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<H1><A HREF="scotland-itin1.html">A Sacred Celtic Pilgrimage to the Highlands and Islands of Scotland</A></H1>
<H3>June 2-13th 2009</H3>
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<H2>Itinerary</H2>
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<H5>Day 1- Tues 2nd</H5>
<P>We will collect you from <B>Glasgow Airport</B> and travel in our comfortable minibuses to our hotel in <B>Edinburgh</B> for two nights.</P>
<P>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.</P>
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<H5>Day 2- Weds 3rd</H5>
<P>Orientation meeting to introduce you to the tour.</P>
<P>We will have lunch at a hotel in Roslin before our guided visits to <B>Rosslyn Chapel</B> and <B>Gilmerton Cove</B>. Rosslyn Chapel, made famous by <I>The DaVinci Code</I>, is a remarkable building full of secrets, Green Man carvings and esoteric symbolism that our guide <B>Margaretanne Dugan</B> 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.</P>
<P CLASS="sans">Free-choice dinner not included.</P>
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<H5>Days 3 and 4 - Thurs 4th and Fri 5th</H5>
<P>We drive to our hotel in <B>Pitlochry</B> in the Central Highlands.</P>
<P>After lunch we meet with our guide for the next two days, <B>Barry Dunford</B>, 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.</P>
<P>Our first visit is to the <B>Fortingall Yew</B>, believed to be the oldest tree in Europe at 5,000 years old. It is the entrance into the magical valley of <B>Glen Lyon</B> 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.</P>
<P>Other sites we will visit include the <B>Praying Hands of Mary</B>, <B>Mount Shiehallion</B> and other sites in Glen Lyon valley. Optional whisky distillery visit in Pitlochry.</P>
<P CLASS="sans">On one evening we will be treated to a bardic evening of Celtic storytelling and Gallic songs with <B>Claire Hewitt</B>. Dinner at the hotel both nights.</P>
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<H5>Day 5 - Sat 6th </H5>
<P>We leave our hotel and head north to <B>Drumnadrochit</B> on the banks of <B>Loch Ness</B>. 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 <B>Carn Daley</B> 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.</P>
<P>We continue on to <B>Ullapool</B> for our ferry to Stornoway on the <B>Isle of Lewis</B>.</P>
<P CLASS="sans">Dine on the boat. Hotel in Stornoway for two nights.</P>
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<H5>Day 6 - Sun 7th</H5>
<P>Today we explore 5,000 years of history through some remarkable sites.</P>
<P>We start our day with a visit to the '<I>White House</I>' and '<I>Blackhouse</I>' at <B>Arnol</B>, giving us an atmospheric glimpse into the lives of local Hebrideans through the centuries since Viking times.</P>
<P>We then visit <B>Dun Carloway Broch</B> 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 <B>Callanish</B>. 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.</P>
<P CLASS="sans">Free-choice dinner not included.</P>
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<H5>Day 7 - Mon 8th</H5>
<P>We take the early ferry to the <B>Isle of Skye</B> and drive the short distance to <B>Dunvegan Castle</B>, 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.</P>
<P>We then travel the length of Skye, appreciating its dramatic beauty, on our way to <B>Armadale</B> at the southern tip of the isle to catch the ferry across to <B>Mallaig</B> on the mainland. From there we take the dramatic coastal road south to <B>Lochaline</B> for the short ferry crossing to the <B>Isle of Mull</B> and to our hotel nearby.</P>
<P CLASS="sans">Dinner at the hotel.</P>
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<H5>Day 8 - Tues 9th</H5>
<P>We make the journey to <B>Fionnphort</B> for the short ferry ride over to <B>Iona</B> - we go on foot for the day, there are no vehicles on Iona!</P>
<P>We visit <B>Iona Abbey</B>, now fully restored and operating as a Christian community, with its beautiful acoustic Chapel. The ruins of the 12th century <B>Nunnery</B> 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.</P>
<P>We return to Mull and then catch the ferry to <B>Oban</B>. Our hotel for two nights is on the waterfront.</P>
<P CLASS="sans">Dinner at the hotel.</P>
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<H5>Day 9 - Weds 10th</H5>
<P>We have a free morning in Oban followed by a visit to a couple of special sites just south of the town. <B>Kintraw standing stone</B> is reminiscent of the Easter Island 'heads' displaying a face on one side. It stands next to a ruined cairn. Close by is <B>Loch Nell Serpent Mound</B>, one of only two serpent mounds known in Britain. It is believed to have been an altar to the goddess because it's location on the banks of Loch Nell affords it the only clear view of the three peaks of <B>Ben Cruachan</B> which are associated with the Hag or Crone aspect of the Triple Goddess.</P>
<P CLASS="sans">Free-choice dinner.</P>
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<H5>Day 10 - Thurs 11th</H5>
<P>On our way south we will visit some of the ancient sites in the <B>Kilmartin Valley</B>. We will visit <B>Stone Avenue</B>, <B>Templewood double stone circle</B> and the nearby <B>chambered cairn of Nether Largie</B>.</P>
<P>Kilmartin Visitor Centre for lunch, before driving down the side of beautiful <B>Loch Fyne</B> to Clonaig for the ferry to Lochranza, on the Isle of Arran.</P>
<P CLASS="sans">We stay at a hotel in Brodick on Arran for two nights. Free-choice dinner not included.</P>
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<H5>Day 11 - Fri 12th</H5>
<P>We spend this day exploring a variety of ancient sacred sites on the <B>Isle of Arran</B>. The six <B>stone circles of Machrie Moor</B> are stunning, and they give us a walk across the moor.</P>
<P><B>Brodick homemade chocolates shop</B> is a very sacred site! Our final visit is to a stone circle, two cairns and the magical woodland <B>Fairy Dell</B>.</P>
<P CLASS="sans">Farewell dinner.</P>
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<H5>Day 12 - Sat 13th</H5>
<P>We catch the first ferry of the day from Brodick to <B>Ardrossan</B> on the mainland and drive to <B>Glasgow Airport</B> for 10.00am for your return flight home.</P>
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