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Photograph to come · The Rock of Cashel above the Golden Vale

Scottish Saints and Irish Shrines

Edinburgh, St. Andrews, Carfin, Dublin, Glendalough, Cashel, Kerry, Galway and Knock

Fourteen days across two countries, from St. Margaret’s chapel inside Edinburgh Castle and the miners’ grotto at Carfin to Glendalough, the Rock of Cashel, the Dingle Peninsula, Clonmacnoise and Knock.

Departures

Current Tours to England & Scotland

Upcoming departures to England & Scotland. Each group has its own host, dates, and itinerary. The route below is our standard.

All current pilgrimages
The Route

Sixteen stops between Edinburgh and Dublin

Edinburgh, St. Andrews, Perth, Glasgow, Carfin, Dublin, Wicklow, Glendalough, Tipperary, Cashel, Kerry, Dingle, the Cliffs of Moher, Galway, Clonmacnoise and Knock.

Itinerary · EU_GB-IE-14D-01

The Scottish Saints and Irish Shrines Itinerary

This fourteen-day route is the longest in the family and the only one that leaves Britain, pairing four days in Scotland with a full circuit of Ireland. Your group travels on its own dates, and the itinerary can be adjusted to fit the time you have and the places that matter most to your pilgrims.

DAYS 1–3

Edinburgh and the castle

St. Giles' Cathedral standing on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh
St. Margaret’s Chapel inside Edinburgh Castle
Day 1

Departure

Our pilgrimage begins with an overnight flight to Scotland. Dinner and breakfast are served during the flight, and the group travels together from the first evening.
Day 2

Arrival in Edinburgh

Our escort and driver meet the group on arrival and stay with us through the Scottish half of the journey. After check-in there is time to settle before a welcome dinner opens the pilgrimage.Overnight in Edinburgh.
Day 3

Edinburgh and the castle

Mass at the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Mary, mother church of the archdiocese, then the castle: the Great Hall, David’s Tower and St. Margaret’s Chapel, the oldest surviving building in the city, raised by David I for his mother. We end at the Palace of Holyroodhouse at the foot of the Royal Mile.Dinner and overnight in Edinburgh.
DAYS 4–5

St. Andrews, Perth and Carfin

Photograph to come · The Carfin Grotto at Motherwell
The Carfin Grotto at Motherwell
Day 4

St. Andrews, Perth and Glasgow

North through Fife to St. Andrews, named for the apostle and a great medieval shrine, where the largest cathedral ever built in Scotland stands in ruins above the North Sea. Mass at the Church of St. James on the clifftop, then Scone Palace at Perth, the crowning place of Scotland’s kings.Dinner and overnight in Glasgow.
Day 5

Carfin and Glasgow

Out to the mining village of Carfin, where unemployed miners built Scotland’s national Marian shrine on the pattern of Massabielle at Lourdes. We celebrate Mass at the grotto and walk its shrines, then return to the city for a walking tour in the afternoon.Dinner and overnight in Glasgow.
DAYS 6–9

Dublin, Glendalough and the Rock of Cashel

Photograph to come · The round tower at Glendalough
The round tower at Glendalough
Day 6

Across to Dublin

We fly to Ireland and are met for a tour of the city on both banks of the Liffey, past Phoenix Park and across to the Georgian squares and Trinity College, founded in 1592, where the Old Library holds the Book of Kells. We celebrate Mass at a local church in the evening.Dinner and overnight in Dublin.
Day 7

Wicklow and Glendalough

Through the Wicklow mountains, long called the Garden of Ireland, to Glendalough, the monastic city St. Kevin founded in the sixth century in the valley of the two lakes. We see the round tower, the ruined cathedral and the small stone church, and celebrate Mass at the parish that carries his work on.Dinner and overnight in Tipperary.
Day 8

The Rock of Cashel and Kerry

The Rock of Cashel rises above the Golden Vale, once the seat of the kings of Munster, with its cathedral, round tower and Cormac’s Chapel, the earliest Romanesque church in Ireland. In the town below we celebrate Mass at the parish church of St. John the Baptist before travelling west.Dinner and overnight in Kerry.
Day 9

