A wilderness retreat celebrating queer embodiment, connection, and freedom.

Step into a space of belonging

Bare feet standing on green grass with a white garment visible at the top of the image.

Barefoot & Free is a nurturing weekend retreat designed for the LGBTQ+ community to connect deeply with themselves, with each other, and with the natural world. Set against the wild beauty of Gloucestershire, this is a chance to celebrate your authentic self in a safe, supportive, and joy-filled space.

Over the weekend, you’ll be guided by experienced facilitators through practices that ground you in your body, spark connection, and invite freedom of expression. Whether you join for quiet reflection or shared celebration, this retreat is about being truly yourself — barefoot, free, and held by nature.

What’s included

Embodiment Practices – gentle somatic movement, restorative sessions, sauna, floating sound bath and practices to help you reconnect with your body.
Wild Swimming – refreshing swims in nature (optional, no pressure — dip if and when it feels right).
Nourishing Meals – wholesome, seasonal meals prepared for you, shared in community around the campfire.
Time & Space – moments for rest, reflection, and simply being, alongside opportunities for group celebration.
Creative workshops - Explore and express yourself through guided creative sessions designed to spark joy, connection, and self-discovery.

Things you need to know

Date: Friday 4 September - Sunday 6 September 2026

Check in: 4:00pm (Friday)

Check out: 12:00pm (Sunday)

Location: Barefoot & Bower, Gloucestershire

Cost: £490 (includes 2 nights - full board with shared 5m fully furnished bell tent)

Or £390 (for 2 nights - full board, if bringing your own tent)

✨ Take advantage of our early bird offer ✨
Book your place before 31 December 2025 and enjoy £50 off your retreat.
A little gift for giving yourself the time and space you deserve.

What you can expect:

Guided somatic and restorative practices
Sauna and a floating sound bath in forest setting
Wild swimming in natural surroundings
Wholesome shared meals around the fire
Time to reflect, recharge, and connect with others
Creative workshops

Carved wooden bear standing on a base, holding a sign that reads 'Barefoot & Bower' with a drawing of a log cabin and a dragonfly, surrounded by greenery and trees.

Warm-toned interior of a cozy tent at night, decorated with string lights, surrounded by candles and plants, with cushions inside.

A wooded lakeside scene with a portable sauna, two Adirondack chairs, and a log on the ground, with a pond or lake in the background surrounded by trees.

A wooden dock extending into a calm lake with a small boat tied to the dock, surrounded by lush green trees under a partly cloudy sky.

An aerial view of a lush, green forest surrounding a small, calm lake in the center, with dense trees and rolling hills in the background.

Meet your host

A woman with glasses smiling in a brightly colored yellow room with folded towels and a decorative wall art piece in the background.

Lucy is an experienced wellbeing practitioner and founder of Wye Valley Wellness. She gently guides mindful movement, reflection, and restorative practices that help you slow down, ground yourself, and feel fully present. As Chair of Chepstow Pride, Lucy is a passionate advocate for the LGBTQ+ community. At the heart of her work is creating safe, welcoming spaces — whether in her clinic, at community events, or on retreat — where everyone feels supported, included, and able to show up as their true selves.

Meet your facilitators

Woman with long curly hair shaping a clay bowl on a pottery wheel in a sunlit outdoor space, surrounded by gardening tools and plants.

Jessa

Jessa and Robyn are multidisciplinary artists based in Chepstow South Wales. Their primary disciplines are ceramic, sculpture, print making, animation and illustration and have enjoyed working and teaching in the arts together for over a decade. Both have a background in nature and animals, ritual and mindfulness and are very excited to develop workshops with Wye Valley Wellness for this incredible event. We look forward to creating with you! —

A young woman with dark red hair outside in a forested area, turning to smile at the camera with lush green trees and a dirt path in the background.

Robyn

Jessa and Robyn are multidisciplinary artists based in Chepstow South Wales. Their primary disciplines are ceramic, sculpture, print making, animation and illustration and have enjoyed working and teaching in the arts together for over a decade. Both have a background in nature and animals, ritual and mindfulness and are very excited to develop workshops with Wye Valley Wellness for this incredible event. We look forward to creating with you! —

A man with a shaved head and no clothing is standing in water with his arms outstretched, holding lit flaming torches in each hand, against a dark background.

Andy Squiff – Inspiral Flowstate A blend of Qi Gong and Soma Breathwork to reset and rebalance the nervous system Created by Andy Squiff, Inspiral Flowstate helps people breathe, move, and reconnect with their full potential. Through gentle movement and conscious breath, Andy guides participants to quiet the mind, release tension, and feel grounded, lighter, and more alive. Each two-hour session blends Qi Gong and Soma Breathwork — a mindful journey to calm the nervous system and awaken presence. Qi Gong is a gentle movement practice combining breath, meditation, and awareness to balance the body’s vital energy (qi). It offers a way to move from “thinking” into being, reconnecting body and mind in stillness and flow. Soma Breathwork combines rhythmic breathing, music, and visualization to release stress and restore clarity. This modern take on ancient pranayama helps participants enter deep meditative states, reprogram limiting patterns, and inspire positive change. Andy’s intuitive, immersive approach weaves movement, music, and guided meditation to create space for transformation.

“It’s deeply humbling to witness the beautiful shifts that unfold in each session.” — Andy Squiff

For more information, visit www.inspiralflowstate.co.uk

A woman with short brown hair and a big smile standing on a mossy rock in a forest, wearing patterned pants and a dark top, with a tan dog sitting next to her.

Gina is a Yoga and Reiki practitioner with over seven years of experience. She is deeply passionate about sharing these practices and helping others discover that Yoga and Reiki can offer exactly what they need, whatever their circumstances. Her classes provide a supportive, caring, and inclusive space where everyone is welcome. Gina encourages her students to explore their bodies with curiosity and kindness, without judgement. Through Reiki, she offers an opportunity for rest, comfort, and healing. Having lived with severe endometriosis, Gina understands what it feels like to want to move despite — or because of — pain, injury, or illness. This lived experience informs her compassionate approach to teaching and healing. She looks forward to sharing this special time and space with her students.

Who’s it for?

Barefoot & Free is for LGBTQ+ individuals who want to experience the freedom of being fully themselves in nature.

If you’re seeking a space where your identity is not only accepted but celebrated.
If you’re craving rest, nourishment, and connection away from everyday pressures.
If you long to share stories, meals, and movement with a community that gets it.
If you’re ready to step into a weekend where there’s no need to edit or explain yourself.

This retreat is a chance to drop the weight of “fitting in” and simply arrive as you are. Whether you come alone, with friends, or as part of a couple, you’ll be welcomed into a supportive, inclusive circle where all expressions of self are honoured.

A group of women sitting outdoors on a gravel surface, engaging in a conversation surrounded by greenery and trees.

Additional Info

Tent sharing: Up to 3 per fully furnished bell tent; feel welcome to sign-up with friends or come solo

Flexible schedule: the agenda is guided but optional — join what feels good - here’s a sample itinerary (the final version will be shared closer to the retreat date)
Bring essentials: layers, toiletries, and anything that makes your days and nights comfortable

Your stay, your way

With accommodation

£490

Full board for 2 nights

Stay in a shared, fully furnished bell tent (2-3 people per tent). Cosy beds, soft lighting, and space to truly unwind.

Early bird offer: £440 if booked before 31 December 2025

Join us

Without accommodation

£390

Full board for 2 nights

Prefer your own setup? Pitch your tent lakeside, in the forest, and enjoy the same community, food, and flow of the retreat.

Early bird offer: £340 if booked before 31 December 2025