The Green Jewel

Wales is a green jewel of a country, blessed with some of the most dramatic landscapes of Britain .To the north lies Snowdonia , a land of awe-inspiring mountains , wild moorlands and crystal-clear lakes whilst further south the land is abundant with deep valleys and mysterious forests . To the west is a beautiful coastline of cliffs, coves and sandy beaches .

Megalithic Culture

A thriving megalithic culture built mysterious stone circles and cromlechs throughout the land. Later, Wales became the fastness of the ancient Britons who fled west from the Romans to keep alive the Old Ways in places like Ynys Mon, (the Isle of Anglesey) one of the last strongholds of the Druids. In the Age of the Saints, men and women sailed their coracles over from Ireland, built little churches and hermitages and blessed the holy wells , while in medieval times, Cistercian abbeys , symphonies in stone, graced the remote hills.

Land of Story

Wales is a land of story, myth and legend. Every hill, lake and stone whispers its tale – of goddesses and faery women: Rhiannon, Arianrhod, and Ceridwen . King Arthur is still alive in his old haunts: Arthur’s Stone, Arthur’s Chair and Arthur’s Hill. Merlin may be glimpsed within his cave above Carmarthen (Caer-Myrddin: the City of Merlin) and on his sacred hill, Dinas Emrys near Snowdon . The Bards are still touching their harps in the mountains and chanting the stories of The Mabinogi .

The Pilgrimage

We make a circular pilgrimage of this enchanted landscape, exploring on the way medieval abbeys, haunted castles, holy wells, stone circles and ritual earth chambers, waterfalls and mountain lakes . There will be time to walk on the land each day through woods or by the sea , to stroll through old villages and market towns, listen to storytelling and traditional music . We stay in fine accommodation : small country hotels, guesthouses and a renowned retreat centre. Mara and special guest presenters will be leading meditations and sharing stories and legends along the way.