My Last Cob Building Workshop for 2026

Most people don’t understand the strength and power of cob. Then they try it, and they can’t stop thinking about it.

There’s something electric about realising that the ground you walk on can become the walls of a home. Warm in winter, cool in summer, sculpted by hand, and built for centuries.

Due to popular demand, this August in the forested hills of Bulgaria, I’m holding the last cob workshop of the year. Come and find out what the fuss is about.

Cob building is a total game changer and mind blowing if you’ve never come across it. In this course you will learn how cob outperforms concrete and how to use it as a construction material. By the end of the workshop you will understand if your soil is suitable for building, how to turn it into a cob, and how to build with it. You will learn the foundations necessary for cob buildings, how to attach roof timbers to cob walls, and basic cob house design. This is going to be a very informative and empowering course.

Who is this course for?

• Anyone considering building a natural home and wondering if cob has a place in their project.

• Anyone who wants to know what cob building entails.

• If you would like to know whether you would actually enjoy building your own mud home, this is for you.

• People who’d like to know how to build structures using the earth beneath their feet.

• Artists and creatives who’d like to know the sculpting potential of cob.

• People who want to connect with other natural builders and be part of a team.

• People with questions about their own projects. I have a Q & A in the lunch breaks.

“Atulya’s Workshop in Bulgaria at the end of May 2026 was my first natural building course and I absolutely loved it. From the start we were learning hands-on skills, getting practical experience. The Q&A sessions over lunch really helped to drill in the knowledge. We learned so much over just a few days!

And we had a huge amount of fun. Atulya is a great teacher and made sure we were laughing and relaxed. And our small group therefore really bonded - getting to know our international team-mates was part of the fun...I whole-heartedly recommend the course. Staying at the Rising Soul centre in forest-covered hills also made it very special, with great yoga sessions and amazing food from the international team there. Thanks for all of it!”

• Where to find clayey soil on your land, and how to turn it into a usable building material.

• How to test your cob mixture for strength.

• The function of each ingredient in the cob mixture, and how to tweak it for your own land/project.

• How to build a cob wall. The dos and don’ts.

• How to keep the wall plumb, and how to trim it.

• The correct foundation method for cob buildings.

• Stem walls, their purpose and design.

• How to install windows and doors into cob walls.

• How to install plumbing and wiring into cob buildings.

• How to lay roof timbers onto a cob wall.

• What is thermal mass, and how to use it to your advantage.

• Constructing cob homes in different climates.

• Basic cob house design.

• How to repair and maintain cob.

• Sculpting cob; tips and tricks.

Workshop prices:

• First off the blocks: £235

• Early Birds: £260

• Standard Ticket: £290

Enrol in the workshop

Important! Your accommodation is booked separately.
Accommodation prices are reasonable and include delicious hearty breakfast and dinner for the whole workshop.

• Bring your own tent or campervan: 152 EUROS (for the 3 nights and four days).

• Rent a tent 182 EUROS (for 3 nights and 4 days). Price includes delicious and hearty breakfast and dinner for the whole workshop.

• Glamping options are also available.

  Reserve Your Accommodation

  Camping accommodation at Rising Soul Retreat Centre. All prices include a plentiful, delicious home cooked breakfast and dinner each day. Bear in mind this is a simple eco retreat with composting toilets, not a luxury resort. But it is a beautiful cared for space, and the food is plentiful and high quality.

  Free Yoga and Meditation included: For the duration of the workshop, you will have the chance to join a daily meditation and yoga classes if you like. It’s a free and entirely optional bonus of staying at RisingSoul Retreat Centre

  Please note: Rising Soul Retreat centre is plant based and a drug and alcohol free space.

The button takes you to RisingSoul Retreat website. You book your accommodation first and then you’ll be directed to pay for the workshop. If you have any trouble with the booking form, get right back to me: atulyakbingham@themudhome.com

​27 -30 August 2026
Start time 4 pm on the 27th August
Finish 3pm on the 30th August

• Bus from Sofia to Tryavna can be booked here: https://union-ivkoni.com/en

The bus is direct and takes approx 4 hours. It needs to be booked well in advance as it can sell out.

• Train from Sofia to Trjavna can be booked at Bulgarian Railways (BDZ) https://www.bdz.bg/en .

Be aware, the BDZ website doesn’t work well on mobile phone. The train is slower and can sometimes run a bit late. It takes a good 5 hours but is scenic, reasonably comfortable, has toilets (though not romantic ones) and offers an authentic Bulgarian experience. Train tickets rarely sell out unless it’s a public holiday and you can buy in the station if you prefer. If you buy on the BDZ website, the spelling of the town is Trjavna. You don’t need to print the ticket, just show the electronic version on your phone.

• Taxi from Sofia to Tryavna costs about 180 Euro (though prices are hard to pin down and can change, so this is a rough figure only).

• Car hire. Alternatively, you can hire a car from the usual suspects.

From Plovdiv
If you get a chance to fly into Plovdiv, it’s a bit closer to the workshop venue, and very worthwhile. Plovdiv is a fascinating ancient town full of great eateries and a boho vibe. Ryanair runs regular flights from London Stansted, Milan and a few other destinations.

• The train from Plovdiv can be booked here: Bulgarian Railways (BDZ) https://www.bdz.bg/en​

What participants have said about my previous workshops:
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“Atulya’s courses were an absolute game changer! She is full of magic and this truly was one of the highlights of my year.” Leo.

“The teacher (Atulya) was amazing and so positive and full of knowledge, she made the workshop run so smoothly.” Annie.

“The atmosphere was great and I couldn’t ask for a better group of participants, or a more energetic environment. Loved every minute of it. Can’t wait to use my new skills!” Mik.

“Atulya is a brilliant teacher...I returned home with a sparkle in my spirit and a deep appreciation that I was in a position to attend.” Alana