VOICES & STONES: A CELTIC ISLES SACRED SITES TOUR
with Dr. Gwendolyn McClure, PhD, Vocal Sound Healer
ANCIENT CELTIC ISLANDS OF IRELAND & SCOTLAND
EXPLORE THE BEAUTY OF NATURE & STANDING STONE CIRCLES
EXPERIENCE MUSIC & STORYTELLING
LISTEN TO THE FAERIES…
CLICK PDF BELOW TO DOWNLOAD ITINERARY:
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Day 1: Friday, 25 July
Pick-up at Dublin Airport 9-10am, travel time 2 hrs 30 mins
Our first stop of the Tour is Creacon Wellness Retreat, a charming country estate turned into a serene spiritual haven. When we arrive around noon, we settle our luggage into Creacon’s safekeeping, as check-in isn’t until 3pm. We then are each given a bag lunch, as we embark upon a short drive to the beautiful and highly recommended Baginbun Beach on the Irish Sea (bring your bathing suit if you’re adventurous!).
For those who’d rather stay behind at the meditative environment of Creacon, you can stroll along the grounds, get a massage, or any one of their wonderful readings or energy healing treatments (Treatments are to be booked by you in advance). We return about 4:30pm, and Creacon’s famous Soul Food Menu is served for our dinner at 6pm. All meals at Creacon are included in Tour cost. We’ll enjoy a wonderful Breakfast at 8:30am. Have your bags ready before breakfast, as the bus leaves at 9:30am from Creacon for our traveling adventure around Ireland and Scotland.
Day 2 – Saturday, 26 July
Depart Creacon 9.30am, Quick coffee/tea break at The Auld Mill Bakery approximately 10.30am in Grangemockler, County Tipperary. Arrive at The Clare Glens 12.30pm, a breathtaking, wild, dense forest combined with the calm rushing of the crystal clear waters of the Clare River. Late lunch nearby after a thoroughly enchanting meander through a magical place.
Arrive at Lough Gur Grange Stone Circle approximately 3.30 for one hour or more, then on the road to Tralee for Benner’s Hotel arriving approximately 6pm.
Lough Gur Stone Circle, the largest standingstone circle in Ireland. 113 continuous standing stones (13ft highest stone)
Arrive overnight at Benner’s Hotel, Tralee, County Kerry.
Day 3 – Sunday 27 July
Depart Benner’s for Tarbert car ferry. Cross the Shannon estuary, 20 minutes. Arrive County Clare. Travel to Doolin Caves for 50 minutes tour -125 steps, moderate level of fitness required and view the largest stalactite in Europe at 7.3metres (23feet).
Lunch in Doolin village
Depart for Poulnabrone Dolmen, the most photographed megalithic monument in Ireland.
Visit the 12th century St. Cronan’s Oratory and Holy Well. Teatime at the Burren Perfumery, established in 1972 making small batch natural and organic perfumes.
Onward to Galway city, Eyre Square, and The Galmont Hotel, 1 hr drive.
Day 4 – Monday, 28 July
Depart The Galmont Hotel for Kylemore Abbey. The drive takes you through the Inagh Valley, offering breathtaking views of peatlands, mountains, lakes and glorious countryside where sheep graze freely. You will reach the Abbey after two hours and will have the day to explore this exquisite castle set amongst the Connemara mountains and the café for lunch is renowned for its traditional home-cooked food. Onward to County Mayo, one hour drive, for a two-night stay at The Mariner Hotel.
Day 5 – Tuesday, 29 July
Depart The Mariner at 9am for The Céide Fields, one and a half hours drive.
The Céide fields is an archaeological site on the North County Mayo Coast, the remains of a Stone Age landscape of stone walled fields, houses and megalithic tombs over 5,000 years old and preserved beneath the growing blanket bog. There is a Visitor Centre with audio visual, exhibitions and café.
Depart for Museum of Country Life, one hour drive. Lunch and museum. Archive photography, film and modern exhibition galleries that explore Ireland’s rural past and an almost vanished but recent way of life.
Depart for Boheh Stone or St. Patrick’s Chair, 30-minute drive. One of the finest examples of Neolithic rock art within Ireland and Britain. The Boheh stone is just one of a number of historical and archaeological gems along the Tóchar Phádraig, the ancient chariot route used by the kings of Connaught as they travelled from the royal seat of Rathcrogan in County Roscommon to Cruachán Aigle (Eagle Mountain), as Croagh Patrick, the site of much pagan ceremony, was then known.
