This space combines everything you need to underpin successful events, (reliable AV infrastructure, comfy seating for delegates, excellent biscuits) with the most idyllic backdrop of the Welsh mountains, woodland walks, wildflower meadows and even a wild swimming pond and wood-fired Finnish sauna. This unique combination, coupled with Sheena's lived experience of straddling the world of both management consultant and rural retreat host, provides the perfect recipe to give your people something really different and really special. This is not a question of choosing between a fun outdoors activity OR a serious objective-focused away day meeting. At The Forge you can do both. And really, really well.
Design your own retreat
Craft your perfect experience with us
Whether you are just looking for a space to host a team meeting, or want an environment that will spark creativity and innovation for your strategy workshop, our team at The Forge are happy to work with you to design an experience to perfectly meet you needs. From half days to week-long residentials, we can create a unique experience that your team will enjoy like no other.
OUR SPACE
Having attended, organised and led thousands of corporate events during her career, founder Sheena is no stranger to what it takes to make an event slick, engaging and memorable, for all the right reasons. Bored of spending endless hours in soulless meeting rooms with no natural daylight that sapped her of the will to live, (let alone spark the innovation and creativity the event was supposed to inspire), she has created her own space, which she believes is the perfect location to get the energy and the ideas flowing.
OUR ACCOMMODATION
We know this is going to be a bit of a gamble, bringing your team out to an off-grid, glamping location in the middle of nowhere. We know there will be lots of anxious questions about whether there will be WiFi and whether they can charge their phones. We also know that the thought of sharing a tent will be anathema to many.
So rest assured, we have got all this covered. Our accommodation provides all the home comforts of real beds, carpets, heating and lighting, plus we provide solar-powered mobile phone chargers. There's thick cosy duvets, and crisp white cotton sheets, with lots of blankets, cushions and even hot water bottles.
If anyone needs to charge a laptop, we have two solar powered sockets in the main cabin which do the job nicely. There's no WiFi on site but we do have perfect 4G and mobile phone reception is excellent.
All our toilets are of the composting variety, super clean, not at all smelly, and wonderful for the environment. We have hot showers and all our accommodation spaces have their own camp kitchens, complete with decent real coffee and cafetiere, fresh local milk, and those nice big mugs that you can wrap your hands around as you gaze out at the Welsh hills first thing in the morning.
We provide hammocks, bean bags and lots of log stools for you to use and move around as you wish. Never underestimate the power of the conversations that happen around the campfire under the stars. This is where the magic really happens!
If you are bringing up to ten people, everyone can have their own bedroom. This could be in one of our large canvas bell tents, or in one of our shepherd's huts or gypsy caravan. Everything is spaced out nicely so at the end of the day or when you just need some time out you can retreat to your own space, undisturbed.
If people are happy to share a tent, we can set these up with twin beds so you can bring up to 15 people.
OUR FOOD
Well-fed people are happy people, ready to take on the day with the smile. Which is why we bring in your own private chef for your retreat who prepares all your meals fresh onsite, using locally sourced ingredients, many of which have been grown or foraged at The Forge. We are very happy to accommodate all dietary requirements, allergies and intolerances.
Our breakfasts typically consist of eggs, freshly laid by The Forge hens, bacon and sausages from our local butcher, Arwel, plus homemade bread and Welsh butter. If you are after something lighter, how about thick creamy Greek yoghurt with honey from The Forge bees, plus whatever berries we have got ripe in the garden.
Lunch is often is Ploughman's platter type affair where everyone shares local Welsh cheese, homemade chutney, cold meats, fruit and fresh bread, with plenty of accompaniments and cake for dessert.
Throughout your retreat we keep you topped up with lots of refreshments and snacks to make sure no-one ever goes hungry. We also have a small onsite shop which sells local chocolate, crisps and soft drinks.
On the topic of drinks, we are not licensed to sell or serve alcohol but you are welcome to bring your own tipples. We do expect responsible drinking.
In the evening, we can lay on a barbecue or spit roast a deer for you, or we can fire up the pizza oven and provide freshly baked sourdough pizzas with a range of toppings. If you prefer a sit down meal, we can lay on a three course meal, with options ranging from paellas and tagines, to curries and hearty chillies. We can also do sharing platters with cheese, afternoon teas and canapes.
OUR ACTIVITIES
Lots of event organisers often see the activities as the 'bolt on' or the distraction from the main event. The way we see it, the activities are the way to unlock the potential of your whole event, by getting your people energised and inspired in a way which no amount of time staring at a PowerPoint presentation can do. The activity you choose and when you do it has a huge impact on the outcomes you want to achieve.
If your team have been working hard recently, and are feeling the impact of stress and burnout, opting for some gentle yoga and meditation, followed by a sauna and a dip in the wild swimming pond might be just the tonic they need before you dive into your strategies for focusing on wellbeing back in the office.
