Vanlife Startup School Retreat

22-25 August 2025

£299 £199 early bird price until Friday 1 August

This is for you if you are looking for a change. If you desire a simpler life, one focused on meaningful experiences that feel most valuable to you. One that feels more purpose-driven, less constrained and offers more freedom to travel.

• 3-nights camping in a beautiful wild place
• 3-days of coaching
• Immersive exercises
• Fully catered retreat

The retreat will bring you together with others to live close to nature, in a simple and more primal way. As well as the exercises above, there will be opportunities to join activities like mindfulness, cold water exposure and walks in nature.

You will leave with a roadmap for designing your own habitat and transitioning to a new way of living, a life that enables long-term travel and connection with a supportive community forging their own path.

Process

• Value definition
• You at your best
• Understanding your purpose
• Meaningful ways to use your time
• Define what success looks like to you
• Habitat design
• Business / remote work planning
• Taking action in your chosen direction

Itinerary

Friday

• Arrival (Any time after midday. Ideally in time to join us for dinner at 7pm. Late arrivals possible as coaching starts on Saturday morning.
• Park up / pitch up
• Safety brief
• Issue coaching materials
• Dinner
• Gathering around the fire

Saturday

• Optional cold-water immersion in river
• Optional mindfulness session
• Coffee and breakfast
• Coaching session
• Lunch
• Coaching session
• Reflection time / creative exercise / physical exercise
• Coaching session
• Dinner
• Gathering around the fire

Sunday

• Optional cold-water immersion in river
• Optional mindfulness session
• Coffee and breakfast
• Coaching session
• Lunch
• Coaching session
• Reflection time / creative exercise / physical exercise
• Coaching session
• Dinner
• Gathering around the fire
• Q&A

Monday

• Optional cold-water immersion in river
• Optional mindfulness session
• Coffee and breakfast
• Coaching session
• Lunch (optional)
• Depart

£299 £199 Early bird price until Friday 1 August

To book a place Contact us or email [email protected].

More information

Location

The retreat is located in a beautiful and wild mixed woodland on the banks of the River Almond near Perth. The site is secluded but with just enough space to host up to a dozen vans. Access is possible with 2WD in all weathers, but static-lowered vans probably won’t make it down the track. Once you drop down into the river valley, the rest of the world and your worries will melt away. The river and woodland are full of wildlife. If you are lucky, you might see various birds, including rare Mandarin Ducks, Tawny Owls and the illusive Kingfisher. There are occasional visits from red squirrel, deer and rarely otters too.

Full joining instructions, location and arrival details will be sent out after your booking.

Additional Information

• Travel and arrival.  Detailed joining instructions will be sent to you once booking is made. This will include detailed location and directions.
• Your Host and Coach. About David Hamilton-Jones.
• Accommodation.  You will need to provide your own camping accommodation.  If you already have your van, you are welcome to bring it. If you do not have a van, tent camping is possible or we can help you with finding a rental van for the duration of the retreat. All other facilities are provided including  group areas, a kitchen and a toilet.
• Food and Drink.  Food and drinks will be provided for the duration of the retreat.  We can cater for most common dietary requirements including vegetarians and pescatarians but we ask people with celiac disease or other dietary requirements to inform us upon booking so we can make sure that we can cater for you. There is a fresh water spring on site and filtered / boiled water will be available from this.
• Communications.  There is limited mobile / cellular phone reception. Reception can be found with a 5-minute walk out of the valley. However it is a great opportunity to switch off phones and immerse in the natural environment. There is a Starlink on site for emergency communications.
• Weather/conditions.  We are in Scotland so weather can be changeable and unpredictable. Please make sure you bring suitable clothing as per the kit list and contact us if you are unsure about what to bring.  Retreats will not be cancelled due to bad weather.  
• Age requirements – 18+ unless accompanied by an adult.  
• Fitness/ability – Our retreats are not strenuous, but they all require a minimum level of fitness.  Most retreats involve walks out from camp on woodland paths or over some uneven ground.  As a guide, you should therefore be fit and able enough to cope with walks of up to about 3km over this terrain. Anyone with limited mobility who is interested in attending, please contact us.
• Payment – Payment is required in full on booking. If you require to make more than one deposit, please contact us. If we cancel the retreat for any reason then we will refund 100% back to you.  See our full Terms and Conditions.
•  Insurance – We have comprehensive liability insurance and risk assessments, but we recommend that you have a basic level of insurance which covers yourself and your possessions for adventurous activity – no outdoor activity is free from all risk.  
• First Aid/Medical  – Your retreat leader is trained as a First Response Emergency Care provider and will have a comprehensive first aid kit on site. Please bring with you plenty of any required personal medication. The closest Accident and Emergency location is Perth Royal Infirmary.
• Toilets/showers –   There will be 2 x composting toilets and two expedition showers available. 

FAQ

What happens if I’m late?  Please keep us informed on your journey if you are going to be late. Late arrivals will be guided in after dark to mitigate potential injuries to those already camping. Dismount at the entry point and walk down to reception.

Do you allow dogs?  We don’t encourage dogs as, if everyone were to bring dogs, it would distract you all from the focused sessions. Also some dogs have significant impact on the natural wildlife. We can consider them on a case by case basis, so get in touch to discuss please.

Can I bring my child / children? Children are welcome if accompanied by a paying adult not attending the coaching sessions. There will be a contribution for each child to cover food. If you would like a child to attend some of the activities, please contact us to discuss.

Is there phone signal and charging available?  There is little phone reception on any network. There is a solar generator on site that can be used for charging small items.

Is there water on site? There is a fresh water spring and water is filtered or boiled. You can fill up water bottles and camper water supply using containers. There are no standing pipes on site.

Is there power on site? There is a solar generator but no hookup for motorhomes on site. Some camping pitches are under the tree canopy so solar charging might be limited. It is possible to charge battery packs from the solar generator when conditions allow.

Do I need my own campervan? No, You will be able to camp in a tent or hammock. You can come in a rented van.

Are there any hazards or risks I should be aware of?  There’s no such thing as completely risk-free outdoor activities.  Your retreat leader has decades of experience leading teams in varying conditions. Risks have been assessed and mitigated where possible.  You are in good hands and a safety brief will be given on arrival. There are ticks present in the woods (like almost all UK woodlands). For more information about Lyme disease and its prevention, see this link. 

Are there midges?  Midges are sometimes present in the mornings or evenings but through some miracle, this wonderful woodland has a low midge population.  

What is your cancellation policy? Full terms and conditions are available here.

To book a place contact us here or email [email protected].