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Join us on a Celtic Christianity in Scotland, starting at $4,598 from New York, NY, departing on September 11, 2024. Journey to Mull, Iona, Glasgow, Whithorn, Edinburgh, St. Andrew’s, and much more!
Proposed Itinerary :
DAY 1
Depart USA on your international overnight flight.
DAY 2
Our representatives will meet you at Glasgow airport and escort you to your bus. Pass the “bonny, bonny banks” of Loch Lomond as we make our way north to Celtic Scotland. From here, we will follow the coast to Oban, where we will check into our hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 3
Take the ferry today to Lismore. Saint Moluag founded a monastery on Lismore in the 6th century AD. The island was a center of Celtic Christianity and later the seat of the medieval bishopric of Argyll. There are also two ruins of 13th-century castles on the island – Coeffin and Achanduin. Return to Oban for dinner and overnight. Note - The Isle of Lismore involves over 7 miles of walking. Those not willing or able to walk the distance are offered the option to stay in Oban for the day and enjoy the various sites, shops and restaurants in the town.
DAY 4
Iona is the internationally renowned place of Celtic Christianity. In 563, Columba was exiled from Ireland and founded the monastery here in 564 AD. From one of the best-preserved abbeys to St. Martin’s Cross, the island is a place of pilgrimage and reflection for Christians from around the world. The ancient burial ground contains the graves of many of the early Scottish Kings. You will take the ferry back, returning to Oban for dinner and overnight.
DAY 5
Daily Itinerary This morning, you will visit one of Wesley’s early centers of ministry, the “New Room.” This oldest Methodist building in the world is unusually attractive in its basic simplicity. Then, visit the home of Charles Wesley, the famous hymn writer. After lunch on your own, continue to London for a driving tour. See Trafalgar Square, Parliament and Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park, and other historic sights. Time permitting, attend evensong at St. Paul’s Cathedral, the masterpiece of architect Christopher Wren, built after the Great Fire of 1666. John Wesley often worshiped here. On the day of his conversion, Wesley came here for an afternoon, service and was deeply moved by the choir’s anthem, “Out of the Deep Have I Called Unto Thee, O Lord.”(B)
DAY 6
Journey south to the coastal town of Whithorn. Here, Candida Casa, or “White House,” was built by St. Ninian around 397 AD. A monastery was founded around the site and became a place of pilgrimage for centuries. The late medieval priory is ruinous, with only a portion of the nave still visible. The museum in town contains the Latinus Stone, a fifth-century Christian memorial, as well as other finds from the site. See St. Ninian’s Cave along the shore. See the Torhouse Stone Circle, considered a Druid site, and be reminded of the local traditions that Celtic Christians faced in Scotland. Return to Glasgow for dinner and overnight.
DAY 7
Today, you’ll cross Scotland and stop in Stirling. Visit the Church of the Holy Rude, built over the original structure in the 1400’s. See the Battlefield at Stirling Bridge and continue to Edinburgh for dinner and overnight.
DAY 8
Edinburgh replaced Scone as the capital of Scotland in 1437. The site of Edinburgh Castle has held a fort since Celtic times. St. Margaret’s Chapel dates to the 12th Century. The present day fortress continues to serve as a military post as well as museum. Tour St. Giles Cathedral, dedicated to the patron saint of Edinburgh, whose oldest portions date to 1124. See also Holyrood Palace, an official residence of the British Crown whose grounds date back to an Augustinian Monastery. Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 8
Cross the Firth of Forth to Fife. Stop at Dunfermline Abbey, where St. Margaret and Robert the Bruce are buried. Continue past picturesque fishing villages to St. Andrew’s, the ancient ecclesiastical capital of Scotland. Visit the ruins of St. Andrew’s Cathedral and the nearby castle with its notorious “Bottle Dungeon”. Take a look at the “Old Course” at St. Andrew’s, renowned as the home of golf! Return to Edinburgh for dinner and overnight.
DAY 8
Return home with memories of the people and places of Celtic Christianity in Scotland or continue on the Celtic Ireland extension.
Enhance Your Journey
Celtic Ireland Extension-starting from $1599
September 20 - 23, 2024 | $1,599* September 20 – Dublin We will start our day in Dublin with a walking tour of Trinity College. Founded by Queen Elizabeth I in 1592, it is the oldest college in Ireland. We’ll visit the Old Library here and see the Book of Kells, an ornately illustrated Bible produced by Celtic Monks around 800 A.D. Continue on to St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The church was transitioned from a Catholic church to the Church of Ireland over the centuries. Jonathan Swift, author of Gulliver’s Travels and a critic of British rule, was a pastor here. Enjoy a driving tour of the city before checking in at the hotel for dinner and overnight. September 21 – Bru na Boinne, the Hill of Tara & Monasterboice Head north and discover the rich history of Celtic life at the Bru na Boinne Prehistoric Monuments. You will see one of the Passage Tomb sites here, such as Newgrange and Knowth. They are richly decorated with megalithic art. From the time of the first Celtic influence until the 1169 invasion, the Hill of Tara was the island’s political and spiritual capital. It contains several ancient monuments and according to tradition, was the seat of the High King of Ireland. Walk the grounds of Monasterboice Monastery, where some of the finest 9th-century High Crosses can be seen. Founded in 521 A.D. by St. Buite, the ruins remain a testament to their Christian heritage. Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight. September 22 – Glendalough & Dublin Then, board the bus for a ride through scenic Wicklow County to Glendalough, one of the most beautiful spots in all of Ireland. Here, St. Kevin founded a monastery in 498. See the Celtic High Crosses and a stone-roofed church. Explore the wonderful hiking trails around the two lakes. Finish the day with time on your own this afternoon in Dublin, before dinner and overnight. September 23 – Return to the USA Return home with memories of the people and places of your Celtic Christian heritage. Guests taking an extension may be on a different flight than their group and/or traveling companion. Tips & taxes are charged separately (subject to change).
*The trip will take place in case of a group of 16 people
* * The route, as well as the order of visiting places, may be changed due to quarantine restrictions, as well as for safety reasons or due to the weather, road repair work etc.