About Forest Life
Remote Rustic Relaxing Retreat
Forest Life in the beautiful Creuse department, Nouvelle Aquitane (ex-Limousin) region of central France offers an opportunity to become immersed in the peaceful tranquility of the forest and to become acquainted with its wildlife inhabitants.
Situated at a renovated old water mill called the Moulin Bleu (Blue Mill) along a stretch of the River Gourbillon, Forest Life encompasses 6 acres of the Forest de Clairavaux within the Regional Millevaches Nature Reserve with plenty of access to other areas such as the famous Lac de Vassivierre and mountainous, volcanic peaks of the Chaîne des Puys.
With it’s own woodland, meadows and 300m of riverside there is plenty of opportunity get back to nature and learn about nature, wildlife, tracking and wilderness living or just relax and recuperate.
We offer a relaxing Retreat with massage and yoga therapy sessions with outdoor spa and a more adventurous Outdoor Skills course.
You can even mix and match sessions between the Retreat and Outdoor Skills course depending on your interests or the interests of those in your party.
Our courses and Retreats will be resuming in the summer of 2022
Forest Life’s remoteness has meant that much of the modern world has passed it by; however the area is serviced by three airports; Limoges, Brive la Guillarde or Claremont-Ferrand all approx. 1 hour 40 minutes away.
The nearest town is Felletin (10 mins by car) and the historically important larger town of Aubusson (famous for it’s medieval tapestries) is 20 mins away (links wikipedia.)
Retreats
RiverLife Retreats – Relax | Reinvigorate | Reinvent
Your stay at Forest Life and the Moulin Bleu will help you achieve all these. The Retreat includes massage therapy by our qualified (ITEC & BTEC) therapeutic massage therapist, Hannah from RiverLife Therapy.
Hannah is also a qualified yoga teacher having studied in India under Yogarishi Vishvketu.
The retreat includes wonderful yoga and meditation sessions along the stretch of river.
Pablo or Hannah will talk you through an Immersion Therapy that will probably change your outlook forever, or just relax and take in the warmth of the sun and the unpolluted fresh air of the forest.
You can meander around the many forest walks in and around the property or try our Woodland Workout. The choice is yours.
You can also mix and match sessions between the Retreat and Course options or add-on additional options at a small extra cost.
Your Retreat price includes use of the Spa and a full range of massage therapies.
Accommodation
Bell tent – Plateau
Bell tent (glamping) - Sleeps 4. Double bed and bedding supplied + 2 x camp beds supplied, electricity points inside the tent. Bring own sleeping bags for all additional people other than double bed occupants or call us for sleeping bag hire.
Family Tent – Plateau
Family frame tent - sleeps 6 - 2 x camp beds supplied plus 2 airbeds. All occupants should bring their own sleeping bags (or contact us for sleeping bag hire.)
Wildcamping – Hammocks or Small Tents
This option allows you to use one of our small 2-person tents at various locations on the land. The tents are pre-pitched although it's your location choice on booking. We will provide you with a sleep mat but you should bring your own sleeping bag (or contact us to hire one.) Alternatively you can use one of our hammock and tarp sets-ups for the ultimate wildcamping experience. These options are self-catering.
Bring Your Own
If you want to bring your own gear, or you have a self-contained vehicle you are welcome to come along. Just select "bring your own gear" in the menu option. The benefit of this is that you can select any area on the land and pitch your tent, lay down your bivvi or hang your hammock where it suits. Vehicles will be located on the Plateau or top car park.
Catering
The Plateau accommodation is self catering. There is a shared communal outdoor sheltered kitchen area with 2 ring stove, fridge, cooking pots, frying pan and utensils, fire pit, BBQ area, water carriers. Alternatively, meals can be booked (24 hours notice) at the Mill House at an additional charge. There is a supermarket and small restaurants 15 minutes drive away.
Facilities
We have a shower, toilet, washroom and laundry facilities in our Laverie.
Courses
Forest Life Courses are suitable for the adventurous and those who wish to take a foot off the gas.
Re-wild yourself or take the family for a wild camping adventure and show them how to live without the trappings of modern day living. Learn how to be totally immersed in the forest setting, tracking animals and learning bushcraft, outdoor skills and how to live comfortably in the wilderness with our resident tracker and wildlife expert, Pablo from Woodlife.
Skills include whittling and carving skills, fire-lighting, tracking, archery, plant and tree ID.
You can also mix and match sessions between the Retreat and Course options or add-on additional options at a small extra cost.
Gallery
Location
Forest Life is located in the Limousin (now called Nouvelle Aquitane) region of France.
The nearest town is Felletin.
The area is served by three airports equidistant to the property all with a journey time of around 1:40 hours – Limoges, Brive la Gaillarde and Clermont-Ferrand
You will be given exact directions to and location of the property when booking is confirmed.
Locality and Attractions
Latest News
Winter trip 2020
Posted on 2 March 2021 by pablo
Lots of work this trip! Projects Having started the outhouse build in October last year, our builder failed to fin
Read MoreHow can we help?
Please note – we will be resuming our retereats in July 2022