Scotland appeals to our soul, and the Highlands and Western Isles particularly so. Names like Iona, the Isles of Skye, Mull and Arran all conjure images of a mythical Celtic landscape imbued with some special ethereal quality we want to experience. The Royal city of Edinburgh, Rosslyn Chapel and Loch Ness, shrouded in mystery and legends of former times, entice us to want to explore the deeper mysteries. Join us in exploring the energetic sacred sites set within the stunning natural beauty of ‘Bonnie Scotland’. This is an experiential journey where we spend quality time at each site to truly get a feel for the presence of each place. We will sometimes conduct ceremony honoring the ancestors of this land and connecting to the Spirit of Place. With this attitude a door is opened that allows healing to occur.
This will also be a fun and dramatic journey as we share laughter and experiences and take the local ferry-boats during the Islands section of the tour. We start our adventure in the capital of Scotland, the Royal city of Edinburgh. Visit the historic sites such as the Castle or get a feel for modern-day life in this great city. On our first full day we will have a special guided tour of Rosslyn Chapel with its many secrets. Our guide will help us uncover some of these secrets as we are immersed in the energies of this special atmospheric Knights Templar sanctuary. She will also take us to Gilmerton Cove to explore a little-known network of passages under the main street. Then we’re off to the stunning beauty of the Central Highlands.
The truly ancient guardian Fortingall Yew Tree welcomes us into the magical Glen Lyon Valley which is watched over by the spirit of Mount Shiehallion. Our local guide will take us to the most powerful sacred sites in the area and explain their importance within the locality and the country as a whole. For those who like a ‘wee dram’ there is the chance to visit a local distillery and sample ‘spirit’ of another kind. Venturing further north we take lunch by the banks of Loch Ness. Then we leave the mainland and take our first ferry over to the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides.
Here the elegant stones of Callanish main stone circle stand proud like a neolithic cathedral amidst the island's raw beauty and are often referred to as ‘Scotland’s Stonehenge’ and for good reason because this 5,000 year old temple/observatory is awe-inspiring. We will get an understanding of life through the centuries as we visit a broch, a sturdy communal dwelling from 2,000 years ago, a black house typical of those lived in by peasant farmers since Viking times, a 20th century white house and Dunvegan Castle which has been the home of the MacLeod Clan Chief for the past 800 years. Our journey south involves island-hopping by local ferry boats and takes us through the Isles of Skye, Mull, Iona and Arran stopping at a variety of sites along the way. Iona Abbey with its acoustic chapel, the exquisite Nunnery gardens and the six stone circles on Machrie Moor will all touch us in profound ways.
We'll also return to the mainland to discover the charming fishing port of Oban, known as ‘the gateway to the islands’. We take some time to explore some of the special powerful places in the sacred Kilmartin Valley. As our journey draws to a close we remember the holy wells, stone circles, faery glens, chambered cairns, serpent mound, abbey, chapel, castle, underground passages, gardens, lochs, glens, mountains, islands, ocean, ferries, pub, tea rooms, chocolate shop, friendships, laughter and insights!
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: We will collect you from Glasgow Airport and travel in our comfortable minibuses to our hotel in Edinburgh for two nights. The afternoon is free for resting up or visiting the royal city of Edinburgh. Get to meet your fellow pilgrims at an introductions meeting before dinner at the hotel.
Day 2: Orientation meeting to introduce you to the tour. We will have lunch at a hotel in Roslin before our guided visits to Rosslyn Chapel and Gilmerton Cove. Rosslyn Chapel, made famous by The DaVinci Code, is a remarkable building full of secrets, Green man carvings and esoteric symbolism that our guide Margaretanne will tell us about. It is like no other chapel or church you have been to before. Then she will take us to Gilmerton Cove the mysterious system of passageways and ‘rooms’ carved out of the rock under the main street of Gilmerton. Free-choice dinner not included.
Days 3 - 4: We drive to our hotel in Pitlochry in the Central Highlands. After lunch we meet with our guide for the next two days, Barry Dunford, a local author and historian. We are aware that we are in a place of power, mystery and magic, where several leylines cross and the oldest surviving goddess tradition in Scotland is still kept alive by the locals. Mt Shiehallion to the north is the protective guardian and source of power, a fairy-mountain and portal into the inner Earth.
