Scotland Celtic Tour

DAY 1. - GLASGOW / IONA

The Tour starts from Glasgow Airport & we transfer via OBAN & MULL to IONA
On arrival at Glasgow Airport you will be met by Audrey and Stuart and we set off on our way to Oban where we will have lunch before catching the ferry to Mull . A bus transfer across Mull to Fionnphort where we catch the short Ferry trip to Iona and check into St. Columba Hotel for a 3 day Retreat on this mystical Isle.
Accommodation: St Columba Hotel
Meals included: Dinner, bed & breakfast.

DAYS 2 & 3. - IONA

Iona is a sacred portal that channels a stream of radiant, divine energy and one of the most serene places on earth that blends sea and earth. Iona is a third eye center linked to Staffa island.

Called the “Holy Island”, Iona is the site of the first Christian Monastery founded by St Columba in 563 AD who recognized its sacred aura and reported that God led him to Iona through visions.

Iona Abbey

Under St. Columba, the Iona Abbey became a thriving center for Christianity, and a pilgrimage site for seekers of the early Christian faith. The Abbey remained active for 3 centuries and was invaded by Vikings in the late 800’s. The Monks who survived, escaped to Ireland. A Benedictine Order re-established the Monastery a few years later, and it remained active until the reformation in 1560. Subsequently it was abandoned and fell into ruin.

A spirit - group under the tutelage of Lord McLeod reconstructed the Abbey with the original stones on the site some 3 centuries ago. This led to the resettling of a spiritual, religious community on Iona, fulfilling a prophecy by St. Columba.

Ancient Celtic Priests held Iona sacred long before the arrival of St. Columba. In fact the Gaelic name for Iona, “Innisnam Druidneach” means ‘Island of Druids’. The Druids occupied Iona and used nearby Staffa Island (known for its massive crystallized basalt pillars) as a point of mystical initiation rites for High Priests.

During our stay at Iona, Audrey will lead meditation sessions and we will also spend time exploring the island.

An optional visit to Fingals Cave on Staffa Island via boat at a cost of £25 can be arranged. Staffa Island is in itself a very powerful energy center and Staffa is a temple, a pulsating generator of white crystalline energy, charging all around it. Staffa energizes and protects Iona and is a benefactor of Iona’s vibrational quality.

The varying lengths of hexagonal crystalline basalt salt pillars are like musically tuned windpipes on a massive organ creating a pure symphonic frequency. It energizes and affects the area like an enormous Tibetan bell. And it charges and vitalizes the sea.

Staffa and Fingals Cave are considered a must visit. Fingal’s Cave was the inspiration for German composer Mendelsohn’s ‘Hebrides Overture-Fingals Cave’
Accommodation: St Columba Hotel
Meals included: Dinner, bed & breakfast

 
Staffa Island and Fingals Cave

DAY 4. IONA / INVERNESS / FINDHORN

We depart Iona for the ferry to Mull and Oban and travel north along the beautiful and mysterious Loch Ness en route via Inverness to Findhorn where we spend two nights at Shambala Retreat Center.
Accommodation: Shambala Retreat Center
Meals included: Dinner, bed & breakfast

Shambala – Findhorn

DAY 5. FINDHORN

Findhorn is a Spiritual Community founded by Eileen and Peter Caddy and joined by Dorothy MacLean. It is famous for its original vegetable garden and principles of working with nature.
Over the years it has developed into a strong community providing life skills and various courses for self development and spiritual growth.
Findhorn is synonymous with sustainable living concepts and encourages all to live and work in harmony with Mother Earth.
We will have a group attunement and have time for a walk on the beach in the morning. This afternoon, we have arranged for a tour of the famous Findhorn spiritual center.
Accommodation: Shambala Retreat Center
Meals included: Dinner, bed & breakfast

 
Findhorn

DAY 6. FINDHORN / INVERNESS / ULLAPOOL

We depart Findhorn and travel via Inverness and along the scenic west coast to Ullapool where we overnight.
Accommodation: Royal Hotel, Ullapool
Meals included: Dinner, bed & breakfast

