SacredSitesJourneys-Logo-Sm.jpg (15505 bytes)SACRED SITES JOURNEYS

Since 1994 ...Spiritual Pilgrimages
to the world's most important Sacred Sites
to enliven your Body, Mind and Spirit


ENGLAND

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Sacred Journey to Avalon & Beyond
July 18 - 25, 2015


Post-Tour Extension
to Tintagel & Boscastle, Cornwall

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July 25 - 28, 2015

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TOUR REGISTRATION CLOSED

Fourteen sacred travelers from the USA, Canada, Australia, Germany & Portugal
will meet at London's Heathrow Airport for the beginning of our journey on Saturday, July 18, 2015.
If you'd like to follow our daily tour activities, please bookmark this page and check back July 18th - 28th.


If you wanted to join us this year, but were unable to do so, start making your plans now
for our 2016 spiritual journey, which will be held August 6 - 13, 2016.
Full details to be posted soon on our website at www.SacredSitesJourneys.com

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Experience and explore some of the most powerful sacred sites on Earth!
Join us for this spiritual pilgrimage to Stonehenge (Inside the circle!), Glastonbury - the Isle of Avalon,
Avebury, Silbury Hill, West Kennett Longbarrow and possible Crop Circles.

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Experience the powerful energies and understand the esoteric significance
of the mysterious stone circles and other power spots
that will come alive for you, as you
walk the ancient pathways
and connect with the rich legacy of the
Celtic Goddess Tradition and its Avalonian Mysteries.

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Participate in meditations and sacred ceremonies to connect with this ancient land, the Ancestors & the Divine Feminine!

twinkle2.gif (912 bytes)PRIVATE ENTRANCEStwinkle2.gif (912 bytes)

STONEHENGE - Inside the circle!
NOTE: Normally if you visit Stonehenge, you walk around the circle on a walkway many feet away from the stones.
Through joining a group such as ours you are able to be inside the circle to experience their powerful energies!

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GLASTONBURY: The Chalice Well, fountainhead of the Red Spring

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GLASTONBURY: The
Well House for the White Spring

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GLASTONBURY: Goddess Temple with Lynne Orchard, Priestess of Avalon

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BATH: Private Entrance into the Cross Bath

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OTHER SACRED SITES YOU'LL EXPERIENCE:

WILTSHIRE
World-famous Avebury, Silbury Hill and West Kennett Longbarrow, all a part of the ancient temple landscape
of the Salisbury Plain, where you will experience the powerfully transformative and palpable energies
that have endured at these ancient sites for centuries!

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CROP CIRCLES

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Our journey is during the crop circle season.
We'll explore the strange and puzzling mystery of these intricate symbols that seem to appear out of nowhere in the local fields.
(Admission to fields is subject to permission of the owner, at the time of our request.)

 


GLASTONBURY
Glastonbury Tor  - Transcend the veil of time and place and connect with the lingering energies from ancient Avalon!

 

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OPTIONS:

Glastonbury Abbey

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WearyAll Hill and Bride's Mound


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BATH

Walking Tour of the older parts of the Georgian city center

 

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Entrance into the Roman Baths

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WELLS
Wells Cathedral, the Vicar's Close & Bishop's Palace, where sacredness has reigned for centuries!

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CORNWALL EXTENSION - TINTAGEL & BOSCASTLE

Tintagel Castle, the legendary birthplace of King Arthur

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Arthur’s Hall of Chivalry

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Merlin’s Cave

 

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St. Nectan’s Glen

 

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Boscastle: Witchcraft Museum

 

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Minster Church
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PERSONNEL

Tour Director/Featured Speaker: Andrea Mikana-Pinkham
Ceremonialist and Researcher/Teacher of the Goddess Tradition & Ancient Megalithic History

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Director of Sacred Sites Journeys
Andrea has been leading our spiritual pilgrimages to England since 2004.

Andrea Mikana-Pinkham is the Founder/Director of Sacred Sites Journeys. She is an avid practitioner of the Goddess Tradition. In July 2008 Andrea received the auspicious initiation as a Sister of Avalon from the late Koko Newport, Priestess of Avalon during a private entrance and ceremony at the Chalice Well.

Andrea has been an intuitive channel since 1987, bringing through the energy of the Kumaras, teachers of the Divine Feminine. During a visit to Glastonbury Tor many years ago, Andrea received the message that part of her service to the upliftment of consciousness on the planet was to bring pilgrims to holy Avalon, which she has avidly been doing ever since!

She is a Lady Knight Templar and the Grand Prioress of The International Order of Gnostic Templars, a modern-day spiritual Templar Order dedicated to the revival of the Goddess Tradition and Gnostic Wisdom. Andrea is also a trained shamanic practitioner, Reiki Grand Master of Ichi Sekai (One World) Reiki, and a spiritual counselor.

AndreaMikanaPinkham-PeterSterling-ChaliceWell-July2009.jpg (17804 bytes)A Message from Andrea: I invite you to join our smaller group of spiritual pilgrims as we explore mystical sacred sites in and around the sacred land of Avalon, today the area of Glastonbury, as well as in the ancient land of Cornwall. I've traveled and led groups to these power places several times during the last several years, and have always found them to be alive with the ancient wisdom and powerful energies! During our sacred journey Michael, Lynne and I will facilitate meditations and rituals to assist you to connect with the transformative energies of these sacred sites and the Celtic Gods and Goddesses. As well, I will also offer optional group Sharing Circles, which in the past we've found to be extremely supportive for integration and mutual support. I'd be honored to support you to manifest your dream of traveling to England, and will assist you to create the experience of a lifetime during this spiritual journey.
Andrea & Harpist Peter Sterling at the Chalice Well, July 2009.

For more information about Andrea, Click here

Spiritual Tour Guide: Michael Orchard
Ceremonialist and Researcher/Teacher of the Goddess Tradition & Ancient Megalithic History

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Michael has lived and worked in Glastonbury, otherwise known as The Isle of Avalon, for over 30 years. He has always had a love for the ancient history of the place and all the myths and legends associated with it. Over the years Michael has visited many sacred and historical sites throughout the British Isles, and is fascinated by the cultures of the ancient people of these lands.

For many years, Michael together with his wife Lynne, was the Guardian of one of Britain’s most well known and sacred sites, the famous Chalice Well Gardens in Glastonbury, one of the legendary resting places of the Holy Grail. Here Michael personally welcomed thousands of pilgrims from around the globe, and helped them to understand and to feel the special energies and legends of the holy well and its healing waters.

Michael is a good communicator, and on his tours brings the history alive through a skillful combination of myth, history, and local folklore seasoned with some good West Country English humor.

Michael is also an accomplished Ceremonialist and will be facilitating ceremonies during our spiritual pilgrimage at the sacred sites that he knows and loves. Michael’s philosophy of tour guiding is to give his groups some background information and then to allow folks to feel the energies and the spirit of the place themselves. There is always time to sit under a tree, to touch an ancient standing stone, to have a prayer or a wish, or to dowse some earth energies. And after all the excitement of a new place, there is usually time for a cup of tea or a spot of retail therapy as well! Michael looks forward to meeting you and guiding you through some of the wonders of ancient Britain!

Ceremonialist: Lynne Orchard
Priestess of Avalon

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Lynne Orchard is a Priestess of Avalon who lives in Glastonbury. She has been a Priestess since 2002. She became an honorary Priestess after being the Guardian of the sacred Chalice Well in Glastonbury for many years. In her time as Guardian of the Well, Lynne, together with her husband Michael conducted many sacred ceremonies, celebrating the wheel of the year, handfastings, blessings, rites of passage, naming ceremonies, and initiations. Since leaving the Well in 2005 Lynne has continued to do ceremonial work and to deepen her connection with the Isle of Avalon and to honor the presence of the Goddess and divine feminine within the landscape.

Lynne also works deeply with people as a therapist, helping her clients find their wholeness and integrity through a spiritual approach to grounded bodywork. She works primarily with essential oils and massage, and with craniosacral therapy.

Lynne has traveled to many sacred places in the world and her core belief is to honor the earth and all living beings as a manifestation of the divine play. Lynne uses ritual and ceremony to invite you to join her in entering the world of the Goddess and to embark on a journey of deep transformation.

