SCOTLAND: Autumn Retreat 2026

Join Nick at Ardmay House on Loch Long for 7 days of connection and transformation. September 20 - 26, 2026.

All Inclusive Healing Retreat & Adventure

Live among the lush forests, tranquil lakes, and rugged mountains of Southwestern Scotland for a week of nature, healing, biohacking, learning, adventure, and community.

  • 7 days and 6 nights in a castle-style manor along the beach of Loch Long in Trossachs National Park

  • 3 home cooked meals daily, plus daily snacks and tea, prepared with local and organic ingredients by certified nutritionist Margaret Ritchie (all dietary restrictions welcome)

  • 3 Qigong and Meditation sessions with Nick daily to learn, practice, grow, and heal

  • Twice daily science-based Breathwork session with Oxygen Advantage certified instructor Andrew Ritchie

  • Miles of hiking trails through surrounding forests and mountains around the Loch

  • Daily hiking, foraging, canoeing, kayaking, and mountaineering excursions with local adventure guides

  • Hot - Cold Therapy using wood stove saunas and dips in the cold Loch

Deepen Your Qigong Journey

Balance of Familiar Flow and New Horizons

This retreat is designed to take you further into your Qigong practice than ever before. Each day will flow through three intentional sessions: invigorating mornings to awaken your energy, deeply transformative afternoons that guide you into healing and personal growth, and calming restorative evenings that bring your system back into harmony. You’ll build upon the forms you already know while expanding into more complex, advanced practices—achieving both continuity and growth in your training.

Mountains, Forests, and the Loch

Guided Adventures in an Ancient Landscape

The land around Ardmay is older than life on land itself, and you’ll experience it with the guidance of expert local mountaineers and naturalists. Choose from adventurous mountain hikes or gentler forest walks, each guided with safety and care. You’ll also have the chance to explore the world of wild edibles and medicinal plants with a professional foraging guide. For water lovers, canoes and kayaks are available for guided excursions on Loch Long, whose name recalls the Viking longships that once sailed these waters.

Science-Backed Breathwork

Unlock Energy, Clarity, and Calm

Alongside your Qigong training, you’ll receive guided breathwork sessions with Master Oxygen Advantage Coach Andrew Ritchie. Andrew, founder of Performance Breathworks and certified Qigong teacher, brings a rare mix of scientific precision and heartfelt charisma. His sessions will meet you where you are—whether beginner or advanced—and elevate your respiratory health, metabolism, energy levels, and peace of mind. With his uniquely Scottish humor and kindness, Andrew makes powerful practices feel accessible, enjoyable, and life-changing.

Heat, Cold, and Renewal

Daily Detox and Energy Reboot

Experience the profound health benefits of hot-cold therapy, practiced for centuries across Northern Europe. Our retreat features wood-burning saunas set by the lochside, where you can relax and sweat deeply before plunging into the refreshing, icy waters of Loch Long. This cycle of heat and cold boosts circulation, supports detoxification, and leaves you both energized and deeply relaxed—an invigorating ritual you’ll look forward to each day.

Nourishment from the Blue Zones

Healing Cuisine for Longevity and Vitality

Nutrition at the retreat is more than food—it’s fuel for your transformation. Meals are designed by certified nutritionist Margaret Ritchie and prepared by her team of skilled chefs, inspired by the world’s Blue Zones where longevity and vitality thrive. You’ll enjoy three wholesome meals each day, along with tea, coffee, and a nourishing snack at teatime. Every dietary need can be accommodated, ensuring you feel supported, energized, and cared for throughout your stay—all included in the retreat experience.

Stay in a Scottish Manor by the Loch

Historic Comfort with Modern Warmth

Your home for the retreat is Ardmay House, a castle-style Victorian manor built in 1854 as a fishing lodge on the shores of Loch Long. With its whitewashed walls, dark slate roof, and elegant turrets, the house offers both historic charm and a sense of grounding tranquility. Inside, you’ll find a variety of rooming options—from cozy shared accommodations that keep the retreat affordable, to private rooms for those who prefer extra comfort. Wherever you stay, the manor’s inviting atmosphere, lochside views, and timeless character make it the perfect sanctuary for rest and renewal.

Pricing options

Secure your spot with a deposit. Final payment is due July 1, 2026. Subtract the deposit amount from the full ticket prices shown here to see your final payment amount. Last year this sold out in a week, so grab a spot while you can!

“If I had just a little bit of wisdom; I should walk the great path and fear only straying from it.” ~ Lao Tzu

If this retreat sounds like a part of your path, don't hesitate to reach out to us with questions: [email protected]

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Important Information

  • What type of weather should I plan for?

    Scotland’s lush, mythical landscape is nourished by year-round rainfall, which adds to the magic of being here. Weather permitting, we’ll spend most of our Qigong sessions outdoors beside the loch, surrounded by mountains and mist, and often more sunshine than you might expect, due to the time of year we plan for. Be sure to bring plenty of layers for hiking and practice, as well as reliable rain gear. Should the skies open up, Ardmay House offers ample indoor space for Qigong, meals, rest, and connection—ensuring the retreat flows beautifully no matter the weather.

  • Will there be airport shuttle service?

    Yes! Our hosts at the retreat center have a shuttle bus and will be picking up anyone from the airport or train stations nearby.

  • Which airport should I fly into?

    Glasgow is the nearest airport and is where the shuttle will be able to pick you up from if you are flying. The shuttle can also pick you up from Glasgow Train Station, or from any hotel in or around Glasgow or near the retreat center.

  • What is your refund policy?

    This is a non-refundable retreat.

  • Will there be alcohol?

    To cultivate an environment for healing and wellbeing for all, this retreat will not be providing alcohol. We also ask that you don't bring or consume alcohol on the property.

Instructor

Nick will be your guide through this experience of a lifetime

Head Instructor Nick Loffree

Nick is a Qigong teacher and wellness educator whose journey began in the forests near Toronto, where a love for nature and movement sparked a lifelong pursuit of healing. After overcoming early struggles with mental health and chronic illness through meditation, yoga, nutrition, and traditional Chinese medicine, Nick trained extensively with master teachers such as Lee Holden, Robert Peng, and Roger Jahnke. He has since taught Qigong to thousands across the world — from tech retreats and mental health centers to global online audiences — offering practical tools for energy, resilience, and transformation. Now based in Boise, Idaho with his wife and daughter, Nick continues to share the power of embodied practice through retreats, online courses, and his growing community of certified instructors.