Our first visit is to the Fortingall Yew, believed to be the oldest tree in Europe at 5,000 years old. It is the entrance into the magical valley of Glen Lyon and provides us with a living connection to the ancient wisdom of this land, because this tree started its life when the stone circles were being built. Other sites we will visit include the Praying Hands of Mary, Mount Shiehallion and other sites in Glen Lyon Valley. Optional whisky distillery visit in Pitlochry. On one evening we will be treated to a bardic evening of Celtic stories and Gallic songs. Dinner at the hotel both nights.
Day 5: We leave our hotel and head north to Drumnadrochit on the banks of Loch Ness. This is the main viewing area for the Loch Ness Monster. We will visit the village shops and have lunch. Nearby is a cairn and stone circle at Carn Daley and a recumbent stone with 100 ancient cup and ring rock art marks engraved into its surface. There is also a holy well we can visit. We continue on to Ullapool for our ferry to Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis. Dine on the boat. Hotel in Stornoway for two nights.
Day 6: Today we explore 5,000 years of history through some remarkable sites. We start our day with a visit to the ‘White House’ and ‘Blackhouse’ at Arnol giving us an atmospheric glimpse into the lives of local Hebrideans through the centuries since Viking times. We then visit Dun Carloway Broch overlooking Loch Roag. This is one of the best preserved round stone house in the Hebrides built around the time of Jesus. After lunch we will explore the three stone circles of Callanish. This Neolithic complex is amongst the finest to be found. Anywhere and is known as ‘Scotland’s Stonehenge’. We will learn of the astronomical alignments of the site and experience the power within the land firsthand as we conduct ceremony here. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 7: We take the early ferry to the Isle of Skye and drive the short distance to Dunvegan Castle, the family home of Clan MacLeod for nearly 800 years! We get to visit inside the castle, perched on its rocky promontory overlooking the sea-loch, and learn of its long history and its ‘Fairy Flag’. We can also enjoy the gardens and cafe. We then travel the length of Skye, appreciating its dramatic beauty, on our way to Armadale at the southern tip of the isle to catch the ferry across to Mallaig on the mainland. From there we take the dramatic coastal road south to Lochaline for the short ferry crossing to the Isle of Mull. To our hotel nearby. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 8: We make the journey to Fionnphort for the short ferry ride over to Iona - we go on foot for the day, there are no vehicles on Iona! We visit Iona Abbey, now fully restored and operating as a Christian community, with its beautiful acoustic Chapel. The ruins of the 12th century Nunnery are a haven of peace and the gardens are sublime. As we spend the whole day here there is plenty of time for exploring the island. We return to Mull and then catch the ferry to Oban. Our hotel for two nights is on the waterfront. Dinner at the hotel.
Day 9: We have a free morning in Oban followed by a visit to a couple of special sites just south of the town. Kintraw standing stone is reminiscent of the Easter Island ‘heads’ displaying a face on one side. Close by is Loch Nell Serpent Mound, one of only two serpent mounds known in Britain. It is believed to have been an altar to the goddess. It is Free-choice dinner.
Day 10: On our way south we will visit some of the ancient sites in the Kilmartin Valley. We will visit Stone Avenue, Templewood double stone circle & the nearby chambered cairn of Nether Largie. Kilmartin Visitors Centre for lunch before driving down the side of beautiful Loch Fyne to Clonaig for the ferry to Lochranza, on the Isle of Arran. We stay at a hotel in Brodick on Arran for two nights. Free-choice dinner.
Day 11: We spend this day exploring a variety of ancient sacred sites on the Isle of Arran. The six stone circles of Machrie Moor are stunning! and give us a walk across the moor. Brodick Homemade chocolates shop is a very sacred site! Our final visit is to a stone circle, two cairns and the magical woodland Fairy Dell. Farewell dinner.
Day 12: We catch the first ferry of the day from Brodick to Ardrossan on the mainland and drive to Glasgow Airport for 10 am for your return flight home.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- Collection from and return to Glasgow airport
- All transportation within Scotland
- Accommodation in quality hotels
- All breakfasts and six evening meals
- All admission charges
- All ferry charges
- All tour guide fees.
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Scotland
Spiritual Odyssey
Pilgrimage/Spirituality
Cultural Journey
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