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BRIEF ITINERARY
July 18 – 25, 2015

Day 1. Saturday, July 18. Arrive Heathrow; Group Transfer to Glastonbury; Welcome Dinner (D)
Morning group transfer departs London's Heathrow Airport to Glastonbury.
Stop along the way for a quick lunch on your own.
Arrive Glastonbury. Check in at B and B’s.
Free time
Group Meeting and Introduction to Glastonbury/Avalon with our Guide Michael Orchard
Welcome Dinner
Overnight Glastonbury.


Day 2. Sunday, July 19. Glastonbury Tor; Option: The Abbey; Free Time (B)
Morning visit to Glastonbury Tor.
Return to town. Lunch on your own.
Free time or option to visit The Abbey with Michael
Dinner on your own.
Overnight Glastonbury.


Day 3. Monday, July 20. Free Time; Bath: Walking Tour or Free Time;
Entrance into Roman Baths; Private Entrance into Cross Bath (B)
AM: Free time
Noon: Depart to Bath; arrive and enjoy a Walking Tour with our Guide Michael. OR enjoy free time.
Lunch on your own.
Visit the old Roman Baths.
Diinner on your own with the group.
Return to Glastonbury.
Overnight Glastonbury.


Day 4. Tuesday, July 21.
Chalice Well and White Spring Private Entrances; Free Time; Private Ceremony at Goddess Temple (B)
Morning Private Entrances at the Chalice Well and the Well House for the White Spring
for special meditations and rituals facilitated by Michael and Lynne Orchard
Free time
Lunch on your own.
Free time.
Option to visit WearyAll Hill and Bride’s Mound with Michael
Evening Private Ceremony at Goddess Temple with Priestess of Avalon Lynn Orchard
Dinner on your own.
Overnight Glastonbury.


Day 5. Wednesday, July 22. Silbury Hill, West Kennett Longbarrow, Avebury, Crop Circles (B)
Morning departure to the Avebury area; Arrive and visit Silbury Hill and West Kennett Longbarrow
PM: Lunch on your own at Avebury cafeteria
Visit to Avebury, followed by time for shopping at the Henge Shop
Visit any crop circles that might be available, fitting them into the day as we can.
Return to Glastonbury.
Dinner on your own.
Overnight Glastonbury.


Day 6. Thursday, July 23. Wells; Free Time; Group Dinner (B/D)
Morning departure to Wells Cathedral, Bishop’s Palace and Vicars’ Close and Gardens
Lunch on your own in Wells.
Return to Glastonbury
. Free time.
Group dinner.
Overnight Glastonbury.

Day 7. Friday, July 24. Salisbury; Stonehenge – Free Time and Private Entrance (B)
Morning departure to Salisbury: Walking tour; lunch on your own at Boston Tea Party; tour of Cathedral
Depart to Stonhenge – Free time to visit the circle on your own, the museum, gift shop.
Snack supper on your own at the on-site café.
7:30PM – Special access
Return to Glastonbury.
Overnight Glastonbury.

Day 8. Saturday, July 25. Group Transfer to London Heathrow Airport (B)
Morning group transfer to London's Heathrow International Airport.
(IMPORTANT: Please book your flight to depart AFTER 1:00PM. Thank you.)


OR, Continue to CORNWALL
July 25 – 28, 2015
NOTE: This itinerary involves some long walks over rough terrain and at times climbing a considerable number of stone steps.
Therefore it’s only suitable for those who are physically fit and able.


Day 8. Saturday, July 25. To Cornwall – Tintagel Area: Arthur’s Hall of Chivalry; Free Time (B/D)
Morning departure to Cornwall via Dartmoor
Brief visit to the famous Lydford Gorge with its White Lady waterfall and the Devils Cauldron
Arrive in Tintagel for a late lunch on your own
Visit King Arthur’s Hall of Chivalry
PM: Free time in Tintagel for exploration on your own and/or shopping
Later afternoon check in at the hotel.
Group dinner at the hotel.
Overnight Tintagel.

Day 9. Sunday, July 26. Tintagel: Tintagel Castle; Merlin’s Cave Free Time (B/D)
AM: Visit to Tintagel Castle
Lunch on your own at the on-site cafe.
PM: Visit to Merlin’s Cave (tide allowing)
Return to hotel.
Free time.
Group dinner at the hotel.
Overnight Tintagel.

Day 10. Monday, July 27. Tintagel: St Nectan’s Glen; Boscastle Witchcraft Museum; Minster Church (B/D)
9:00AM – Depart to St Nectan’s Glen
PM: To Boscastle – Lunch on your own
Visit Witchcraft Museum and Minster Church
Return to Tintagel
Group dinner at the hotel.
Overnight Tintagel.

Day 11. Tuesday, July 28. Group Transfer to London Heathrow Airport (B)
Morning group transfer to London's Heathrow International Airport.
(IMPORTANT: Please book your flight to depart AFTER 7:00PM. Thank you.)
Service ends on arrival at Heathrow


FOR A DETAILED ITINERARY SEE BELOW

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ITINERARY
July 18 - 25, 2015
(B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)

Day 1. Saturday, July 18. Arrive Heathrow; Group Transfer to Glastonbury; Welcome Dinner (D)
This Sacred Sites Journeys tour is LAND ONLY.
You are responsible to book your international flights to and from London's Heathrow International Airport. IMPORTANT: Please book your flight to arrive by 8:00AM, so that you will have time to clear Immigration, Baggage Claim and Customs and transfer to Terminal 5  (if you do not arrive there) for our 11:00AM group meeting and transfer. NOTE: If you’re not able to arrive by 8:00AM, we suggest that you fly in a day early. There are several airport hotels where you can spend the night. This will also assist you to overcome jet lag and be rested for the beginning of your spiritual journey.

Upon arrival at Heathrow clear Immigration, claim your bags and exit through Customs. Meet the group and Tour Director/Speaker Andrea Mikana-Pinkham and our Tour Guide Michael Orchard in the Arrivals Hall in Terminal 5 (full details to be announced in the final tour itinerary). We board our motor coach for our drive through the English countryside. We'll stop along the way for lunch on your own with the group.

England-Glastonbury.jpg (20250 bytes)Arrive mid-afternoon in mystical Glastonbury - fabled Avalon! For centuries it has been the gathering place for those following the ancient Druid and Celtic traditions honoring the Divine Feminine. The Goddess is definitely alive in Glastonbury! In the sacred landscape Her body is the soft rounded hills. Her love will whisper to your heart and be your source and inspiration as it enfolds you during your time here. The small town of Glastonbury still preserves its long history and rich traditions, along with a uniquely blended atmosphere of modern times. People are pulled here from all over the world by a special something...just like you have been.


On our arrival we check in at our charming Bed and Breakfast, located a two-minute walk from the heart of downtown.PilgrimsBandB-Garden.jpg (31669 bytes) We've  been using this B & B for our groups for the past few years. They operate a non-smoking, ’shoe-free’ house, so please feel free to bring your slippers to keep your toes warm. A sheltered smoking area is available in the garden. They have a ‘come and go as you PilgrimsBandB-Room.jpg (12081 bytes)please’ policy and provide front door keys for all the rooms. Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the house and gardens.
All rooms are en-suite with their own shower. All rooms are warm and comfortable, with hairdryers and tea/coffee-making facilities, plus little extras which makes you feel at home. Facilities: The focal point of the house is the kitchen with its large dining table, where you can gather for tea, tarot readings, and great visits with others in the group. They also have a guest lounge with sofas, an open fireplace, TV and small library. For hungry pilgrims, a guest fridge with drinks and chocolate is always available in the hallway. Extensive local information is on hand and original artwork by notable localPilgrimsBandB-Sanctuary.jpg (18051 bytes) artists is on display.
Gardens and ‘The Sanctuary": The beautiful gardens are always available for your use, with a rock pool and garden seats scattered around where you can sit and relax with friends old or new, or quietly meditate. Despite the proximity to Glastonbury center, the B & B is blessed with a quiet, tranquil location, making the gardens a wonderful place to just ‘be’. Tucked away is the secret garden, great to sit and meditate or to process all you have learnt on your pilgrimage in Glastonbury. The Sanctuary, a large Meditation Room within the gardens is available for individual or group meditation and is also used for individual and group therapy and healing sessions.