On the other hand, if your team have become a little stagnant and are becoming increasingly reluctant to take risks and embrace new technology and ideas, getting them involved in a little light fire lighting, white water rafting or axe throwing might be the perfect way to shake them up and inject some energy back into team.
But where we can perhaps really add the most value is by combining our nature-based activities with your goals to craft different scenarios and situations where you get to learn and practice skills in the wild which are eminently transferable back into the workplace. For example, faced with a survival situation where you have been taught basic bushcraft skills, what leadership styles are demonstrated under pressure and what impact does this have on the rest of the team?
Leadership, DEI & Change Management Consulting
Founder Sheena Corry has over 20 years of consulting experience with multi-national organisations and can prepare and facilitate workshops to focus on Inclusive Leadership, Diversity Equity and Inclusion, and Change Management. Before founding her own consultancy, Sheena worked for Accenture and Pinsent Masons and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in this space.
Guest Speakers
We can organise guest speakers on a range of different topics to enhance your retreat. This could range from motivational speakers sharing their experience of overcoming extraordinary physical challenges, to experts in AI and the impact this will have on your business.
Workshop Facilitation
We can provide experienced workshop facilitators to help you design and run sessions during your retreat at The Forge. Our team have experience creating interactive agendas ensuring that you meet your team objectives using the unique spaces available in nature to enhance and deepen the experience for participants.
Environmental Stewardship
Do good while doing business. If ESG goals are important to you, why not do your bit for the environment by getting involved in our rewilding project where you can plant a tree, help restore native woodland and wetland habitat, and learn about how to minimise your own impact. We invite you to become stewards of our land during your retreat and make a real contribution to the natural world, whilst also achieving your own objectives from your time away from the office.
Sauna & Wild Swimming
Use the power of hot and cold therapy in our wild swimming pool and sauna to both heighten your senses and focus, and calm and relax the mind. The sauna is a great leveller where hierarchies, issues, and mobile phones are left at the door and many fascinating discussions and ideas often come about. The perfect way to kick off a retreat or as a prelude to a deep dive workshop.
Bushcraft
Try your hand at lighting a fire by rubbing two sticks together, or baking your own bread over the campfire. Our bushcraft experiences are designed to provide a mental focus by immersing you in activities that tap into your primal memory and can also be woven into leadership and team building scenarios where transferable skills can be applied in a real context.
Yoga & Meditation
A calm mind is a creative mind. Treat your team to a yoga session incorporating breathwork and meditation to centre the mind and provide an overwhelming sense of peace and calm. This is the perfect way to start or end a day of deep focus and workshops, for example. We can also offer sound baths which trigger the parasympathetic nervous system through noise vibrations to create a deep sense of relaxation.
White Water Rafting
Experience the thrill of white water rafting down the mighty River Dee for a rush you will never forget. You can also try your hand at river bugging (Google it), gorge walking and canoeing over the terrifyingly vertiginous Pontcysyllte aqueduct, a UNESCO World Heritage site. These activities can provide the perfect energy boost for your team and encourage team connection through overcoming fears and living an adrenalin fuelled adventure together.
Annual GP Training Away Day - Wrexham and North Powys GP Training scheme
We held our annual GP training away-day at The Forge in Corwen in September and had a genuinely wonderful experience. Tucked away in the beautiful North Wales countryside, it’s a setting that immediately helps people switch off from the day job and feel present. It struck just the right balance between calm, nature and practical facilities for a group event.
From the outset, the team at The Forge were friendly, responsive and easy to deal with, which made planning the day straightforward. The cosy cabin, covered outdoor space and well-equipped kitchen worked really well for our group, and the steady supply of tea and excellent coffee certainly kept everyone happy.
We used the morning for introductions and informal networking, giving our resident doctors and new starters a chance to get to know one another outside the usual clinical environment. The relaxed setting made conversations flow easily and helped create a real sense of connection within the group.
In the afternoon we moved on to bushcraft activities, including fire-lighting and axe throwing. These were run safely and professionally, and were great fun. They encouraged teamwork and problem-solving, but also plenty of laughter. The mix of activity and relaxed time together felt just right.
Being next to the sauna and cold dipping area added to the retreat-like feel of the day. It gave everyone a chance to slow down, get outdoors and reset a little - something that’s incredibly valuable in healthcare roles.
This is actually the second time we’ve chosen The Forge for our annual away day, which probably says a lot in itself. Once again, it was a real success and very well received by our group. We’d wholeheartedly recommend The Forge to other NHS teams or organisations looking for a venue for training, team building or away days. It’s a special place that makes it easy for people to connect, recharge and enjoy learning together in a different way.
Find Us
The Forge is perfectly located less than an hour from the M6, M56 and M54 motorways, under half an hour from a mainline train station with direct routes to London, Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool and is within 15 minutes' drive of the Snowdonia National Park.
Directions