# Calming Nature Journal Retreat with Artist Amy Maricle in Scotland

Immerse yourself in the practice of nature journaling in the breathtaking Scottish countryside with artist Amy Maricle. Surrounded by rolling highland hills, heather-lined paths, and the distant shimmer of a loch, this retreat welcomes artists of all experience levels into a slower rhythm of seeing and creating. With Amy’s guidance, tune into the beauty of the natural world, drawing and painting what you observe with presence and care. Whether you are among the rugged coasts of Scotland or noticing leaves in your own backyard, this way of working invites a deeper connection with your surroundings.Throughout the retreat, Amy will encourage a calming approach to art, where slowing down, looking for beauty, and drawing it becomes a grounding daily practice. You’ll explore techniques that draw from the natural flora around you to create beautiful botanical pages in your art journal that reflect your personal experience. Each session opens space for watercolor, pen work, and botanical ink. You will create bold, beautiful nature journal pages you never imagined you could paint.Relax at a picturesque countryside estate, where you’ll enjoy delicious meals crafted by a private chef. Immerse yourself in Scottish culture with art trips to the historic city of Stirling, the tranquil beauty of Loch Lomond, and the charming village of Buchlyvie. By the end of the retreat, you’ll have a beautiful collection of watercolor works inspired by the Scottish landscapes and flora, leaving you with unforgettable memories.

## Details

- **Dates:** August 14 - 21, 2026
- **Location:** Buchlyvie, Scotland, UK
- **Starting Price:** $4,650
- **Category:** Painting

## Program

### Calming Nature Journal Retreat
Step into the gentle rhythms of the Scottish countryside with artist Amy Maricle, where the quiet village of Buchlyvie and the rolling hills beyond become your studio for nature journaling. Nestled near the village, surrounded by woodland paths and the distant shimmer of Loch Lomond, this retreat welcomes artists of all experience levels into a slower rhythm of seeing and creating. With Amy’s guidance, you’ll tune into the beauty of the natural world, drawing and painting what you observe with presence and care. Whether you are standing by an ancient oak or noticing small leaves at your doorstep, this way of working invites a deeper connection with your surroundings.Throughout the retreat, Amy will encourage a calming approach to art, where slowing down, looking for beauty, and drawing it becomes a grounding daily practice. You’ll explore techniques inspired by the local flora to create expressive botanical pages in your art journal that reflect your personal experience. Each session opens space for watercolor, pen work, and botanical ink. By the end, you will create bold, beautiful nature journal pages you never imagined you could paint.Two special day trips will guide you further into the landscape and stories of the region. One journey leads you to the historic city of Stirling, where you’ll wander cobbled streets, explore the commanding Stirling Castle with its sweeping views of the Highlands, and pause in a local café before sketching the flora you find around you. The second outing takes you into the heart of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, where wooded shores meet expansive water and mountain views. Here, time slows down as you sketch by the lochside or along gentle trails, finding stillness, reflection, and inspiration in Scotland’s natural beauty.Amy Maricle, a compassionate and experienced teacher, will hold space throughout the week for you to slow down, notice more deeply, and connect with your creative practice in a new way. Her thoughtful and supportive guidance offers inspiration and care for artists at every stage of their journey. Some topics covered in the classes include:Drawing flowers and flora from the natural world in gorgeous, colorful pagesPracticing watercolor foundations, including color mixing, washes, bleeds, and moreCreating expressive botanical forms in ink that make pages popCalming the inner critic, helping to focus on the joy of creatingLearning to connect with the natural world through mindful drawing techniques that embrace imperfection and allow you to draw more accurately than you thought possibleApproaching art with a mindset of mindfulness and calmUsing reflective writing to deepen your art practiceRediscovering the playful spirit within your creative process...and much more! Your venue for this art retreat is a holiday estate nestled in the peaceful Scottish countryside, surrounded by breathtaking landscapes. Enjoy accommodation spaces with bespoke design, a spacious art studio, and electrically heated outdoor hot tubs. Immerse yourself in Scottish history and culture with delicious meals prepared by a private chef, a gin-tasting event, and a night of traditional Gaelic dancing.