Take some time to get settled in your space and rest.
In the later afternoon we'll gather for our Introductory Group Meeting/ Sharing Circle with our Guide Michael Orchard and Priestess of Avalon Ceremonialst Lynne Orchard.  Michael will offer a short introduction to Glastonbury and Her myths and legends, in preparation for our time here during the coming week.

Afterwards we enjoy our Welcome Dinner at a local restaurant. We'll have a chance to begin getting to know each other a bit by sharing our stories of how and why we've come to be here. Overnight Glastonbury.

Day 2. Sunday, July 19. Glastonbury Tor; Option: The Abbey; Free Time (B)
This morning we're off to Glastonbury Tor. Rich in legend and mythological associations, the Tor may have been a place of ancient ritual. Today, it is still a destination for spiritual seekers. The terracing on the slopes of the Tor may be the remains of an ancient observatory, a seven-tiered sacred mount, a great three-dimensional labyrinth, a ceremonial way to the Otherworld. At the top of the Tor stands the remains of the Medieval St. Michael's Church, dedicated to Archangel Michael. We take the footpath to the top to enjoy its sweeping view of the Somerset countryside. Take time to gaze at the landscape; you can see for miles. Though the Tor is a majestic hill rising enigmatically above the flat surrounding meadows, it's no ordinary hill!  Some say it's home to the King of the Fairies, Gwyn ap Nudd, a psychopomp who helps those who cross over to the Otherworld. Centuries of legends and folklore about the Tor all arrive at the same conclusion: it is a place where the veil between the worlds is thin. You will have time for individual meditation to connect to these powerful energies.

Return to town. Lunch on your own. You have free time this afternoon
  to rest and England-Glastonbury1-Czwerenczuk.jpg (20795 bytes)relax or for some individual exploration in Glastonbury.

1. Visit the St. Margaret's Chapel / Magdalene Almshouses and Garden in Magdalene Close in downtown, for a time of peaceful meditation, prayer and reflection. The original structure was built in the 1070's but burned down in the great Abbey fire of 1184. The present one was re-built in 1444. Today its a sacred space of prayer, sanctuary and spirituality. England-GlastonburyStJohn'sChurch-JosephOfAirmathea.jpg (9585 bytes)

2. Take a walk to visit Gog and Magog, two ancient oak trees in Wick Hollow thought by some of the locals to be the root chakra of the area. Others honor them as the last remains of a Druidical avenue leading up to the Tor.

3. Go into St. John's Church in the heart of town, dedicated to John the Baptist, one of the original teachers of the Goddess Tradition. Here you can view the beautiful stained glass window depicting Joseph of Arimathea holding two vials of "Holy Grail."

4. Or take in some Retail Therapy as you wander along High Street in the center of town, where shops full of new and used books on every topic you can imagine, Celtic jewelry, clothes, artwork, crystals and gemstone and many more treasures abound!

Photo Credit: M. Czwerenczuk www.NeedAMassage.net.au

Or you have the option to enjoy a guided tour of Glastonbury Abbey with Michael. England-Glastonbury-Abbey-1.jpg (8562 bytes) Set in 37 acres of beautifully peaceful parkland in the center of town the Abbey was built in the Middle Age. It's described by some historians as "the holiest place in all of England". St Mary's Chapel marks the site where Joseph of Arimathea established the first above-ground church in all of Christendom. The Celts had a deity named Easus who died and was supposed to come back to life. When they heard about Jesus from Joseph of Arimathea, they saw the return of Easus in the story, and gave Ynys Witrin, or Glastonbury, to him as a site for a church. This was the birthplace of Celtic Christianity, and grew to be a powerful pilgrimage site. Many people believe that the Holy Thorn tree that can be seen in the grounds originated from Joseph of Arimathea's staff. Graves thought to be those of Arthur and Guinevere have been unearthed here. We'll wander the ancient grounds with Michael, exploring their mysteries. You'll also have some time for individual reflection and meditation.

The remainder of the afternoon and evening is free time.
Dinner on your own. There are several excellent restaurants in the center of town, just a few minutes walk away, that offer varied ethnic cuisines. Overnight Glastonbury.

Day 3. Monday, July 20. Free Time; Bath: Walking Tour or Free Time; Entrance into Roman Baths; Private Entrance into Cross Bath (B)
You have some free time this morning. Then at noon we depart for Bath, which was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1987. The city has a variety of theaters, museums, and other cultural and sporting venues. Upon arrival Michael will lead us on a walking tour of the city, which may include some of the following:
England-Bath-BathAbbey.jpg (19419 bytes)The Abbey Church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, commonly known as Bath Abbey, is an Anglican parish church and a former Benedictine monastery. Founded in the 7th century, Bath Abbey was reorganised in the 10th century and rebuilt in the 12th and 16th centuries; major restoration work was carried out by Sir George Gilbert Scott in the 1860s. It is one of the largest examples of Perpendicular Gothic architecture in the West Country. The church is cruciform in plan, and is able to seat 1200. An active place of worship, with hundreds of congregation members and hundreds of thousands of visitors each year, it is used for religious services, secular civic ceremonies, concerts and lectures. The choir performs in the abbey and elsewhere. There is a heritage museum in the vaults. The abbey is a Grade I listed building, particularly noted for its fan vaulting.

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The heart of the Georgian city was the Grand Pump Room in the Abbey Church Yard. It's been designated as a Grade I listed historic building. The main block, built of Bath stone, was begun in 1789 by Thomas Baldwin. It was finally finished in 1799. The facade of the building features Corinthian half columns. The North Colonnade of 9 bays, with unfluted Ionic columns, was built by Baldwin in 1786. The South Colonnade is similar but had an upper floor added in the late 19th century. The colonnades and side wall of the Pump Room have a facade on Stall Street. Situated next to main street entrance to the Roman Baths, you can sample the waters from the warm spring which fills the Roman Baths. The building also houses a restaurant, where you could sample the afternoon tea.

England-Bath-TheCircus.jpg (24408 bytes)The Circus consists of three long, curved terraces designed by the elder John Wood to form a circular space or theatre intended for civic functions and games. The games give a clue to the design, the inspiration behind which was the Colosseum in Rome.[153] Like the Colosseum, the three façades have a different order of architecture on each floor: Doric on the ground level, then Ionic on the piano nobile and finishing with Corinthian on the upper floor, the style of the building thus becoming progressively more ornate as it rises.

The most spectacular of Bath's terraces is the Royal Crescent, built between 1767 and 1774 and designed by the younger John Wood. But all is not what it seems; while Wood designed the great curved façade ofEngland-Bath-RoyalCrescent.jpg (16685 bytes) what appears to be about 30 houses with Ionic columns on a rusticated ground floor, that was the extent of his input. Each purchaser bought a certain length of the façade, and then employed their own architect to build a house to their own specifications behind it; hence what appears to be two houses is sometimes one. This system of town planning is betrayed at the rear of the crescent: while the front is completely uniform and symmetrical, the rear is a mixture of differing roof heights, juxtapositions and fenestration.

England-Bath-RomanBaths.jpg (22494 bytes)Then you have free time for lunch and retail therapy. Later this afternoon we'll visit the Roman Baths complex, a well-preserved Roman site for public bathing. The Roman Baths themselves are below the modern street level. There are four main features: the Sacred Spring, the Roman Temple, the Roman Bath House and the Museum holding finds from Roman Bath. The buildings above street level date from the 19th century.

How the hot springs form: The water that bubbles up from the ground at Bath fell as rain on the nearby Mendip Hills. It percolates down through limestone aquifers to a depth of between 8,900 ft and 14,100 ft where geothermal energy raises the water temperature to between 147.2 °F and 204.8 °F. Under pressure, the heated water rises to the surface along fissures and faults in the limestone. This process is similar to an artificial one known as Enhanced Geothermal System which also makes use of the high pressures and temperatures below the Earth's crust. Hot water at a temperature of 114.8 °F rises here at the rate of 257,364 gallons every day, from a geological fault. In 1983 a new spa water bore-hole was sunk, providing a clean and safe supply of spa water for drinking in the Pump Room.

England-Bath-RomanBaths-Sulis.jpg (15103 bytes)History: The first shrine at the site of the hot springs was built by Celts, and was dedicated to the goddess Sulis, whom the Romans identified with Minerva. Geoffrey of Monmouth in his largely fictional Historia Regum Britanniae describes how in 836 BCE the spring was discovered by the British king Bladud who built the first baths. Early in the 18th century Geoffrey's obscure legend was given great prominence as a royal endorsement of the waters' qualities, with the embellishment that the spring had cured Bladud and his herd of pigs of leprosy through wallowing in the warm mud.