The Dingle Peninsula

The northernmost of the Kerry peninsulas and among the most beautiful stretches of Irish coast. We see the Gallarus Oratory, a dry stone chapel of the ninth century still standing whole, and the twelfth century church at Kilmalkedar, and celebrate Mass at St. Mary’s in Dingle town.Dinner and overnight in Kerry.
DAYS 10–14

Kerry, Galway, Clonmacnoise and Knock

Photograph to come · The basilica at Knock
The basilica at Knock
Day 10

The Cliffs of Moher and Galway

North through Listowel and across the Shannon Estuary by ferry into County Clare, and on to the Cliffs of Moher, which stand nearly seven hundred feet above the Atlantic. The coast road follows Galway Bay into the city, and we celebrate Mass at Galway Cathedral.Dinner and overnight in Galway.
Day 11

Lough Corrib and Clonmacnoise

A morning cruise on Lough Corrib, the largest lake in the Republic, then east to Clonmacnoise on the Shannon, the most important monastic site in Ireland, founded by St. Ciarán in the sixth century. Its churches, high crosses and round towers hold thirteen centuries of Irish faith.Dinner and overnight in Galway.
Day 12

Knock

The shrine stands in the plains of East Mayo, where on an evening in 1879 fifteen witnesses saw Our Lady with St. Joseph and St. John before a lamb and a cross upon an altar, in silence, for two hours. The original church still stands beside the basilica, and we celebrate Mass there.Dinner and overnight in Knock.
Day 13

Return to Dublin

We travel back across the country to Dublin and visit the National Museum of Ireland, whose collection of Celtic gold and early Christian work is among the finest in Europe. We celebrate Mass at Whitefriar Street Church, the Carmelite church that has held the relics of St. Valentine since 1836.Farewell dinner and overnight in Dublin.
Day 14

Return Home

With hearts renewed by the intercession of St. Margaret of Scotland, St. Andrew, St. Kevin and Our Lady of Knock, we transfer to the airport for our return flight home.

Why leaders choose Canterbury

“Canterbury treats you like family! They handle everything, from creating exciting itineraries to managing calls, registrations, and payments.”

Patrick MadridPatrick Madrid
Catholic Speaker, Author & Host of The Patrick Madrid Show on Relevant Radio®
Knock, County MayoWhere fifteen men, women and children stood before a silent apparition for two hours in 1879, and where pilgrims have come ever since.
Photograph to come
Dates

Your group travels on its own dates.

Tell us the window you have in mind and we will build the itinerary around it: the time you have, and the places that matter most to your pilgrims.

Your pilgrimage includes

Tour Package Includes

These inclusions can be easily tailored to the individual needs of your group

  • Daily Mass at the churches we visit
  • Round-trip group airfare
  • Airport transfers on arrival & departure
  • 4-Star hotel accommodations
  • Private motorcoach transportation
  • Breakfast & dinner served daily
  • Wine served with some dinners
  • Dedicated tour manager
  • Licensed guiding & admission fees
  • Porterage service at hotels
  • Whisper headsets when touring
  • Tips for hotel & restaurant staff
  • 9 – 5 PM (EST) reservation support
  • 24/7 travel emergency support
  • Canterbury Mobile App
For the group leader

What you get as the group leader

You travel free.

Every group earns complimentary places. The more pilgrims you bring, the more you earn. How complimentary places work

No financial risk.

If the group does not fill, deposits are returned. You owe nothing and neither do your pilgrims. What happens if a group does not fill

We produce the promotional materials.

Flyers, a registration page, and what you need to invite your people. Our guide to promoting a pilgrimage

We handle your pilgrims.

Registrations, rooming lists, payment plans and the phone calls. How leading a pilgrimage works

In your pocket

The Canterbury Mobile App

Every pilgrim in your group gets the app. Their itinerary, hotels and flights, the prayers of the day and a way to reach one another, all in one place and kept current as the pilgrimage unfolds.

  • Group chat

    Your whole group in one thread, so a change of plan reaches everyone at once.

  • Their itinerary

    The full day-by-day schedule, always current, in every pilgrim’s pocket.

