About Us

"In all my years of teaching a meditative movement practice I have never worked anywhere that answered our every need so exquisitely as does Newbold House. When engaging in deep inner work that opens our sensibilities, it is so important to be in surroundings that feel right in every way. Such is Newbold, where the residents give careful attention to each detail of life, providing beauty, comfort, truly delicious food and open hearts. We felt so well held and cared for. The tranquillity of the setting—the beautiful old home surrounded by spacious grounds and a walled garden lovingly tended-- allowed each of us to find our own quiet places whenever we needed them. We also felt welcomed into the community, with the invitation to join the morning meditation and Taize singing if we wished. I look forward to returning to Newbold again and again, stepping out of the whirl of life and entering a most delightful sanctuary." - Fran Lavendel June 2011

Because our origins are so closely tied to the growth of the Findhorn Foundation, we maintain close links with the Foundation, Cluny Hill College, The Park, the New Findhorn Association (NFA) and the wider community that has evolved around these organisations and sites.

Newbold’s history dates back to 1893 when the house was designed and built (over several years) for the Woodcock family. Colonel Woodcock was a retired Officer who had served in India and subsequently made his fortune trading tea. Settling here with his wife, they were apparently much in absence and the House and Gardens were kept by a large team of servants, including 8 full-time gardeners, who tended the 7 acres that comprise the estate. The Woodcocks were childless and, in time, sold the house to a Mr. Sommerville, who worked for the P&O shipping company. Mr. Sommerville and his wife also had no children and when the House was requisitioned during World War II, Mrs. Sommerville had another house - 'Kedah' - built further down St. Leonard’s Rd. After the war the House fell empty for some while until it was acquired in 1959 by Mr. Donaldson, a retired policeman from Keith who bought the property for £3,000 (the same as the original building cost!). The House became a Hotel and the billiard room (now the Art Room) was converted into a bar.

Newbold House is a community of people from different walks of life who share a common vision for Newbold’s aims, values and services. Our community comprises a residential core staff group, paying guests, committed volunteers from Forres and the surrounding area and WWOOFers (World Wide Opportunities in Organic farms, www.wwoof.org).

We offer a range of experiences and programs including our working guest program and seasonal gardening courses run by our highly experienced organic gardener Christopher Raymont.

A flavour of Newbold

The house as is available for hire as a workshop venue and we offer excellent bed and breakfast accommodation. We provide full catering facilities with our residential professional chef, producing the best quality organic food from our gardens and other local producers

NEWBOLD VISION

"To develop, practise and teach skills for sustainable living in harmony with ourselves, each other and the Earth."

Working and living here together, our committed team of people are passionate about all aspects of sustainable living. At Newbold we recognize that in order to be able to live sustainably globally, we first need to be able to live sustainably locally as individuals and as a community.

To us sustainability means a way of life that builds well-being in terms of our physical and spiritual lives, our social networks and the abundant ability of the earth to support life.

Newbold House provides an opportunity to take time to address and transform life issues through the attendance of workshops and courses, by coming to stay with us either as a bed and breakfast guest or by participating in our working guest programme, which aims to give people an opportunity to experience community living, and to learn about the principals of sustainability through a path of service.