world.

A certified Vinyasa yoga instructor, Sylvotherapist, Reiki 2 practitioner, and holistic masseuse, Mariska draws on the rich and varied training to offer a truly integrated path to wellbeing - one that moves the body, quiets the mind, and restores the spirit’s connection to nature.

Mariska’s life’s work is dedicated to the health of humanity and the planet we call home. She believes that our pursuit of optimal health and longevity must begin within, and a collective rise in consciousness, allowing us to thrive within nature rather than resist the very life force that sustains us.

At Carlton Towers, Mariska invites you to embark on a three-day journey of reconnection. Through the flowing movement of vinyasa yoga, the grounding practice of sylvotherapy (forest bathing), the subtle energy work of Reiki, discover the profound interconnectedness of all souls and experience the joy of coming home to yourself, to community, and to the natural world that embraces us all.

Join Mariska for an unforgettable retreat where ancient wisdom meets present moment awareness, and where every experience is crafted with care, intention, and the vibrant energy of the African spirit that flows through her work.

Explore the itinerary

book your retreat

Breath of the Land Retreat
from £950.00

“An Immersion Into Elemental & Nature Consciousness”

There is a language older than words. The trees speak it. The soil holds it. The wind carries it.

Breath of the Land Retreat is a rare opportunity to step beyond the noise of modern life and into a living relationship with the landscape at the beautiful Carlton Towers.

Led by Dr. Patrick MacManaway - dowser, geomancer and healer with over 30 years experience in the subtle arts of nature consciousness — together with Mariska Gunter, Carlton Towers’ own retreat facilitator, this retreat offers you the tools, practices and the space to truly tune into what the land is saying.

Monday 5th - Thursday 8th July 2027

Single Occupancy - £950.00 per person

Double Occupancy - £750.00 per person

Your Retreat Checklist