This eleven-day pilgrimage provides a deep dive into the Scottish roots of the Presbyterian Church as well as its contemporary expression in the Church of Scotland. Pilgrims will also connect with the contemporary Iona community in Glasgow and on Iona. Highlights include Edinburgh and Glasgow, the Isle of Iona with its evocative abbey, and key sites related to the life and ministry of John Knox in St. Andrews and Edinburgh. Itinerary is representative and is subject to change based on guide and site availability.

Travel Insurance

Travel Insurance is available from Trawick International while completing your registration or until 48 hours before departure.

1. You should be able to walk, with luggage, for up to half a mile on uneven surfaces, such as cobblestones.

2. On most days, you will be out of the hotel between 9am and 5pm, with breaks along the way and some free time to rest.

3. You should be able to walk 12,000 steps per day and stand while listening to our professional guides

4. You should be able to sleep in hotels located in city centers, which may have road noise. Air conditioning in Europe is less effective than in the US and may not cool your room as much as you're used to back home.

5. You should, after a brief orientation, be able to navigate towns and cities on your own.

We depart St. Louis at 3:24pm on United 1761 to Chicago, arriving at 5:00pm. We depart Chicago at 6:40pm on United 118, arriving in Edinburgh at 8:25am.

We arrive in Edinburgh at 8:25am and leave directly for Glasgow. We will begin by connecting with members of the Iona Community to learn about their mission and ministry. After lunch (included) we’ll visit Govan Church, home of the Govan Stones – carved stones, crosses, and sarcophagi dating to the Viking period in Scotland. We’ll check into our hotel in the mid afternoon, giving you some free time before our opening dinner (included). Overnight at Radisson Blu Hotel, Glasgow.

We’ll get a slightly later start today, giving you a chance to rest after your travel and first day in Scotland. We’ll start in the mid morning with a walking tour around Glasgow, including St. Mungo’s (Glasgow Cathedral), George Square, and other sites of interest. After lunch (included), you’ll have the afternoon and evening free to explore Glasgow and enjoy dinner on your own. Overnight at Radisson Blu Hotel, Glasgow.

Today is a full travel day. We depart early for Oban, the gateway to the Hebrides. We’ll travel through Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, arriving in Oban in time for you to enjoy lunch (on your own)  at any of the cafes or restaurants in town. We’ll depart Oban by ferry for the Isle of Mull, travel across Mull, and arrive in Fionnphort for our final ferry of the day. We arrive on Iona in time to unpack and walk around before our dinner (included). Overnight at St. Columba Hotel.

We start our day with worship at the Iona Abbey. Following worship, we’ll enjoy a guided tour of the Abbey, Nunnery, and village. After lunch (included), our guide will lead a nature walk towards the south end of the island, discussing the natural history, geography, and geology of the island and the region. Dinner is included at St. Columba Hotel.

Today, we’ll join the Iona Community for Sunday worship in the mid-morning. After some time for reflection as a group, you'll have lunch (on your own) and a free afternoon.  Dinner (included) and overnight at St. Columba Hotel.

Today, we repeat our arrival travels in reverse, leaving Iona on a small ferry, traveling across the Isle of Mull, crossing from Craignure to Oban, and boarding our private coach for Dundee. We’ll stop along the way at Glencoe, site of the Massacre of Glencoe. Lunch at the Glencoe Cafe (on your own). We’ll arrive in Dundee in time for dinner (included) at the Apex City Quay Hotel and overnight accommodations. 

Today we travel to St. Andrews, visiting the Holy Trinity Church, a congregation of the Church of Scotland. John Knox preached his first sermon from the Holy Trinity pulpit and returned later to condemn the Catholic Church.  We’ll visit Kingsbarns Distillery for a tour, whisky tasting, and lunch, before returning to St. Andrews for a tour of the ruined Cathedral, once the headquarters of the Scottish Catholic Church before the reformation. After some free time in St. Andrews, we return to Dundee where you can enjoy dinner on your own. Overnight at Apex City Quay Hotel.

Today we depart early for Edinburgh. We’ll begin with a walking tour of the Royal Mile, including the exterior of the John Knox House, John Knox’s grave, and St. Giles Cathedral. After lunch (on your own) we’ll visit Edinburgh Castle. A portion of this visit is guided, but you will have time to explore the castle independently. Dinner is on your own. Overnight at Radisson Blu Hotel, Edinburgh City Centre.

Today, we’ll start with a visit to Greyfriars Church in the Grassmarket. Greyfriars is a congregation that continues to actively seek their call to serve their neighbors, most visibly through the Grassmarket Community Project. We’ll meet with a member of the clergy and a representative of the Grassmarket project, and enjoy lunch at the Grassmarket Cafe, one of the social enterprises founded by the church. After lunch (included), you have the balance of the afternoon to explore Edinburgh, before we re-gather for our closing worship and dinner (included). Overnight at Radisson Blu Hotel, Edinburgh City Centre.

We depart Edinburgh for Chicago at 11:30am on United 119, arriving at 2:00pm. We depart Chicago at 4:45pm on United 4518, arriving at 6:16pm.