South of France Retreat Information
From TCF
One of the most difficult things to do after the death of a son or daughter is going away on holiday...having to see all those 'complete' families can be just unbearable. So in 2022, The Compassionate Friends were very pleased to form a new relationship with Jack and Margaret Reckitt who have a holiday and retreats business, Manoir Mouret, in South West France. In 2025 they are offering TCF three weeks for Members to have a break, at no charge.
In 2022, 2023 and 2024 TCF Members had a week at Manoir Mouret and experienced not only the peaceful rural property itself but also the companionship of being in a safe supportive space with other bereaved parents. Some of the parents have kindly shared their thoughts about their break, TCF Parents Feedback
During each TCF week the only guests at Manoir Mouret are TCF Members. You can talk together and share your stories if you want or keep more private if you wish. The weeks are not TCF run events and no TCF volunteers or staff will be there in that capacity - but you will know you are among others who 'get it'.
In 2025 the three TCF weeks at Manoir Mouret will be one during the school holidays for families with school age children and two for adults only.
Family Week –2 to 9 August 2025
The week of 2 to 9 August 2025 will be a TCF family week at Mouret. It is for TCF families with at least 1 school aged child (18 and under). In 2023 and 2024 the first TCF family weeks were held at Mouret. Families came with children ranging from 4 months to 21 old (but each family having at least 1 school aged child). One of the families has shared some feedback on their week.
Manoir Mouret is made up of 4 individual self-catering properties of different sizes, (sleeping from 4 people to 10 people) so up to 4 families will have their own private holiday home for the week but share outside spaces such as the pool, tennis court and gardens with the other TCF families.
Parents Only Weeks – 28 June to 5 July 2025 and 5 to 12 July 2025
29 June to 6 July and 5 to 12 July will be weeks for parents. There will be no children staying at Manoir Mouret during these weeks and only bereaved parents will be there.
Please note that for the adult weeks it is ok to go on your own, as a couple or you might prefer to go with others - perhaps one other or a few parents from a TCF support group or you might have met others at a retreat weekend or support day...you could share one of the gites perhaps or the main house and maybe organise your travel together.
We have put some information together with Jack and Margaret which will hopefully answer some questions you may have including what to do next if you are interested in learning more and/or staying at Mouret in 2025. You can find this at www.manoirmouretretreats.com/tcf2025
How do I get to Manior Mouret?
Address: Mouret, 322 Route d’Amarens, 81140, Andillac, France.
The street name and number is relatively new so may not be picked up by some GPS systems but Mouret, 81140, Andillac works.
Toulouse airport is the nearest airport with regular international flights and is about 1 hour from Manoir Mouret by car. Carcassonne airport is also an option and has flights from Stanstead, Bournemouth & Manchester (see below). It is just under 2 hours by car from Mouret but the driving is on main roads and easy.
Independent holiday guests who fly ususally hire a car at the airport so that they can drive to Manoir Mouret (about an hour) and also get around when they are here. It is self catering for guests so they need to be able to get to shops (nearest local shops 3km away, nearest supermarket 15km) and also, to make the most of their trip visiting local villages, markets, apero concerts etc.
Transfering to Mouret - we are happy to help with your travel arrangements if we can.
Hiring a car - most major car hire companies are based at Toulouse airport.
Public transport - good public transport from Toulouse airport to Gaillac station exists (but remember you will need access to a car during your break at Mouret).
There is a shuttle bus from Toulouse airport to Toulouse Matabiau central train station which costs about 8€ each way.
A taxi from the airport to the station takes about 30 mins and costs between 30€ to 45€ depending on traffic.
The direct train from Toulouse Matabiau to Gaillac (our nearest station) takes around 45 mins, the fare is about 10€.
There is no taxi rank at Gaillac station, so either a taxis will need to be pre booked and cost around 25€ from the station to Manoir Mouret or, if we can, we'll come to pick you up.
Flight from UK to for TCF breaks 2025
We've checked and currently (as at December 2024) British Airways & Ryanair have flights from around the UK into Toulouse (from Heathrow, Stanstead, Bristol, Birmingham & Edinburgh) or into Carcassonne (from Stanstead, Bournemouth & Manchester) on dates that work for the TCF weeks. Please do of course check on-line with the airline as schedules do change.
