In a no-man’s land between Spanish Navarra and the Basque Country lie the ‘hobbit-like’ farmlands of the Basque Pyrenees. These tourist-free lands, often known as the ‘Basque Bermuda Triangle’, offer magical walking terrain.

The farmhouse lies at the heart of these landscapes, surrounded by white villages with medieval church spires and terraced fields

Two hundred kilometres of idyllic walks step out straight from our farmhouse door, thanks to a maze of dry-stone walls and bridges built by generations of shepherds, millers, peddlers, and smugglers. When you visit, you won’t need any transport. Just put on your boots at the door and head off north, south, east or west.

Pyrenean Writing Retreats adheres to principles of sustainable and responsible travel.

During your stay, you will have immaculate, freshly-laundered bedrooms. We do not operate room service so as to save water, which comes from a nearby spring, but fresh towels are always available on request.

We recycle all waste and compost our leftover food scraps.

We buy, whenever possible, local food. Eggs, courgettes, lettuces, onions, tomatoes, chestnuts, walnuts, and figs often are grown on neighbouring farms, while our sheep and cow cheeses, jams and liqueurs often come from local farmers in the area.

Pyrenean Writing Retreats was birthed in 2020 when two authors, one American, one English, discovered that they had much in common, including a desire to partner in the creative arts.

Georgina’s journey to Spain began twenty-five years ago, when with just a map, a jar of marmite, and a box of Earl Grey tea, she journeyed to Navarra and fell in love with the unparalleled beauty of the Tolkeinesque landscape of the Basque Pyrenees. Since then she has lived among the Basque shepherds building her company–Pyrenean Experience–a walking, culture, and language company that has hosted over 1400 guests, received numerous travel awards, and united people from all walks of life.

Diana’s journey to the Basque country started a little earlier, in the late 1980s, when on a rainy October night in San Sebastian, she met a kind Basque man who shepherded her away from some young ruffians at a bar. A romance bloomed, that kind man became her husband, and now, some 35 years later, the two of them make their home in the U.S. and San Sebastian.

When a mutual friend introduced Diana and Georgina, a creative partnership was born, beginning with Diana, an author, editor, and writing instructor, helping Georgina with the final edits of her book, In the Footsteps of Smugglers. When Georgina insisted Diana visit her gorgeous mountain home to thank her in person, Diana took one look at the inspirational views, the colorful decorations and the welcoming atmosphere and said: “You need to have a writing retreat here.”

To which Georgina replied, “Yes, we do.”

Subsequently, over lunch and a bottle of wine, Pyrenean Writing Retreats was born. Central to its core value is that anyone who wants to write deserves to give themselves the time and space to write. Three years later, Pyrenean Writing Retreat is now run independently of Pyrenean Experience, but Diana and Georgina remain close friends and artistic collaborators.

As writers, educators, and travel ambassadors, Diana and Georgina believe strongly in the mission of Pyrenean Writing Retreats:  to provide support and nourishment while helping foster artistic growth to writers at all stages of their careers/journeys. All writers, from those who are first dipping their toes to those who have published, are welcome. Age, experience, and education not important. We also strive to lessen feelings of isolation that writers often feel, by encouraging community at our retreats and continuing after.

Pyrenean Writing Retreats is fully committed to creating safe spaces where everyone, regardless of gender, gender expression, race, ethnicity, national origin, age, sexual orientation or identity, education, or disability, is valued and respected equally.