Sleeping in luxurious bell tents with the sounds of water and nature lulling us to sleep and awakening us, this retreat is a feast for the senses. From fire ceremonies to standing stone rituals to participating in local activities on the island, it gifts us all the joy life has to offer. Whether you wish to escape the daily grind or simply reset, your system, this place does this and more.

We access the island via ferry on Thursday and arrival is from 4pm. Check out is by 11am on Monday morning.

Accommodation is the beautiful bell tents on the island and there are communal showers and toilets for your use over the days we are together. This is a 4 night retreat to connect with your inner joy and embrace this stunning island on the south west coast of the Wild Atlantic Way.

Each day will begin with meditation and dynamic yoga followed by brunch. The afternoons will encompass nature walks, kayaking, sea swimming, lounging on the land with a good book or rest back at your bell tent. On evenings we will come together where there may be yin yoga, a fire ceremony, a ritual at the standing stones or a circle accompanied by a delicious dinner with a fire and the odd toasted marshmallow. Monday morning, weather permitting, we complete with a sunrise meditation by the water, a morning dip followed by a beautiful breakfast before our time comes to leave.

There is an opportunity for 121 Reiki & Shamanic sessions or Biodynamic Cranio-Sacral sessions with Aoife during the retreat. These must be booked in advance and are available on a first come first served basis.

The Guest’s experience in her own words:

“Bere Island yoga retreat, County Cork, June 2025

It is a ten-minute boat trip away, but once there, seems other worldly. The noise is all nature, the pace slowed to what we forget life can also be, a sort of calm resides. The roads are narrow and windy. Sharp corners prompt me to beep, but I don’t because there is no car the other side of the bend. Just silky reeds and honeysuckle swaying tall in the Island breeze. I’m here for a yoga retreat. I’ve given no thought to what that might actually mean. I don’t know yet that I will leave changed somewhat; reminded by expired versions of self. The white spires of the bell tents peak over the horizon, as the road meanders towards this special piece of shoreline, a campsite once visited that will never be forgotten. Scattered across a natural amphitheatre, complete with patches of wild meadow, pebble paths, and comforting sea views, the tents become our refuge for the next five nights.

We meet as strangers. Countless downward dogs later, we laugh united to the point of streaming tears. Shared moments of pure hilarity, exhilaration, exhaustion and appreciation for the here and now, for the scrumptious food, tasty beyond words, and the movement in time and space – apart. The essence of a retreat is to take that time away, to bend in to introspection, to perhaps flex the under-used parts of ourselves, to unearth hidden truths and discover what we allow to come to the fore.

Bere Island as the chosen destination for this ‘journey’ was the perfect place, the right kind of remote, with its village centre shop come café, pub, fishing harbours, and family run coffee cart on the walking trail to the white lighthouse perched atop the cliffs. Locals bused in from the mainland joined us interlopers and native islanders for the 5km park run on a sunny Saturday morning. We pushed the numbers up, but only slightly as the turnout was already impressive. As was the post trek spread of home baked goods, sausage rolls with built-in relish, moist cakes full of flavour, delicate coffee and creamy swiss rolls. We sat on curbs, slurping tea and replenishing those lost calories faster than the first home that morning.

Surrounded by water, always, the fitting theme of our retreat was in itself water. We swam at a deserted cove in the middle of an unmanned military range. Splendour amongst the shrapnel. Some tested the waters tentatively. Some jumped off piers. I found myself again in the cold that turned to comfort, basking amongst the streams of seaweed – long enough to wear draped around the neck, like a Hawaiian garland. Water, it was never far. Through a small wooden gate and over rocks, some dipped. Down weather worn stone steps at cul de sac piers, we persevered. Shouts of encouragement. ‘Get the shoulders under.’ Water drew us in like sirens, getting all of us in the end, even the reluctant dippers. Washed free of fears, cleansed, satiated.

Thank you Aoife, Catriona and Tanya. x”

Jenny

“My Bere Island retreat experience was very special thank you. It was wonderful on so many levels, something I really needed but didn't realise. 

It was a lovely mixture of yoga, nature, beautiful food, adventure, awe and craic. It was just perfect and great fun. Its obvious that you put a huge amount of effort into it as the days were so well balanced, just the right mixture of exertion and comfort.  The venue is also very special. Being so far away from reality was divine. Having to get the ferry across from the mainland added to its mystique. I often camped as a child and it was lovely to do so again as an adult. The glamping site is lovely, its very clean and well kept which is very appreciated also. Catriona was lovely as well and how cool to go kayaking over to the village for cake!! And Tanya, well what can you say?! What a woman! Amazing food, I think we all felt spoilt rotten for the entire time we were there.  I was worried my very restricted diet would stop me from going on the retreat so I am so grateful to Tanya for doing such a good job at facilitating me.  

Its obvious so much work went into our amazing 5 days. The three of you are such inspirational women and I count myself lucky to be in your company. And I suppose that's the other thing, the other women were fabulous too. So it was great from that point of view as well, being around strong, inspiring women who do things their way. I love that.  

I don't have any notes for you, Tanya or Catriona.  I can't think of anything that could possibly be improved on. Even the weather was perfect as we got to see what it was like to be in a tent when it was lashing rain and see the beautiful countryside with dark clouds and glistening sun. 

It was such a treat for the soul.

Many thanks to each of you.

Lots of love”

Claire