Day 1, Monday, April 22, 2019 - Depart the Atlanta, GA Airport for our flight on Delta Airlines connecting in Amsterdam to our KLM Airlines flight into Glasgow, Scotland.     M

Day 2, Tues. - Our pilgrimage to Scotland begins:  Upon arrival in Glasgow, we clear immigration, meet our driver and guide.  We depart for Oban, stopping along the way to see Loch Lomond, Scotland’s largest freshwater lake.  Toward the north, Loch Lomond is a sparkling ribbon of water as it spills out of the hills.  Toward the south, it spreads out and this portion of the lake contains many wooded islands.  We continue our travels with views towards the Trossachs, a beautiful region of craggy hills and sparkling lochs that is the meeting place of the Lowlands and the Highlands.  We continue to Oban for dinner and overnight.     D

Day 3, Wed. - We board our ferry to travel to the island of Mull.  Once we have crossed Mull, we take a short ferry ride to the Isle of Iona, our home for the next two nights.  Iona has been called the entry way of Christianity into Scotland and Northern England.  We begin our exploration of the enchanting Island of Iona. Iona is the preeminent Holy site in Scotland. A monastery was established by St. Columba in the 6^th century and he died here in 597. The island is a true “thin space” where pilgrims have sensed the nearness of the Holy throughout the ages.  Upon arrival, we visit the Heritage Centre.  This afternoon we will walk to Columba’s Bay, a pebble beach on the southern coast of the island.  This charming bay is said to be where St. Columba landed on Iona in AD 563 and went on to set up his monastery on the island. We will have some time to reflect, journal and walk the Labyrinth before returning for Evening Prayer.  Dinner and overnight Iona.    BD

Day 4, Thurs. - We walk to the Abbey for Morning Prayer and then adjourn to St. Oran’s Chapel for singing.  We continue to St. Martin’s Cross to begin a hike around the island.  We will see ruins of the original abbey and the adjacent cemetery where 48 Scottish Kings are said to be buried.  According to one legend, Columba was condemned by a Synod in 561, possibly due to his part in a dispute over the ownership of a copy of a Gospel which resulted in the deaths of many in the battle of Cooldrevne. Perhaps because of the difficulties of separating his family political interests and his religious calling or possibly as a penance, he left his beloved Ireland with a group of twelve for exile on Iona in 563. Here he established a monastic community and became the first Abbot of Iona.  In the middle ages it was the site of a Benedictine abbey and over the centuries has attracted many thousands of people on their own pilgrimage.  The afternoon will be free to reflect, visit sites, rest, and browse the quaint shops.  We will join the Iona Community for evening prayers.   Dinner and overnight on Iona.   BLD

Day 5, Fri. - Morning prayers and reflection before saying “goodbye” to Iona as we board an afternoon ferry back to the mainland.  We visit Oban Distillery, famous for its single malt Scotch whisky.  Dinner and overnight Oban.  BD

Day 6, Sat. - Our journey continues as we begin our trek to Edinburgh.  Today we explore the capital of Scotland, Edinburgh.  We visit Old St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, one of the original Episcopalian churches in the city of Edinburgh.  The church was formed when the Bishop and his congregation were forced to leave St. Giles Cathedral at the time of the Presbyterian establishment of the Church of Scotland in 1689.  We continue on to St. Giles Cathedral, the historic City Church of Edinburgh which is located on the Royal Mile between Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse, home to the royal family when they are in Edinburgh.  This evening we will enjoy a traditional Scottish Dinner including dancing and bagpipes.  Overnight Edinburgh.   BD

Day 7, Sun. - This morning we attend the 10:45 AM Mass at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church, dedicated to St. Margaret of Scotland and opened on Thursday, November 4, 1880 by Bishop Henry Cotterill.  After lunch we visit Edinburgh Castle where the views from the Battlement are breath-taking. We will see St. Margaret’s Chapel, Queen Mary’s Apartments and the Crown Room.  The balance of the afternoon will be free to explore on our own.  Overnight Edinburgh.     B

Day 8, Mon. - This morning we travel to St. Andrews to see the ruins of St. Andrews Cathedral, formerly the largest and most magnificent church in Scotland. St. Andrews is widely regarded as the birthplace of golf and we will see the Royal and Ancient Golf Club and St. Andrews University which Prince William attended. There will be some time to shop and enjoy the beautiful surroundings before returning to Edinburgh for some free time in the afternoon.  This evening we join back together to attend Evensong at St. Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral. Dinner and overnight Edinburgh.    BD

Day 9, Tues. - After breakfast we will make a short stop at Dunfermline to visit Queen Margaret’s Cave.  She came to the cave to pray over 900 years ago. Then there was only a wooded path by a stream at the bottom of the valley with a short climb up to the small cave. Now there's a tunnel with 87 steps leading deep underground for you to explore.  We continue with a visit to Stirling Castle, which, legend says, King Arthur wrestled the original castle from the Saxons.  We continue to the Church of the Holy Rude where the infant James VI was crowned in 1567.  We travel to Bannockburn where Robert the Bruce and his army of 6,000, outnumbered three to one, defeated the forces of Edward II in 1314.  This evening we enjoy a “farewell to Scotland” dinner.  Overnight Edinburgh.    BD

Day 10, Wednesday, May 1, 2019 - We depart for Edinburgh Airport where we board our KLM Airlines connecting in Amsterdam to our Delta Airlines flight back to Atlanta, GA.    BM

B - Breakfast    L - Lunch   D – Dinner     M – Meal on Aircraft

Itinerary is subject to change due to local conditions or at the discretion of the leaders.