Kate Emmerson Retreats - Scotland
Iona, Scotland
Private life coaching, mentoring and healing retreats on the remote island of Iona
Life coach, mentor and declutter expert Kate Emmerson creates a safe, playful place of healing and beauty on a history-steeped island. Book private life coaching and mentoring breaks created just for you, or choose from Kate’s most popular themes - Cutting the Threads That Bind or Embracing the Gap. These retreats encourage women to handle momentous transitions and let go of old energy.
our Reviewer ANNABEL HESELTINE says:
‘Kate's unique brand of recalibrating the spiritual and emotional being, so that women leave her retreat stronger, more resilient, lighter and more complete, is cuddled in love and laughter with some serious foodie experiences on the side’
Queen of Retreats says:
‘Iona is a long way from most places, so your pilgrimage here starts from home and doesn’t end until you return. Stay in Oban the night before and after the retreat to arrive early and explore the island ahead of time. It’s all worth it - Kate is an exceptional human with a unique combination of coaching and interpersonal skills’
Experiences
Choose a bespoke private mentoring and healing retreat, or join a small, intimate group on a Mastermind Retreat. Private retreats are curated around you and what life is throwing at you and your whole experience, including your choice of accommodation, is tailor-made.
The one-to-one Cutting the Threads That Bind retreat encourages you to handle massive change, make new choices that work for you and let go of old energy. Dealing with life blows, disappointment and loss, the emphasis is on closure, cutting ties, releasing, clearing out, healing and forgiveness. Expect to learn powerful life-affirming processing tools.
Embracing the Gap retreat is another one-to-one for women who are sitting in the gap that exists when one chapter has ended, and another has not yet started, and it will help you to create and dream the next phase of your life with joy, energy and love. You’ll use the island for support and inspiration, and you’ll leave with powerful tools and a map of the road ahead.
Mastermind Retreats are an intimately invited group who are committed to looking forward - exploring possibilities, solutions and idea generation. They will lead to exponential growth in business and personal development and you will challenge each other and brainstorm solutions with kindness and compassion.
Sea swimming and guided wild walks, along with boat trips and cultural experiences, will help you experience the richness of this sacred land. Top-notch treatments such as hot stone, Swedish and aromatherapy massages and reflexology are also available.
Spaces
This three-mile long island is your garden and empty stretches of wild, white beaches your playground. Sit and wonder at the Sound of Iona, look over to Mull or visit the healing tiny chapel at the abbey. Explore the nunnery ruins, marble quarry or simply sit for hours watching the sea birds.
This is a sacred place where the veil between the two worlds is very thin - this means that guests always find it easy to access deep inner peace, feel the force of nature and experience some form of connection to other realms in whatever way is important for them.
Activities take place at The Green Shed in The Sea Room, which is decked out with old Persian rugs, bits of old boat and many, many books.
You will be offered a variety of beautiful accommodation on the island. The main option, especially for group retreats, is The Green Shed, a croft at the North tip of the island, which has two adorable studios with a kitchenette and en-suite shower rooms. The Sea Room also has three bedrooms with solid wooden bunkbeds that sleep up to ten, with two shower rooms and a third toilet.
Other options include The Iona Island Pods, Erraid House or one of the island’s small hotels.
Sustenance
Kate is a real foodie, and you’ll eat plenty three times a day. The menu uses delicious seasonal home-cooked Scottish produce, sourced where possible from Iona, Mull and surrounds - mostly vegetarian with a dollop of fish. You will be invited to Kate’s beautiful home for some meals and views that stretch forever!
Dishes catered private and group retreats can include kelp and mushroom lasagne, local Tobermory-smoked salmon, crab pate, Iona fisherman-caught fish when available, eggs from Kintyre, Iona Abbey baked sourdough bread, Scottish cheeses and, of course, oatcakes.
Home-baked puddings and treats include Scottish cranachan and Isle of Mull ice cream. Expect coffee, tea and juices at breakfast. Scottish water is available throughout the day.
Guests can bring in alcohol, although in practice on the group retreats no-one drinks alcohol until the last night, when there is wine at a celebration feast at the Argyll Hotel, a short walk away from the accommodation.
If you are self-catering, there is a nearby well-stocked Spar shop, and locally made Mo’s Meals to warm in the oven, as well as a local pizzeria that does takeaways.
ISLE OF IONA, SCOTLAND
Kate Emmerson
Exuding energy, love and possibility, life coach, mentor and declutter expert Kate Emmerson offers thoughtfully crafted life coaching and healing retreats on the sacred isle of Iona off the west coast of Scotland, and online. Choose a private retreat tailored to your needs or a group retreat on set-dates.