Annual Teaching Retreat at The Bield, Scotland 2022
Terms and Conditions
We know nobody’s keen on reading terms and conditions. However, we are still in the grips of the pandemic, and they are there for an important reason, which is to protect both retreatants and the Bield staff. So please make yourself a cuppa and take the time to read our small print.
We understand that some people may find these Ts & Cs too detailed; but we know that accepting these responsibilities will make us all safer. If you have any questions on our terms and conditions, please email Teinntean at [email protected].
HEALTH AND WELLBEING (Covid related)
All retreatants are responsible for looking after their own health and wellbeing. We will all naturally want to consider other people’s health and wellbeing needs at all times, as well, including staff members.
At this point in time, we ask that all retreatants are fully vaccinated (double vaccination plus any boosters given by their respective countries) by at least two weeks before the retreat.
For everyone’s safety, including the Bield staff, we ask all retreatants to take a Lateral Flow Test (or equivalent) the day before arriving at the Bield. Anyone testing positive must remain at home and isolate. If this happens, please let the Teinntean team know; phone numbers will be given to those who book.
At present the Bield asks that retreatants wear masks while moving about the building. There may of course be retreatants who are exempt from wearing a mask for health reasons, and their needs will be respected. Wearing masks in the lounge/meeting room will be optional, as ours will be the only group in the building, and retreatants’ position on this will also be respected.
At this time, the Bield is operating on hotel regulations, but this may change depending on pandemic developments. There will be hand sanitizer provided around the building and we are asked to observe social distancing as much as possible. Regular handwashing is of course also necessary, especially before meals.
All rooms will be offered on a single occupancy basis this year (unless you are a couple). Most people will have to share a bathroom with others. The Bield may allocate bathrooms and if so, please only use the one you are given.
There are shared toilet facilities downstairs, which we can use while on the ground floor. All shared bathrooms are deep cleaned regularly in line with hotel Covid cleaning regulations.
We will aim to keep windows and doors open as much as possible to ensure air circulation.
If a retreatant develops Covid symptoms and tests positive during the retreat: see more details below.
We suggest you investigate Travel Insurance, though it may not cover such eventualities.
Lateral Flow Test kits will be available (free) to enable retreatants to do their own test before leaving the Bield. This is not a requirement by Teinntean or the Bield, but is an option for those retreatants that may wish to do so. We strongly recommend that you take the time to do the test and let us know the result before leaving, for everyone’s ease of mind, including the Bield staff.
If a retreatant tests positive within 7 days of returning home, please let Teinntean know so we can inform other retreatants and the Bield.
Please do not leave the grounds during your stay, to avoid the possibility of contracting Covid and bringing it into the Bield; and avoid contact with anyone other than retreatants and Bield staff.
IF A RETREATANT DEVELOPS COVID DURING THE RETREAT
If a retreatant develops Covid symptoms and tests positive during the retreat, all guests will be asked to leave. The person with Covid will be asked to return home by private transport if possible.
If the person who is ill is unable to travel, the Bield will accommodate them in the self-catering, self-contained Lodge where they can self-isolate until they are well enough to leave by private transport. The person will be responsible for the cost of their stay in the Lodge.
Because of the above, each person needs to have a Plan B with regards to accommodation and changing travel plans.
BOOKING/COSTS
Booking for Scottish caimeachs opens on 17th January 2022. Please book quickly to ensure your place, as due to all rooms being single, places are very limited. On 14th February, booking will be opened to the public; if you have not booked by then you may lose the chance of a place.
The cost of retreat accommodation is £370. The non-refundable £70 deposit is payable on booking. The remaining £300 is payable by 30th April 2022.
Your Deercc payment for Sr Fionn’s teachings is extra to the £370; see website for details.
CANCELLATION
We know that you will understand that because of the unpredictable nature of the pandemic, there is a risk of the retreat being cancelled by the Bield if regulations change significantly. If this happens, the retreat will revert to being Online (on the same dates).
In the case of the in-person retreat being cancelled, the deposit you have paid will be your payment for the online retreat which will happen in its place. This will cover the total amount of the online retreat.
If the final fees have been paid to the Bield and the Bield cancels the retreat, all the fees including the deposit will be refunded to Teinntean by the Bield, and Teinntean will refund the final payment to those who had booked.
