Residential: 18th - 28th September 2026, Rill Estate, South Devon

Accompanied by his poet-guide Virgil sent by his beloved Beatrice, Dante begins a journey that will take him straight to the heart of Inferno, ‘Hell’ itself. Along the journey he encounters fallen heroes, ancient philosophers, old friends, bereaved fathers, forlorn lovers and ancient creatures of legends, and discovers what happens when ambitions to power begin seek control over our abilities to love one another and the world.

Following Dante and Virgil’s lead, this module begins the great journey, visiting the underworld with the help of poets, musicians and storytellers. Such travels will tell us about the necessity of confrontations with suffering and lament, but also what surprising regenerative potencies can be encountered even in darkest times. Why is there a timeless connections between stories and the coming of winter, and what does it reveal about our ability to face crisis, to offer hope and engender renewal?