Devon Menopause Retreat Review: Take a Menopause & Breathe with Lucy Telfer

Here’s what happened when I spent a long weekend at a menopause retreat with yoga, river swimming, home-cooked food, and honest conversations; read on for a special discount!

I very nearly didn’t go on Lucy’s retreat. Or at least I almost didn’t stay for the whole thing. My diary was full, my to-do list long, and, as always, work was waiting. I’m a sandwich parent, so on top of work I look after my teenage children and my dad, who lives with us, and I’m his main carer. Life is busy, to put it mildly. The plan was to pop along, stay for one night and head home early. But somewhere along the way, I decided taking some real time for myself was a really good idea, and I’m so glad I did. I went on Friday, stayed until Monday, and it was one of the best things I’ve done for myself in a long time. I did seriously consider taking up residency.

You do not have to arrive with answers. You only have to arrive as you are.

Arriving at Yonder Meadow

When I pulled up, a cat, three dogs, and a whole flock of chickens greeted me, setting the tone for the weekend. Yonder Meadow is a stunning glamping spot in Rewe, just 10 minutes from Exeter. A beautiful old orchard scattered windfall apples across the grass, a rooster strutted about like he owned the place (he probably did), and a gorgeous gentle giant horse was there to hang out with.

The horse joined us for some yoga

A little lookout over the hills lets you watch the sun go down, and I made a point of being there every evening. Tucked away in the woods are Daisy, a log cabin among the trees; Clover, a shepherd’s hut styled like a Land Rover Defender (rugged on the outside, properly comfortable within); and Willow, a green bowtop wagon that’s travelled the roads and now rests in the woodland. Most have their own hot tub, and with no light pollution, stargazing at night is lovely.

Sunset views at Yonder Meadow

I stayed in the Beehive, a little cottage that sleeps three. It has its own kitchen, a living area with a log burner, a garden, and its own hot tub, and it became a lovely haven for the weekend.

Willow, one of the lovely places to stay.

Stopping, for once

My life is incredibly busy. I’m always doing things, always on the run, always looking after someone or something. So it was really nice to stop. For a few days, I had no one to take care of but myself. I could journal, read, write, and hang out with some lovely women. I’d forgotten how good that feels.

Meet Lucy

Lucy Telfer runs the retreat and is the woman behind Take A Menopause & Breathe. I met Lucy when we were both writing for Devon Life magazine. Before that, Lucy was an Advanced Skills Teacher; she then retrained as a qualified menopause coach. Alongside her retreats, she offers one-to-one coaching and helps workplaces develop Menopause Action Plans, which larger employers will need from April 2027.

Lucy Tefler

Lucy’s own story is inspirational and a big part of why the retreat exists. She’s a breast cancer survivor and has been through menopause twice, and she told us how much it changed her life, including the way she eats and looks after herself. She’s a very warm, kind facilitator. She makes space for everyone; she listens, and she never makes you feel like you have to have it all sorted.

The skylight in the yurt was beautiful

The yurt and our “Life So Far”

Most of our sessions happened in the yurt, which is a beautiful little space with a skylight in the ceiling. On a sunny day, the whole place glows.

We started on Friday by telling our “she stories” and creating a collage of our lives so far. Before we arrived, we’d been asked to bring pictures that represented different parts of our lives, and then we put them all together on a big sheet of paper. It made me think about where I’ve been, what I’ve done, and how I’ve felt along the way.

She Stories in the yurt

Lucy then asked us to pick out the key moments and think about what we’d learned from each one. It was really interesting to look at my life like that. There have been some big, traumatic moments for me, like losing my baby and going through a divorce, and seeing how I responded to them, all laid out in front of me, made me quite proud of myself. Proud that I came out the other end the way I did, and of everything I learned on the way.

It was really lovely to be surrounded by women and to hear their stories too.

What we covered

Over the weekend, Lucy took us through what so many of us are muddling through on our own in midlife: nutrition and hydration, movement, decluttering, and what happens when you lose your confidence. We looked at techniques for managing anxiety and creating calm, asking for help and support, and yes, sex and intimacy too. Nothing was off the table, and it all felt safe and supportive.

My takeaway was to have a ‘champagne moment’ every day to celebrate my wins.

Future planning in the yurt

I came away having learned a lot about the effects of menopause on my body and, more importantly, how to look after myself through it. Over the weekend, I discovered that when I eventually stopped moving, unresolved emotions came to the surface; it was a revelation to sit with them in such a peaceful space, feeling held by the women around me.

