Description
Weekends run from Friday late afternoon arrival to Sunday late afternoon departure
Address Ashley Court, Ashley, Tiverton, Devon, EX16 5PD
Contact hello@ashleycourtdevon.co.uk– 07725950683
2 nights fully catered, inclusive of all tuition
Pricing available for additional non-yoga-ing partners on request.
About your teachers Tara Fraser and Nigel Jones
Tara is a BWY qualified teacher and Diploma Course tutor with over 30 years of teaching experience. Her classes are immersive, influenced by her work as a Rolfer and the teaching of TKV Desikachar and Vanda Scaravelli. Optional Rolfing sessions can booked as part of the retreat.
Nigel is BWY trained and qualified and has been teaching astanga vinyasa yoga for over 20 years and has refined this into a practice that is suitable for all comers.
We both enjoy a kind of low-key, down-home yoga that is not to do with Instagram followers or lycra outfits. What it feels like is a lot more important than what it looks like and we enjoy passing on that kind of everyday, user-friendly approach to our students.
House and Grounds
Ashley Court is a Regency country house, which has been largely unaltered since the early part of the 20th century, and was lived in continuously from 1946 – 2014 by a Mrs Yolande Shrubb. It was a children’s hospital during the war and prior to that a home to several of Tiverton’s great and good including 3 of its Mayors! We are in the long process of restoring the house and gardens as lightly as possible to maintain the authenticity and character which we found so appealing on our first visit here., In it’s hay day it would have been staffed by numerous servants, you can switch between’ upstairs and downstairs’ experiences as you move through the building. You will find open fires, grand hallways, servants bells and stable yards. The grounds are extensive and include formal areas, a large walled kitchen garden, 15 acres of woodland and fields, with some huge old specimen trees. We use the Drawing Room for our yoga studio and meals are served in the Victorian dining room, or outside on the terrace if weather permits.
Animals
We have horses and sheep in the fields and tortoises in the walled garden. Please make sure that you close any gates if you go into a field, and treat all animals with respect and care.
Our cats spend time in and out of the house, but they are strictly not allowed upstairs in the bedrooms.
Directions
Driving: From Tiverton take the A396 signposted Bickleigh. After approx. 1 mile turn right at the small sign to Ashley and then immediately to your left, you will see the small white gatekeepers Lodge under the big oak at the bottom of the drive.
From Exeter take the A396 to Tiverton. Turn left at the small sign to Ashley and then immediately left again, you will see the gatekeeper’s lodge under the big oak at the bottom of the drive.
The house is at the top of the 200metre driveway. (Do not head on up Ashley Back Lane to the right of the cottage where the Sat-Nav might try to send you!)
Train: From Paddington to Tiverton Parkway – takes between 2 and 2 and a half hours. Trains run very regularly. If you are coming by train, please book a local taxi in advance as Tiverton Parkway station is rural and miles out of the town, . Early booking recommended for cheaper fares. You can also take a National Express or Mega Bus from London to Tiverton.
Menu
All food will be seasonal vegetarian and /or vegan, predominantly organic, low food miles, locally sourced and actually grown in our walled kitchen garden where at all possible.
Please let us know if you have any special food requirements, we are happy to adapt for you.
Bedrooms/Bathrooms
Ashley Court was built in 1805 and has a clear division between the ‘front’ formal rooms and the ‘back’ service areas. We have a range of bedrooms available from grander front ones to the smaller servants quarters. Each one is decorated and furnished uniquely and in keeping with the period feel of the house. One large room has en-suite shower room, the rest share shower rooms / bathrooms. Most bedrooms have the original 1930’s sink in them.
Pets
No pets allowed I’m afraid. We have cats, sheep, chickens and tortoises, you are welcome to play with them!
Smoking
No smoking anywhere on the property, please – inside or out
Pricing
£550 per person for a private room with separate shower room shared with one other bedroom.
£395 per person for a shared room (twin or double)
Super-King ensuite room £695 for single occupancy or £450 p.p if shared.
Some non-residential places available at £250 per person