How to get to the HSEC
The Orchard...
...is
the meditation and healing centre established by Sonia Moriceau and
her
partner Ad Brugman since 1985.
It is situated on the borders of England and Wales near the Black Mountains and close to the Golden Valley. Its setting is rural and peaceful with a touch of wilderness without being remote.
The centre offers a spacious and beautiful zendo for practice and comfortable, simple accommodation for up to 15 people.
It was
the chosen venue in the UK for the late Venerable NAMGYAL RINPOCHE
from 1997 to 2003 to
hold his retreats, a place
of refuge where the practice
of mindfulness is tangible.
Recently the accommodation at The Orchard has been extended by the availability of Cwm Cottage.
Cwm Cottage has been developed exclusively as an annexe to The Orchard offering a beautiful and peaceful environment. It is situated outside the village of Abbey Dore, a 5 min. drive from The Orchard.
Contact details
The Orchard
Lower-Maescoed
Hereford HR2 0HP
Tel: 01873 860 207
e-mail: sonia@soniamoriceau.org
International
from Germany: 0044
- 1873 860 207
from Switzerland: 0044 - 1873 860 207
from France: 1944 - 1873 860 207
WHAT TO BRING
- a watch or clock for time keeping
- clothing:
- loose, easy fitting clothing for exercises, like track suit, martial art outfit, or the like
- waterproofs, wellies or walking boots for outdoor activities - your meditation stool or cushion if you have one
- pens and paper for making notes
- drawing materials = open sandals or flip-flops for pacing outside
- torch No shoes are allowed in the house, so you may want to bring slippers or thick socks.
- bedding: blankets and duvets are available; you would need to bring your own single sheets and/or single duvet-cover or a sleeping bag, and pillow case
- usual toiletries, including towel
Server Meditator
We are looking for a server meditator on each of the meditation courses to cook for the students.
As a server meditator you would have a free place on the course and free accommodation. Your responsibility would be to cook lunch and dinner with 1 or 2 students helping you one hour a day.
If you are interested, please contact me as soon as possible.
Dana
For all the meditation courses and retreats I am introducing the parami of Dana. Dana is a Pali word meaning: “liberality, generosity, offering” and is the first of the “Six Paramis” ,”the virtues that helps us go further”.
Dana is the antidote to holding on and egoism or self-referencing. The Ven. Namgyal Rinpoche stressed this first virtue as most important to make genuine changes in one’s life. To turn one’s mind to the welfare of others through offering, giving, brings about a loosening of the self-referencing of “ I, Me and Mine”. It is the opposite of the attitude of poverty, where one sees the world in terms of lacks rather than offerings and openings.
So, I invite you to join in this practice of spontaneous offering and opening, of trusting that as we freely give, in turn we are so nurtured.
Dana,
by Alison, The Orchard Oct. ‘05
“ My experience of dana as appreciation for the teachings has changed and
deepened and I am sure it will continue to do so.
Often, before a retreat, I try to work out how much money to bring. There is
often some fear involved about work being scarce, etc.
Then I come on the retreat and am bowled over by the richness and preciousness
of what I have received. It is always beyond what I could have imagined. The
fear falls away and I feel able to joyfully offer from an open heart what I truly
have to give.
The teaching that Sonia as shared with me has brought me more happiness, healing
and freedom than I could ever have imagined. There is no way I can “repay” what
I have received, but I can offer what I have.
Two pitfalls I have encountered are holding back through fear or coming from
the intention of seeking approval. The way I find the “right” amount
to give is to use the feeling in the body and mind. Creating some calm and then
feeling into how much to offer. The “right” amount always has a light,
happy feeling in the body and mind.
More recently an aspect of dana I have come to appreciate is the feeling of “joining”.
That the student and teacher form a partnership which is about growing. That
we do it together and also that this support goes out into the world. So all
the teaching and support I receive also reaches all the people and situations
I am in contact with in my life. By supporting the Teacher, it is helping her
to support the many other beings she is offering help to. We are part of a movement
towards wholeness.”
