Shamanic Pilgramage to Scotland
at Autumn Equinox
September 17-24, 2026
Highlands & Western Isles-Edinburgh-Glencoe-Isle of Skye-Standing Stones of Callanish-Cairngorm Reindeer Center
WELCOME! (Fàilte!)
We are thrilled to offer this awesome trip to the spectacular Scottish Highlands and otherworldly Western Islands. I like to call this a shamanic pilgrimage rather than a trip because it combines the sheer awe and fun of touring the Scottish Highlands with the spiritual nourishment of making ceremony to the land, working with Celtic spiritual forces, honoring ancestors, learning fabulous wonder tales, and filling our lives with a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Throughout time, shamans and seekers have made pilgrimages to natural "power spots" to gather new power, insight, wisdom and healing. This is our goal. The journey is conceived as specifically spiritual and shamanic, reverent for the land and the ancestors, and meditative, rather than getting the same photographs of the same spots that you see on the internet. We will have a great amount of fun and revelry, and we will have pubs close by wherever we go, But rather than line up with tourists and tour buses, I’ve designed this trip to have more contact with the land than with people. The trip will also include some shamanic teachings for practices you can use and ideas you can savor. We go on this trip in September because there are fewer tourists, and because the annoying summer midges are usually gone (cross fingers).
This journey is the least physically demanding trip we lead. Please feel free to contact me if you have questions: Jaime@drummingthesoulawake.com
2026 ITINERARY
It is possible that the below itinerary may change. I hope not, but I have to say that.
Wednesday, Sept 16: All travelers must be in Edinburgh by Wednesday evening. Our trip does not explore Edinburgh. We recommend arriving a day or two early to both ground yourself and offer you a chance to explore this dynamic city.
Part I: Dunino Den - Glencoe
Thursday, Sept 17: We depart for Dunino Den, an off-the-radar site of Druidic ritual carved into the rock, humming with the presence of nature spirits. From there, we journey toward Glencoe, the gates to the highlands. Along the way we will take a beautiful jaunt down the Glen Etive road to the Etive waterfalls for prayer and contemplation. This site is connected with the myth tale called Deirdre of the Sorrows.
- Stay: One night near Glencoe.
Part II: The Isle of Skye
Friday, Sept 18 – Sunday, Sept 20: a water crossing by ferry from Mallaig to Armadale, entering the rugged beauty of Skye. Our time here balances iconic power spots with hidden "spirit-filled” gems.
- Stay: Sept 18, 19, 20. I try to find out-of-the-way places with space and quiet.
Sites and Activities: (The itinerary is subject to change slightly.)
- Dunscaith Castle ruins, known as the Fortress of Shadows, and the mythic home of the warrior goddess Scáthach, standing on an isolated spit of land where the veil is fiercely thin and daunting.
- Into the Quiraing—a landscape so surreal it feels like another dimension. Choose a gentle walk and meditative sit or a 90-minute up the hills to absorb incredible vistas.
- A gentle 20-minute walk to the isolated, holy waters of Loch Sheanta near the rugged ocean for quiet ceremony.
- A hidden path leads us to Brother’s Point, a majestic sea-view sanctuary with a tumbling waterfall.
- The lovely town of Portree and other sites along the way.
Part III: The Great Stones & The Autumn Equinox
Monday, Sept 21: On our way to Ferry, we take in the utterly mystical Faery Glen for meditation and ceremony. Afternoon: ferry from Uig to Harris (about 2 hours). Then we drive north to the immense Standing Stones of Callanish—a site that predates Stonehenge by two millennia. This site is so deeply energetic it is difficult to describe it in mere words.
Tuesday, Sept 22nd The Equinox at Callanish Stones. We spend the Autumn Equinox immersed in the energy of Callanish and other sites on Lewis.
- Stay: Isle of Lewis two nights
Part IV: Clootie Wells & The Reindeer
Wednesday, Sept 23: A ferry ride back to the mainland at Ullapool (about 3 hours) and a journey into the primeval Cairngorm mountains. We pass through Inverness, and along the way, we pause at the Munlochy Clootie Well, an ancient, heart-wrenching site of prayer and offerings.
- Stay: Cairngorms one night.
Thursday, Sept 24: In the morning, we visit the Cairngorm Reindeer Center. We will take a 30-minute hike tjrhg deep woods opening to spectacular hills to feed and commune with the herd. Afternoon: we make the 3-hour drive back to Edinburgh, where our circle closes and trip is formally complete.
| Date | Destination |
|---|---|
| Sept 16 | Edinburgh |
| Sept 17 | Bill |
| Sept 18-20 | Glencoe - Isle of Skye |
| Sept 21-22 | Skye - Isle of Lewis |
| Sept 23 | Isle of Leis – Inverness - Cairngorms |
| Sept 24 | Cairngorms - Edinburgh |
Early Bird Price: $3,300 for the first 6 to register
After: $3650 (SAVE $350!)
Reserve your spot(s) by making a $500 deposit per person.
You may use the PayPal Button below (with a $15 PayPal fee) or you can pay through Venmo with no fee (@DrumSoul). If you use Venmo, you must add your email address to the note or I won't be able to contact you! You may also send a check to Drumming the Soul Awake, 4227 Lyndale Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55409. An email telling me the check is on its way helps. If you mail a check, I cant guarantee that your spot won't be taken by someone paying online while the check is in the mail.
The deposit is non-refundable if you withdraw from the trip for any reason unless I can fill your spot. It is refundable if the trip gets cancelled from my end for any reason. This adventure needs a minimum of 6 people. Please don't book air fare until you hear form me that the trip is a "go."
The price includes lodging for seven nights in shared rooms (typically two people per room in twin beds, but a minimal possibility of three in a room for one of the stays). The lodging is comfortable but not luxurious, charming but not lavish - all so I can keep the price of the trip as reasonable as I can. The fee covers ground transport beginning when we leave Edinburgh to when we return to Edinburgh the final afternoon.
The price does not include your airfare, food and drink, or tips for drivers. It does not include lodging in Edinburgh the night before our trip begins, and the night the trip ends. (Some people extend their trip before or after our formal adventure.) Based on previous trips, it's somewhat safe to budget about $90 per day for food, and $175 per night for decent lodging in Edinburgh.
Single and shared rooms: If you want a single room add on $850 and let me know when you register. It makes it very difficult if you decide later to have a private room, and I wont be able to guarantee it. Sharing a room with a total stranger is not something everyone can do well. If you are nervous person, or really need your space, if you tend toward cranky, or if you are someone who snores, or has a CPAP machine, or is a very light sleeper, or is up and down at night, I highly recommend you not try to save money by doing a shared room.
Please contact me with any questions: jaime@drummingthesoulawake.com
What Previous Travelers Had to Say...
"Being in a class or ceremonial space with Jaime is the spiritual experience I always wanted from church but never found. Jaime moves easily between the sacred and the silly, putting everyone at ease and creating an amazing camaraderie and intimacy between strangers. The class was motivating, inspiring, and thought-provoking. I would take any class from Jaime because I know that in anything he leads, I will be reminded of how sacred life is and feel connected to my deepest self."
"Traveling with Jaime was a life-changing experience. He led us to places of extraordinary beauty and spiritual power, where we had a perfect mix of structured teachings and free time for personal exploration. What began as a group of strangers felt like a family by the end of the trip. For anyone interested in cultivating a more spiritual life, a trip like this is an invaluable opportunity to immerse yourself in a kind of beauty and wonder that can further you on your path. Since coming home I've felt stronger, more centered, and more peaceful than ever. I'm already planning my next trip abroad with Jaime!"