On Monday morning, we finished with a “What now?” session, thinking about what we wanted to take home, and we each booked a check-in appointment with Lucy afterwards, which is a lovely touch. It means the retreat doesn’t just stop when you drive away.

Nikki created some menopause specific practice for us

Yoga with Nikki

We had some lovely yoga sessions with Nikki, starting the day in the yurt and winding down with yoga nidra for restful sleep. She taught us movements that help at this stage of midlife, which was really useful, and it was gentle enough for anyone to join in.

The food

The food was really lovely: wholesome, home-cooked and plentiful. The recipes were carefully chosen to be menopause-friendly, focusing on reducing inflammation, and we each got a recipe booklet to take home, so I’ll be trying to recreate a few.

Shakshuka for brekkie!

My favourite meal was the chickpea curry, closely followed by the sweetcorn fritters. I felt satisfied with my food all weekend, which isn’t always the case on a wellness retreat!

A swim in the river

One afternoon we walked down through Yonder Meadow to the river and went for a swim. The sun was out, the water was glorious, and one of the dogs joined us. It was rather lovely.

Swimming in the river down the path from Yonder meadow

Can’t spare a whole weekend?

I know not everyone can down tools for four days, so it’s good to know Lucy is running two one-day retreats at Yonder Meadow in November. The site is near Rewe, just outside Exeter, so it’s easy to get to for a day. Each one includes lunch, time in the hot tub and plunge pool, and Lucy-led sessions explaining what’s going on in your body and why, with tips and tricks to help you take back control, plus things you can take home and use in daily life.

• Stronger, Saturday 21 November: Strength, flexibility and nutrition for perimenopause and menopause, with yoga too. You’ll go home with the recipe booklet, which I’m still cooking from
• Calmer, Sunday 22 November: Anxiety and loss of confidence in perimenopause and menopause. You’ll go home with Lucy’s “Where am I now?“ booklet.

Each day is £125, and Lucy has kindly put together an offer for Exploring Exeter readers: book both days for £225 instead of £250. To get the offer, email Lucy at takeamenopauseandbreathe@gmail.com and mention Exploring Exeter. There are only seven spaces on each day, so you’ll need to be quick! If either topic feels a bit close to home, I’d say go for it.

You can also book the Calmer day online here, and the Stronger day here. 

Would I go again?

In a heartbeat. I nearly talked myself out of it because I was too busy, and that’s exactly why I needed it. If you’re in the thick of perimenopause or menopause and you can’t remember the last time you did something just for you, I’d really recommend it.

Good to know

• Who runs it: Lucy Telfer, Take A Menopause & Breathe.
• Where: Yonder Meadow near Rewe, just outside Exeter
• How long: Four days, Friday afternoon to Monday lunchtime
• Where to stay: Choose from the Beehive cottage, Daisy the log cabin, Clover the shepherd’s hut or Willow the bowtop wagon. You can also bring a campervan, or join as a day visitor.
• What’s included: Home-cooked meals, group sessions, yoga, a pre-retreat workbook, a recipe booklet to take home and a follow-up call with Lucy to check in on how you’re getting on
• What to pack: Swimming costume, a dry robe, cosy clothes, loose clothes for yoga, wellies, slippers, pyjamas, books and a handful of photos from key moments in your life. Yoga mats, pens, paper, tea and coffee are provided
• One-day retreats: Stronger on 21 November and Calmer on 22 November, £125 each, including lunch, hot tub and plunge pool. Seven spaces per day. Exploring Exeter readers can book both for £225 instead of £250 by emailing takeamenopauseandbreathe@gmail.com
• Next dates: The next four-day Devon retreat runs from 19 to 22 March 2027, and Lucy is also running a retreat in a villa in Croatia from 6 to 9 April 2027. Email takeamenopauseandbreathe@gmail.com for details

I was invited along as a guest of Lucy’s, but as always, all thoughts are my own

About the Author: Stephanie Darkes

Is a freelance writer and content creator who has been writing about the great things she finds in Exeter and Devon for nine years on her blogzine, Exploring Exeter. Her passion for showcasing the county’s incredible food scene, independent businesses, arts, and beauty spots has also led her to write for Devon Life, Exeter Life, The Exeter Magazine, Exeter Tomorrow, Exeter Daily, and GROW Exeter. Follow her adventures and local discoveries at www.exploringexeter.co.uk and connect with her on LinkedIn.

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