Day One
We begin our journey together at Avebury Henge and stone circles which are one of the greatest marvels of prehistoric Britain. Built and much altered during the Neolithic period, roughly between 2850 BC and 2200 BC, the henge survives as a huge circular bank and ditch, encircling an area that includes part of Avebury Village.
We will break for lunch at The Red Lion pub reputed to be one of the top ten list most haunted pubs in England. This pub is located at the center of the stone circle.
In the afternoon, we will walk the winding 1 1/2 mile ritual link of West Kennet Avenue. This ancient highway is a beautiful meditative journey originally containing around 100 pairs of prehistoric standing stones.
This walk takes us to West Kennet Long Barrow one of the largest, most impressive and most accessible Neolithic chambered tombs in Britain. Built in around 3650 BC, it was used as a group burial chamber. I side we will light candles and call in those of the spirit realm who wish to guide and join us for our journey in these Celtic lands.
Later in the afternoon we move on the near-by Silbury Hill, the largest artificial mound in Europe, probably completed in around 2400 BC. The “hill” compares in height and volume to the roughly contemporary Egyptian pyramids.
Day Two
July 22nd, Mary Magdalen Day and a very special day in Glastonbury!This is due to the legend of Joseph of Arimathea who accompanied The Magdalen across the Mediterranean after fleeing Palestina after the crucifixion of Jesus. Legend also says that Joseph of Arimathea also brought the Holy Grail to Avalon. We will pay homage to The Magdalen in the tiny Magdalen Chapel. We will also visit St John’s Church established in 950AD and added onto for the next 400 years.
In reverence for the playful and sacred, our day will feature a special private ceremony and sound bath at Glastonbury’s Goddess Temple.
Later in the day we will ascend the 20 minute climb up to the ancient and Holy Tor. “Tor” is Celtic for “rocky outcrop” and is thought to have been home to humans since the Dark Age and likely earlier, with remains of a 5th century fort being found. The serene St Michael’s Tower a top the Tor was built in the 1360s.
We will then visit the ‘Oaks of Avalon’ Gog and Magog the two trees said to be a traditional point of entry onto the island of Avalon. The trees were part of a ceremonial Druidic avenue of oak trees running towards the Tor and beyond.
Day Three
The Chalice Well, also known as The Red Spring is one of Britain's most ancient wells, nestling in the Vale of Avalon between the famous Glastonbury Tor and Chalice Hill. Surrounded by beautiful gardens and orchards it is a living sanctuary. For over two thousand years this has been a place where people have gathered to drink the waters and find solace, peace and inspiration.
We will then visit The White Spring, the lesser known sister of the Red Spring. It is one of the greatest mysteries of the Isle of Avalon that two different healing springs, one touched red with iron, the other white with calcite should rise within a few feet of each other from the caverns beneath Glastonbury Tor. Both have mysterious healing in their flow.
After lunch, we will tour the remains of Glastonbury Abbey. Since medieval times, the abbey has held legendary status as the earliest Christian foundation in Britain linked to Joseph of Arimathea and the burial place of King Arthur. At the Abbey we will spend time in amongst the ruins of the Lady Chapel a powerful sanctuary to the sacred feminine.
July
Day Four
Set high on Cornwall's rugged north coast, the myth of Camelot and the birthplace of King Arthur comes alive at the blackened ruins of the Castle of Tintagel.
We will park in Tintagel Village, and then walk half a mile along uneven track to Tintagel Head. There is a steep climb up steps to reach the castle. Across the bridge on Tintagel Island, there are also the earlier ruins of a Celtic Monastery.
At low tide, we will visit Merlin’s Cave where legend tells that Merlin still walks there and that his voice can sometimes be heard. The cave and castle gained fame following the publication of Tennyson’s Idylls of the King between 1859 and 1885 telling the legend of King Arthur, and included the tale of the infant Arthur being washed ashore at Merlin’s feet:
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“They found a naked child upon the sands
Of dark Tintagil by the Cornish sea;
And that was Arthur; and they fostered him
Till he by miracle was approven King”
Titangel Village is a lively Cornish town with fun shops. We will have time for lunch and strolling before driving to for dinner in Exeter on the River Exe. Exeter dates to the Roman era, the Exeter City Walls surround its center and the Gothic Exeter Cathedral.
For dinner we’ll explore alfresco dining on the Exeter Quay.
Day Five
The morning has been intentionally left open for us to see what we might want to revisit or venture into new territory in the Glastonbury area.
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After lunch we will visit Stonehenge, perhaps the world’s most famous prehistoric monument. It was built in several stages: the first monument was an early henge monument, built about 5,000 years ago, and the unique stone circle was erected in the late Neolithic period about 2500 BC. The henge is now part of the English National Trust and is enclosed by a walkway around it’s perimeter.
For dinner, we will venture to Salisbury is a medieval cathedral city in the southern English county of Wiltshire. The city is crowned by the ornate 13th-century cathedral. We’ll eat at The Cloisters a 300-year-old pub in the heart of the town.
In the evening, back at our lodging we’ll have a candle lit closing meditation.
Departure - July 26th
An early departure time gets us to London Heathrow for the next leg of your journey. Some of you may be traveling on to Germany to participate in Thomas Hübl’s Celebrate Life Festival. Others of you are welcome to join me as I fly to Paris. I'll spend one evening and depart the next day on a train to the South of France for the Mary Magdalen and Black Madonna Tour .
For information on traveling with me through Paris to the South of France click here
For information on the South of France Tour click here