
The Retreat, Fri 30th Jan - Sun 1st Feb '26
No amount of hours spent thrashing the treadmill can equal the elation of reaching the top of a mountain as the mist clears. No amount of connections on LinkedIn will replace a few solid companions in the wilderness, and even the newest smartphone won’t feel better in your hand than a sharp old axe.
This is a men’s weekend retreat in Scotland’s Trossachs National Park. It will be a chance to exist side by side with nature and appreciate some magnificent scenery, cook some traditional food over a campfire, learn a few ancient and modern outdoor skills, dip in the cold waters of the loch, learn some primal strength techniques and do a few miles on the trail. Its also an opportunity to just relax; to feel the wind on your face, to breathe the scent of a pine forest, to see a distant horizon and to look up at the stars in a big sky. Lastly it's a chance to enjoy something modern men often lack - community.
No gongs, no robes, no role play, no ceremonies.
So why are we doing this midwinter in Scotland when we could be in Ibiza?
As men we were designed and built to function and thrive in harsh environments. Scotland’s magnificent natural heritage has the potential to make us physically stronger, more confident, more productive and readier to go the distance to get the things we really want. It also reminds us that no amount of connections on LinkedIn will never replace a few solid companions round the campfire.
The Place
We've hired the Rowardennan Hostel and its all ours. Situated on the east shore of Loch Lomond, right at the waters edge and at the foot of Ben Lomond, it's remote and comfortable. Ideal for our purposes! There are no staff onsite so we're taking care of business ourselves. Your help with food prep and keeping the communal areas tidy is not compulsrary but it'll be appreciated


The plan
FRIDAY
Arrival and welcome
Intro to using axes, crosscut saws and knives.
Sourcing and prepping firewood with same.
Intro to firelighting
Dinner
Campfire discussion and some local history
SATURDAY
Breakfast
Hike up Ben Lomond.
974 meters high. Approx 4-5 hours round trip. Jawdropping views of the
south end of L Lomond.
Lunch
Intro to functional fitness; rocks hammers, clubs, partner bodyweight exercises
Burning torch walk to Rowardennan Hotel for dinner
Movie and discussion
SUNDAY
Cold dip and fire on the beach
Breakfast burritos
Introduction to solo wildcamp skills
Time for reflection alone, journaling
Closing circle
Your host
I'm Tom, Life Coach, Bushcraft Instructor, Personal Trainer.
I've worked with a lot of different men. From incarcerated gang members in the US to military veterans dealing with PTSD, and from asylum seekers to senior managers.
I've learned that men need space to talk but they also need space to be men. Its one reason why the
outdoors is very important to me.

Questions
Do I need to be super fit?
No, the hike up Ben Lomond is quite demanding though.
Will I have to talk about myself?
You don't have to bare your soul but your voice, your experiences and your opinions matter. Feel free to share them.
I've never been on a men's retreat.
If you're man looking for new experiences, new perspectives and new friends then you're qualified.
Why the bread picture?
because I don't have a 'question' picture.