Roman use: The name Sulis continued to be used after the Roman invasion, leading to the town's Roman name of Aquae Sulis ("the waters of Sulis"). The temple was constructed in 60-70 CE and the bathing complex was gradually built up over the next 300 years. During the Roman occupation of Britain, and possibly on the instructions of Emperor Claudius, engineers drove oak piles to provide a stable foundation into the mud and surrounded the spring with an irregular stone chamber lined with lead. In the 2nd century it was enclosed within a wooden barrel-vaulted building, and included the caldarium (hot bath), tepidarium (warm bath), and frigidarium (cold bath). After the Roman withdrawal from Britain in the first decade of the 5th century, these fell into disrepair and were eventually lost due to silting up, and flooding. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle suggests the original Roman baths were destroyed in the 6th century.

England-Bath-RomanBaths-2.jpg (17738 bytes)Redevelopment: The baths have been modified on several occasions, including the 12th century when John of Tours built a curative bath over the King's Spring reservoir and the 16th century when the city corporation built a new bath (Queen's Bath) to the south of the Spring. The spring is now housed in 18th century buildings, designed by architects John Wood, the Elder and John Wood, the Younger, father and son. Victorian expansion of the baths complex followed the neo-classical tradition established by the Woods. In 1810 the Hot Springs failed and William Smith opened up the Hot Bath Spring to the bottom, where he found that the spring had not failed but had flowed into a new channel. Smith restored the water to its original course and the Baths filled in less time than formerly.

Conservation: The late 19th century carvings of Roman Emperors and Governors of Roman Britain on the terrace overlooking the Great Bath are particularly susceptible to the effect of acid rain and are being protected with a wash of a sacrificial shelter coat every few years. Exhibits within the temple precincts are susceptible to warm air which had the effect of drawing corrosive salts out of the Roman stonework. To help reduce this, a new ventilation system was installed in 2006. In 2009 a grant was made to Bath and North East Somerset Council to contribute towards the cost of re-developing displays and improving access to the Roman Baths, by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport/Wolfson Fund, which was established to promote improvements in Museums and Galleries in England

England-Bath-CrossBath-1.jpg (22768 bytes)We have an early evening private booking for our group at the Cross Bath. This historic pool for bathing was rebuilt, in the style of Robert Adam by Thomas Baldwin around 1789 and is designated by English Heritage as a Grade I listed building. The warm water spring was possibly used before the nearby Roman Baths were developed. The name is believed to commemorate the body of St Aldhelm resting there on its journey from Doulting to Malmesbury Abbey in 709. The healing powers of the bath were one of the reasons for the foundation of St John's Hospital, around 1180, by Bishop Reginald Fitz Jocelin and is among the oldest almshouses in England. In the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries the baths were frequently visited by royalty, increasing their popularity. In June 1688, Mary of Modena, James II's wife, gave birth to a son, Prince James nine months after bathing in the Cross Bath. The Melfort Cross, was erected in 1688 to celebrate the birth. The bath was refurbished in the 1990. We have 90 minutes to relax in the thermal waters! Bring your swimsuit!

Afterwards enjoy dinner on your own with the group at one of Bath's excellent restaurants. We depart back to Glastonbury, arriving later everning. Overnight Glastonbury.

Day 4. Tuesday, July 21. Private Entrances to the Chalice Well and the Well House for the White Spring; Free Time; Private Ceremony at Goddess Temple (B)England-Glastaonbury-ChaliceWell-2.jpg (21657 bytes)
This morning we have a Special Private Access Entrance
at the Chalice Well, a pilgrimage site for many thousands of years for those seeking physical and emotional healing from its iron-red waters, thought by some to represent the blood of the Goddess. During the Middle Ages and in the 18th Century Glastonbury gained a great reputation as a place of healing, and the Well was one of the centers where pilgrims came to take advantage of its curative powers. Today the waters of both the Red Spring and the adjoining White Spring still have a reputation for their cleansing, healing and transformative qualities. Like pilgrims who have come here since ancient times seeking physical and emotional healing from its iron-red waters blessed by the Goddess, we too may receive our healings! At the bottom of the garden we stop at the pool that has water flowing into it through a series of flowing steps from the body of the Goddess Herself. We then continue to the main well, with its cover in the shape of the Vesica Pisces, one of the most fundamental symbols of sacred geometry, symbolizing the Sacred Marriage, the divine union of the male and female energies. Here at this ancient sacred place, we have time to meditate and reflect on our own Divine Union.

England-Glastaonbury-WellHouse-WhiteSpring-1.jpg (9119 bytes)Then we walk around the corner for our private entrance at the Well House for the White Spring next door to the Chalice Well. For thousands of years seekers have been drawn to the mythical Isle of Avalon, which was once an island separated from the mundane world by an inland sea. From its heart under the Tor, the water still rises and falls in profusion, presenting one of the greatest mysteries of the Isle: two different springs, the Red Spring touched red from iron and the White Spring, which is actually several springs that arise from the Tor. They're mixed in a mixing chamber that is behind the cottage located above the spring. One of these springs contains chalybeate water, similar to Chalice Well water, which gives rise to some thoughts that the water from the Chalice Well may actually have its source within the Tor. Once the water leaves the White Spring building it flows underground in a completely separate plumbing system to the Chalice Well.

The building was initially constructed as a reservoir by the local water supply company. It was used as a reservoir for a number of years, England-ChaliceWell-Wellhouse-WhiteSpring-2.jpg (21504 bytes) supplying most of the town's water, until the pipes blocked up owing to high calcite deposits that built up within them. In the 1980s and 90s it was used as cafe and a shop, and was sold in 2003 to a benefactor who had no wish to commercialise it. He formed a local commitee to manage it on a non profit basis. For a while it was an empty space with the water flowing through a conduit in the floor. Then in 2009 the new pools were designed based on sacred geometry and the dimensions of the building. Behind the building is a tunnel (now sealed off) that leads into the Tor; how far is not known, but it's given rise to various legends about it possibly being an entrance to the underworld.

England-Glastonbury-WellHouseWhiteSpring-1.jpg (34301 bytes)So the Well House could be referred to as a subterranean cavern within the Tor, lit only by one small skylight and the flickering of candles. Entering in represents a powerful symbolic jouney from and through the darkness into the light, with the healing waters of the White Spring flowing through it. The Celtic Goddess Brigid, the Lady of Avalon, is the guardian whose ancient presence pervades this sacred space. Inside there are three domed vaults, and beautiful bowed floors - like the hull of  a boat moored at the portal to the Otherworld. The constant temperature and the sound of the perpetually flowing water make this a unique sacred space. We'll have the opportunity to step into the pools, as well as time for a Sacred Ritual led by Michael and Lynne Orchard. And time for individual meditation.
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Return walking to town. Free time and lunch on your own.

England-WearyAllHill-FromGlasstonburyTor.jpg (11499 bytes)OPTION: For those who would like to experience the ancient energies at WearyAll Hill and Bride's Mound, this will be a later afternoon visit with Michael. WearyAll Hill (seen in the photo taken from Glastonbury Tor) is where Joseph of Arimatheia on his arrival from the Holy Land supposedly planted his staff, which flowered into a hawthorn tree. Genetic testing of the surviving tree has shown it to be a species found in the Middle East.  Legend has it that Joseph landed here, rested on his staff, and it sprouted branches and leaves. This old shamanistic tradition indicates that 'this is the place'. The chances are that Glastonbury was well known at the time, and that he had either been invited here or knew it could be a refuge, amongst people who would understand the early Christians' plight. Tradition has it that he was a rich metals trader who traded with Britain for tin from Cornwall and lead from the Mendip Hills just north of Glastonbury.England-Glastonbury-BridesMound-jpg.jpg (8633 bytes)


Bride's Mound
is a tiny little mound just near the foot of Wearyall Hill. Tiny it may be, but its history is great, for legend has it that it was a gateway to Avalon where pilgrims, arriving by boat from Ireland and Wales, would stay in vigil through the night, before passing on up the processional way to Avalon. Arthur is said to have had a vision of the great Goddess here, and Mary with her son, and St. Brigid of Ireland are said to have stayed here. Hence the link with Bride (Brighde, Brigid).

