This ten-day pilgrimage provides an introduction to the Scottish roots of the Presbyterian Church as well as its contemporary expression in the Church of Scotland. Pilgrims will also learn about ancient Celtic spirituality and the way its revival is shaping the life of the church today. Highlights include historic Edinburgh, the Isle of Iona with its evocative abbey, and a chance to connect with the active Iona community in Glasgow. Those staying on for a Northern Ireland extension will also learn about the history of The Troubles and contemporary peacemaking efforts while taking in the stunning scenery of the Antrim Coast and the wonder of the ancient tombs at Newgrange and Knowth.

Progressive Pilgrimage offers travel insurance through Allianz's "Group Advantage Plan." Click here to download a brochure. Please note that insurance pricing is based on the South Carolina rate; insurance may be higher for residents of NY, TX, WA, and some other states. If you select insurance and the price is higher than indicated here, Progressive Pilgrimage will contact you before issuing the policy.    

Pilgrims depart Charleston, SC on UA 6043 at 7:42pm for Washington, DC. They will connect to United 978 to Edinburgh, departing at 10:25pm for an overnight flight. Flight schedule subject to change.

We arrive in Edinburgh in the morning and transfer to Glasgow by private coach. We will start our pilgrimage with an opening worship service and by learning more about the Iona Community, headquartered in Glasgow. After lunch at 1:00pm (included), we visit Govan Church, home of the Govan Stones – carved stones, crosses, and sarcophagi dating to the Viking period in Scotland. After a little time to rest, we will celebrate the start of our pilgrimage with a Welcome Dinner. Overnight at Holiday Inn, Theatreland, Glasgow.

We’ll start our day with a visit to Glasgow Cathedral and a walking tour of the city’s historical and cultural highlights. In the mid-afternoon you’ll have free time to explore Glasgow. Dinner tonight is on your own in any of Glasgow’s lovely restaurants. Overnight at Holiday Inn, Theatreland, Glasgow.

Today is filled with travel, as we make our journey from Glasgow to the Isle of Iona in the Inner Hebrides. We will travel from Glasgow to Oban by private coach through the region of Loch Lomond. In Oban you’ll tour the Oban Distillery including a tasting of their scotch whiskey. From Oban, we will take the ferry to Craignure on the Isle of Mull then continue by coach to the westernmost point on Mull for a short ferry ride to Iona. Dinner (included) and accommodations at St. Columba Hotel on Iona.

Travelers will need to move their luggage several times on this trip between the coaches and ferries. We strongly recommend that you travel light and do not bring more luggage than you can handle on your own.

After yesterday’s long day of travel, you can enjoy a restful morning as our activities do not begin until morning worship at Iona Abbey at 10:30am. After our lunch together, we’ll return to the Abbey for a tour followed by a guided pilgrimage/nature walk around the Isle of Iona. The walk will be tailored to the abilities of the group and should be suitable for all. Dinner is included at the St. Columba Hotel. 

Building on yesterday’s experiences, we will start today with a group discussion on Celtic spirituality and how it may shape our faith. The balance of the day is free for you to rest, walk, or explore in this peaceful, scenic locale. Some options for your free time include: a guided hike or nature walk, boat tours to Staffa island with seasonal puffin viewing, shopping in Iona village. Dinner is included at St. Columba Hotel. 

We depart Iona early this morning for another round of ferry and coach travel. Our travels include a stop in the city of Perth to visit St. John’s Kirk, a center of the Protestant Reformation in Scotland and the pulpit of John Knox. If time permits we will also visit nearby Scone Palace. We’ll arrive in Edinburgh in time for dinner (included) and overnight at Radisson Blu, Edinburgh.

Travelers will need to move their luggage several times on this trip between the coaches and ferries. We strongly recommend that you travel light and do not bring more luggage than you can handle on your own.

Begin your time in Edinburgh with a guided tour of Edinburgh Castle. After lunch (included), visit Greyfriars Kirk, with its important place in Reformation history and an original copy of Scotland’s National Covenant. Plus learn about their contemporary ministry in Edinburgh and tour their kirkyard which may have inspired J.K. Rowling in writing Harry Potter! Conclude the afternoon with a visit to the National Museum of Scotland with galleries dedicated to history, art, science, the natural world, and more. Dinner tonight is on your own in Edinburgh’s lovely restaurants. Overnight at Radisson Blu, Edinburgh.

See more of the city today on a walking tour that includes St. Giles Cathedral, the John Knox home, John Knox’s burial site, and the Royal Mile. Just before lunch we’ll join midday prayer at St. Giles and then you’ll have the rest of the day free to explore. Some options for your free time include: Holyroodhouse Palace (advance tickets required, purchase online); National Gallery; Literary walking tours (advance tickets required, purchase online); shopping. We reconvene for a closing dinner. Overnight at Radisson Blu, Edinburgh.

The group will have a private transfer from central Edinburgh to the airport for flights returning to Charleston or onward travels for the extension in Ireland. Those returning to the United States will fly on United 979 departing at 12:30noon to Washington, DC, connecting to UA 6043 to Charleston, arriving at 7:00pm. Flight Schedule subject to change.

Those continuing to Ireland will fly to Belfast where a private coach will transport you to the scenic Antrim Coast. You’ll have time to visit the Giant’s Causeway. Time permitting you can also choose between a scenic coastal hike or a visit to the Carrick-a-Rede Rope Bridge. After lunch we’ll stop by the Bushmills Distillery before continuing on to dinner (included) and overnight at Holiday Inn Express, Derry. 

St. Columba (Colum Cille in Gaelic), founder of the famous Iona Abbey, is also known as the founder of Derry. In the morning we will visit several sites related to St. Columba, including two impressive churches (one Roman Catholic, one Church of Ireland) bearing his name. In the afternoon, a walking tour of Derry will cover it’s the city’s political history to introduce how the city came to be divided and lay the foundation for tomorrow’s conversation around peacemaking. Derry is a small, walkable city with several excellent pubs featuring live Irish music. Dinner tonight is on your own. Overnight at Holiday Inn Express, Derry.

Today we will worship at either the First Presbyterian Church of Derry or the St. Columba Cathedral. In the afternoon, we will visit the Bogside neighborhood, site of the infamous Bloody Sunday massacre and now home to an outdoor gallery of murals dedicated to peacemaking. Our day continues with a visit to Holywell Trust, a center for peace and community building. Here we will here the stories of two local people, one Republican and one Loyalist, who were once engaged in The Troubles but are now doing the work of healing themselves and their community after 40+ years of conflict. Enjoy another free evening in Derry for dinner (on your own). Overnight at Holiday Inn Express, Derry.

Making our way into the Republic of Ireland, we arrive in Newgrange in time for lunch. Afterward, enjoy a guided tour of the passage tombs of Newgrange and Knowth, Stone Age monuments dating from 3,200 B.C., making them older than Stonehenge and the Great Pyramids of Giza. Time permitting, we will stop at the early Christian settlement of Monasterboice. It was founded in the late 5th century by Saint Buithe and was an important center of religion and learning. The site houses two churches built in the 14th century or later and an earlier round tower, but it is most famous for its 10th century high crosses. We then proceed to our hotel near the Dublin airport for dinner (included) and overnight at Maldron Hotel Dublin Airport.

The group will depart together from Dublin on United 981, departing at 11:35am to Chicago (ORD). In Chicago, transfer to United 2016, departing at 6:52pm an arriving in Charleston, SC at 10:16pm. Flight schedule is subject to change per any airline schedule changes.