Depart for The Mariner Hotel for our second night.
Day 6 – Wednesday, 30 July
Depart The Mariner for Rathcroghan Visitor Museum, 1hr 15 min drive.
Rathcroghan is the ancient capital of Connacht where the festival of Samhain (Halloween) is said to originate. This majestic landscape is the oldest and largest unexcavated Royal Site in Europe.
45 min drive to Athlone, the largest town on the River Shannon. Lunch and free time.
Depart for The Hill of Uisneach 30 min drive. The hill holds a unique place in Irish mythology and is regarded as the sacred centre of Ireland. Since pre-Christian times the hill has been regarded as the ceremonial and sacred centre of Ireland; the meeting point of the ancient provinces, where laws were struck and divisions agreed.
Onwards for City North Hotel near Drogheda 1hr 45 min drive.
Day 7 – Thursday, 31 July
Depart City North Hotel for Brú na Bóinne Visitor Centre (Newgrange) 40min drive.
An ancient Temple, built by Stone Age farmers, about 5,200 years ago, A place of astrological, spiritual, religious and ceremonial importance and older than Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids of Giza.
A passage leads into a chamber with 3 alcoves. The passage and chamber are aligned with the rising sun on the mornings on around the Winter Solstice which falls on either December 21st, 22nd or 23rd.
Depart for lunch (to be decided) and our last accommodation in Ireland, The Half-Way House Hotel, Ballygally, Larne. 2 hour drive.
Day 8 – Friday, 1 August
Early Ferry to Cairnryan, Scotland. Takes approximately 2 hours.
Once landed at 10am we are away up the road via outskirts of Glasgow for a 3 hour drive along the Western side of the Queen of all Scotland Lochs to arrive at Loch Lomond for lunch at the Colquhoun restaurant at approximately 1.30pm.
Loch Lomond
Loch Lomond is Britain’s largest inland stretch of water at 24 miles and is a well-known access point to the Highlands, as well as being one of the most popular tourist destinations in Scotland.
It’d be difficult to find a loch more captivating than Loch Lomond and it’s easy to see why The Bonnie Banks o’ Loch Lomond was written in tribute to the natural wonder.
Next, we make our way up the mountain pass if time allows explore the ancient hill fort at Dunadd. Occupied since the Iron Age, it was once the capital of Dalriada one of the early kingdoms of Gaelic Scotland.
Rest and be Thankful
We will make a brief stop here at the viewpoint to take pictures.
We’ll have a break in the traditional county town of Inveraray for refreshments. Entering the town, your Green Door Tours Guide Jane Donald will point out Inveraray Castle, one of Scotland’s most elegant castles.
Dunadd fort is also the site where the ancient Kings of Scotland were coronated. Would be Scottish Kings would place one foot in the stone footprint meaning their marriage to the land. It’s believed the first King of the Scots Kenneth MacAlpin who united the kingdoms of Dal Riata and Pictland in 843 was inaugurated at Dunadd.
Kilmartin Village
Around 800 ancient monuments exist within a six-mile radius of Kilmartin village. You’ll have around 3 hours to explore this incredibly special place. We can start at the Kilmartin Museum or head straight to the Stones. At the Museum you’ll find a vast array of ancient artefacts including quartz tools used to make prehistoric rock art.
Kilmartin
We recommend starting at the museum. Here you’ll find a vast array of ancient artefacts including quartz tools used to make prehistoric rock art.
Kilmartin Parish Church was designed by architect James Gordon Davis and opened in 1835, though there had been earlier churches on the site. The churchyard has an important collection of early Christian and medieval carved stones, known as the Kilmartin Stones . Some are displayed within the parish church itself, others have been gathered into lapidaria within the graveyard, others still remain lying within it.
The two most important monuments are the Kilmartin crosses, one 9th–10th century, the other late medieval in date, within the church. In the churchyard are a large collection of late medieval gravestones in the ‘West Highland’ style, dating between the 14th and early 16th centuries
Before the pyramids were built, the inhabitants of this area of Scotland had built the first of the burial cairns that make up the Linear Cemetery at Nether Largie South. These Neolithic and Bronze Age monuments, together with the stone circle at Temple Wood and the standing stones at Ballymeanoch and other sites, are all part of the ritual landscape of Kilmartin Glen.
Oban
Oban is a gorgeous town on Scotland’s west coast, full of character, history and breathtaking natural beauty. Nestled along a horseshoe-shaped cove, it boasts some incredible views of the surrounding waters and islands, especially during sunset, when a magical glow is cast over the bay. Overnight stay at the Knipoch Hotel in Oban.
Day 9 – Saturday, 2 August
Depart Oban heading for the Skye Bridge to cross over to the Island. En route there are many places of interest to see on the way.
Castle Stalker
- Between Oban and Glencoe.
- Owned by Lords of Lorn and built in 1320.
Glenfinnan Viaduct
We will then cross the famous Glenfinnan Viaduct, a railway viaduct on the West Highland Line in Glenfinnan, Scotland, built from 1897 to 1901. Located at the top of Loch Shiel in the West Scottish Highlands.
Portree
Next, we continue to the town of Portree on the famous Isle of Skye, which has a population of around 4,500. We will find our rooms in the Royal Hotel Portree before finding lunch amongst the numerous choice cafés and eateries. Portree is the largest town on the Isle of Skye, a gem of the Inner Hebrides Islands.
Meet back at the bus at 3pm and travel to the car park at the Fairy Pools, a magical wonder on the Isle of Skye.
It’s a stunning way to end your day at the famous Fairy Pools before heading back to Portree to wind down for the evening.
This site is best seen in the afternoon. In the chance it’s sunny out – never a sure thing in Scotland – the afternoon sun will hit the crystal clear water just right and make for an unforgettable experience.
The Fairy Pools are a spring-fed waterfall wonder. You can see the first of them after just a five-minute walk from the car park area, but if you want you can hike up the hillside another 30-45 minutes to get some of the best views. This is also a popular natural swimming area, but you may want to consider bringing a wet suit due to the frigid water temperatures.
Hotel: The Portree Hotel
A few well-regarded Restaurants in Portree
The Caledonian café
Birch
Sea Breezes – Sea food
Chargrill restaurant.
Day 10 – Sunday, 3 August
A relatively early start to explore the famous Trotternish Loop. Get yourselves a nutritious bag lunch/drink the evening before or the morning of, as there are no lunch stops on the loop.
The Trotternish Loop
The most popular loop on the island with the highest concentration of landmarks is the Trotternish Loop. The loop is just over 50 miles round trip from Portree and can be driven either clockwise or counterclockwise. Without stopping, it’s almost two hours of driving so the loop easily occupies a full day. And here’s what you’ll find on the Trotternish Loop:
The Old Man of Storr landmark comprised of ancient rock formations is the most popular on the island, located just 6.8 miles outside of Portree. This landmark can only be seen by hiking (optional) nearly 2 1/2 miles round trip.
Start at the car park and enjoy a moderate hike uphill on a well-marked path. As Summer is a busy season, we will beat the crowd by making this our first stop of the day – by mid-morning you’ll be joined by plenty of other hikers. Plan for 1 1/2 to 2 hours here, as the hike takes around an hour and 15 minutes with no stops.
Kilt Rock
On this route we will also see Kilt Rock. This sheer cliff is composed of basalt columns and looks exactly like a pleated kilt (hence the name). Mealt Falls spills over the cliff into the water below, making it truly a sight to behold.
Duntulm Castle
This set of castle ruins was abandoned in 1732 and is a nice place to stop and look around. There isn’t much to see as far as the castle itself, but the area has tons of open space and incredible views.
Fairy Glen
The treasured Fairy Glen at the end of the Trotternish Loop is located a little off the beaten track outside the small village of Uig.
There is a small car park partway down the road leading to the Glen, but the landmark is still about a 15-minute walk from the parking area.
This magical spot called Fairy Glen has concentrically-circled Stones that add to its Sacredness. The rock formation itself is somewhat of an optical illusion, as the backside is more gently sloping with a short steep climb to reach the top. These lush hills and towering rock formations will make you feel like you’ve been transported right into another world.
Time for your portable lunch before heading up to Uig to catch the ferry to Tarbert on the Isle of Harris and Lewis.
From Uig we take the ferry to Tarbert.
Lewis and Harris form the main island of the Outer Hebrides. You can look forward to dramatic landscape, fascinating history and a unique Gaelic culture. It has been named as one of the Best Destinations in the World by National Geographic and is on Conte Nast’s recent list as having some of the best beaches in the world, with so much to look forward to.
After we arrive in Tarbert we make our way up to Stornoway where we are staying at the Royal Hotel Stornoway. This will take almost an hour. Stornoway is the largest town on the island and an important sea port. The town and the surrounding area accounts for 10,000 people, with lots of nice restaurants to choose from.
Day 11 – Monday, 4 August
Ready to leave at 8.00am after breakfast.
The Callanish Standing Stones have to be one of the first places to visit.
The ancient people believed that the rocks on the Isle of Lewis used to create the Callanish Stone Circle were gifts from the Cailleach — from her acts of Earth building. These metamorphic gneiss rocks are among the oldest in Europe and are embedded with various types of crystal such as quartz, feldspar and hornblende. Perhaps these crystals in the ancient rocks create the energy field that is felt so strongly when you visit — all coming from the hand of the Cailleach, a personification of the power of Mother Earth.
Harris Tweed
Next the Carloway factory to see Harris tweed.
It’s an all-natural product that takes years of training to produce, can only be handwoven by the islanders in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, and legally cannot be faked.
It’s not just the look, feel, and performance of this cloth that make it special. It’s also the history, tradition, and century old farm-to-fabric heritage that has become a way of life for the islanders of Northern Scotland. It’s a commodity so unique that in 1933 an Act of Parliament was passed to protect its authenticity and quality standards from counterfeiting, making it the only fabric in the world protected by a law of Parliament. Visit now booked at 10.30am.
Take time to see Isle of Lewis’s Calloway Broch, built in 200BC and used until at least AD 1000. It was built on a mound of rock. A Broch is an Iron Age living structure designed to impress and defend.
Gearrannan Black House Village
Shop and cafe at site for lunch.
The double drystone walls, the low profile and the insulating thatch made the houses suitable for the Hebridean weather, and they were indeed eco-friendly houses in that all the building materials were natural and found locally. There is a beach close by for a lovely walk.
If requested another visit could be given to the Callanish Standing Stones before going back for the evening to Stornoway.
Day 12 – Tuesday, 5 August
After breakfast we take the Ferry crossing from Stornoway to Ullapool on the mainland. This ferry takes up to 3 hours.
On route to Inverness, we will visit the Fairy Glen and Falls and Corrishalloch Gorge
Overnight at The Glenmoriston Townhouse Hotel
Day 13 – Wednesday, 6 August
After breakfast travel south to Clansman Harbour. IV38AU. This journey takes about 20 mins. There is an audio recording on the ferry and they also have sonar equipment, so every help is given to get a sighting of The Loch Ness Monster! There is also a visit included to Urquhart Castle.
Back to the harbour before having lunch at The Clansman Hotel. Then back to Inverness to stay again at The Glenmoriston Town House Hotel.
Evening free time.
Day 14 – Thursday, 7 August
Leave Inverness after breakfast and travel through the beautiful countryside to Edinburgh, calling to visit Glen Lyon, Stirling Castle, and Rosslyn Chapel.
Glen Lyon is the longest enclosed glen in Scotland and runs for 34 miles (55 kilometres) from Loch Lyon in the west to the village of Fortingall in the east.
Stirling Castle
Stirling is often known as the brooch of Scotland, tying the Highlands and Lowlands together.
Stirling Castle, located in Stirling, is one of the largest and most historically and architecturally important castles in Scotland. The castle sits atop an intrusive crag.
Rosslyn Chapel
Rosslyn Chapel has enjoyed a rich, and sometimes turbulent, history. Founded in 1446 as a family chapel, Cromwell’s troops attacked in 1650 and stabled their horses inside the Chapel.
Rosslyn Chapel first found fame thanks to Sir Walter Scott (15 August 1771 – 21 September 1832), one of Scotland’s most famous sons, and prominent historical novelist, poet, playwright and historian. More recently it was used while filming the Da Vinci Code
Edinburgh is the last night we have, and we are staying in the Grass-market Hotel.
The Grass market Hotel is located in the historic Grassmarket old town in Edinburgh, only a 5-minute walk from the Royal Mile and many other famous attractions Edinburgh has to offer.
Day 15 – Friday, 8 August
End of an Amazing Celtic experience.
It is now time to leave Scotland and travel home (or go on for a Poland adventure!). After breakfast the Coach will take you to the Edinburgh International Airport. Thank you for travelling with us! Mar Sin Leat. (Farewell, thank you, bye, see you soon in Scottish Gaelic)
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