How to get to the HSEC
By
road:
From
either Abergavenny or Hereford take the A465.
At
Pontrilas which is about halfway between the two towns, take the
B4347, sign posted
Ewyas Harold, Abbey Dore, etc. Then take the first on your left towards
the centre of Ewyas Harold village, sign posted Longtown and Dulas.
After about 3 miles turn right at signpost for Lower-Maescoed. Proceed
for another half mile and turn right at the phone box. The Orchard
is on your right after about 100 metres.
From Hay-on-Wye take the B4348 to Peterchurch.
A few miles
after Peterchurch take the B4347 to Abbey Dore and Pontrilas which takes
you to Ewyas Harold from where you follow direction Longtown and Dulas
as described above.
By
Public transport:
The
nearest railway stations are Hereford and Abergavenny. Coming
from the north, aim for Hereford; coming from London or the south,
aim for Abergavenny.
There
are local bus services (except on Sundays) from either town to Pontrilas
from where you can be picked up by us.
Buses from from Hereford to Pontrilas:
depart every hour from 08.30 to 15.30 and then at 17.10 and 18.05 (Bus
X3/4, destination Cardiff).
Buses from Abergavenny to Pontrilas:
depart every hour from 07.20, 08.30, until 15.30 and then at
16.45 and 17.25 (Bus X3/4, destination Hereford).
In
both cases the bus journey takes about 30 minutes.
National Express Coaches from London Victoria to Hereford, or to Newport/Gwent and from there by train to Abergavenny.
If you don't have a car we strongly recommend that you get in touch with someone else on the course who travels by car and is able to give you a lift.
You can also get a taxi from Hereford or Abergavenny. There are taxis at the stations but it may save you time and money to prearrange a taxi:
phone
Abbey Cars on 01981 570 301;
from Abergavenny you can also try Premier
Taxis on 07958 908 743.
All above companies know the Orchard.
Travel Arrangements for Travellers from Abroad
The nearest airports are Bristol, Birmingham and Cardiff; you could also fly to London but that means a longer and more expensive journey by train once in England:
from London-Heathrow:
take the coach (Rail-Air Link) to Reading and from there the train to Newport (direction Swansea/Cardiff), change at Newport for Abergavenny,or
take the National Express coach from Heathrow to Newport, and then the train to Abergavenny
Travelling
time around hours.
National
Express Coaches London HR to Hereford (service number NX413),
but not always direct (direct takes ca.4 hours, via Gloucester
takes 5 and via London Victoria takes 6 hours). In comparison by
train from London HR to Abergavenny takes about 3
hours.
from other London Airports:
take a train to London, then by underground to London-Paddington
station
take the Intercity train from London-Paddington to Newport/Gwent (destination Swansea/Cardiff). Change at Newport for Abergavenny.
or, take National Express coach from London-Victoria to Newport, and then the train to Abergavenny.
Travelling time between 3 and 4 hours.
from Birmingham:
take the train from Birmingham airport/International to Birmingham - New Street, then take the train to Hereford.
Travelling
time between 2 to 2hours 30 minutes.
National Express Coaches now also has a limited coach service from
Birmingham direct to Pontrilas: Coach service number: NX321
from Bristol:
take
the bus (or taxi) to Bristol Temple Mead station
from
Bristol Temple Mead, take the train to Newport. Change at Newport
for Abergavenny
Travelling
time about 2 hours
from Cardiff:
take
the bus (or taxi) to Cardiff station
take
the train from Cardiff to Abergavenny
Travelling
time about 2 hours
Try to arrange your train
tickets, etc. before travelling as that will be cheaper.
Always take a return ticket as they are valid for one month.
In
general taking the National Express Coaches will be cheaper than
the train.
websites
to arrange your tickets:
by train: www.nationalrail.co.uk
by coach: www.nationalexpress.com
Let us know your time of arrival in Hereford or in Abergavenny and we will then try to pick you up.
Otherwise take the bus to Pontrilas where we can pick you up.
In case we are not available, you might need to take a taxi to The Orchard, see taxi details above.
