Immerse yourself
The Dell is a beautiful, creative and versatile space to host a retreat or event of any kind. We love to fill our Tipi space in the woods with creative workshops, foot stomping gigs and beautiful supper clubs beneath the pines, check out our line up below and catch something interesting during your holiday.
Do get in touch if you're considering bringing your own event to the Dell.
The Dell is right in the heart of the Cairngorms and on the edge of the Abernethy Forest the Dell is a peaceful place with great access to true wilderness. Accommodation is versatile and our studio space is set within the forest in our Scandinavian Tipi.
We make sure your guests have the environment that allows them to relax and gain the most from the retreat and we also have a couple of fantastic recommendations for catering.
View Workshops by Season
Spring 2026
Soundscape meditation walk
1 Mar - 31 May
Anytime
£20
Music has been our true tonic over the last little while and we have built a stack of our 'Woodland Wireless' playlists on Spotify to form a connection with the woods, even when you're not able to visit.
Soundscape draws from this library, carefully selecting tracks that stir us and resonate with the landscape surrounding us to take us on a meditative musical journey into the deeper, more hidden trails surrounding the Dell.
Each walk takes around an hour and will be punctuated with birdsong interludes and hot cups.
Only requirements are Premium Spotify account, good headphones and some sturdy footwear.
This is available all year round.
Gather Inn
3 Apr - 31 May
5 - 10pm
Our favourite night is back! The Gather Inn will be opening again from Friday 3rd April and we personally can't wait.
A space for you to unwind on a Friday evening and kick off your weekend in the right way
The tipi has always been the perfect space for gathering and enjoying a drink around the fire, but to top it off we will be joined (most Fridays) by 'Highland Slice' serving up tasty pizzas and Rik's kitchen with their delicious plant based Asian inspired offerings. You can pre-order with both Highland Slice and Rik's kitchen from the Monday prior from 9am, just follow the links on our Instagram or Facebook pages.
We don't take table bookings for the Gather Inn, just turn up, we have plenty of seats inside and out, kids welcome until 8pm. A friendly reminder that if you're coming with kids, please keep them supervised at all times, particularly on the play area.
The Gather Inn will NOT be running on the following dates:
12th June, 18th September and 25th September
We hope to see you there sometime x
Marie Williams Yoga Retreat
18 - 22 May
from £825
Join the lovely Marie Williams for a relaxing week in the forest, held by the surrounding landscape of ancient pine trees. Twice daily classes will take place in our woodland tipi where you can expect grounding somatic and yoga practices, as well as walks in the woodlands or surrounding Cairngorm mountains, dips in nearby rivers or lochs and woodland saunas.
The daily practices will guide you to become aware of how you exist in relationship and reciprocity; deepening the connection to your home-body, your internal environment, and a growing appreciation for how we co-exist in harmony with the external environment.
All meals, snacks and hot drinks are included.
For more info or to book with Marie please get in touch .
Summer 2026
Feta, Halloumi and Mascarpone workshop with Kristen Allan
4 Jun
10am - 4pm
£100
In this hands-on class you'll learn how to make feta (including marinated Persian feta), halloumi and mascarpone with the incredibly talented and very entertaining Kristen Allan. You'll take a deep dive into the story of milk, beginning with life in the soil, how different seasons and type of animal influence it's composition and how to source and select the best quality, local milk for making cheese.
You will receive recipes, notes and take home the cheese made in the class. A delicious lunch will be served and Kristen will share with you a collection of mouth-watering recipes that showcase the cheese we make in the class plus all her marvellous ways to use the leftover whey.
The classes are small and intimate with ample opportunity for questions, one-on-one guidance and all Kristen's tips and troubleshooting tricks. All this can only, develop and strengthen your understanding and serve you well in your home kitchen.
Please get in touch to book
In the Woods...with Tommy Ashby, Lydia Clowes and Jodie Marie
6 Jun
6.30pm - 11pm
£16
Join us in the tipi for a cosy evening of live acoustic music, with the mesmerising velvety sounds of Tommy Ashby, Jodie Marie and Lydia Clowes. This will be a collaborative triple-headline show, with no single artist topping the bill. Instead, you can expect a shared, songwriter-led performance where all three artists appear on stage together, playing on each other’s songs in an intimate, songwriters’ circle style format.
Doors will be open from 6.30pm with the gig starting around 7.30pm. The Dell will be running a bar and parking is available in the large timber layby on the right before reaching The Dell. Please get in touch to book
Nature and Writing Workshop with Joe Minihane
16 Jun
9am - 5.30pm
£90
Join nature and travel writer Joe Minihane for a one day writing workshop in and around the Dell's tipi. This informal, friendly one day nature and memoir writing retreat is for anyone looking to tell their own story, whether you already love to write or are a beginner in search of inspiration.
With time to walk and explore the forest surrounding The Dell, chances for encounters with nature, and prompts designed to get creativity flowing, this will be a relaxed and informal day that will help you on your writing journey.
There will be writing exercises, one to one tutorials and the opportunity to share work with the group at the end of the day if you wish. You'll leave armed with new ideas and work that you've made and can feel proud of.
