Our pilgrimage opens with ease and shared anticipation. We’ll gather at the Holiday Inn EXPRESS , where our private mini-bus awaits to carry us north into the wild heart of Scotland. Leave the driving to us, settle into the rhythm of the road, and let the landscape begin its quiet work on your spirit.

On our way up to Orkney we'll visit Dunrobin Castle and Gardens, located on the east coast in the Northern Highlands overlooking the Moray Firth. Dunrobin is one of Britain's oldest continuously inhabited houses dating back to the early 1300s, home to the Earls and later, the Dukes of Sutherland

Following our afternoon at Dunrobin we will wend our way north, boarding the ferry for our evening sail to Orkney inclusive of dinner and fantastic views (be sure to be on the look out for the Old Man of Hoy!)

Upon arrival on Orkney we will check into our ensuite accommodations at the lovely Merkister Hotel inclusive of daily breakfasts and 2 evening meals 

During our time on the island, we will visit Orkney’s most extraordinary ancient sites together. To honor both collective connection and personal discovery, our visits will follow a thoughtful rhythm: we’ll gather briefly as a circle at each location, transition into time for spacious, individual exploration at your own pace, and then reconnect as a group at a designated time.

In addition to our unhurried site visits, our shared journey will be woven with guided histories, intimate gatherings, and sacred stops along the way:

• Kirkwall & Sacred Architecture

  We’ll spend a day exploring Kirkwall on a guided tour featuring the magnificent  St. Magnus Cathedral—the northernmost cathedral in the UK, rich in Viking heritage and Romanesque grandeur. Our time in Kirkwall also includes visits to the historic Bishop's Palace and the deeply moving Italian Chapel, a masterpiece of hope and craftsmanship built by WWII prisoners of war.

• The Whispers of Maeshowe

  Step inside the atmospheric chambered mound of Maeshowe for a guided experience like no other. Aligned with the winter solstice sun, this ancient tomb holds centuries of human history—where you’ll hear ancient tales echo off the stones and view fascinating 12th-century Viking runic graffiti carved right into the walls.

• An Exclusive Evening of Myth & Lore

  We will gather for a private, intimate storytelling session created exclusively for our group at the Orkney Story Telling Center. Let the magic of traditional Orkney folklore warm the evening as tales of land, sea, and spirit come alive.

• Ancestral Echoes: Clava Cairns

  On our return journey toward Glasgow, we’ll make a powerful stop near Inverness at Clava Cairns—a remarkably well-preserved Bronze Age sacred complex of passage graves, ring cairns, and standing stones set within a tranquil woodland backdrop.

• Your pilgrimage fee includes two special group evening meals. The charming local venues for these dinners will be announced as our travel dates draw near. Each participant has a £45 allowance included per evening meal, giving you the freedom to choose what delights you from the menu as we celebrate our time together around the table.

Depending on time, as well as the energy and interest of the group, there may be opportunity for additional group excursions, some of which might include: visiting and (if you dare!) crawling into small ancient burial chambers, a stop to view Scapa Flow (a deep waterway with war-time history spanning from Viking times to World War II), and walking along the breathtaking cliffside to view the Yenseby sea stack. 

Throughout our time together, Denise and Nick will share their knowledge and inspire meaningful reflection and conversations rooted in the history, myth and legends of Orkney, and the wisdom within Celtic Spirituality and Nature via the occasional group session and while walking amongst the ancient sites of Orkney. All will be blended beautifully with Walking Awake's eclectic mix of poetry, song, ceremony, story and simply 'walking awake' in all we do!