Early dinner on  your own, or plan to have snacks at the B and B after our ceremony at the Goddess Temple.
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This evening we walk to High Street to the Glastonbury Goddess Temple for a Goddess Ritual and Meditation with Lynne Orchard, Priestess of Avalon. She will offer our group a special initiation into the age-old Goddess Mysteries that are connected to this area of ancient Avalon. What special Gift of Spirit will The Lady bestow upon you? What wisdom will She gently whisper to your Heart? Come in openness and humility...and receive!


Return walking to our B and B. Overnight Glastonbury.

Day 5. Wednesday, July 22. Silbury Hill, West Kennett Longbarrow, Avebury, Crop Circles (B)
England-SilburyHill-July2009-1.jpg (8740 bytes)After breakfast we're off to begin to explore and experience the local sacred sites and ancient mysteries! We begin our exploration of the area at the huge and mysterious Silbury Hill, a grass-covered man-made chalk mound that is the biggest prehistoric artificial mound in Europe. Evidence from radiocarbon dating indicates that Silbury was constructed about 4,400 years ago in the Neolithic period. Its construction is estimated to have involved roughly 4 million hours of work using 500,000 tons of material, mostly chalk that was quarried and cleared from the surrounding terraces and ditches. Some people see the Hill as a symbolic effigy of the ancient Mother Goddess that was associated with fertility rituals which marked the course of the year. The festival of Lammas in August, when it is thought Silbury was founded, celebrates the first fruits of the harvest.

England-WestKennettLongbarrow-Exterior.jpg (13964 bytes)Next we walk across the highway to West Kennett Longbarrow, a Neolithic tomb or barrow,. It's one of the most impressive and well-preserved burial chambers in Britain. Archaeologists classify it as a chambered long barrow; It has two pairs of opposing transept chambers and a single terminal chamber used for burial. The entrance consists of a concave forecourt with a facade made from large slabs of sarsen stones which were placed to seal entry. The construction of the West Kennet Long Barrow began about 3600 BCE, which is some 400 years before the archaeologically-determined first stage of Stonehenge, and it was in use until around 2500 BCE. This was at the same time as the great stone circle at Avebury was begun, and may signify a change in the focus of belief and religion. Andrea and Michael will lead a short meditation to connect with the Ancestors.

England-WestKennettLongbarrow-2.jpg (11252 bytes)The mound has been damaged by indiscriminate digging, but archaeological excavations in 1859 and 1955-56 found at least 46 burials, ranging from babies to elderly persons. The bones were disarticulated with some of the skulls and long bones missing. It has been suggested that the bones were removed periodically for display or transported elsewhere with the blocking facade being removed and replaced each time. It's thought that this tomb was in use for as long as 1,000 years and at the end of this period the passage and chamber were filled to the roof by the Beaker people with earth and stones, among which were found pieces of Grooved ware, Peterborough ware and Beaker pottery, charcoal, bone tools, and beads. Stuart Piggott, who excavated this mixture of secondary material, suggested that it had been collected from a nearby 'mortuary enclosure' showing that the site had been used for ritual activity long after it was used for burial.

Folklore & Legend: The mound is traditionally visited by a white spectral figure accompanied by a white red-eared houndEngland-WestKennettLongbarrow-1-Sm.jpg (14129 bytes) at sunrise on Midsummer's day. There is a slim possibility that this tradition is a folk memory of a ritual event or at least a time thought to have been significant in the use of the barrow. There is no doubt that some traditions can become convoluted into folklore, and be passed down over the centuries, whether this is the case with West Kennet Long Barrow has never been explored. However, some people do notice a strange atmosphere in the darkened chamber. And photographs taken inside the long barrow have revealed interesting phenomena…like the mist seen in the photograph here. We’ll have time for a meditation to connect with the Ancestors, here in their ancient final resting place.

EnglandAvebury.jpg (19017 bytes)We then continue to Avebury World Heritage site. After a stop for lunch on your own at the site's cafeteria, we begin our visit. Avebury is one of the world's largest and most complex monuments of the Megalithic Age, an ancient Druidic initiation site of immense standing stones. Two avenues of about 100 megaliths run out from Avebury. Today its mysteries are still being explored and solved by multi-disciplinary scholars in archaeology, science and ancient religion. As there are lunar and solar ley-lines that cross in this area, we will connect with these powerful energies through ritual facilitated by Andrea and Michael to balance our own masculine and feminine energies.

EnglandCropCircle.jpg (11807 bytes)Then we're off to explore Crop Circles. These geometric symbols of unknown origin form in fields of grain, and have appeared in this area over the past 20 years. The county of Wiltshire is one of the most active areas for crop circles in the world, particularly around the historical stones of Avebury and Silbury Hill. In this ancient landscape, the grassy whorls take over the fields of rape, barley and wheat like massive installation art. If we are fortunate we may be able to enter one or more of the formations and have private meditation time to connect with and experience the other-dimensional energies that many researchers believe form them. What is the general communication that is being given to us by these circles? What is the particular communication from each circle? Where do they come from? Who/what forms them? Why here? Why now? AND, why have we been lead here to experience them? What does all this mean for our personal and planetary transformation?

Return to Glastonbury. Dinner on your own. Overnight Glastonbury.

Day 6. Thursday, July 23. Wells; Free Time; Group Dinner (B/D)England-Wells-Cathedral.jpg (23933 bytes)
This morning we drive to the city of Wells, England's second smallest city. The name Wells derives from the three wells dedicated to Saint Andrew, one in the market place and two within the grounds of the Bishop's Palace and cathedral. There was a small Roman settlement around the wells, but its importance grew under the Saxons when King Ine of Wessex founded a minster church in 704CE, around which the settlement grew. Wells became a trading center and involved in cloth making before its involvement in both the English Civil War and the Monmouth Rebellion during the 17th century.

England-Wells-VicarsClose.jpg (12385 bytes)Our first stop is at the Cathedral of the Diocese of Bath and Wells, which is situated next to natural wells where springs of water rise up from beneath the Mendip Hills. This site has been a holy place for nearly 2000 years. The foundations of the building you see today were laid in 1185CE. The Cathedral stands adjacent to the medieval Bishop’s Palace and Vicars’ Close, the oldest continuously inhabited street in Europe. A major project completed in 2009 provided new facilities for choirs and education, a dedicated interpretation area, a new entrance with shop and restaurant, and has enabled the medieval cloister to be reopened to the public. Enjoy the wonderful display of medieval statues on the West Front, and inside the graceful scissor arches, the humorous carvings on the pillars, and the deep colors of the stained glass. In this place hallowed by the prayer of centuries pause for a moment and give thanks for the gift of life.

After a light lunch on your own with the group, we return to Glastonbury. You have free time. See Day 2 for options for exploration on your own.

Tonight we have a group dinner at a local restaurant.
Overnight Glastonbury.

Day 7. Friday, July 24. Salisbury; Stonehenge – Free Time and Private Entrance (B)
We depart early morning to Salisbury. Upon arrival Michael will lead the group on a short Walking tour, focusing on Salisbury’s fascinating history and highlights in the historic city center. One of the highlights will be the world famous Doom painting in the parish church of St Thomas. Afterwards enjoy lunch on your own with the group at a wonderful medieval café located right in the heart of the city. .

England-Salisbury-Cathedral.jpg (11316 bytes)Then we'll enjoy a
guided tour of Salisbury Cathedral, with its magnificent Gothic architecture, the tallest earlyEngland-Salisbury-Cathedral-BlackMadonna.jpg (21772 bytes) medieval spire in the world and the home of one of four original surviving copies of Magna Carta, the first document imposed upon a King of England by a group of his subjects, the feudal barons, in an attempt to limit his powers by law and protect their rights.  For over 750 years pilgrims have come to Salisbury to seek inspiration in the glory and peace of the building and surrounding Cathedral Close. Like those who have come before us for hundreds of years, we'll be awed by the beauty and scale of the cathedral interior. We'll see a Black Madonna, holding Her place of the Divine Feminine. You'll also have the opportunity to view the original Magna Carta, located in the Chapter House.