Joe Minihane is a writer and journalist based in Sheffield. He is the author of Floating (Duckworth 2017), a memoir about wild swimming and mental health, and a recipient of the Society of Authors' K Blundell Trust award. He has also written a series of guide books for the London-based publisher on Hoxton Mini Press, while his writing on travel and the outdoors has appeared in The Guardian, Sunday Times, Mail on Sunday, Lonely Planet and CNN.
Lunch and refreshments included. For more info or to book with Joe please get in touch
Wild Threads - a Creative Retreat with Ellis O'Connor
23 - 24 Jun
£395
Join the fabulously talented Ellis O'Connor for a two-day art retreat, where creative play meets rest and rejuvenation.
Immerse yourself in a supportive and inspiring environment as we explore mixed-media materials and alternative mark-making techniques designed to ignite your imagination and encourage bold, expressive creation. This retreat is about embracing the process rather than focusing on the outcome—allowing you to experiment freely, make mistakes, and uncover fresh perspectives in your art.
Between sessions, take time to enjoy the serene beauty of the Cairngorms, unwind in the cosy surroundings of The Dell, and connect with like-minded individuals in a nurturing retreat atmosphere. This is your invitation to pause, play, and create—an opportunity to rediscover the joy of making art in one of Scotland's most magical settings.
Both Tuesday and Wednesday's workshops will run from 10.30am - 4.30pm. Lunch is included and we have bed and breakfast rooms available here at The Dell for a price of £90 per person per night or £140 per couple per night.
For more information and to book with Ellis please get in touch
Eòlach Supper Club
27 - 28 Jun
Verity cooks with wild & foraged ingredients while Jenny hosts, bringing people together around thoughtful food. Expect a menu centred around wild plants, seafood and game.
Eòlach will be bringing a supper to the Tipi on Saturday evening followed by their famous Shed BBQ on Sunday.
To book please email hello@eolachcatering.com
King Arthur and the Holy Fail - performance by Three Inch Fools
5 Jul
6.30pm - 8.30pm
£12 / £22
We are so delighted to be hosting Three Inch Fools again for what's set to be a truly uplifting and energetic night of music, story telling and rip roaring hilarity. This time they are bringing you the story of 'King Arthur and the Holy Fail'. A definite fun for all the family!
In a land of daring quests, dashing knights, and endless jousting, there lived a would-be hero - waiting in the wings - who went by the name of Arthur. When Camelot is rocked to it’s core by a tragic - and frankly improbable - incident involving a large table of an undisclosed shape, Arthur is thrust into the quest of a lifetime. Will he bravely battle through blistering cold and scorching fire to save his beloved realm, or will he crumble as fate refuses to cooperate?
The performance will be on our lawn at The Dell with plenty space for you to bring your picnic rugs and deck chairs. You are very welcome to bring your own food, but we will be running a bar so no BYOB.
For more information and to buy tickets, please get in touch.
In the Woods...with Karawane and Volta45
19 Jul
12 - 8pm
£5 / £10
Welcome to the tropical north, as Karawane returns to the Dell for a midsummer bash, and this time they are bringing a friend!
Joining them for this special session is Volta 45, a London-based DJ renowned for his unique style – a heady vinyl mix of jazzy and percussive sounds from Africa, South America and the French Caribbean. Volta 45 is a regular on the European and UK music festival circuit; he has got dance floors moving from Turin to the glorious fields of the Shambala Festival.
Karwane brings dancefloor music from around the world: highlife, cumbia, soukous, samba, salsa, funk, reggae, afrobeat, edits and originals to make bodies move and minds travel. Regulars on the Scottish festival circuit, and venues from beach clubs in Andalucia to the late-night clubs of Berlin, the Karawane DJs are constantly on the move, collecting music, and bringing people together.
This is a very special collaboration that we can't wait for and we would love for you to come and dance with us! We will also be joined by the wonderful Penny Bun food truck to see to your Sunday lunch/dinner needs and the Dell bar will be running all day. Doors open from 12pm, with Karawane and Volta 45 playing from 2pm.
Get in touch to book
Pauli Pocket Eats Mexican Fiesta
1 Aug
Pauline & Lindsay will be cooking up a feast full of bold flavours and vibrant sharing plates taking you on a journey through Mexico with a nod to our amazing Highland produce.
To book email hello@paulipocketeats.com
Mozzarella, burrata and stracciatella workshop with Kristen Allan
6 Aug
10am - 3pm
£100
The amazingly inspiring and entertaining Kristen Allan is back, this time with an intimate hands-on cheese making class where you will learn how to make milky soft pillows of mozzarella, creamy burrata and stringy stracciatella.
You will also explore creative ways to use the leftover whey, ensuring nothing goes to waste and be shown how to incorporate your freshly made cheese into a shared lunch, celebrating the flavours of the season and the satisfaction of food made by hand.
The day starts with coffee/tea and cake, and a chat about how the day will unfold. Then it’s time to roll up your sleeves and feel your whey through the curds. You work in small groups so there’s usually plenty of banter and laughter and time for one-on-one attention.