British Airways
London Heathrow – Toulouse
28th June 2025
07:05 – 9:50
15:45 – 18:30
20:14 – 23:00
5th July 2025
07.05 – 09:50
15:45 – 18:30
20:15 – 23:00
2nd August 2025
07:05 – 9:50
15:45 – 18:30
20:15 – 23:00
Toulouse – London Heathrow
5th July 2025
06:50 – 07:50
10:45 – 11:45
19:20 – 20:10
12th July 2025
06:50 – 07:50
10:45 – 11:45
19:20 – 20:10
9th August 2025
06:50 – 07:50
10:45 – 11:45
19:20 – 20:10
Ryanair
Birmingham – Toulouse
28th June, 2025
13:45 – 16:40
5th July 2025
13:45 – 16:40
2nd August 2025
13:45 – 16:40
Toulouse – Birmingham
5th July 2025
12:25 – 13.20
12th July 2025
12:25 – 13.20
9th August 2025
12:25 – 13.20
Bristol – Toulouse
28th June, 2025
05.45 – 08.30
5th July 2025
05.45 – 08.30
2nd August 2025
05.45 – 08.30
Toulouse – Bristol
5th July 2025
08.55 – 09.45
12th July 2025
08.55 – 09.45
9th August 2025
08.55 – 09.45
Edinburgh – Toulouse
28th June 2025
19.25 – 22.50
5th July 2025
19:25 – 22:50
2nd August 2025
19:25 – 22:50
Toulouse - Edinburgh
5th July 2025
23.15 – 00.40
12th July 2025
23:15 – 00:40
9th August 2025
23:15 – 00:40
Stanstead – Toulouse
28th June 2025
22.40 – 23.35
5th July 2025
22:40 – 23:35
2nd August 2025
19.20 – 22.15
Toulouse – Stansted
5th July 2025
22.40 – 23.35
12th July 2025
22.40 – 23.35
9th August 2025
22.40 – 23.35
Bournemouth – Carcassonne
28th June 2025
10.:50 – 13:30
5th July 2025
10.:50 – 13:30
2nd August 2025
10.:50 – 13:30
Carcassonne – Bournemouth
5th July 2025
14:00 – 14:40
12th July 2025
14:00 – 14:40
9th August 2025
14:00 – 14:40
London Stanstead – Carcassonne
28th June 2025
13:10 – 16:10
5th July 2025
13:10 – 16:10
2nd August 2025
13:10- 16:10
Carcassonne – London Stanstead
5th July 2025
16:35 – 17:35
12th July 2025
16:35 – 17:35
9th August 2025
16:35 – 17:35
Manchester – Carcassonne
28th June 2025
14:55 – 18:00
5th July 2025
14:55 – 18:00
2nd August 2025
14:55 – 18:00
Carcassonne – Manchester
5th July 2025
18:25 – 19:30
12th July 2025
18:25 – 19:30
9th August 2025
18:25 – 19:30
General overview of travel options to Manoir Mouret
We have guests all year round so we see a lot of guests and know how they travel to us. The vast majority of our guests either drive (including of course the guests who live in France or Spain) or fly.
The drivers tend to be people who know France quite well and are happy to drive the distance. From the Calais port it's about 10 hours driving time by car and often guests break their journey and make the journey part of their holiday although some do the whole journey in a day. The roads in France are good and, if you take the toll roads, fast. There are on-line calculators which can give you an idea of the total fuel and toll cost for driving to us from say Calais.
We don't yet have an electric car charging point at Mouret although we are looking into it. However the village of Cahuzac sur Vere which is 3 km from Mouret has 2 charging on the main street. Drivers need to have their own cables for these .
A huge thank you to Christina, Trudy, Lisa, Bob and Lynda for sharing their thoughts on their visit to Manoir Mouret and allowing us to share these with other potential TCF guests. We so enjoyed meeting each and every one of the TCF guests who came to visit. Margaret & Jack
Here are some excerpts, but if you would like to read the feedback in full, please click the link below:
Christina’s Thoughts
“This was a TCF retreat like no other as there is nothing organised. But most of us have experienced that deep recognition and empathy when we meet other bereaved parents, some very newly so, and we are able to listen, and to share, our feelings, however short or long our path of loss.”
“It was a relief to be able to share a little about my son Adam, as this retreat allowed for everyone to be ‘off duty’ and after 15 years I rarely get to talk about him these days. Also, it really helps more newly bereaved parents to see hands-on, by simply being with those longer bereaved, that life really can be enjoyed again at some time in the future despite our devastating loss – it gives them hope.”
Lisa’s Thoughts
“For the first time in 18 months, I didn’t spend my days constantly wondering what the point was anymore. Instead, there were sunrises and scenery that reminded me about the beauty of life, despite everything. I was able to relax, really relax, with others who just knew and understood. I felt heard and comfortable listening to, and spending time with others.”
“Part way through the week, during the yoga session, I realised I had experienced a moment of peace. A moment where I had thought of nothing. Something I imagined would never be possible again. There were so many fleeting moments like this. Moments where I considered that maybe experiencing joy was a realistic possibility at some point. I even slept for the entire night, really slept!”
