With Denise Crawn

Join a Walking Awake pilgrimage to the Isle of Iona in Scotland, created in partnership with Columcille Megalith Park and Kirkridge Retreat Center. Registration is open to all.

Following the success of the shared 2024 journey, Columcille Megalith Park, Kirkridge Retreat Center, and Walking Awake are delighted to offer this pilgrimage again in August 2026.

If you feel drawn to the connections between these three places, are inspired by Celtic spirituality and nature, or have long dreamed of visiting Iona — or returning there — this journey may be for you.

The pilgrimage begins on Friday, August 7th, 2026, with a group pickup by private-hire bus from a pre-designated meet-up point in Glasgow, to be announced. From there, the group will travel through the Scottish countryside to Kilmartin Valley, where participants will explore ancient sites, standing stones, and the museum. The day concludes in Oban, known as the “Gateway to the Isles,” with overnight accommodation on the esplanade and a shared evening meal by the water.

The following day, the group will travel by public transportation — two ferries and a bus — to the Isle of Iona and settle into Bishop’s House, the week’s home base. Built in 1884 and originally known as Saint Columba’s House, Bishop’s House is an Episcopalian retreat house that welcomes all. The group enjoyed a memorable stay here in 2024 and looks forward to returning.

During the week on Iona, Denise and Nick will lead guided walks and reflective sessions, along with group discussions on Iona’s history and mythology, our relationship with nature, and aspects of Celtic spirituality. Visits will include beloved sites such as Columba’s Bay, the Hermit’s Cell, the Nunnery ruins, Oran Chapel, and Iona Abbey, where Kirkridge founder John Oliver Nelson found deep inspiration. There will also be opportunities to visit places linked by name to Columcille Megalith Park, including the Hill of the Signal, the Glen of the Temple, Dun-I, and Brigid’s Well.

The week will explore the stories of Columba, Oran, Brigid, Vikings, William H. Cohea, Jr., Fred Lindkvist of Columcille Megalith Park, John Oliver Nelson of Kirkridge Retreat Center, and George MacLeod of the Iona Community. Poetry, storytelling, ceremony, ritual, and music will also be woven throughout the experience.

As Bill Cohea, founder of Columcille, is quoted: “From the Beginning to the Beginning.” Together, we will deepen our connection to this sacred isle as individuals and as a community.

This pilgrimage is limited to 15 registrations, and early booking is strongly recommended, as the previous Iona journey sold out quickly.

Early Discount Rate (expires May 1st, 2025):

$3,000.00 per person for shared accommodation, if registered by May 1st, 2025. After that date, if space remains, the base price increases to $3,200.00 per person.

Single room option (+$300.00): A limited number of single rooms will be available in Oban and Iona on a first-reserve basis, for a total of $3,300.00 per single room reservation at the early discount rate, while available.

Sea-view rooms in Oban (+$200.00 per room): If available, sea-view rooms in Oban may be offered to those who express interest early. The surcharge is $200.00 per room, payable with the final pilgrimage payment. Interested guests should note this upon registration and will be placed on a wait-list.

Note: Rooms in Oban are ensuite, while rooms at Bishop’s House are not. There are 5 bathrooms, each with a private tub or shower, shared among 21 guests.

How to secure your place on this journey:

First, confirm availability with Denise Crawn.
Next, review what is and is not included in the pilgrimage fee.
Then, read the pilgrimage details carefully to see whether it is the right fit for you.
Review Walking Awake LLC’s Terms of Agreement and Cancelation Policy.
Finally, place your non-refundable deposit of $700.00 to reserve your spot.

Payment Schedule for August 7th–15th, 2026:

Initial non-refundable deposit of $700.00 due upon registration
August 1st, 2025: $700.00 due per reservation
December 1st, 2025: $700.00 due per reservation
February 1st, 2026: $700.00 due per reservation
May 1st, 2026: balance due in full

If registering after May 1st, 2026, and space remains, the full pilgrimage fee is due at once.

Included in the base pilgrimage fee:

Private-hire bus pickup from the Glasgow meet-up location, with a day trip to Kilmartin and early evening drop-off at the Oban hotel
Return ferry transport: Oban/Craignure and Fionnphort/Iona on August 8th and August 15th, 2026
Return public bus transport: Craignure/Fionnphort
1 night shared accommodation at Muthu Alexander Hotel in Oban
7 nights shared accommodation at Bishop’s House in Iona
Evening meal in Oban on August 7th, 2026 (£40pp limit)
Breakfast on Saturday, August 8th, 2026 at the Oban hotel
All breakfasts, lunches, and dinners at Bishop’s House
Week-long admission to Iona Abbey and Museum
Guide and bus driver fees
A $150.00 donation to be shared equally between Columcille Megalith Park and Kirkridge Retreat Center, made after the pilgrimage

Not included in the base pilgrimage fee:

Airfare
Onward travel after arrival in Oban on August 15th, 2026
Any travel, meals, or accommodation before or after the pilgrimage dates
Single room and sea-view surcharges
Optional boat trip to Staffa at £40pp
Required individual travel insurance
Tips for the bus driver, guides, or other services
Any unforeseen costs caused by travel delays within the itinerary
Any options not listed above

Leader

Denise Crawn

A former Kirkridge employee, Columcille Board Member, and current resident of Scotland, Denise has been drawn to Celtic traditions since childhood and spends as much time as possible in nature and at ancient sacred sites. She is the owner of Walking Awake, LLC, the author of Walking Awake: The Faces In Nature, and the Walking Awake on the Isle of Iona Inspirational Card Deck and Book Set.

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