|
What is Pilgrim Travel?
Pilgrim Travel group tours trace the footsteps of St. Patrick and St. David through the Celtic heartlands of Ireland and Wales. Supported by academic scholarship, our itineraries follow the history and traditions of the two Patron Saints, through spectacular landscapes, fascinating historical sites and religious centres saturated by almost two millennia of spiritual aspiration. The development of the Celtic Church is placed in the wider context of Dark Age Europe. We examine the events that led to the establishment and survival of this unique Christian community on the remote western margins of the known world. We examine the tradition of mission and scholarship that preserved Christian heritage through the turmoil of barbarian incursion and the collapse of the civilised world. We examine the influence of the Celtic Church on the revival and unification of European Christianity in the face of political fragmentation and endlessly recurring conflict. We discover the extent to which Christianity provided the institutions that were the foundations for a new Europe, emerging from the ruins of centuries of turbulence. In this way we extend the concept of 'pilgrimage' to encompass the historical and cultural alongside the spiritual.
Our Dedicated Tour Guides [TOP]
Your Pilgrim Travel tour guides have been selected for their knowledge of Ireland and Wales. All hold 'Blue Badge' status, the highest qualification available to tour guides in England and Wales. Their knowledge has been supplemented by specialist courses designed and delivered by the Centre for the Study of Religion in Celtic Societies and the Department of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Wales Lampeter. The accommodation that we use has been personally approved by Pilgrim Travel staff and we have enlisted the co-operation of the curators of the most important historical sites.
Our Philosophy [TOP]
When working with vendors and group organisers, we go to great lengths to ensure that guests are treated as individuals. Our philosophy throughout is to affirm the natural Celtic instinct for hospitality and to re-create the affinity between storyteller and listener that characterised the oral traditions of the ancient societies of Ireland and Wales. This philosophy informs the working relationships that we have with group travel organisers, the relationships that develop between the guides, the accommodation providers and our guests, and above all, the lasting relationship that Pilgrim Travel aims to create between our guests and the historical, spiritual and physical landscapes of Ireland and Wales.
In-depth Support [TOP]
Select Travel Service's design and implementation teams are head quartered in Britain, supported by experienced marketing staff located at our offices in North America, Australia, South Africa and Russia. Although our operation is broad-based we have never lost sight of what is most important - the individual client. All our services are presented in a personalised and professional manner from inception, to final delivery and from the selection of suppliers, to budgetary considerations. Our innovation and ability to deliver the finest travel product comes from the "hands-on" approach of our senior staff. The owners of the company, Steven Penney, Matthew Squire and John Martin, are personally involved in all areas of operation. They bring a great diversity and wealth of experience from careers spanning over 50 years in the European travel industry. Pilgrim Travel tours have been developed in association with colleagues based in West Wales and Ireland who combine depth and breadth of knowledge with enthusiasm for, and commitment to, the rich and varied cultural heritage of the Celtic West.
BACK TO TOP
|
|
