Cove Park
A tutored and catered micro-residency for alumni of The New Mothers’ Writing Circle and other mother-writers, 30th January - 1st February 2026.
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Sleep, eat, write, discuss, nap, write, walk, write, eat, stretch, talk, write.
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Go home a new version of yourself.
About the micro-residency
Join us as we head back for an immersive weekend of writing, sharing, talking, reading, walking, eating and thinking at the magical Cove Park on Scotland's west coast.
There will be workshops to revisit your writing practice, feedback and discussions, surrounded by an intimate community of other mothers/writers and the silence and stillness of Loch Long.
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Building on the previous micro-residency in 2024 and the ongoing work of The New Mothers’ Writing Circle, the weekend will bring in co-leads, including writer & performer Ishbel McFarlane, with space and time to work on your ideas and pieces.
The weekend will also include dedicated sharing time within the small group. We will eat together, take time to read or nap, walk or run on the incredible Cove Park site. The other guest tutor will be announced soon.
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You are welcome to join in as much or as little as you wish, whilst soaking up the landscape and atmosphere of the Rosneath & Cowal Peninsulas.
About Cove Park
Cove Park creates year-round residencies for national and international artists, makers, researchers and academics.
Located on an outstanding 50-acre site overlooking Loch Long, the Cowal Peninsula and the Firth of Clyde, Cove Park is just one hour from Glasgow.
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Cove Park is situated on an incredible rural site with Highland Coos, herons, frogs and beautiful flora. Residents sleep in live-work spaces (each of which is self contained and private).
Micro-residency Pricing
There are three price points, listed below. The different prices reflect the different types of accommodation available. Writing workshops and all catering (except breakfast) are included. Payment via instalments is available.
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Rooms adjacent to Jacobs Building (one of which is wheelchair accessible):
2 places each charged at £450
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Cubes A, B, C , E & F (created from fully insulated converted shipping containers):
5 places each charged at £420
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​Taransay Pod: Single bed bedrooms, en suite bathrooms, kitchenettes, shared work space.
2 places each charged at £350.
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If you would like to discuss paying in 3 instalments, please email newmumswriting@gmail.com to discuss.
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Meals will be provided on Friday evening, Saturday lunchtime & evening and Sunday lunchtime. All food will be vegetarian. You will only need to bring breakfast for yourself.
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The whole site has wifi but phone signal can be patchy with some providers. You will be encouraged as far as possible to digitally disconnect over the weekend.
Ishbel McFarlane
Ishbel is a writer and performer from Kinross-shire and based in Glasgow. She writes in her native languages of Scots and English, and her work focuses on social justice, motherhood, minority language, history and the built environment. Her solo-show O is for Hoolet won the Platform 18 Award and she toured it across Scotland and in Northern Ireland with Feral Arts.
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Ishbel's workshop will begin with the question: What does your body know about motherhood? The workshop will overlap gentle physical movement and time outside, with introspection and writing. We will have a chance to explore the archive of the body and the practice of 'the extended mind' as a way to help us understand our lives, our world and ourselves.
Accommodation
There are 9 spaces and participants will sleep and work in one of the bedrooms across the 50-acre site.
Each accommodation unit contains a bed, desk, shower/WC or bathroom and kitchenette.
Group workshops will take place in the award-winning Jacobs Building. To understand Cove Park’s accommodation and facilities, please visit this page.
FAQs
I'm nervous about leaving my child...
Babies and children are welcome but a carer will need to accompany you throughout the weekend, to allow you to focus on making the most of the workshops. Some of the mothers attending will come with their babies / children + partner / carer, and some will come alone. Everyone attending will have a different set of circumstances and as far as possible we'll tweak the schedule to suit breastfeeds or other essential moments when your care-giving work cannot be done by another.
Cove Park has a variety of buildings with most bedrooms big enough for a family of three. The double beds are UK standard size. Sofabeds can be moved about the site so that there is ample sleeping space for partners (if, for example, you and your child co-sleep). The bedrooms within Taransay (one of the curved-roofed Pods) has 2 bedrooms each of which can be set up with either a single bed or twin beds. Additional carer’s meals can be provided by Parveen’s Canteen at a small extra cost. There is no additional cost for bringing a partner / carer + baby / child.
Partners / carers are encouraged to come by car so that they can enjoy the amazing location whilst caring for your baby / child. Cove Park sits on the Rosneath Peninsula, 20 minutes' drive from Helensburgh (with great places to visit such as Mackintosh's Hill House, Hermitage Park & play area) and other beautiful coastal villages.
WHAT HAVE YOU DONE FOR YOU LATELY?
Think back over the last 24 hours. What has filled your minutes and hours? Your day and night? Who have you cared for? How does your body feel? Where is your identity headed? Now think back over the last 12 months. What love and attention have you shown yourself? Who is caring for you? What would it feel like to delve into these questions and many more in a supportive space with other mother-writers?
