Yoga Weekend With Rachel Lovegrove

This yoga retreat in Carlingford, County Louth, is a weekend of Iyengar yoga with Rachel Lovegrove, a Level 3 Iyengar teacher and trainer who returns to Eagles Rock Retreat each year. It suits beginners and experienced practitioners alike, and combines daily classes, walks in the Cooley Mountains and vegan meals in a small, quiet house.

What to Expect

The weekend begins on Friday afternoon with arrival, tea, coffee and soup, followed by an introductory yoga class from 6:30 to 8pm that sets the tone. Dinner is at 8:15pm.

Saturday starts with optional seated meditation at 7:30am, then a yoga class from 8 to 10am and a two-course brunch. At 1pm there is a guided scenic walk to Carlingford, or free time if you would rather rest. Late afternoon brings a restorative yoga practice from 5 to 6.45pm, and dinner follows at 7pm.

On Sunday, an optional japa mantra chanting session runs from 7 to 7.45am. The morning class is from 8 to 10am, with brunch at 10:30. The weekend closes at 12:30pm with a circle over tea and healthy cake, and guests leave at leisure around 2 to 2:30pm.

Nothing here is compulsory. If sitting by the fire with a book is what you need, the hosts encourage it. Groups are small, so Rachel can give each person direction as they practise.

About Rachel Lovegrove

Rachel Lovegrove has more than 25 years of teaching experience and is a Level 3 Iyengar Yoga teacher and trainer. She left a job in the music industry in 2005 to teach full-time. After 12 years in Portugal she moved back to Southampton in 2018, where she runs her studio, The Orange Tree. She is known for helping people work with mental and physical difficulties by bringing yoga into daily life, and she speaks from personal experience of its curative qualities.

The Setting

Eagles Rock Retreat has five guest bedrooms, each en-suite, with bright views and a quiet feel. The beds are hand-crafted, with ornate curtains made from saris brought back from India. Satya sleeps three and is on the ground floor; the other rooms are Ananda, Daya, Maya and Maitri. More than half of guests come alone, and those who book with friends are given the most suitable room available. There are no single rooms, though one may be available if the retreat is not full, for a supplement per night.

Meals are vegan and served throughout the weekend. Serious food allergies can be catered for if the hosts know in good time. The house is dry, and WiFi is switched off at night, with guests encouraged to put their phones away.

By car, the retreat is about 1 hour 15 minutes from north Dublin and about an hour from Belfast. From the M1, take exit 18 for Carlingford, then drive about 15 minutes. Search for "Eagles Rock Retreat" with the word Retreat included. Without a car, hourly buses run from Dublin airport and Dublin city centre in roughly 1 hour 15 minutes, and a train runs from Belfast. A free transfer meets guests at Dundalk train and bus stations, a scenic 15-minute drive, and the hosts ask you to arrive in Dundalk between 3pm and 4.30pm. Once there, you will not need a car.

Before You Go

Beginners are welcome. Each pose has basic and more advanced options, and props help bridge the gap between the full pose and where your body is today. Experienced students will find plenty of variation and will not be kept waiting for others. Classes are in English. There is no upper age limit, and young people aged 14 and over may come with a parent or guardian.

Included are the classes and restorative practice, two nights in a guest room, all meals from Friday soup to Sunday brunch, yoga mats and props, towels and bedding. Bring hiking boots, a rain jacket and slippers, as the house is shoe-free. Rooms may not be ready before 4pm, but you can leave bags earlier and stroll in Carlingford.

The deposit is non-refundable, though it can be transferred to another date if you tell the hosts at least 21 days ahead.