A Non-Fiction Writing Course
on the Isle of Jura with Ants Bolingbroke-Kent and Lois Pryce
Join us on this beautiful Scottish island for the first ever writing course to be held at Barnhill, the house where George Orwell wrote his masterpiece, 1984.
We’re over the moon to bring you our first ever Write with Orwell non-fiction writing retreat, taking place on Scotland’s Isle of Jura between June 28th and July 3rd, 2026. We are incredibly lucky to be running this five-day retreat at Barnhill, the remote farmhouse where George Orwell lived between 1946 and 1949. Still owned by the family who rented it to Orwell, the house is otherwise closed to the public. We will be the first people to run a writing retreat at this historic, beautiful place, and there are just seven places available.
Like our annual Wild Writing Weekend, this will be a chance for writers to gather, hone their craft, share stories, walk, swim, sit around a campfire, eat delicious food – and write, write, write. All in the wildly remote and beautiful surroundings of Scotland’s Inner Hebrides.
Is it right for you?
The course is aimed at anyone who wants to write a memoir, travelogue, or any work of narrative non-fiction. The techniques you will learn are relevant whether your aim is to publish a full-length book, write for magazines and newspapers, or simply for your own pleasure. Whether you’re coming with a head full of ideas, a rough first chapter or a finely-honed synopsis, we will guide you through the process.
What will you learn?
How to organise your ideas and create a structure.
How to maintain a narrative pace to keep your readers engaged.
Descriptive techniques to capture a sense of place.
The use of dialogue and characters to bring your story to life.
How to make those crucial decisions about what to include, and more importantly, what to leave out.
Editing your own work and strengthening your prose.
Tips for getting published.
We’ll explore and experiment with these techniques in a number of writing exercises and you’ll be provided with printed hand-outs and reading lists. And of course, we’ll be drawing inspiration from the great man himself, reading and discussing Orwell’s work and his thoughts and insights on writing.
What’s the vibe?
The course is friendly, informal and above all, an opportunity to take part in one of our favourite pastimes – talking about writing and words with other like-minded souls in a beautiful setting. We will be a small, intimate group, and as part of the shared experience, we’ll discuss the books we love and examine what makes them work. We’ll run group workshops in the morning and one-to-one sessions in the afternoon where you can discuss your project with Lois and Ants in detail.
And of course, there’ll be plenty of time to explore Jura, with opportunities for sea-swimming, snorkelling and optional guided walks. Expect to see golden eagles, deer (the island’s name comes from the Norse “Diúra” – Island of the Deer), dolphins and sea otters. Good food and conversation are a big part of the weekend, and all meals are included, featuring Middle-Eastern inspired dishes – plus Jura venison and freshly-caught fish (for the non-vegetarians).
By the time you get the boat back to the mainland on Friday, you’ll be inspired, equipped, well-fed, and itching to finish your story.
Who are the tutors?
Ants and I are both published authors with six books between us, and 40+ combined years of professional writing experience. With a background in adventurous travel and exploration, we also work as freelance journalists and broadcasters, contributing to the Guardian, Times, FT and BBC among others. In 2021 we taught a writing course together at the Arvon Foundation, and enjoyed it so much, we set up our first Wild Writing Weekend the following year.
Where does the course take place?
In the late 1940s, when George Orwell was searching for a remote place to write his final novel, far from London and the fame that followed Animal Farm, a friend tipped him off about Barnhill. An old stone farmhouse on the northern tip of Jura, in Scotland’s Inner Hebrides, Orwell described the house as “an extremely un-get-atable place”, and the perfect location for him to write what would be his final work – 1984.
Barnhill sits alone on the northern tip of Jura, and is largely unchanged since Orwell’s time. As the owner says: “By staying here you’re really treading in Orwell’s footsteps. He’d recognise the place instantly if he stepped through the door today.”
But while Barnhill is beautiful, romantic and steeped in literary history, it’s not luxurious in the traditional sense. The house is off-grid, with power coming from solar panels, a generator and a gas bottle. Heat is provided by an old coal-fired Rayburn and fireplace. There’s limited hot water and one big old bathtub. If you’re the sort of person who only likes to stay in 5* hotels and is uncomfortable with the odd midge, peaty bathwater and no shower, then this probably isn’t for you…
How much is it?
There are four bedrooms at Barnhill, one single and three twins, so be prepared to share unless you book the single room. The price depends on which bedroom you stay in (scroll down for photos). There are only 7 places available.
1984: the room where Orwell wrote most of his classic novel. Twin beds, sea views. £1580 per person.
Room 101: The only single room available. Single bed and sea views. £1675
Newspeak: Smaller twin room than the 1984 room. Sea views. £1375 per person.
Big Brother: Small twin room with one dormer window and no sea views. £1275 per person.
The price includes:
Five night’s accommodation at Barnhill.
All tutoring, including 1-1 sessions with each of us.
Delicious food (mainly plant-based, with some Jura venison and freshly-caught fish.
Private boat transfers to and from Crinan on Sunday 28th June and Friday 3rd July.
A guided walk with one of the family who own Barnhill.
A talk about Orwell’s time on Jura.
A signed copy of each of our latest books.
How do I get there?
The journey to Barnhill normally involves two ferries and an hour’s drive up the Isle of Jura. But we’ll be traveling there by our own boat from Crinan, and dropped at a private jetty just below the house. The boat takes 30 minutes from Crinan to Barnhill.
Crinan is a 2.5 hour drive from Glasgow, and a 10 hour drive from London, do-able in one long day.
The nearest train station is Oban, and there are also fairly regular buses from Glasgow to Lochgilphead, which is a 15 minute drive from Crinan.
How do I sign up?
Just email me HERE. To secure your place, a £750 deposit is required upon booking, followed by the balance three months before the course (by 28th March 2026). If our previous retreats are anything to go by, the 7 places will go FAST, so don’t hang about!
Ants and Lois - thank you for being so open and kind, and for sharing so much more than your craft with us. Your different energies and perspectives complemented one another beautifully and the strength of the bond between you somehow anchored us all. You helped to release something inside me.
Jennine, 2023 course participant
A very nourishing experience and great to meet such a variety of people. Grateful for all the sharing and generosity, to Ants and Lois of course for the fabulous course content, organisation, providing the safe emotional space for us to allow others an insight into our stories, and for your warmth and humour.
Ruth, 2023 course participant
Everything you need to know:
DATES: Sunday June 28th – Friday July 3rd 2026
LOCATION: Barnhill, Isle of Jura
COST: £1275 – £1675 depending on room (see details above). Price includes five night’s accommodation at Barnhill, all tutoring including 1-1 sessions with each of us, all meals (mainly plant-based, with some Jura venison and freshly-caught fish), private boat transfers to and from Crinan on Sunday 28th June and Friday 3rd July, guided walk with one of the family who own Barnhill, evening talk about Orwell’s time on Jura, and a signed copy of Lois and Ants’ latest books.
TO JOIN THE COURSE PLEASE MESSAGE LOIS VIA THE CONTACT PAGE
Images 2-8 copyright the Fletcher family. Not for use elsewhere.