### Day 1: Arrival
Arrive at Edinburgh Airport (EDI) for a 3:00 PM pickup and enjoy a scenic drive to your destination, a stunning countryside estate, where you’ll arrive around 4:00 PM. Once there, settle into your comfortable and beautifully appointed room, take a moment to unwind, and prepare for the exciting week ahead alongside Amy Maricle. Meet your fellow artists for a relaxed orientation tour of the property, exploring the charming accommodations, the spacious barn-turned-art studio, and the expansive gardens. The evening kicks off with a delightful welcome dinner crafted by the estate’s in-house chef, paired with a glass of wine. Enjoy lively conversations with your art group as you discuss the inspiring plans for the retreat.

### Day 2: Art at the venue
Begin your day with a nourishing breakfast, embracing the hush of morning as soft light fills the spaces around you. Soon after, gather with everyone over coffee for a gentle check-in, arriving together in stillness and setting a calm, grounded rhythm for the creative path ahead.Under Amy’s guidance, you will practice softening the inner critic and approaching art with mindfulness and care before settling into the studio’s shaded patio. Your art journey begins with watercolor. You will learn to mix your own colors to reflect the beauty around you and explore techniques such as wet on wet, glazing, dry on wet, erasing, and watercolor mark making.A relaxed, nourishing lunch follows. The afternoon unfolds into unhurried time in the studio, learning to see with fresh eyes. Choose a natural object and explore contour drawing, capturing delicate details and surprising yourself with the honesty of your marks. Mindful breathing and playful exercises remind you that embracing imperfection can lead to striking accuracy and a deeper, more joyful connection with what you observe. With steady attention, your creative practice becomes a rhythm of its own, developing gently without pressure or expectation.After the day’s classes, take time to unwind before joining the group for a hearty dinner prepared by the estate’s private chef, accompanied by carefully chosen wine pairings.

### Day 3: Trip to Loch Lomond
Start your morning with a delightful breakfast before setting out on an art trip to Loch Lomond, nestled within the sweeping Trossachs National Park.After a scenic drive of about an hour, you will find yourself surrounded by the beauty of the loch. Native Scottish flora flourishes here, from wildflowers and heather to the tall presence of Scots pine. Take time to notice the vivid colors and intricate shapes of these plants. You may choose to gather a few leaves or blossoms to bring back for further study, or simply sketch on-site, capturing the essence of summer’s foliage and the way the landscape reflects on the calm waters of the loch.On returning to the estate, the afternoon opens into gentle time for art with Amy. Drawing on your impressions of the day, you will ease into watercolor, pen, and ink. Sketches of blossoms, seed pods, and winding stems will grow into pages alive with color as you follow the contours of your subjects and capture their delicate detail. Amy will guide you through mindful techniques that encourage focused attention and a spirit of curiosity. Working slowly and with care, the atmosphere of the loch will unfold again through your hands.The day concludes with a three-course dinner prepared by the estate’s chef, paired with a glass of wine.

### Day 4: Art at the venue
Following a nourishing breakfast, gather with Amy and your fellow artists for a gentle morning check-in, creating a mindful and open space to set intentions, share creative questions, and reconnect with your artistic rhythm.In the calm of the estate studio, ease into the day’s practice by exploring botanical forms with deep, inky brushstrokes. Through slow observation and Amy’s gentle guidance, you will learn to connect with the natural world through mindful drawing techniques, studying the subtle shifts and shapes of your subjects. Each brushstroke becomes a chance to pause, breathe, and enjoy the simple meeting of ink and paper.After a satisfying lunch, the afternoon opens into further exploration of ink techniques, this time in direct response to the surrounding Scottish flora. Amy will encourage you to release the pressure of perfectionism and focus on the process itself, building confidence in your mark making and painting. The steady rhythm of brush to page becomes meditative, and you may be surprised by how naturally accuracy follows when you allow yourself to truly see instead of striving.As the day draws to a close, take time to unwind with a soothing soak in the hot tub. In the evening, gather for a delicious dinner prepared by the estate’s chef, accompanied by a thoughtfully paired glass of wine.

