Since her iconic TV series ‘Home In The Country’, entrepreneur and author Alison Cork has spent over 25 years sharing her passion for lifestyle, home and healthy living. Now she is delighted to invite women over 50 to reset their health, reclaim their vitality and stepboldly into their second act.
A unique five-day retreat designed specifically for women at a crossroads is coming to the breathtaking Château Degay in the heart of southwest France this September.
The Living Well Retreat, guided by celebrated entrepreneur, author and wellness advocate Alison Cork, brings together up to 14 women for an intimate, immersive experience from 7–11 September 2026 – a space to pause, reflect and emerge with real purpose, energy and a clear vision for the life ahead.
Set within a private 18th-century château in the peaceful Dordogne countryside, the retreat is designed for women who are ready to approach their second act not with hesitation, but with vigour, positivity and intention.
In her fifties, Alison decided to rethink what she ate, how she exercised and her approach life. Quite apart from the fact it did help her lose quite a bit of weight, she gained something more – a revitalised outlook on her second act, and a sense of excitement and optimism about the future. For her, lifestyle is a philosophy of life, not just where you live but how you live and the quality of that life.
This led to her writing ‘Fit & Fabulous over 50 – How to rewire your second act.’ Publishing her latest book also led her to her latest business – the launch of a new healthy snack LEKA LEKA. The recipe for these indulgent sugar free date balls was one of the recipes in the book, and received so many positive comments from readers that Alison decided she simply had to launch a new business offering healthy snacks with only a few premium ingredients.
A Retreat Built Around Real Life
Whether navigating a career change, an empty nest, shifting health priorities or simply the desire to live more fully, this retreat meets women exactly where they are. Through a thoughtfully curated programme of practical health workshops, guided movement, nourishing food and honest conversation, guests leave with more than memories – they leave with momentum.
Each day unfolds gently: mornings begin with nourishing breakfasts and light movement sessions exploring nutrition, strength and sustainable wellbeing habits. Afternoons offer space for cultural excursions to nearby villages, swimming, spa treatments or restorative workshops. Evenings gather guests together over elegant dinners à table, with wine, warmth and the kind of candid, supportive conversation that only happens when women feel truly safe and seen.
More Than a Retreat – A Community
What makes this experience exceptional is its intimacy. With just 14 places available, guests benefit from a genuinely close-knit environment – one that encourages the sharing of experiences, challenges, aspirations and ideas in a setting that feels as far from the pressures of everyday life as it is possible to be.
“This is for women who know there is more,” says host Vanessa, owner of Château Degay. “More energy, more possibility, more joy. We wanted to create a space that honours where you are right now – and helps you design exactly where you want to go next.”
Alison Cork brings her signature blend of pragmatism and warmth to every session, combining actionable wellbeing strategies with the kind of frank, empowering discussion that has made her one of the UK’s most respected voices on women living well in midlife and beyond.
Enquiries: www.frenchchateauholiday.com | vanessa@propertyair.com | WhatsApp: +44 7712 822172