We then depart to the visitors center at Stonehenge. You have free time to visit the circle on your own, as well as the new on-site museum and the gift shop. Enjoy a light snack supper on your own at the on-site café.

England-Stonehenge-Aug2014-Med.jpg (10919 bytes)As the sunset approaches we board the tram for the short ride from the Visitor Center to Stonehenge for our
private entrance inside the circle. There is much debate as to the age of Stonehenge, as well as who built it.  History says that the site was begun in the agricultural Neolithic Age and was completed in the Early Bronze Age by early Britons known as the Beaker Folk, so called because of beakers, drinking vessels, found in their grave goods. Around 1500 BCE some disaster or systems collapse progressively brought the impressive Megalithic Age to an end, not only here, but throughout the whole of Britain and Ireland. Although we can never know exactly who the architects were who planned Stonehenge, the face sculptured into the side of trilithon stone 54 does give us cause to wonder if he or she was so influential that his/her facial features were placed here to be preserved forever as a representation of the Divine Marriage, the concept of Sacred Marriage between an Earth Mother and Sky Father, that was universal in early or primitive agricultural andEngland-Stonehenge-2-Aug2014-Med.jpg (10582 bytes) Goddess-oriented societies. Those who are sensitive to this massive temple claim that the megalithic blocks are constantly radiating tremendous amounts of energy. Some say it is because the ancient Druids turned themselves into the stones, while others assert that they hold the power of innumerable Druid ceremonies held there in the past.
                                                                                                                                                                                               
During our private time in the most ancient of sacred sites
Michael, Lynne and Andrea will facilitate a special ritual and meditation among the magical stones and their powerful energies. What ancient secrets will be revealed to you? What will be your Gift of Spirit that you will receive? Open your heart, mind, and soul…and receive!                                                        

Later evening return to Glastonbury. Overnight Glastonbury.

Day 8. Saturday, July 25. Group Transfer to London Heathrow Airport (B)
After an early breakfast we depart on our group transfer to return to Heathrow International Airport.  (IMPORTANT: Please book your flight to depart AFTER 1:00PM. Thank you.)

NOTE: This itinerary is subject to change due to conditions beyond our control.


OR, Continue on to CORNWALL

July 25 – 28, 2015
(Open to a group of 6 ONLY)
NOTE: This itinerary involves some long walks over rough terrain and at times climbing a considerable number of stone steps.
Therefore it’s only suitable for those who are physically fit and able.

Day 8. Saturday, July 25. To Cornwall – Tintagel Area: Arthur’s Hall of Chivalry; Free Time (B/D)
After an early breakfast, we depart Glastonbury for Cornwall, the fabled and enchanted land of King Arthur's birth. Our route is via Dartmoor, where we stop for a brief visit to the famous Lydford Gorge with its White Lady waterfall and the Devils Cauldron. We arrive early afternoon in the small village of Tintagel. Lunch on your own at one of the local restaurants. Perhaps the famous Pengenna's Cornish Pasties?

After lunch we visit Arthur’s Hall of Chivalry, an atmospheric and historic building built in the 1930s byEngland-Cornwall-ArthursHallOfChivalry-RoundTableThrone.jpg (11875 bytes) Frederick Thomas Glasscock as the home of the Order of the Fellowship of the Knights of the Round Table of King Arthur. Everything in these halls is England-Cornwall-ArthursHallOfChivalry-Window-KingArthur.jpg (22041 bytes)based upon the Arthurian Romances; all of the art and symbols are directly associated with King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. We enter The Halls through the gift shop and continue through to the Small Hall to view a brief audio visual presentation of the story of Arthur. We leave and pass along a corridor into the Hall of Chivalry. Here we see 125 shields of granite, set along its full length, representing the passage from darkness into light. Granite is also used in the huge canopy over the throne, weighing six tons and supported by nine massive granite pillars. There is also a granite Round Table, along with two wooden ones. The Halls contain seventy three beautiful stained glass windows designed and crafted by Veronica Whall during 1930 – 33. The galleries of The Hall of Chivalry contain ‘The Windows of the Knights’. Each Knight of the Round Table is illustrated by his unique shield depicted in the windows. By each window, the Knight’s story is told in words. The Hall of Chivalry holds eighteen windows portraying the principal virtues which the Knights of the Round Table agreed to observe. In the Hall of Chivalry, these virtues are graded in quality, starting with the less spiritual ones such as Strength, Perseverance and Obedience, through to those considered more spiritual such as Purity, Faith and Love.

Then you have free time for exploration on your own and/or shopping in some of the quaint and interesting local shops.

England-Tintagel-TintagelCastleHotel.jpg (12463 bytes)In the later afternoon we check into our hotel, home for three nights, the Camelot Castle Hotel. Sitting proudly in Tintagel overlooking the Atlantic Ocean and Tintagel Castle, the stunning hotel offers rooms with magnificent panoramic views over the rugged Cornish coastline from Hartland Point in the North, to Trevose Head in the South. Our traditional castle rooms in a classical Victorian style with en-suite shower facilities overlooking the Atlantic. The Hotel, which is fully licensed, offers excellent cuisine. Enjoy superb freshly-cooked food made using local produce in the restaurant while also enjoying the equally superb panoramic views. Weather permitting, you can also eat & drink al-fresco on the terrace. There is a grand piano for any musician who would like to entertain. In the Arthurian-style bar you can relax for a quiet drink and look out over the Atlantic ocean. Or enjoy music for your comfort and entertainment in the dance hall. You can sit and talk with friends at King Arthur's Round Table. You can also write a letter to Merlin and drop it in the box on the table.

At our group dinner tonight we take time to share our experiences of the day.
Overnight Tintagel. Camelot Castle Hotel.

Day 9. Sunday, July 26. Tintagel: Tintagel Castle; Merlin’s Cave; Free Time (B/D)

England-Cornwall-Tintagel-TintagelCastle-1.jpg (12268 bytes)After a hearty buffet breakfast we’re off to explore Tintagel Castle, on a rocky windswept headland above the sea, surrounded on three sides by the Atlantic Ocean. The name Tintagel derives from Din Taggel, meaning "fortress of the narrow entrance". Historically it would appear that Tintagel was an important trading post from late Roman times until it was abandoned at the end of the 7th century. Around 1230, a castle was built at Tintagel by Richard, Earl of Cornwall and son of King Henry III. When Geoffrey of Monmouth wrote about it in the History of the Kings of Britain in 1136, the 1230 Tintagel Castle would not have been there and legend would have been his main source of what had happened on the island stronghold.
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Legend has held that this is the place where Uther Pendragon mated with Arthur's mother, Igraine, and conceived the future king. Arthur is reputed to have been born here. Excavations in the 1930's uncovered 5th to 6th century Dark Age settlement and monastic remains. Whether King Arthur was born there or not is impossible to tell, but archaeological evidence does make Tintagel a plausible site for such a kingdom at the supposed time of King Arthur. The unique artifacts at Tintagel emphasize its dominance as a royal citadel and Mediterranean contact during the 5th and 6th centuries. An archeological find was made there in July 1998 when a team from Glasgow University uncovered a sixth-century slab with this inscription: PATER COLI AVI FECIT ARTOGNOV. This has been translated to mean "Artognou, father of a descendant of Coll, has had this [building] made". The name "Artognou" was probably pronounced "Arthnou." Art and Arth were fairly common prefixes to the names of Dark Age rulers. Some researchers believe that the stone is probably just another piece of evidence that Tintagel was a wealthy Dark Age stronghold. It confirms that there was a relatively well-educated and wealthy person there in the sixth century with a name that may have sounded like Arthur. It does not prove that King Arthur himself lived at Tintagel. But the mystery lives on! As we walk through these ancient ruins, keep your Third Eye open to see between the veils to those days long past. Perhaps you'll glimpse Arthur and receive a message from him. We’ll find a quiet and peaceful area of the site for ourEngland-Tintagel-Merlin'sCave-1.jpg (13372 bytes) group meditation facilitated by Michael.

Tide and time allowing, we then descend to the beach to Merlin's Cave, located under the rocks close to Tintagel Castle. If not, we'll view it from above. Legend maintains that the spirit of the great Druid Merlin still inhabits this lonely place. It’s very atmospheric; you might imagine Merlin approaching, with his staff held up to light up the darkness of the cave. If we're able to enter, we'll take time to meditate and connect with the energies that reach out to us from the misty past.

