Story and Soul Retreats

29/04/2026

What makes our retreats different?

It’s simple. They are built on Story & Soul.

Emma is the story. A local Highland storyteller and tour guide, weaving landscapes, history, folklore, and place into something you don’t just see, but truly feel. Every journey becomes a living narrative, connecting you to Scotland in a way that stays with you long after you leave.

Kate is the soul. Holding space for rest, reflection, and healing. Bringing gentle, grounded practices that help you slow down, reconnect, and return to yourself.

Together, this is where travel becomes something deeper.

We don’t just visit places, we experience them with intention. Our retreats blend meaningful exploration with healing practices, creating space for both discovery and renewal.

We also believe in travelling differently. Supporting local communities, honouring the land, and embracing regenerative tourism practices that give back more than we take.

This is not just a getaway.It’s a journey inward, guided by story and soul. Watch this space for our next retreat announcement very soon 📣

28/04/2026

Emma here 👋. . Another little snippet from our time away on retreat that I haven’t shared yet.

One of the most special parts of working in partnership with is the depth of her many, many talents. She is a shamanic oracle artist, offering powerful one to one healing sessions, deeply restorative reflexology, and she also has an incredible eye behind the lens as a photographer. And then there is the music… Kate can turn her hand to so many instruments, but hearing her play the piano in Burgie House was something else entirely.

She is also, thankfully, far more of an IT expert than I am, and has been instrumental in putting processes into story and soul and Macaulay luxury travel that support not only our partnership, but the bigger vision we are building together long term. Kate’s blend of grounded practicality and soulful creativity is something really really special that you don’t find everyday!

There was a warmth in that space that is hard to put into words. The kind that settles into your bones and stays with you. The music flowed through the rooms, weaving its way into the energy of the house, creating a feeling that was grounding, soulful, and quietly transformative.

Burgie held us in such a gentle, expansive way, but so much of that atmosphere was shaped by Kate. Her presence, her creativity, and the way she brings her gifts so naturally into a space made it all feel deeply intentional and connected.

I already cannot wait to do it all again in November when we host our next retreat together at .scotland in Caithness. If you feel called to experience something like this for yourself, get in touch. More details will be released very soon.

Moments like this are exactly why we create these retreats. Not just for the places we visit, but for the feeling that lingers long after the music fades.

25/04/2026

23/04/2026

22/04/2026

Our very first retreat has now come to a close, and what an unforgettable journey it has been.

I want to take a moment to thank the incredible group of nine wonderful women who travelled all the way from Minnesota and Wisconsin to join us here in Scotland. Over ten beautiful days, we shared so much more than just a journey through landscapes. There was rest, restoration, personal growth, laughter, connection, and moments that will stay with us for a lifetime.

Many of these amazing ladies arrived solo or not really knowing one another, and it has been so special to watch those connections grow into what we know will become genuine, lasting friendships.

The memories we have created together, and the friendships that have formed, are truly something special. Hosting this first retreat alongside Kate has been an experience we will always treasure, and we are so grateful to each and every one of you for being part of it.

Thank you, ladies, for your openness, your energy, and for making this retreat such a meaningful success.

Now, with full hearts, we turn our attention to the next chapter. Plans are already underway for our November 2026 retreat, and details will be shared later this week. Keep an eye out… something special is coming.

19/04/2026

Today wasn’t just a journey through the Highlands… it was a journey inward.

We departed Burgie House this morning, carrying a quiet sense of reflection as we began our final day together.

Our first steps brought us to Beauly Priory, where time seems to soften. Among ancient stones and open sky, there’s a sense of something lingering… a gentle invitation to slow down, to listen, to arrive.

From there, we followed an old path of tradition to the Clootie Well. Here, we paused together for a small, heartfelt blessing, tying our biodegradable cloths to the trees. Each piece carried a thought, a release, a hope. Left behind in trust, just as generations have done before us.

At Chanonry Point, the energy shifted with the tide. As the water moved, so did the stories. We spoke of the Brahan Seer, his prophecies woven into the land, while keeping watch for dolphins rising through the Moray Firth. A place where myth and nature breathe side by side.