DAY 7. ULLAPOOL . STORNOWAY

An early breakfast and we depart to catch the Ferry to the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides.
Our hotel is situated alongside the harbor in the capital – Stornoway, from where we will spend 3 days exploring the ancient sacred sites of Western Isles of Lewis and Harris.
Accommodation: Royal Hotel, Stornoway
Meals included: Dinner, bed & breakfast

     
Royal Hotel, Stornoway

DAY 8. STORNOWAY / LEWIS

After breakfast we will set off for the ancient sacred site known as the Callanish Stone Circles situated on the western isle of Lewis. Built 3000 BC - before Stonehenge, these mysterious sacred monuments are reputed to be the oldest stone circles in the British Isles.
The stones are known as 'Fir Bhreig' meaning the false men in Gaelic. Another local belief of this Gaelic-speaking community was that when the sun rose on midsummer morn, the 'shining one' walked along the stone avenue, his arrival heralded by the cuckoo's call. This could be a remnant of the astronomical significance of the Callanish stones.

Accommodation: Royal Hotel
Meals included: Dinner, bed & breakfast

 
Callanish Stone Circles

DAY 9. STORNOWAY / HARRIS

Today we will explore the sites and scenery of southern end of Lewis and Harris including a walk to the Scarista Stone, situated in a field 3km south of Horgabost, and overlooking the Atlantic ocean. This monument was possibly used during the old Celtic festivals of Bealtuinn and Lunasda and records the setting sun close to the equinoxes.

Scarista Stone

Alexander Thom suggested that the prehistoric inhabitants of Britain had created an eight month calendar, based on midsummer, midwinter and the equinoxes - which divide the year into four parts - plus Whitsun, Lammas, Martinmas (early November) and Candlemas (early February), so achieving eight 'months'. This was based on analysis of his pioneering surveys of hundreds of prehistoric sites all over the country which showed up the necessary solar orientations for those calendar dates again and again. So the stone circles that we visit were a fundamental part of the daily lives of the ancients.
Accommodation: Royal Hotel
Meals included: Dinner, bed & breakfast

     
Exploring the Western Isles

DAY 10. STORNOWAY / ULLAPOOL / ABERVELDY-GLEN LYON

After breakfast we take the Ferry return to Ullapool and make our way south to Aberfeldy where we check into our accommodation at the Weem Hotel.
This evening we will have a one and a half hour presentation by our local guide, a renowned author and historical researcher, who has spent 12 years of research on the Glen Lyon sacred sites we will be visiting during the next two days.
Accommodation: Weem Hotel
Meals included: Dinner, bed & breakfast

DAYS 11 & 12. GLEN LYON

Geographically located at the very heart of Scotland, this region abounds with Celtic myth and legend. Many ancient sacred sites and places are to be found here. Central to the area is Glen Lyon which is 32 miles long, the longest and one of the most beautiful and dramatic glens in Scotland. Our programme will center around the following sacred sites, all within a 20 mile radius of Glen Lyon:

• The spectacular Acharn waterfall with a hermits cave nearby.
• 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 Glen Lyon 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 between 2000 and 5,000 years old. According to legend, Pontius Pilate was born in its shade and played there as a child.
• The St. Mary's grail chapel with an extraordinary heraldic mural painted on its barrel roof ceiling which displays remarkable and unique hidden symbolism.

Accommodation: Weem Hotel
Meals included: Dinner, bed & breakfast

 
Praying Hands, St Mary’s grail chapel and ancient Yew Tree

DAY 13. GLEN LYON / ROSSLYN CHAPEL / GLASGOW

After breakfast we check out of our hotel and set off to visit Rosslyn Chapel with its Knights Templar connection made famous in the Dan Brown Book – The Da Vinci Code. We then drive to Glasgow where we have a final night Dinner.
Accommodation: Argyle Guesthouse Hotel
Meals included: Dinner, bed & breakfast

Rosslyn Chapel

DAY 14. Tour Ends at Glasgow Airport

We check out after breakfast and drive to Glasgow Airport where we catch the return flight home.

End of Tour

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