Return to the hotel. Lunch on your own. You have free time this afternoon to rest and integrate the powerful energies you encountered this morning.

For those who are interested, Michael will offer an optional tour this afternoon to a lovely local sandy beach, Trebarwith Strand. If the weather is kind and the tide is out, you'll be able to enjoy the beach! And if the tide is in, there are great rocks to sit on and be really close to the ocean. (Price to be announced.)

Group dinner tonight at the hotel - another time for sharing. 
Overnight Tintagel. Camelot Castle Hotel.

Day 10. Monday, July 27. Tintagel: St Nectan’s Glen; Boscastle Witchcraft Museum; Minster Church (B/D)
This morning we’re off to visit St Nectan’s Glen, an area of woodland in Trethevy near Tintagel, which is held sacred by many people who visit it. Stretching for around one mile along both banks of the Trevillet River, the glen's most prominent feature is St Nectan's Kieve, a spectacular 60 ft. waterfall. The walk through woodland takes us alongside a stream with many places to stop and take in the calming beauty of the water. At the amazing and powerful waterfall, we may be blessed to experience its legendary healing qualities.

Who Was St Nectan? Around 500CE St Nectan built his small sanctuary beside the Trevillitt River, just above the waterfall and the kieve (Cornish for 'basin'). Tradition has it that behind the chapel was a tower where he hug a silver bell that he rang to warn sailors of submerged rocks on the treacherous Cornish coast, or to summon help from the Celtic monastery near Tintagel castle for vessels in distress. From his vantage point he would have been able to see both coast and castle from the top of his tower. Or, perhaps he rang it just to assure sailors that he was praying for their safety. As the end of his life approached, the area was split apart by bitter differences between the older Celtic and the newer Roman faiths. St. Nectan prophesied the return of the older, simpler faith, vowing that his bell should never ring for unbelievers; he carried it to the bank above the kieve and dropped it into the basin. It's said that his bell still tolls today. When he died, two strange ladies who are believed to have been his sisters came and, acting upon his wishes, they placed his body, the sacramental vessels and other treasures into an oak chest. They diverted the waters of the fall, dug a grave in the river bed below the Kieve and buried the chest. The river turned back to its natural course and now flows over the saint's grave. We’ll take time here for exploration of this place of incredible natural beauty and peace, as well as individual meditation.and reflection.

England-Boscastle-WitchcraftMuseum-1.jpg (15541 bytes)Afterwards enjoy lunch on your own with the group in one of the harbor-side cafes in the little village and fishing port of Boscastle, a few miles northeast of Tintagel. The village with its picturesque harbor is a very popular tourist destination. Much of the land in and around Boscastle is owned by the National Trust, including both sides of the harbor. The Forrabury Stitches, high above the village are ancient "stitchmeal" cultivation plots. Large areas of the Valency Valley are known for its connections to the novelist and poet Thomas Hardy. The National Trust runs a shop at the harbor, and a visitor center in the Old Smithy. We’ll visit the Museum of Witchcraft, which houses the world's largest collection of witchcraft related artifacts and regalia dating from prehistory to today. This very unique privately-owned museum has been in existence since 1951 when it first opened on The Isle of Man. It's been in Boscastle since 1961 and is amongst Cornwall's most popular museums. It also houses a large library with around 5,000 books which is used by researchers from the UK and around the world.England-Cornwall-MinsterChurch-1.jpg (22810 bytes)

After the Witchcraft Museum we move on to the nearby Minster Church. The atmospheric Minster church stands on a superb viewpoint above a wooded river valley near Boscastle. Surrounded by tombstones overgrown with bracken and wildflowers, its graveyard precinct is set in National Trust-owned woodlands, and encompasses the site of a pagan/early Christian healing well. A few years ago it also hosted the re-interment of the bones of a woman unjustly condemned as a witch in the 18th century. There are no other houses or settlements nearby, and the way that the Victorian graveyard merges into the ancient woodland, combined with the superb coastal scenery and the air of mystery (why is there a solitary church here in the middle of nowhere?) make this obscure place one of the spookiest locations in England. The church is dedicated to St Materiana, a very early Celtic Christian saint who set up a hermitage around the holy spring below the present church in the time of King Arthur, over 1500 years ago.

In the later afternoon we return to Tintagel and our hotel. This evening we’ll enjoy our last group dinner at the hotel.
Overnight Tintagel. Camelot Castle Hotel.

Day 11. Tuesday, July 28. Group Transfer to London Heathrow Airport (B)

After an early breakfast we depart on our group transfer to return to Heathrow International Airport. IMPORTANT: Please book your flight to depart AFTER 7:00PM. Thank you. Service ends on arrival at Heathrow

Note: This itinerary is subject to change due to conditions beyond our control.

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From the Archives
ENGLAND: The Sacred Mysteries of Stonehenge and Avalon

Guest: Nicholas Mann, author of Energy Secrets of Glastonbury Tor and The Isle of Avalon
To listen to an Mp3 recording of this program,
Click here

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A Few Words from Sacred Sites Journeys Pilgrims to ENGLAND

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England-GlastonburyTor-Group-2006.jpg (11843 bytes)Glastonbury/Avalon is a beautiful and magical place – a sacred site in and of itself, and near to so many other sacred sites in England. I would recommend this tour to anyone who is called to it. There is so much to explore and experience, from the ruins in Tintagel to the crop circles! The private entrances to the Chalice Well and Stonehenge were highlights of this tour for me. These are things that most people do not get to experience, and this is what makes Sacred Sites Journeys special. Koko Newport is a delightful and fascinating woman, and I thoroughly enjoyed and benefitted from time spent with her. It was also incredible to have Nicholas Mann as a speaker. His knowledge of the history and legends of Glastonbury/Avalon held us all in thrall during his lecture. I was privileged to have a reading with him. I hope to return to Glastonbury in the not too distant future, either as part of a tour or on my own, and I certainly will be interested in Sacred Sites Journeys to Ireland and Scotland, too! From there, who knows? The world has opened up to me! - Jeanne D., IL

The tour was fantastic!
- Mark C., Australia
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Traveling to Glastonbury is an experience you will never forget. This sacred land will transform you and your life. You will quickly understand why so many people have made pilgrimage to this sacred land over the ages. These sacred sites are powerful and breathtaking. From Stonehenge to the Chalice Well each place is uniquely inspirational and transformational.  And of course you are truly blessed to have Andrea serve as your guide. Helping others travel on these spiritual journeys is truly her love and it is reflected in all of her actions. It is her goal to help you have the most meaningful experience possible. Scared Site Journeys have helped me discover myself and created dreams I never thought possible. Thank you Andrea!
  - Michelle Z, MN

I absolutely loved the tour, had many powerful meditations, visions and I would most definitely do another of your tours. - Kathy S, CT

The meditation at Stanton Drew was very peaceful and profound, and I thought one of the more spiritual moments of the tour. I can’t say enough good things about Clare & Brian and their establishment! Wonderful! - Anonymous by request

Koko was excellent. She was a very good manager of people and was also very knowledgeable and very willing to share what she knew with us. Clare and Brian were excellent and gracious innkeepers. The B&B was immaculate, and in a very convenient location so we could walk to the High Street easily. They also had a friendly cat and a lovely garden to sit in. I loved Cornwall! The Chalice Well had beautiful gardens, and was a nice meditation spot. Avebury was wonderful because I had never been there before. And Koko told us about some of the stones and their mystical meanings. I didn't mind the early morning visit to Stonehenge, in fact I thought the morning mist added to the experience. I was very grateful for the chance to get inside the ropes and actually see the stones up close. - Cheryl C, NH

England-Stonehenge-Group-2006.jpg (10630 bytes)The spiritual pilgrimage to Glastonbury was excellent! My most meaningful experiences were at Stonehenge, the Chalice Well, and inside the crop circle. Andrea did an excellent job as our Tour Director, and facilitator of the meditations. AND, the food at the welcome dinner was really good!
Vicki K, OH

Glastonbury is an amazing place that touches everyone. The B&B was PERFECT. The hosts were very friendly and yet accommodating and professional. Weren't we lucky with the weather? Koko Newport was also wonderful. She was relaxed, well informed, and made us feel like family at her business site with meals and hospitality. She was also excellent in letting nature take its course----friendly, while dropping little nuggets of wisdom when asked. - Beth G, WI