  • Hotels

    Where the group is staying each night, with addresses and dates.

  • Flights

    Flight details kept alongside everything else, not in a separate email.

  • Daily prayers

    The prayers of the day, including the Liturgy of the Hours.

  • Shrine passport

    A keepsake record of the shrines your group visits along the way.

  • Live updates

    Times and meeting points pushed to everyone the moment they change.

Photographs
Photograph to come · The ruined cathedral at St. Andrews above the sea
The ruined cathedral at St. Andrews above the sea
Photograph to come · Scone Palace at Perth
Scone Palace at Perth
Photograph to come · The Rock of Cashel above the Golden Vale
The Rock of Cashel above the Golden Vale
Photograph to come · The Gallarus Oratory on the Dingle Peninsula
The Gallarus Oratory on the Dingle Peninsula
Photograph to come · The Cliffs of Moher
The Cliffs of Moher
Photograph to come · The high crosses at Clonmacnoise
The high crosses at Clonmacnoise

What group leaders say

“They’re big enough to handle any problem that arises, and small enough to craft truly unique experiences.”

Chris StefanickChris Stefanick
Founder & President of Real Life Catholic
Before you ask

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to travel to England and Scotland?

Groups travel from April through October. May, June and September bring long daylight and the most settled weather, July and August are the warmest and busiest months, and the north can be cool and wet at any time of year. Walsingham and the London shrines receive pilgrims all year round.

How physically demanding is this pilgrimage?

Moderate. Most days involve two to four hours on your feet, with walking on uneven ground, ancient stone, and steps at archaeological sites. Pilgrims who can manage a full day of sightseeing at their own pace do well. If anyone in your group has mobility limitations, tell us early and we will adapt the days around them. What activity level means.

What is generally not included?

Travel insurance, lunches, drinks beyond those served with included meals, personal expenses, and gratuities for your tour manager and driver. Any of these can be built into your package on request, so tell us what you would like covered and we will arrange it. Passports and visa fees are the one exception and remain the responsibility of each pilgrim.

Do I need a passport or visa for England and Scotland?

United States citizens need a passport and do not need a visa for a short stay, but every traveller must obtain a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation before departure. Each pilgrim, including children, applies through the UK ETA app or gov.uk, currently 20 GBP, usually approved within minutes and valid for two years or until the passport expires. It is an entry requirement rather than part of the tour package. Ireland is outside the United Kingdom and sets its own rules, and we confirm the current requirement for each group before travel.

Can our priest celebrate Mass at the churches?

Yes. Daily Mass is built into the itinerary, and we arrange times and locations in advance with each church. Your priest should travel with a celebret or letter of good standing from his bishop or superior. We handle the scheduling.

How many pilgrims do you need for a group?

Most of our groups are between 20 and 50 pilgrims, and we can arrange smaller tours as well. We have also organized pilgrimages for groups as large as 2,500, so whatever size your group turns out to be, we can build for it. Minimum group size for a group flight.

Enquire

Interested in Leading a Pilgrimage to England & Scotland?

A pilgrimage consultant replies within one business day. No deposit or commitment.

    Your Information

    Your Group

    First time? You are in good company. Many of our group leaders start right here, and we guide you through every step.

    Where You Would Like to Go

    Destinations of interest (check all that apply)

    These are some of our most popular destinations, but we build CUSTOM ITINERARIES anywhere in the world. If you do not see your destination, tell us below.

    Italy, Rome and AssisiFrance, Lourdes and ParisPortugal and FátimaSpain and the Camino de SantiagoPortugal, Spain and France togetherGreece and TurkeyThe Holy LandEgypt and Mount SinaiPoland, Prague and Central EuropeMedjugorje and the BalkansIreland and the United KingdomMexico and Our Lady of GuadalupeArgentinaPeruJapan, Nagasaki and AkitaUnited States and Canada shrinesA pilgrimage cruiseSomewhere else, or not sure yet

    When

    Group Size and Budget

    Complimentary places are arranged based on the size of your group. Let us know how many you expect so we can request them from our suppliers from the start.

    A Few Last Details

    Would you like sample itineraries emailed to you?

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