Day 1 - Monday 11th August 2008
Arrive in Durham
Durham is easily accessible from all parts of the country via GNER and Virgin Trains. Take the Cathedral bus from the station, or a taxi to the College, where we register and are shown to our rooms. There will be a welcome drinks party, dinner will be served followed by Compline in the College Chapel.
Day 2 - Tuesday 12th August 2008
Durham Cathedral – Bede’s World
A day to relax and enjoy Durham after our breakfast. In the morning we have a guided tour of Durham Cathedral where we will see the final resting places of Bede and Cuthbert. After lunch we go by coach to Bede’s World - a highly imaginative museum set in the grounds of St Paul’s Monastery in Jarrow. Dinner is served at the College. Compline follows.
Day 3 - Wednesday 13th August 2008
Holy Island
After an early breakfast we leave for our pilgrimage to Holy Island. We visit the English Heritage site of Lindisfarne Abbey and St Mary’s Church. We hope that Brother Damian SSF, Vicar of Holy Island, will be on the island today to talk about his work. On our return journey we visit Bamburgh’s St Aidan’s Church – the spot where Aidan is said to have died. We then move on to Seahouses, overlooking the Farne Islands, for dinner - fish and chips (payable locally). Back to Durham saying Compline on the coach as we journey homewards.
Day 4 - Thursday 14th August 2008
Whithorn – Ruthwell Cross – Oban
We begin our pilgrimage journey to Iona today, leaving Durham after breakfast. We travel along the route of Hadrian's Wall, journeying west to the Solway Firth on our way to Whithorn where St.Ninian built his Candida Casa in 397 – marking the start of this Celtic era as the first Celtic monastery was founded here – a community from which all others evolved. On our way to Whithorn, we will stop to see the Ruthwell Cross - the oldest Celtic cross in the UK. We head north and a magnificent drive around the shores of Loch Lomond takes in some dramatic scenery before we eventually arrive in Oban. Dinner will be served at the hotel.
Day 5 - Friday 15th August 2008
Oban
Today will be a chance to relax, enjoy the lovely town of Oban and shop. There are many things to do in Oban and we hope that you will make the most of this opportunity to visit the post and harbour. You are free to purchase your own dinner this evening in a restaurant of your choice. Compline is said later in the evening to prepare for our pilgrimage to Iona tomorrow.
Day 6 - Saturday 16th August 2008
One day pilgrimage to Iona
After breakfast we board the ferry to the Isle of Mull. We cross Mull and then board a smaller ferry at Fionnhport, which will take to us to Iona. We will enjoy a free day on Iona where you can relax, and maybe tour the island, visit the Monastery, read or meditate. There are several options for lunch today. We return back to Oban in the afternoon once again enjoying the splendid scenery on the island of Mull.
Day 7 - Sunday 17th August 2008
Farewell and Departure
A very early start with breakfast at our hotel in Oban before boarding the coach for our return journey to Durham. We will arrive mid-afternoon when we will say our goodbyes and return home.
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