The sacred journey was a great introduction to Glastonbury and its many gifts. It had the right amount of scheduled time with ample free time. I found Andrea to be very conscientious of the individuals and the group, without trying to micromanage or force and experiences.
The provided information left room for my own conclusions and perceptions to integrate in the way it was meant to. This was the perfect combination of introduction and detail to help one start the integration process into the Magick and mysteries of our foundations.   The
England-ChaliceWell-Group-2008.jpg (14684 bytes) experience was a beautiful and fulfilling experience that opened my eyes to new things. Humorous, fun and intellectual - my mind was fed  and I was left wanting more information, more experience and more time. I thoroughly enjoyed the Nicholas Mann's visit and discussion; his kind, compassionate and integrity of  manner inspired me to think, to feel and most importantly - to remember. - Jennie K, ME

This Goddess-oriented journey was all I could have dreamed of and more. It was a healing pilgrimage for myself and my soul. The visit to the Chalice Well and the ritual with Koko were very meaningful and moving for me. Stonehenge and the Tor were exceptional! I loved Andrea's perceptions, and also her channeling session. Made a lot of sense!  I felt she was very plugged into all of us and our issues. She was a ray of sunshine! - Raven M, ME

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INCLUSIONS

Your Sacred Sites Journey to ENGLAND Includes:
- Roundtrip group transfers between Heathrow International Airport and Bed and Breakfast in Glastonbury (Note: If you do not fly into Heathrow and/or do not meet the group for the transfers, then you are responsible to make your own arrangements for this transportation to and from your B and B. There is no refund for not taking the group transfers.)
- Transportation in air-conditioned motorcoach
- 7 Night's accommodations in First Class Bed & Breakfast
- Daily breakfast (special diets accommodated), 2 dinners
- Welcome and Farewell Dinners (special diets accommodated)
- Sightseeing tours as per itinerary, including entrance fees
- Escorted on arrival at London Heathrow Airport by Sacred Sites Journeys Director Andrea Mikana-Pinkham
- Pre-Paid Gratuities for driver/guide, waiters at group meals, etc.

SPECIAL FEATURES:
- Travel in a smaller group of other spirit-centered people with Sacred Sites Journeys Director Andrea Mikana-Pinkham
- Spiritual Tour Guide and Ceremonialist: Michael Orchard
- Ceremonialist: Lynne Orchard, Priestess of Avalon
- Ceremonies & meditations at sacred sites facilitated by Michael Orchard, Lynne Orchard and Andrea Mikana-Pinkham
- Private group entrance at Stonehenge for sacred ceremony and meditation
- Private group entrance at the Chalice Well
- Private group entrance into the Well House at the White Spring, next to the Chalice Well
- Private group entrance at the Glastonbury Goddess Temple
- Private group entrance at the Cross Bath in Bath
- Welcome and Farewell Dinners
- Avebury, Silbury Hill and West Kennett Longbarrow
- Possible entrance(s) into Crop Circles
- Glastonbury Tor
- Plenty of free time in Glastonbury
- Bath: Walking Tour and Roman Baths

NOT INCLUDED:
- Roundtrip international flight to England (Arrive/Depart London Heathrow Airport)
- Meals not included, as indicated in the itinerary
- Cost to obtain valid passport
- Any items of a personal nature such as laundry, drinks, internet access and telephone calls. Any item that is not specifically detailed on the Sacred Sites Journeys website or final trip itinerary

Cornwall Extension Inclusions: 
- Transportation in air-conditioned motorcoach
- 3 Night's accommodations at Camelot Castle Hotel in a seaview room with private bath
- Daily buffet breakfast, 3 dinners
- Sightseeing tours as per itinerary, including entrance fees
- Escorted by Tour Guide Michael Orchard
- Pre-Paid Gratuities for driver/guide, waiters at group meals, etc.

SPECIAL FEATURES:

- Travel in a smaller group of other spirit-centered people
- Tintagel Castle, the legendary birthplace of King Arthur
- Arthur’s Hall of Chivalry
- Merlin’s Cave (Dependent on the tides)
- St. Nectan’s Glen
- Boscastle: Witchcraft Museum
- Minster Church
- Plenty of free time in Tintagel

NOT INCLUDED:

- Meals not included, as indicated in the itinerary
- Cost to obtain valid passport
- Any items of a personal nature such as laundry, drinks, internet access and telephone calls. Any item that is not specifically detailed on the Sacred Sites Journeys website or final trip itinerary

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PRICING

This tour is LAND ONLY. You are responsible to book your international flights to and from London, England.
ARRIVAL: Please arrive in London at Heathrow International Airport on Saturday, July 18, 2015 by 8:00AM  in order to connect with our 11:00AM group transfer from the airport to Glastonbury.
DEPARTURE - Main Tour: For your departure at London's Heathrow Airport on
Saturday, July 25th, please book your international flight to depart at 1:00PM or later.
DEPARTURE - Cornwall Extension: For your departure at London's Heathrow Airport on Tuesday, July 28th, please book your international flight to depart at 7:00PM or later.

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DISCOUNT! Make ALL of your payments by check or money order and receive a 5% discount! This discount is INCLUDED in the price below listed for this payment option.

NOTE Regarding Credit Card Payments: We are able to take credit cards for payment until 45 days before the tour begins. After that you can pay with a credit card check, bank cashier's check, or money order. Or wire funds to our bank account (additional $25.00 fee applies for wires originating from outside the U.S.).


MAIN TOUR: Per Person, double occupancy, land only: (Based on a group of 14)
$1,799.00 - for payments via check or money order
$1,894.00 - for payments via credit card

ROOMMATES: Would you like to meet and make a new friend on your journey? If you're not traveling on the journey with anyone you know, and would like for SSJ to try to match you up with a suitable roommate, we'll be happy to try to do so. Over the last 21 years we've been operating these spiritual pilgrimages we've seen many people become friends for life. (As well, we've had several marriages result from people meeting on our journeys.) Be open! Be flexible! It will be a rich and wonderful experience!

Single Room Supplement
$225.00 - for payments via check or money order
$237.00 - for payments via credit card


Per our Terms and Conditions, we will hold the registration for the trip open until 30 days before the departure date (or later if possible) in order to try to match you with a roommate. If by that date we have not been able to do so, you will be responsible to pay the single room supplement fee. You will have a better chance of being matched with a roommate if you register early.

CORNWALL EXTENSION: Per Person, double occupancy, land only: (Based on a group of 8)
$999.00 - for payments via check or money order
$1,052.00 - for payments via credit card

ROOMMATES: Would you like to meet and make a new friend on your journey? If you're not traveling on the journey with anyone you know, and would like for SSJ to try to match you up with a suitable roommate, we'll be happy to try to do so. Over the last 21 years we've been operating these spiritual pilgrimages we've seen many people become friends for life. (As well, we've had several marriages result from people meeting on our journeys.) Be open! Be flexible! It will be a rich and wonderful experience!

Single Room Supplement
$69.00 - for payments via check or money order
$73.00 - for payments via credit card

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REGISTRATION

TOUR REGISTRATION CLOSED

Fourteen sacred travelers from the USA, Canada, Australia, Germany & Portugal
will meet at London's Heathrow Airport for the beginning of our journey on Saturday, July 18, 2015.
If you'd like to follow our daily tour activities, please bookmark this page and check back July 18th - 28th.


If you wanted to join us this year, but were unable to do so, start making your plans now
for our 2016 spiritual journey, which will be held August 6 - 13, 2016.
Full details to be posted soon on our website at www.SacredSitesJourneys.com


To access the
Registration Form for this Sacred Sites Journey to ENGLAND
,
Click Here

Questions? Email info@SacredSitesJourneys.com
Or, call our office at 888 501-3853 (Toll free in the US) or 928 284-2384


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NOTE: All photos and text on this webpage are the Copyright of Sacred Sites Journeys/ Heartlight Fellowship.

Sacred Sites Journeys is NOT affiliated with any other sacred travel company.
Other sacred travel companies offering spiritual pilgrimages similar to ours
are using our text and photos. We did not give them permission to do so.
We believe that karma is very efficient, and that those who are not in integrity
will swiftly reap the negative benefits of such actions.

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Updated 6/22/2015

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