If for any reason the in-person retreat is cancelled by Teinntean, the same will apply, providing that Teinntean cancel by 10 weeks before the retreat is due to start, when 50% of the fee has to be paid. In this instance, the retreat will go online; deposits will be transferred as payment for the online retreat, and any final payments paid will be refunded.
CANCELLATION BY RETREATANTS
If for any reason you have to cancel your attendance at the retreat, please let Teinntean know as soon as possible, so we can offer your place to someone else. The closer the cancellation is to the start date, the less likely it will be that we will find someone able to take it up. If a retreatant cancels their booking, we will only be able to refund their final payment if we are able to fill their place.
RETREATANT RESPONSIBILITY IN ADHERING TO COVID REGULATIONS
Retreatants are responsible for keeping up-to-date with Covid restrictions and safety rules, which may change often in the run-up to the retreat. Teinntean can in no way be responsible if a retreatant encounters delays or other difficulties while travelling.
Those coming from abroad in particular must become familiar with the conditions in place for crossing borders – regarding Covid testing, which kind of test, timing of tests before and after travelling, whether proof of vaccination is required, quarantine rules, to name a few. Getting through Customs will also take longer for EU visitors than before Brexit. Please bear in mind that EU citizens now have to present a passport instead of their ID-card.
Please take all these things into account when planning the timing of travel, including connections, and allow yourself plenty of time to both plan and travel.
PLEASE ATTEND FOR THE WHOLE RETREAT
Experience over many years has demonstrated that late arrivals and early departures disturb the láthar of the retreat for everyone, including Sr Fionn who is presenting the teachings. We understand that sometimes things happen en route which are beyond our control but if you already know that you cannot be present for the whole of the retreat, please help us to hold the láthar for everyone by not booking a place.
Arrival for this retreat is between 2pm and 5pm on Wednesday 3rd August, to ensure we will all be in time for dinner which is at 5.30pm. The retreat ends with lunch on Sunday 7th, which is at 12.30pm.
If you really need to leave early to catch a train or plane, you could leave after the final session (which ends at 12). On the Sunday we have to be out of our rooms by 10am and out of the building by 4pm at the latest (though there is nothing taking place after lunch).
Having said all of this, we know that this will be a very special gathering as we sit together in the circle once again and look forward very much to seeing you.
Thank you for reading to the end! If you are at ease with all that you have read, please follow the link below to complete your Booking Form.
Sr Fionn, Marion, Julie, Lesley and Heike
We understand that some people may find these Ts & Cs too detailed; but we know that accepting these responsibilities will make us all safer. If you have any questions on our terms and conditions, please email Teinntean at [email protected].
HEALTH AND WELLBEING (Covid related)
All retreatants are responsible for looking after their own health and wellbeing. We will all naturally want to consider other people’s health and wellbeing needs at all times, as well, including staff members.
At this point in time, we ask that all retreatants are fully vaccinated (double vaccination plus any boosters given by their respective countries) by at least two weeks before the retreat.
For everyone’s safety, including the Bield staff, we ask all retreatants to take a Lateral Flow Test (or equivalent) the day before arriving at the Bield. Anyone testing positive must remain at home and isolate. If this happens, please let the Teinntean team know; phone numbers will be given to those who book.
At present the Bield asks that retreatants wear masks while moving about the building. There may of course be retreatants who are exempt from wearing a mask for health reasons, and their needs will be respected. Wearing masks in the lounge/meeting room will be optional, as ours will be the only group in the building, and retreatants’ position on this will also be respected.
At this time, the Bield is operating on hotel regulations, but this may change depending on pandemic developments. There will be hand sanitizer provided around the building and we are asked to observe social distancing as much as possible. Regular handwashing is of course also necessary, especially before meals.
All rooms will be offered on a single occupancy basis this year (unless you are a couple). Most people will have to share a bathroom with others. The Bield may allocate bathrooms and if so, please only use the one you are given.
There are shared toilet facilities downstairs, which we can use while on the ground floor. All shared bathrooms are deep cleaned regularly in line with hotel Covid cleaning regulations.
We will aim to keep windows and doors open as much as possible to ensure air circulation.
If a retreatant develops Covid symptoms and tests positive during the retreat: see more details below.
We suggest you investigate Travel Insurance, though it may not cover such eventualities.
Lateral Flow Test kits will be available (free) to enable retreatants to do their own test before leaving the Bield. This is not a requirement by Teinntean or the Bield, but is an option for those retreatants that may wish to do so. We strongly recommend that you take the time to do the test and let us know the result before leaving, for everyone’s ease of mind, including the Bield staff.
