The Western Isles of Scotland

People all over the world have heard of the Isle of Skye, Isle of Mull or Iona even though they are small islands off the coast of northwest Scotland (Iona is just 1 mile by 3.5 miles). This small isle with a serene atmosphere was the first Christian base in Scotland and still has an abbey, check out the sublime Nunnery Gardens - a wonderful place for meditation or reflection (great for photo ops too!). Iona may well have been a pagan ceremonial sacred site before Christianity because it sits on a leyline connecting it energetically with Callanish stone circles on the most northerly Hebridean island of Lewis.

'Scotland's Stonehenge' as Callanish is sometimes called has watched over this magical landscape for more than four thousand years. The site is truly awe-inspiring and it appears probable that it was designed and built around celestial alignments especially the moon. For this reason our Sacred Celtic Pilgrimage to the Highlands and Islands of Scotland in June will be visiting Callanish on the day of the midsummer full moon. We will celebrate the season and the gifts left to us by our distant relatives as we stand amid the towering megaliths under a ceiling of stars and watch ‘la lune’, full and ripe, gain her ascendance into the heavens… www.sacredbritain.com/scotland.html

Dun Carloway Broch is a communal stone house that was inhabited two thousand years ago probably by an extended family and their animals. The Arnol 'blackhouse' is typical of earthen floor thatched roof dwellings brought to Scotland by the Vikings and used for hundreds of years right up until the 1960s. This low windowless house is just as it was left and the peat fire burning in the middle of the floor still produces smoke that killed any mites and bugs from the animals housed at the other end of the house.

Travelling between the islands on the local ferry boats gives the chance for 'birders' or 'twitchers' to look out for some of the many breeds of native birds found in the Outer Hebrides. Its also a great chance get some stunning photographs.

To be continued...