Then came Culloden. A place that asks for quiet. We walked gently, each step a reminder of the lives, the loss, and the echoes that remain. Not just history… but humanity.

And then, Clava Cairns.

Here, we closed the circle.

With drum, with story, with presence. Surrounded by stones that have held centuries of memory, we gathered in a shared moment of reflection and connection. A space to honour the journey, and all that has been felt along the way.

Before returning, we softened back into the present with a relaxed stop at James Pringle Weavers, a chance to ground, to smile, to simply be.

And finally, we came together at the Glen Mhor for a beautiful dinner. Stories flowed, laughter returned, and there was that quiet knowing… something had shifted.

This is the heart of it. Story and soul, woven through the land.

18/04/2026

Another restful day at Burgie House, and our final night here before we journey on to Inverness.

Today invited a slower pace, with time for quiet reflection and gentle walks through the gardens, soaking in the calm and beauty of this special place. Some of our guests chose to spend a little extra time in Findhorn, exploring its lovely independent shops, including the Phoenix Café and local pottery studios.

In the evening we did a shamanic nature divination practice and were introduced to a Peruvian connection practice that allowed us to truly witness each others hearts.

We closed our night together in a beautiful way with Sidhe oracle cards that brought us clarity about which portals are opening or closing in our lives, then went on a journey accompanied by shamanic drumming.

A deeply grounding and meaningful way to reflect on our time here at Burgie House and honour the connections and experiences we have shared.

17/04/2026

Today unfolded at a beautifully gentle pace here at Burgie House. We spent a relaxing morning soaking up the peace of the gardens, while Kate captured some stunning Scottish-inspired photoshoots that truly embraced the spirit of this place.

In the afternoon, we headed to Ostara Sauna in Nairn, and it did not disappoint. The heat, the views, and for a brave few, a refreshing dip in the sea made it an experience to remember.

This evening brought something truly special, with a visit from the Downright Gabbler. Paired with incredible food, the storytelling created an atmosphere that was warm, soulful, and full of laughter.

Another epic day on retreat.

17/04/2026

Today unfolded at a beautifully gentle pace here at Burgie House. We spent a relaxing morning soaking up the peace of the gardens, while Kate captured some stunning Scottish-inspired photoshoots that truly embraced the spirit of this place.

In the afternoon, we headed to Ostara Sauna in Nairn, and it did not disappoint. The heat, the views, and for a brave few, a refreshing dip in the sea made it an experience to remember.

This evening brought something truly special, with a visit from the Downright Gabbler. Paired with incredible food, the storytelling created an atmosphere that was warm, soulful, and full of laughter.

Another epic day on retreat.

16/04/2026

Today’s coastal journey from Burgie House was one of those days that lingers long after it ends.

We began at Bow Fiddle Rock, where the sea and stone seem to speak their own quiet language. Here, we shared stories of the Highland seer and the idea of second sight… of places where the veil feels just a little thinner, and where people once came not to look out, but to see within.

From there, we stepped into the dramatic past at Findlater Castle, standing on the edge of the cliffs with centuries of history beneath our feet.

In Cullen, the pace softened. Guests wandered through the village, browsed the local shops, and discovered hidden treasures in the collectibles shop. And of course… some couldn’t resist trying the award-winning Cullen skink from Lily’s Café. When in Cullen, have Cullen skink!

Along the coast at Portgordon, we were treated to one of nature’s simplest joys, watching the seal colony resting along the shoreline, completely at ease in their world.

We ended the day at Sueno’s Stone, standing tall and mysterious. This remarkable Pictish monument is carved with intricate battle scenes, thought to commemorate a great victory. No one knows its full story, and that’s part of its power… it invites you to wonder, to interpret, and to connect with a past that still speaks through stone.

Places we visited today:
• Bow Fiddle Rock
• Findlater Castle
• Cullen
• Cullen Viaduct
• Portgordon
• Sueno’s Stone

A day of stories, sea air, history, and quiet moments of connection. Exactly what Story & Soul is all about.