Journey to the Sacred Power Sites of Scotland and Celtic Spirituality.June 13-25, 2010 (13 days)
Experience
the incredible rugged beauty! This unique land inspires the
imagination.
We will travel to the isolated and sacred lands of Scotland. Our mystical journey includes the Isle of Iona, Isle of Skye, Arran, Whithorn, Kilmartin Valley, Callanish Stone Circle, Findhorn, Clava Stone Circle, and the Sacred Valley of Glenlyon. Here we meet Barry Dunford the author of The Holy Land of Scotland and Vision of Albion, The Key to the Holy Grail. You will also experience Whithorn, St Ninian's chapel, Whithorn
Priory and the Peter stone. Then we visit the mysterious Rosslyn Chapel,
the Grampian Mountains and Scone. You will delight in the mix of
stunning landscapes and mountains, as we quest this sacred land.
Scotland Itinerary:
June 13th - Sunday - Day 1:
We
have an early morning arrival at Glasgow Airport , where your coach
will be waiting for an 8 AM beginning on our adventure. We visit Whithorn, St Ninian's chapel, WhithornPriory and the Peter stone. We experience the Whithornpeninsular and connect with the energy of the Torhouse Stone Circle, Drumtrodden Standing Stones and other ancient local sites.
Overnight in Whithorn.
June 14th & 15th- Mon/Tues - Day 2/3:
This morning we continue to enjoy the sites of Whithorn and in mid-afternoon we travel to Arran and the The Holy Isle, located in the Firth of Clyde, off the west coast of central Scotland, inside Lamlash Bay on the larger island of Arran. This small island is about 2 miles long by half a mile wide. It's highest point is the hill of Mullach Mor. The island has a long history as a sacred place. There is a spring said to have healing properties, a hermit's cave used by the 6th Century monk, Saint Molaise, and evidence of a13th Century monastery. Indeed the earlier Gaelic name for the island was Eilean Molaise, Molaise's Island. This became corrupted to Elmolaise, Limolas, and finally Lamlash the name now associated with the adjacent bay and town.
It is now owned by the Samyé Ling Buddhist Community, who belong to the Kagyu school of Tibetan Buddhism. The settlements on the island include the Centre for World Peace and Health, founded by Lama Yeshe Losal, on the north of the island. We will visit this Centre, weather and tides permitting.
In the afternoon we experience Arran sacred site, Machrie Moor and its magnificent collection of Stone Circles, Standing Stones and Cairn.
We spend two nights at our hotel on Arran.
June 16th - Wednesday - Day 4:
We have an early morning departure from Arran for Kilmartin Glen. You experience the very important Celtic sites of Kilmartin including Temple Wood Stone Circle. Then we travel on to Oban where we catch the ferry to Mull/Iona.
We spend two nights at our hotel (dinner at the hotel).
June 17th - Thursday - Day 5:
We
spend a full day on Iona, Saint Columba's holy island. Iona is often
referred to as 'The Cradle of Christianity in Scotland'. Here you will
experience attunements on the sacred sites and have time to embrace the
area. We explore the Abbey, Nunnery and Saint Martin's cross. Optionally in the afternoon, you may wish to unwind or take a boat to Fingal's Cave on nearby Staffa Island.
We return to our hotel for dinner.
June 18th - Friday - Day 6:
We
take an early morning ferry from Mull , a silent island of panoramic
views as you journey by ferry to the mainland. We experience a
beautiful drive via the picturesque Eilean Donan Castle, over the Skye Road Bridge and on to Uig for dinner.
We overnight at our hotel in UIG.
June 19th - Saturday - Day 7:
We take the morning ferry from Uig to Tarbert in the Outer Hebridies where you experience the powerful Callanish
stone circle, 'The Stonehenge of the North', dating back to 3000BC. The
layout of the stones is unique and looks like a Celtic cross.
We also visit the two satellite stone circles adjacent to Callanish.
We overnight in Stornoway.
June 20th - Sunday - Day 8:
We continue to enjoy Stornoway and its sights. We experience the essence of the Scottish Isles. Our ferry departs Stornoway to Ullapool. Upon arrival we transfer to Inverness where we will overnight.
June 21st - Monday - Day 9:
We journey to the Clava
Cairns ancient burial and initiation temple. In the afternoon you visit
Findhorn for a guided tour of the community and the world famous
vegetable gardens. Thirty seven years ago three people, who believed
they were brought together by divine inspiration, founded it. You
journey through the scenic and dramatic Grampian Mountains and Scone to
Fortingall.
We spend two nights at our hotel near Fortingall.
June 22nd & 23rd - Tues/Wed - Day 10/11:
We meet Barry Dunford. With Barry, our local guide, we experience Fortingall in the very heart of Scotland steeped in Celtic myth and legend. Central to the area is Glenlyon which is 32 miles long, the longest and one of the most beautiful and dramatic glens in Scotland.
You experience many sacred sites all within a 20 mile radius of Glenlyon:
The Croft Moraig (Field of Mary) Megalithic Stone Circle, believed to date from around 3000 B.C.
- The
"Praying Hands of Mary," a megalithic standing stone in Glenlyon, which
is on an Earth Energy Alignment, or Leyline, with the Croft Moraig
Stone Circle.
- The
Holy Mountain Schiehallion, which translates from the Gaelic as "the
Fairy Hill of the Caledonians." Strange tales are told about this
awe-inspiring mountain of quartz crystal.
- The famous Fortingall Yew Tree, the oldest tree in Europe, believed to be about 5,000 years old!
- St.
Mary's Grail Chapel, with a remarkable heraldic mural, painted on it's
barrel-roof ceiling, displaying amazing and unique hidden symbolism.
In the late afternoon we journey through the scenic and dramatic landscape to Edinburgh where we will overnight.
June 24th - Thursday - Day 12:
Today, we visit the enigmatic Rosslyn Chapel. We explore and meditate on the mysteries of the Essenic
Jerusalem Temple scrolls, said to be buried here. In the afternoon, you
travel to the beautiful Melrose Abbey founded by Saint Aiden in 660AD.
Melrose is also the burial place of Robert the Bruce's heart.
We journey to Glasgow Airport where you overnight and we have our farewell dinner.
June 25th - Friday - Day 13: