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    Scotland 2025 

      September 9-17

Duarte Castle (near Craignure)_edited_ed

With its wind-swept beaches, brooding castles and fire-lit pubs, Scotland is a country of unmistakable beauty. The charming countryside, the beautiful tumble of raw mountain peaks and deep glassy lakes, and the breathtaking wild magnificence of its coastline have inspired poets for years...​  Come with us and experience the magic!

Sept 9: Evening flight from Newark (EWR) to Edinburgh


Sept 10: Arrive Edinburgh International Airport early in morning. Edinburgh… it has been said that
this lovely city is ‘the jewel of Scotland’s crown.’ You will have the entire day to explore, or
perhaps just spend some quiet time in St Giles Cathedral. Some of the places you might like to see
are of course the Castle at the top of the Royal Mile; St Margaret’s Chapel nearby (the oldest
surviving building in Edinburgh dating from the early 12th century); countless shops and tea rooms;
and at the bottom of the Royal Mile is the Palace of Holy Rood, the Queen’s residence when she was in Edinburgh.

1st Overnight near Edinburgh


Sept 11: Following a relaxed morning, we’ll take a moderate drive to visit one of the most awesome
12th c. monasteries in all of Great Britain, Melrose Abbey. The exterior of this magnificent ruin is
decorated by unusual sculptures, including hobgoblins, cooks with ladles and a bagpipe playing pig!
The abbey is also thought to be the burial place of Robert the Bruce's heart, marked with a
commemorative carved stone plaque within the grounds. But before we return to our cozy hotel,
there is a gem of a little church, Rosslyn Chapel, that we cannot miss experiencing. The chapel is
famous for its decorative art as well as its mysterious associations with the Knights Templar and the
Holy Grail. Rosslyn Chapel's mysteries played a significant role in Dan Brown's 2003 novel,  "The Da Vinci Code."

2nd Overnight near Edinburgh


Sept 12: Hopefully feeling refreshed after our stay outside of the city of Edinburgh, we’ll be
heading on the road today toward the Highlands! But of course, we have to make a few stops along
the way. Stirling Castle sits high on volcanic rock, visible for many miles in every direction, a
location paralleling even Edinburgh Castle's for sheer magnificence. Home to generations of Scottish monarchs including Mary Queen of Scots, the Castle is an enduring and powerful reminder of a fascinating history. While there, we do not want to miss the famous Church of the Holy Rude where John Knox preached and the new infant King, son of Mary Queen of Scots, was christened. We shall then make our way into the Scottish Highlands, one of the last known wildernesses of Europe. The
Glencoe area is considered one of the most spectacular and beautiful areas in Scotland, filled with
glacial lochs, and surrounded by wild and precipitous mountains, deep valleys, and wildly rushing
streams and waterfalls… absolutely breath-taking.

Overnight the Highlands

Sept 13: After one of those full Scottish breakfasts, we shall then head toward Oban, our port of
call to Iona. Along the route we’ll pass Castle Stalker, a four-story tower house c. 1320. It is set on
a tidal islet on Loch Laich, an inlet off Loch Linnhe, and is visible from the A828 road about
midway between Glencoe and Oban. Oban, known as the “gateway to the isles…”
wherever you turn, there's no escaping the fact that the town exists because of the sea. The
Caledonian MacBrayne ferry is the main ferry terminus for Mull, Colonsay, Coll, Tiree and
Lismore. There’s much to experience and see in this lovely town. St John's Episcopal
Cathedral hides in plain sight, occupying one side of George Street. The interior is well worth
seeing, because it offers a unique and intriguing blend of architecture. Oban has a great deal to offer
visitors, whether they are simply passing through or wanting to stop awhile. There will be time to
meander around, perhaps to do some shopping (a good place for finding those sweaters and
tweeds!) In the mid-afternoon we’ll be embarking the Caledonia MacBrayne ferry over to Craignure on
the Isle of Mull (as “walk-on” passengers.) Once on Mull, we ride a local bus to Fionnphort where
we take a small ferry over to Iona. (
ed. note: this is our “outward bound experience."  ; )
1st Overnight Iona


Sept 14: We shall have three nights here on this special Isle of Iona. This tiny island lies in the
Inner Hebrides and is truly one of those ‘thin places’ that we experience on our Celtic Journeys
throughout Scotland, Ireland, Wales and Cornwall. ‘This tiny island holds a very unique place in
the story of Scotland and kindles the imagination of thousands that journey there each year. To
and from its shores have come monks and pilgrims, clan chiefs and kings, artists and crafts people,
farmers and fishermen. The island’s community today tries to follow the tradition of all those who
have gone before them…’
(E. Mairi MacArthur)
2nd Overnight Iona


Sept 15: The best time to come to Iona is after the tourist season, if you want to feel its magic.
The Abbey offers regular services for those who want to experience the far-reaching influence of
the Iona community. On the island there are craft shops, tea rooms, and local stores where the
islanders buy their necessities for living. For those who want to walk, the south and western parts
of the island are well worth seeing. Iona, so exquisitely beautiful, is a haven for photographers,
artists, poets and pilgrims. There are few cars, and the pace just slows down to a gentle kind of
rhythm. Time seems to stand still…

3rd Overnight Iona


Sept 16: An early ferry will take us across to Mull, then the local bus again back to Craignure to
catch the big CalMac ferry over to Oban where our coach driver will pick us up. Once back on the
road, our route can take us through picturesque Inverary on the shores of Loch Fyne. Then on to
well-known Loch Lomond, we’ll stop at the sweet village of Luss with its charming cottages
dating from the 1700’s. We can allow time to walk down to the water for some photos… As this is
our last night for the trip, we’re sure you’d like to get to the hotel where we’ll be staying with
enough time to re-pack and get organized before we fly out the following morning.

Overnight near Edinburgh Airport


Sept 17: Return flight to the states.                                                                                                        

COST OF TRIP:  $3275 airfare included

​(shared occupancy)

Contact us for registration   click here

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