Religious Travelers - Pagan sites in Scotland?

I'm arranging a trip for my immediate family and several friends June 2008 to Scotland, mostly in the Highlands and the Islands. We are all pagan in one form or another (Wiccan, Buddhist, and Daoist) and would love to theme our travel around different ancient spiritual sites, such as standing stones and circles.

Does anyone have any particular suggestions on either sites or website to find them? Thanks!

We would also love visiting other religious sites, such as beautiful cathedrals or ancient monasteries. All these sites are very special and holy, and hold a serenity for all.

I'd be sure not to miss the Standing Stones at Calanish, on Lewis, since you'll be in the islands.

If you get to Edinburgh, you might want to check out Roslyn Chapel about 7 miles south of the city. It has some incredible stone carvings. Among them are unmistakable carvings of cacti and corn - plants that were at that time found only in North America, in a building finished well before Columbus. (To the extent that it was "finished," that is; the descendants of the chap who started it cut way back on the original plans.) If you want serenity, though, skip it - it's overrun with tourists, many of them there because it's where the final scene of The DaVinci Code plays out.

Get yourself out to Orkey. There are some wonderful standing stones not far from Kirkwall. When I was there it was open for walking around, photos etc without obvious restrictions. There are several sites on the island. It is also extremely interesting to visit Skara Brae, the ancient site of human habitation on the sea coast of the same island.

Callanis are definitely on the list! :)

I have heard about Roslynn, but am scared off by the tourists (yes, I know I'm a tourist, too!) But we shall see...

I very much wanted to go to Orkney this trip, but it doesn't seem to be in the cards. I've seen some shows on Skara Brae, and they fascinate me :) But my DH won't get on a puddle-jumper plane at all, and driving up there and back down will take up a lot of time - and everyone else wants to spend that time in the Hebrides (not a bad thing all together).

So.... wonderful suggestion, on the list for next trip :)

Aha, I might be able to get to the Orkneys after all! There is actually a daytrip offered out of Inverness to Orkney, which covers Skara Brae and some of the other sites. it's a loooong daytrip, but it's with a small group, and a definite possiblity :)

Thanks!

A visit to http://megalithic.co.uk is always education, even if the interface can be a little frustrating.

We've had the good fortune to be able to extend the trip to three weeks, thus allowing us to spend more time in each spot AND add a trip to Orkney for three days. Woohoo! We will also be on the Orkney Isles during Summer Solstice, and I look foward to spending the evening/morning in a standing stone circle for the longest day of the year :)

I look foward to spending the evening/morning in a standing stone circle for the longest day of the year :)

Anybody willing to take a bet on whether Green Dragon makes it through the entire evening/morning -- especially on the longest day of the year?

I give her two hours, max! :)

Anybody willing to take a bet on whether Green Dragon makes it through the entire evening/morning -- especially on the longest day of the year?

I give her two hours, max! :)

Hehehe... you underestimate my stamina, Dovster :P

Besides, I'll have several other pagan girls with me - we can dance around the stones all night. Anyone see the original Wicker Man?

Actually, why don't you consider this a challenge, Dovster? Come join us and show us YOUR stamina! :)

I'll have several other pagan girls with me

Actually, why don't you consider this a challenge, Dovster? Come join us and show us YOUR stamina! :)

You can't just lump all pagans together. If these other pagan girls worship Astarte (aka: Ashtoreth and Ishtar) in the manner traditionally associated with her ceremonies, you are all welcome to come to the Galilee, where there were once numerous temples in her honor, and we can test my stamina in the proper setting.

You can't just lump all pagans together. If these other pagan girls worship Astarte (aka: Ashtoreth and Ishtar) in the manner traditionally associated with her ceremonies, you are all welcome to come to the Galilee, where there were once numerous temples in her honor, and we can test my stamina in the proper setting.

No lumping involved (at least I hope not!) I believe one reveres The Morrigan, you may want to stay away from her. I'm personally devoted to Cernunnos and Brigit. The others I'm not sure of, but we likely have a very mixed bag. We all have 'goddess figures' though :)

Actually, why don't you consider this a challenge, Dovster? Come join us and show us YOUR stamina! :)

Well, just so you know what you're in for... That time of year, Sunset is around 10pm and civil twilight ends around 11pm. Twilight picks up again around 3:30am. Since it's mostly treeless and there are few places that aren't within sight of the sea, one could argue that nautical twilight applies -- and that lasts all night. Actual sunrise, depending upon your local horizon, is going to be about 4:30am.

If you'll be attending the St. Magnus Festival, they have a festival club at the Albert Hotel Matchmaker's Lounge... so that could occupy much of your evening before, but don't be caught drink driving over to the Ring of Brodgar.

Here are some pictures of this year's Summer Solstice sunset (http://www.bbc.co.uk/scotland/islandblogging/blogs/005391/0000009788.shtml).

Shinaju, this is exactly what I want to see - endless twilight! I heard it never really gets dark all night during solstice, and thought that we might (just might) catch some aurora borealis - though I realize that is MUCH less likely in the summer than the winter.

Wonderful pics, btw! That's what I hope to see while I'm there, if the weather cooperates. If not, it will be cool just to be at the stones :)

For those interested in stone circles, may I suggest Aubrey Burl (http://www.amazon.com/Guide-Circles-Britain-Ireland-Brittany/dp/0300114060/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/002-0660705-6312055?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1186079729&sr=1-1)

Had a very odd dream about the stone circles on Orkney last night. I was with a group of my friends, but far from the circles, though we could see them in the distance. We were across the water from them, and it was raining, but you could see the sun setting in the distance, through the rain and mists. I ran over to the stones to take photos (yes, I ran over the water - as long as I ran fast enough, I didn't sink), and got there just in time to realize my photo would have been better from where I started, and the sun was now sinking lower. So I sat down and just enjoyed the show.