Bob & Lynda’s Thoughts
“When I first read about it I didn’t say anything to Lynda because after Darren had died whilst on holiday in France we had said that we didn’t wish to visit France and also Darren’s Angelversary fell in the middle of the week on offer. Then a couple who we had met through TCF messaged me saying that she and her husband were going and how about joining them. So I talked it over with Lynda and we decided that this was an opportunity to break the “we’re not going to France” thoughts and be with people who understand the emotions we were going to go through.”
“We mainly catered for ourselves but we did join with the others on several occasions, the first was the Sunday night when Jack and Margaret provided with us with a very good dinner.””
“We had a very enjoyable, peaceful, and at times emotional, week. Lynda made good use of the swimming pool, going in every day. We shared a lot with the others but also had our own space. The others in the group made good use of the tennis court and Lynda and I actually had a go at table tennis and everything was provided for both sports, there was other games equipment available as well.”
Trudy’s Thoughts
“When I read about the opportunity to go away to Manoir Mouret in France with TCF, I made the spontaneous decision to throw caution to the wind and book myself a place on it. My daughter Matilda took her life age 18 in Aug 2020 and having experienced the empty feeling which came in the aftermath of the first anniversary of her passing, I made the rash decision to fill the days after her second anniversary in a different setting. I couldn’t have hoped for a nicer one! Nestled in Southern France about an hour from Toulouse Manor Mouret is remote, tranquil, beautiful and surrounded by vineyards.”
“The group were very welcoming and there was always the opportunity to socialise or just tuck yourself away. I came back feeling glad that I had taken this leap of faith in this new life that I now find myself in.”
Dear Friend,
A warm welcome to you to this Compassionate Friends (TCF) week at Manoir Mouret. All of us here this week are parents grieving for our precious and beloved children. We very much hope you find that your time in this beautiful location, which Margaret and Jack have generously offered to TCF members, provides some tranquility and peace for you.
It is important to us that everyone staying at Manoir Mouret feels comfortable and warmly welcome. This is a unique experience for all of us – spending this time together as grieving individuals in a beautiful, holiday environment, with the common factor of everyone here being a bereaved parent. To enable everyone to get the most out of this experience and feel the benefits of the wonderful opportunity and to ensure our time together works in the best way possible, we have put together the following guidance for your consideration:
Respect for each other
We ask that during our week in this shared space, we show respect for one another at all times; this respect will extend to our individual personal circumstances of loss and the way in which we grieve for our child. In particular, we ask that everyone respects that there is no right or wrong way to grieve and that our grief is ever changing which may mean that we are open to chatting generally or talking about our child and our grief one day but wanting to be private or quiet the next day.
Please also consider that when we are sharing together that the time of talking and listening to each other is shared as equally as possible. Given we are all bereaved parents at different stages of grief, we hope that no one will take offence if another parent is not being talkative, wanting to share too much about anything or be involved in shared activities – everyone is here to benefit from this opportunity to have some respite from the heaviness of their own grief. We ask that no one feels responsible for ‘looking after’ anyone else other than a general mutual care for each other given we have all sadly lost a child.
Can we respect too that we all come from different backgrounds and life circumstances. For example, some of us may have experienced the loss of our only child, others may have surviving children; some of us might live alone, others with a partner – please be aware and respectful of these differences when sharing with others.
Confidentiality
What gets spoken about in shared spaces over the week should be confidential in relation to anything we share about our child and the circumstances of our loss. We particularly ask that you don’t share other parents’ details or group photos on social media without their prior permission.
Our hosts
This week at Manoir Mouret has been generously gifted to TCF by Margaret and Jack Reckitt. It is a unique opportunity to experience some time and space in their lovely holiday home and grounds. Margaret and Jack are not here to offer emotional support but will be able to help you around practical issues to do with Manoir Mouret and surroundings.
The role of TCF
Please note there is no specific peer support being offered as this week is not a TCF supportive retreat or event. It is very much about you using the space and time for yourselves in ways that feel beneficial to you.
Any interactions and activities during the week will not be organised by TCF, but may occur spontaneously between you and the other guests here or arranged perhaps by Margaret and Jack. Please note that participation in any activities is optional.
Respect for our environment
We ask you to respect the environment and the Manoir itself whilst staying here. We also ask that you do not do anything that would bring TCF into disrepute.
We hope very much that you find your days here beneficial and relaxing. We appreciate, however, that our grief is with us wherever we are and so we hope that you will continue to access a range of support including peer to peer support from The Compassionate Friends and also professional support where this is helpful for you.
Above all, be kind and compassionate with yourself in whatever ways feel beneficial for you.
With warmest wishes from The Support Team at The Compassionate Friends