Buddhafield North was started more than twenty years ago by a group of friends from Northern England who had been traveling down South for Buddhafield events and wanted to have something similar going on closer to home. Fortunately, the idea took root and continues to flourish and grow in all sorts of magical ways.

We combine a thoughtful, human-centered approach with clear communication and reliable results. It’s not just what we do—it’s how we do it that sets us apart. Our Buddhafield North core team meets and works throughout the year to plan our yearly retreats.

Buddhafield North has a strong relation to the Triratna Buddhist Community and the original Buddhafield network who run many retreats in South West England. There are Triratna order members in our core team and many others come on our retreats. Like all the groups, centres, businesses and organisations under the Triratna umbrella, we are close with Triratna but independent.

In recent years we have had 20 to 30 people on the Meditation Retreat and Women+ Weekend and around 100 people on the Open Retreat. The maximum number we would have onsite for any event is around 120.

All of our retreats take place at Fell Edge Farm, LS29 9JX. They are held in a beautiful field next to the Ilkley Moors.

Everyone on the retreat contributes financially through the booking process. Team members pay a discounted rate in respect of the extra work that they do. We have no other source of income.

We ask retreatants to avoid this as the retreats have a beginning, a middle and an end which we think everyone benefits from participating in, as a whole community. We see all the work of the retreats as part of the retreats.

At the moment we are revisiting how we form and run the core team. Come back later for more information.

We offer team rates to cover essential jobs. Very occasionally we offer free places for roles that we particularly need, but, with time pressing, haven’t yet been able to cover. 

There is a bursary fund which we have built up over the years from retreatants generosity and any excess funds might have collected after costs are met. We encourage retreatants to donate to this, and to request support from it if needed. Bursaries are usually decided around April each year.

No. Our events are all retreats. On the Open retreat there is plenty of music, drama, noise and fun at times but it’s not a festival.

There are reasonably good public transport links to transport railway stations at Ilkley in Wharfedale or Steeton & Silsden in Airedale, both within three or four miles of the retreat site. The team will help with lifts from those points if possible, otherwise taxis are available. There are also buses to Ilkley and Silsden.

Yes. You will need levelling equipment as flat ground is limited.  You will need to be able to pay the friendly local farmer to drag you out if the ground gets really wet as the site is down a sloping track liable to get very muddy.

We have compost toilets and an outdoor shower with privacy and hot water. 

We have running water from taps around the site for drinking and washing, brushing teeth etc.

No - your booking cost includes plentiful delicious vegan food at breakfast, lunch, dinner & snacks, with some dairy available for those who need it. You may even be helping us prepare it from time to time. We have some really great cooks on the team. Some retreatants do bring their own personal snacks for their tent.

Just let us know when you book and we can accommodate this into the menus so that there will be food for you.

If you let us know, we can put up a toilet tent for you and create a facility to meet your needs.

All kids remain the responsibility of parents/carers throughout the Open retreat. There is a special kid’s tent run by the fabulous kids team and there are daily activities such as games, play rehearsals and arts + crafts. There is a net and trampoline on site, and there is usually a trip to a wild swimming spot and a campout on the ridge. They may well develop their own skills, confidence and friendships while they are with us. We keep an eye on what is happening amongst all retreatants, adults and children, so problems can be addressed whenever possible. We have a conflict resolution process which we will tell you about at the start of the retreat.

Yes please. We have many sing-song sessions round the campfire, and you are welcome to join in.

Yes. Please contact us about how we can best welcome you. People who are trans are welcome on all retreats. Trans women are welcome on the Women+ weekend retreat.

Buddhafield North is open to bookings from a wide diversity of people. If you are unsure if we are a good fit for you, please get in touch.

Yes. Please contact us about how we can best welcome you. People who are non-binary are welcome on all our retreats. Please let the retreat team know your preferred pronouns when you book or when you arrive. Just a note: sometimes puja readings or texts may have been altered to she/her pronouns.

The Women+ retreat is open to non-binary people who feel comfortable in a women-centred space.

Buddhafield North is open to bookings from a wide diversity of people. If you are unsure if we are a good fit for you, please get in touch.

Please see our Refunds & Cancellations page.

Thank you so much, that’s very generous of you. Head over to our bursary fund page where you can make a donation that will help others go on retreat.

Please head over to our bursary fund page to find out about what options are available.

This is the north of England we’re talking about!