Weaving our Iona Connections: A Walking Awake Pilgrimage

A Walking Awake pilgrimage to the Isle of Iona, Scotland with Columcille Megalith Park and Kirkridge Retreat Center (registration is open to all).

After experiencing a wonderfully memorable shared pilgrimage to Iona in 2024, Columcille Megalith Park, Kirkridge Retreat Center and Walking Awake are excited to announce that we’ve decided to offer another in August, 2026!

If you are curious about the connections that link these three places together, have a love of Celtic Spirituality and Nature, always dreamed of traveling to Iona (or to return), this pilgrimage is for you!

Our journey will begin on Friday, August 7th, 2026 with a group pick-up (by private-hire bus) from a pre-designated meet-up location (TBA) in Glasgow. From here, we will wend our way through the beautiful Scottish landscape to the Kilmartin Valley where together we will explore its many ancient sites, standing stones and museum. Our day will conclude in the harbor town of Oban (often referred to as the ‘Gateway to the Isles’) where we will settle into our overnight accommodation located on the esplanade and enjoy a delicious group meal by the waterside.

The next day, as a group, we will wend our way via public transportation (2 ferries and a bus) to the Isle of Iona and our ‘home-away-from-home’ for the week, the Bishop’s House. Built in 1884 and originally called ‘Saint Columba’s House’, Bishop’s House is an Episcopalian retreat house welcoming to all. We enjoyed a lovely week here during our 2024 pilgrimage; the hospitality, food and atmosphere was ideal, and we’re very excited to return!

During our time spent on Iona, Denise and Nick will offer a variety of guided informational and reflective walks, as well as group sessions focusing in on Iona history and myth, our interconnection with Nature, various aspects of Celtic Spirituality, and more. We will visit Iona’s many well-loved sites, such as Columba’s Bay, the Hermit’s Cell, the Nunnery ruins, the Oran Chapel, and Iona Abbey (where Kirkridge founder, John Oliver Nelson was so deeply inspired). There will also be opportunity to visit other Iona sites some of which are connected to Columcille Megalith Park by name, such as the Hill of the Signal, the Glen of the Temple, Dun-I and Brigid’s Well. We will delve into the stories of Columba, Oran, Brigid, Vikings, William H. Cohea, Jr. and Fred Lindkvist of Columcille Megalith Park, John Oliver Nelson of Kirkridge Retreat Center, and George MacLeod of the Iona Community. Our week will also include an eclectic mix of poetry, storytelling, ceremony, ritual and music.

From the Beginning to the Beginning’ as Columcille founder, Bill Cohea is quoted, we will weave our connections to this sacred isle as individuals and as a community.

This pilgrimage is limited to 15 registrations. If you are considering joining us, we highly recommend securing your spot early as our previous ‘Weaving our Iona Connections’ pilgrimage sold out rather quickly.

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

• $3,000.00: The early discount base price for this pilgrimage is $3,000.00 per person, if registered by May 1st, 2025. After May 1st, 2025, if space remains, the base price for this pilgrimage increases to $3,200.00 per person. Note: This pricing scale is for shared room accommodation (two to a room)
• Single room option (+$300.00): There will be a limited number of single rooms available on a first-reserve basis in both Oban and Iona for an additional surcharge of $300.00, equalling 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 desired, there may be an opportunity to book a sea-view room in Oban. Sea-view rooms in Oban will be offered to those who have expressed early interest, first. The surcharge for a sea-view room in Oban (if available) will be $200.00 per room. Payment for the sea-view room option (if available) will not be due until the final pilgrimage payment. If you are interested in a sea-view room in Oban, please let Denise know upon registration and she will add you to a wait-list and will keep you posted regarding availability in order of request receipt

*Note: While rooms are ensuite in Oban, the rooms at Bishop’s House are not. There are 5 bathrooms (each with a private tub or shower) to be shared amongst 21 guests (much like at Kirkridge and other retreat centers).

How to secure your place on this journey:

• First: email Denise Crawn at denise@walkingawake.com to confirm availability
• Second: Carefully review what is included and not included in this pilgrimage fee (listed below)
• Third: Click here to read more about the details of this pilgrimage to discern if this pilgrimage is right for you
• Next: Carefully review Walking Awake LLC’s Terms of Agreement & Cancelation Policy.
• Lastly: Scroll down to the BOOK YOUR SPOT section below, and click ‘Buy Now’. This will take you to Walking Awake’s PayPal link where you can place your non-refundable deposit of $700.00 (per reservation). *Please Note: Upon placing your non-refundable deposit of $700.00 you are confirming that you have read, understood and agreed upon Walking Awake LLC’s Terms of Agreement & Cancelation Policy. and that you also agree upon the payment schedule for this pilgrimage, listed below
• Weaving our Iona Connections, August 7th – 15th, 2026 Payment Schedule (after placing your non-refundable deposit of $700.00):
  • Initial non-refundable deposit of $700.00 to secure your place due upon registration
  • August 1st, 2025: $700.00 per reservation due
  • December 1st, 2025: $700.00 per reservation due
  • February 1st, 2026: $700.00 per reservation due
  • May 1st, 2026: Balance-in-full due

*Depending on availability, if registering after May 1st, 2026: Pilgrimage fee must be placed in full (no payment schedule available).

*All payments are to be made via the Walking Awake PayPal link (located below and on the home page of this website), unless otherwise arranged with Denise.

Included in Base Pilgrimage Fee: 

• Transportation:
  • Private-hire bus group pick-up from pre-designated Glasgow location (most likely the Holiday Inn EXPRESS at Glasgow, Airport) featuring a day-trip to Kilmartin with an early evening group drop-off at our hotel in Oban
  • Return ferry transport: Oban/Craignure, Fionnphort/Iona (August 8th/August 15th, 2026)
  • Return public bus transport: Craignure/Fionnphort
• Accommodation:
  • 1 night shared accommodation at Muthu Alexander Hotel in Oban
  • 7 nights shared accommodation in Iona at Bishop’s House
• Meals:
  • Evening meal in Oban, August 7th, 2026 (£40pp limit)
  • Breakfast on Saturday, August 8th, 2026 at our hotel in Oban
  • All breakfast, lunch and dinners during stay at Bishop’s House in Iona
• Other:
  • Week-long admission to Iona Abbey and Museum
  • Guide(s) and bus driver fees
  • Base pilgrimage fee includes a $150.00 donation to be shared equally between Columcille Megalith Park and Kirkridge Retreat Center (made by Walking Awake after the completion of this pilgrimage)

Not included in Base Pilgrimage:

• Airfare
• Onward return travel after ferry arrival in Oban on August 15th, 2026
• Any travel, meals, or accommodation prior to or following the dates of our pilgrimage
• Surcharges for single and sea-view options
• Optional boat trip to Staffa at £40pp
• Individual travel insurance for all eventualities (REQUIRED)
• Tips for bus driver, guides, or other services
• Any unforeseen costs incurred due to travel delays within our pilgrimage*
• Any and all options not listed above

*In the rare event that we encounter travel delays within the itinerary of our pilgrimage (such as ferries not running, train or bus issues, etc.) each individual is responsible for any and all additional costs incurred including but not limited to accommodation and meals. Because of this rare possibility, we advise that when you book your air travel or transportation that you include, at least, an extra day at the end of your journey.

Click here to read more about the details of this pilgrimage.