Itinerary July 1st - 13th, 2011.

Day One

Our journey begins with a visit to the exquisite Rosslyn Chapel, whose enigmatic carvings, from the Green Man to the famous Apprentice Pillar, are steeped in stories of the Knights Templar and the Holy Grail. We will also have time to take a walk in beautiful Rosslyn Glen. After lunch we take the road westwards through the wild glens of Loch Lomond and cross over to the Isle of Arran, whose variety of stunning scenery has given it the name of “Scotland in miniature.” Relax in a fine country house hotel with its own spa tonight and tomorrow!

Day Two

We explore the unique Bronze Age landscape of Machrie Moor, a beautiful and atmospheric landscape and one of the most interesting and extensive archaeological sites in Scotland. This is a remarkable complex of no less than six stone circles, standing stones, cairns and hut circles. Celtic legend associates them with the great warrior and hero, Fionn MacCuill but they were built by an even older race who aligned them with the movements of the sun. This afternoon we visit the King’s Cave with its rare Pictish carvings.

Day Three

We take the ferry northwards to the mainland again and wander up the west coast to Kilmartin Glen. This is one of the richest megalithic landscapes in Scotland, home to an astonishing array of stone circles, cairns, henges, and forts over 5000 years old. Here we will meet with a traditional Highland Bardic storyteller and keeper of the Old Ways, who will take us to the Hill of Dunadd, once the royal seat of the first Scots in the 5th century, Temple Woods, Auchnabreck, a hidden holy well and other little-known and special sites of power. We stay tonight at a peaceful hotel with spectacular views over a sea loch.

Day Four

A short drive up the west coast takes us to Oban, the “Gateway to the Isles,” where you will have free time to stroll through this bustling Victorian harbour town. Then we cross by ferry to the wild and unspoilt mountainous island of Mull and visit Duart Castle, home of the Clan MacLean, spectacularly situated on a cliff overlooking the sea. A scenic drive through the mountains will take us to the ferry where we cross to the holy Isle of Iona. We stay for the next three nights at the famous St. Columba Hotel.

Day Five

After learning about Celtic spirituality in Scotland, we walk first to the nunnery and then to Iona Abbey, founded by St. Columba, where we will have a short guided tour by one of the Iona Community. We will attune to the spiritual powers of the island and pay our respects to the ancestors at the royal burial mound of Scotland's kings. This afternoon we’ll take a walk up the holy hill of Dun I to visit the Well of Youth, sacred to the goddesses Brigit and the Cailleach, whom we will honour here with story and song here.

Day Six

We take a boat trip over to nearby Staffa Island, home to colonies of wild seabirds, including puffins. The extraordinary hexagonal rock formations and the cathedral-like Fingal's Cave have been known to open the higher spiritual centers within those open to its influences. After lunch, you may wish to visit the craft studios and bookshops in the village, or take a guided walk over the island, passing a faery hill to arrive at pristine sandy beaches where you may lucky enough to find the beautiful Iona greenstones.

Day Seven

Leaving Iona, we head northwards through the western Highlands with their deep glens and lochs made famous in the films Rob Roy and Braveheart. We stop for lunch at Glenfinnan by beautiful Loch Shiel where Bonnie Prince Charlie gathered the clans in 1745, then we take the Road to the Isles, arriving at Mallaig for the ferry ‘over the sea to Skye.’ A drive through this spectacular island takes us to our Victorian country house hotel in the picturesque harbor town of Portree.

Day Eight

This morning you will hear stories about faery tradition on Skye, then we make our way to Dunvegan Castle by the sea, home of the famous Fairy Flag of the MacLeod clan. After lunch at the castle, we will cross the haunted Fairy Bridge and wander through the Faery Glen, a truly magical place filled with strange little knolls believed to be fairy dwellings. Traditional music in Portree tonight!

Day Nine

We drive up the magical eastern coast of Skye through an enchanted country of waterfalls, dazzling seascapes and fascinating rock formations such as the famous Old Man of Storr. We visit the Island Life Museum, a cluster of traditional cottages as they used to be, along with a fine memorial to Flora MacDonald. Then we set sail for the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides, a remote and ancient island that is home to many world-famous archaeological sites and meet with local megalith expert, Margaret Curtis, who will be our guide at the Callanish stones. Tonight and tomorrow, we stay at a peaceful hotel near the sea.

Day Ten

This morning we continue our exploration of this ancient ritual landscape. We can walk from our hotel to Dun Carloway Broch, a round-sided stone tower over 2,000 years old. Then we will drive to other extraordinary sites in the area, such as the Triple Goddess stones and a birthing chair. This afternoon, we cross the causeway to the beautiful and remote island of Bernera, where we can explore a fine example of a recently excavated Iron Age village on a sandy beach.

Day Eleven

We sail back to the mainland, landing at the fishing village of Ullapool. After a stroll through this interesting harbor town, we circle back to the Highlands, stopping for a walk at a spectacular gorge and waterfall. Then we make our way south to the Clava Cairns, one of the best preserved Bronze Age sites in Scotland in a lovely woodland setting. This evening we relax in a fine castle hotel at Pitlochry, a culturally rich town in the heart of the Highlands, surrounded by glorious mountain scenery.

Day Twelve

We pay a visit to the beautiful house and gardens of Blair Castle, ancient seat of the Dukes and Earls of Atholl and home to many tall trees in a grove dedicated to the goddess, Diana. Your last afternoon in Scotland is free for you to take a trip around one of Pitlochry’s two distilleries, shop for last-minute gifts in the town, walk in the woods or meander by the loch-side.Tonight, we celebrate our journey together with a farewell feast and closing circle.