For more info or to book, please get in touch
In the Woods...with Karawane and ButhoTheWarrior
16 Aug
12 - 8pm
£5 / £10
Returning to the Dell for the last time this summer, Karawane brings us another amazing guest to make this Sunday 'In the Woods...' one to remember.
ButhoTheWarrior is known for his diverse global sound sets with house grooves, high hitting vocals from soulful to spiritual sounds effortlessly mixed, Butho is a mixmaster of carrying crowds through their emotions while locked in. Having supported Giles Peterson, Louie Vega, Awesome Tapes from Africa, DJ Paulette, Shimza and many more in recent times Butho has vast knowledge in creating somewhat of a different vibe bringing his charm to every room. Rooted in the origins of black music, he celebrates and showcases upcoming artists & pioneers of house music with his JAIVA residency at Sub Club.
Karwane brings dancefloor music from around the world: highlife, cumbia, soukous, samba, salsa, funk, reggae, afrobeat, edits and originals to make bodies move and minds travel. Regulars on the Scottish festival circuit, and venues from beach clubs in Andalucia to the late-night clubs of Berlin, the Karawane DJs are constantly on the move, collecting music, and bringing people together.
Yet another special collaboration that we can't wait for and we would love for you to come and dance with us! We will also be joined by the wonderful Penny Bun food truck to see to your Sunday lunch/dinner needs and the Dell bar will be running all day. Doors open from 12pm, with Karawane and ButhoTheWarrior playing from 2pm.
Get in touch to book
Gemma Dallyn Supper Club
22 - 23 Aug
Gemma's cooking is grounded in a deep commitment to seasonality, wood-fired cooking, and strong relationships with growers, alongside a nose-to-tail approach that honours each ingredient fully. Influenced by time spent at Quay and Fred’s in Sydney, and as former head chef of The Taybank, her work has evolved into a style rooted in storytelling, connection, and a genuine sense of community.
Gemma will be hosting a three course Supper Club on Saturday followed by a nourishing brunch on Sunday.
To book please email gemmadallyn@gmail.com
In the woods...with Rachel Sermanni
25 Aug
6 - 10.30PM
£20
Join Rachel Sermanni on an enchanting tour of the outdoors this summer, performing in settings that celebrate the beauty of nature and community. From vibrant festival stages to docklands and piers, woodland tranquility, unique urban gardens, and sustainable Earthship spaces, each stop offers an intimate listening experience in unforgettable surroundings.
Rachel Sermanni is a Scottish based singer/songwriter that makes the mundane moments mystical: shock-positive pregnancy tests in train-station toilets, coffee machine breakages, cold river swims, the regret of not saying ‘I love You', the moon & how it pulls, bare feet on wood floors, the soft glow of a house plant, ‘what even is consciousness?’, strange dreams lingering in quiet mornings…
She brims with dreamy indie-folk pop that speaks of the struggle and desire to Flow, to love, to live, to feel. Sometimes, her songs speak of the rare moments of quiet-still, found in the midst of this struggle & desire.
Always a sellout, so get in touch to book. Doors open at 6pm with music starting at 7pm
Autumn 2026
Yoga on a Shoestring Retreat
14 - 18 Sep
from £1095
We look forward to welcoming back Yoga on a Shoestring who are well versed in hosting and leading in retreats that are both relaxing and rejuvenating. This time hosted by the wonderful Roanna Doleman.
Each day will begin with a flowing asana class to align to body and breath in our woodland Tipi under the pine trees and open to birdsong and the forest beyond.
After the morning class there will be a hearty breakfast before you head out to explore the surrounding area on foot, by mountain bike, take a dip or simply relax. There will be a delicious healthy light lunch and the group will meet again in the late afternoon for a more restorative practice to delve deeper into the postures. Evening practice will be followed by a nourishing dinner and fireside chats.
Arrival is from 4pm onwards on Monday 14 September and departure is by 10am on Friday 18 September.
For more information please get in touch
Beyond Fitness Retreat with Kim
21 - 24 Sep
from £825
Revitalise your body and mind with a yoga & fitness retreat with the wonderful Kim of Beyond Fitness Retreats. Kim will be hosting a 3-night yoga and fitness retreat here at The Dell, where you can expect morning yoga classes in the tipi, woodland hikes, bike rides to Loch Garten for a cold water swim and plenty of garden workouts.
This retreat is the perfect opportunity to challenge yourself physically, meet like-minded people, immerse in the outdoors and nourish your body with delicious food.
For more info or to book please contact us
Will Hamer Supper Club
10 Oct
Outdoor cooking, reimagined — brought back to its simplest, most natural form, where ingredients meet the embers.
The Wilder Kitchen is more than a way of cooking; it’s about eating well, slowing down, and making the connection with nature.
To book please email info@thewilderkitchen.co.uk
Winter 2026
Sorry. There are no workshops scheduled at this point in the year.
Treat someone to an experience at the Dell
If you have stayed at the Dell or simply like the look of what we do here you can now pass it on by way of a voucher.
Gift Vouchers
Whether it be a romantic break, a weekend yoga retreat, a fire pit session or a bottle of wine on arrival, allow us to look after this for you.
Keep in touch?
We'll let you know when we add new workshops and dates to the calendar.