If a retreatant tests positive within 7 days of returning home, please let Teinntean know so we can inform other retreatants and the Bield.
Please do not leave the grounds during your stay, to avoid the possibility of contracting Covid and bringing it into the Bield; and avoid contact with anyone other than retreatants and Bield staff.
IF A RETREATANT DEVELOPS COVID DURING THE RETREAT
If a retreatant develops Covid symptoms and tests positive during the retreat, all guests will be asked to leave. The person with Covid will be asked to return home by private transport if possible.
If the person who is ill is unable to travel, the Bield will accommodate them in the self-catering, self-contained Lodge where they can self-isolate until they are well enough to leave by private transport. The person will be responsible for the cost of their stay in the Lodge.
Because of the above, each person needs to have a Plan B with regards to accommodation and changing travel plans.
BOOKING/COSTS
Booking for Scottish caimeachs opens on 17th January 2022. Please book quickly to ensure your place, as due to all rooms being single, places are very limited. On 14th February, booking will be opened to the public; if you have not booked by then you may lose the chance of a place.
The cost of retreat accommodation is £370. The non-refundable £70 deposit is payable on booking. The remaining £300 is payable by 30th April 2022.
Your Deercc payment for Sr Fionn’s teachings is extra to the £370; see website for details.
CANCELLATION
We know that you will understand that because of the unpredictable nature of the pandemic, there is a risk of the retreat being cancelled by the Bield if regulations change significantly. If this happens, the retreat will revert to being Online (on the same dates).
In the case of the in-person retreat being cancelled, the deposit you have paid will be your payment for the online retreat which will happen in its place. This will cover the total amount of the online retreat.
If the final fees have been paid to the Bield and the Bield cancels the retreat, all the fees including the deposit will be refunded to Teinntean by the Bield, and Teinntean will refund the final payment to those who had booked.
If for any reason the in-person retreat is cancelled by Teinntean, the same will apply, providing that Teinntean cancel by 10 weeks before the retreat is due to start, when 50% of the fee has to be paid. In this instance, the retreat will go online; deposits will be transferred as payment for the online retreat, and any final payments paid will be refunded.
CANCELLATION BY RETREATANTS
If for any reason you have to cancel your attendance at the retreat, please let Teinntean know as soon as possible, so we can offer your place to someone else. The closer the cancellation is to the start date, the less likely it will be that we will find someone able to take it up. If a retreatant cancels their booking, we will only be able to refund their final payment if we are able to fill their place.
RETREATANT RESPONSIBILITY IN ADHERING TO COVID REGULATIONS
Retreatants are responsible for keeping up-to-date with Covid restrictions and safety rules, which may change often in the run-up to the retreat. Teinntean can in no way be responsible if a retreatant encounters delays or other difficulties while travelling.
Those coming from abroad in particular must become familiar with the conditions in place for crossing borders – regarding Covid testing, which kind of test, timing of tests before and after travelling, whether proof of vaccination is required, quarantine rules, to name a few. Getting through Customs will also take longer for EU visitors than before Brexit. Please bear in mind that EU citizens now have to present a passport instead of their ID-card.
Please take all these things into account when planning the timing of travel, including connections, and allow yourself plenty of time to both plan and travel.
PLEASE ATTEND FOR THE WHOLE RETREAT
Experience over many years has demonstrated that late arrivals and early departures disturb the láthar of the retreat for everyone, including Sr Fionn who is presenting the teachings. We understand that sometimes things happen en route which are beyond our control but if you already know that you cannot be present for the whole of the retreat, please help us to hold the láthar for everyone by not booking a place.
Arrival for this retreat is between 2pm and 5pm on Wednesday 3rd August, to ensure we will all be in time for dinner which is at 5.30pm. The retreat ends with lunch on Sunday 7th, which is at 12.30pm.
If you really need to leave early to catch a train or plane, you could leave after the final session (which ends at 12). On the Sunday we have to be out of our rooms by 10am and out of the building by 4pm at the latest (though there is nothing taking place after lunch).
Having said all of this, we know that this will be a very special gathering as we sit together in the circle once again and look forward very much to seeing you.
Thank you for reading to the end! If you are at ease with all that you have read, please follow the link below to complete your Booking Form.
Sr Fionn, Marion, Julie, Lesley and Heike
