Journeying | Pilgrimage Holidays | Christian Walking Holidays | Christian Short Breaks

In June 2005, leaders Cate Macfarlane and Steve Evemy, travelled with a group to the West of Ireland. They climbed Mount Brandon. These are Cate’s thoughts on that climb… Vast, immovable, haughty in her grandeur, the mountain drew us towards her. Soft and rough, grey and green, she revealed more of her great expanse as we climbed ever upwards. Reciting Brendan’s Prayer, we remembered fellow pilgrims who had conquered different trails on the towering rock. Mount Brandon, on the south-west coast, in Dingle, Co. Kerry, is the second highest mountain in Ireland, 953 metres high. The ruins of St Brendan’s Oratory mark the summit of the mountain. The legend is that the navigator saint climbed the mountain with his seafaring monks to prepare them physically and…

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Marooned on a tidal island; rescued by a minibus driven through a rapidly rising tide; becalmed on a ferry with engine trouble; towed to shore by the rival firm! Our first journey to Ireland was to prove a time of high adventure... Late afternoon, September 14th 1994, and twelve pilgrims are on board the old mail boat noisily pushing its way through a breezy sea toward St Colman’s island home, Inishbofin, a few miles off the coast of County Galway. Midway through the voyage a sudden judder from the engines broke the friendly banter and craic of the travellers; we stood in unexpected silence, save for the wash of the sea against the hull and the cry of gull’s overhead. We…

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I had the good fortune to spend the first five days of October 1996 at the hermitage on Bardsey Island. I am writing these reflections because, in the context of the current resurgence of interest in Celtic Christianity, I do not think the importance of Bardsey has been properly understood. Iona is regarded as the most important island in Scotland associated with Celtic Christianity, and Lindisfarne has a similar importance in England, but Bardsey, which is the most important island in Wales associated with Celtic Christianity, is not so well known. I would like to make a few comparisons which will begin to establish the significance of this island for us today. Firstly, the island, unlike Iona and Lindisfarne, was situated on…

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I had been aware of this book for years and thought about reading it on many occasions, before eventually sitting down one lockdown afternoon and making a start. Pace, adventure, a gripping human story and the whole thing simply abounding in trust, faith, hope and love… Why had I waited so long to read such an inspiring and well written book. Son of the village blacksmith, Andrew (Anne van der Bijl) grew up in the polder land of Holland. Having joined the army in 1946 he saw active service in Indonesia, before returning home wounded, where one stormy winter's night in 1950 he turned himself over to God – lock, stock and adventure. Materially poor and often finding himself in dangerous…

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Praise exultant, cheerful voice, Souls uplifted swell, rejoice, Keen to pave the season’s way; Winter knows he cannot stay. Snowdrops gather in their throng Bursting forth with merry song. Daffodils in youthful zest Flaunting halo effloresced. Streams of living water quench Wastelands with abundant drench. Linger not on former things, See the new leap up on wings1 – Eagles soaring, graceful flights,2 Swooping down to novel sights; Untapped well of full potential Grounded in the reverential View of His encircling strength, Limitless in breadth and length;3 Pearls exceeding all conception,4 Blessings showered with affection.5 Freed from shackles holding fast,6 Gripped no longer by the past. Through the desert forge a trail,7 King approaching – let us hail! Vital Source of primal might, Healing glow with gleaming white; Rhythmic step in vibrant dance, Rhapsody of vernal prance! River’s bounty, brimming delight,8 Darkness scattered, brilliant Light;9 Fountain feeding spirit’s life,10 Nurturing…

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I wonder how many of you can remember Pilgrim Adventure. That’s how Journeying started (it was about 10 years ago that the name was changed). There's quite a bit of overlap between what is meant by ‘journeying’ and what is meant by ‘pilgrimage’. And these days they can almost describe the same thing. We can think about the journey of life as being a pilgrimage with the ultimate destination being God; the paradox is that God is also on the journey with us – and was there encouraging us when we set off at the start.....God being at our beginnings, accompanying us through life and waiting for us at the gate to new life. It’s the journey and the destination. As…

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David was born around 520 and died on 1st March 589. He established his monastery on the banks of the River Alun and must have been pretty tough as he was known for standing chest deep in the river and reciting the psalms, which earned him the nickname of the Waterman. He travelled to Jerusalem where he was given the title of bishop and on his return he founded monasteries all over Wales and the south west of England, including Glastonbury. The town that took his name grew up at the site of the monastery and had already become a major pilgrimage destination by the time the Normans built their huge cathedral on the site to house his relics in…

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Twenty years ago, my wife saw an advert in the Church Times for a trip to Saint Kilda. She knew that I had read about this remote place, and suggested that I book myself onto the trip. So, I did. Before then I had never been north of Edinburgh. I went with an old school-friend, and enjoyed the experience. That was my first contact with Journeying, then called Pilgrim Adventure. The following year I took my older son, John, who was then 12, on a Journeying trip to SW Ireland. He still remembers climbing Skellig Michael, and seeing the puffins scurrying to their burrows within a few feet of us, as do I. …

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