### Day 5: Trip to Stirling
Begin your fifth day with a nourishing breakfast before setting out on a peaceful journey. Just half an hour away lies the historic town of Stirling, where the Highlands gradually give way to the softer hills of the Lowlands. With its botanical heritage and sweeping views, Stirling invites both quiet reflection and creative inspiration.The day begins at Stirling Castle, perched high above the town and framed by tranquil gardens. Roses, thistles, and Scottish bluebells bloom among foxgloves and clover, creating a tapestry of color that is perfect for your sketchbook or watercolor studies. After exploring the castle and its grounds, wander slowly through Stirling’s winding streets. Once the capital of Scotland, the town blends centuries-old houses with arcades and narrow lanes that reveal stories at every turn.Pause for a relaxed lunch at a welcoming local pub before continuing on to the Wallace Monument. Rising from the hill of Abbey Craig, this 19th-century tower honors the Scottish hero William Wallace. From its base and viewpoints, you’ll enjoy expansive panoramas over the countryside. Steeped in history and symbolism, the monument embodies the enduring spirit of Scottish independence and pride. Capture the rugged beauty of the natural surroundings or focus on the intricate stonework of the Wallace Monument.Return to the estate in the evening, where a three-course dinner prepared by your private chef awaits. Over a relaxed meal, share stories, sketches, and reflections on the day with your fellow artists.

### Day 6: Walk to Buchlyvie & surrounding countryside
Start the day with a nourishing breakfast before setting out on a gentle walk to the nearby village of Buchlyvie.The path leads through open fields with wide views across the hills. Take your time, breathe in the fresh air, and notice how the colors shift across grasses and wildflowers as you walk. Once in the village, move at your own pace. You might browse the pottery shop, step into a café, or wander side streets and lanes that open back into the countryside. Pause whenever something draws your attention to sketch or take photos. The walk itself offers as much inspiration as the village.After a restful lunch, return to the estate studio for a session of bold mark making, shaping expressive botanical forms in ink that bring your pages to life. Using bamboo brushes, standard brushes, or twigs gathered from the surrounding countryside, you will rediscover a playful spirit in your process through splashes, spatters, and unexpected textures. Quick gestural studies loosen the wrist, while slower contour lines steady the mind. With Amy’s prompts for self-kindness, the inner critic softens, and experimentation becomes expansive and free.In the late afternoon, gather for a special gin tasting featuring local varieties that reflect the character of the region. As evening settles, come together for a chef-prepared dinner, enjoying a generous meal and the ease of good company.

### Day 7: Art at the venue
Soft light gathers across the estate as you share a nourishing breakfast, settling into the rhythm of this final full day with a sense of calm presence.Return to the studio with Amy for a relaxing and mindful morning session that weaves everything together. A silent wander through the gardens leads into reflective writing to deepen your art practice, with short journaling bursts that capture sensations, insights, and intentions.Back in the studio, you will layer watercolor, drawings, and ink, weaving words among images to create a luminous spread that celebrates a week of seeing, feeling, and making. There will be time to complete and refine your journals, adding final layers, textures, and details that bring together all the mindful techniques explored during the retreat. Immerse yourself in each element, moving with care and curiosity, allowing the journey to come together through color, shape, and story on the page.In the afternoon, Amy will offer a small surprise.The day concludes with a memorable farewell dinner, accompanied by a glass of wine and an evening of traditional Scottish dancing, a festive and joyful close to your creative time together.

### Day 8: Departure
Enjoy breakfast and get ready for your transfer to Edinburgh Airport (EDI). Check-out is at 10:00 AM, and you'll arrive at the airport at around 11:00 AM.

## Instructors

- **Amy Maricle** - Mindfulness Artist

## Accommodation

### Scottish farm estate

### Shared standard room (female only)

### Shared superior ensuite room

### Shared bathroom - single room (female only)

### Single standard room - external bathroom

### Single superior room - adjacent bathroom

### Single standard ensuite room

### Single superior ensuite room

### Deluxe ensuite room

### Deluxe private villa

## Book This Retreat

Visit [https://uptrek.com/retreat/calming-nature-journal-retreat-artist-amy-maricle-scotland](https://uptrek.com/retreat/calming-nature-journal-retreat-artist-amy-maricle-scotland) to make a reservation.

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