Goddess Tours International
The Goddess in Cornwall
A sacred sites tour of Cornwall for women
April 11th-19th 2011
Rocky Valley labyrinth
Cornwall is one of Britain’s most unspoiled and spiritual places. There are many ancient sites, such as stone circles, standing stones, dolmens, fogous and holy wells that date back thousands of years and yet are also potent with power today. Experienced and informed local Goddess-loving guides Cheryl Straffon and Lana Jarvis can help to unlock the mysteries of these sacred places, deep within the living landscape of the Celtic land of Cornwall.
- A sacred tour to sacred places away from the tourist trails
- A deep connection to the sites and the Land
- Ritual and ceremony at some places
- Stay in a beautiful healing and retreat centre
- Transport to all sites and informed guiding
- Time for rest and recuperation
- Be with a small Goddess-loving Group
Nine Maidens
The Tour
Introduction
Cornwall lies at the south-west of Britain, the very ‘end of the land’, known as Belerion to the Celtic peoples. Along with Ireland, Wales, parts of Scotland, the Isle of Man and Brittany, it still retains some of the ancient Celtic culture in its history, its language and its music. It also has one of the highest number of ancient sites for its area in the whole of Europe. Many of these sites are hidden on the moors and in the valleys of this rural landscape. This tour will concentrate on two areas: the far west of Cornwall (West Penwith) where we will stay for a week in Boswedden House, overlooking the sea and fields, and then in the Tintagel and Boscastle area of North Cornwall, redolent with legend and ancient mystery. The approach to visiting the sites is as being on a pilgrimage: there will be plenty of time to connect with the sites and the spirituality of the landscape, and there will also be opportunity for ritual and ceremony to honour the Goddess at some of the places. Join us now with this special opportunity to reach out to the Goddess in the landscape of Cornwall, along with experienced local Goddess-loving Tour Guides Cheryl Straffon and Lana Jarvis.
Chun Quoit
Itinery
The first week will be spent at Boswedden House at Cape Cornwall near St Just. Boswedden House is a healing and retreat centre, with well-appointed en-suite rooms, a communal lounge area, an indoor swimming pool, beautiful grounds with a labyrinth and sheltered areas, and stunning views to the sea and over rural fields. It is within walking distance of St.Just, a small town that has shops, cafes, and a Library and Information Centre (with internet access), and it is also within walking distance of the sea and cliffs. From this centre we will each day visit ancient sites in the area, including stone circles, standing stones, dolmens, fogous, ancient settlements and holy wells.
For the final few days we will transfer to north Cornwall, where we will stay near the historic village of Tintagel. On the way we will stop off at Bodmin Moor, one of the last unspoilt wildernesses of southern Britain, to visit a stone circle and a holy well. At Tintagel and Boscastle we will spend two days visiting the famous King Arthur’s Castle from a different Goddess-informed perspective and also go to a secret glen and valley, and to the nearby Witchcraft Museum.
It is intended that visits to sites will be in the morning, with a break for lunch at a nearby pub that serves good food, followed by another site visit in the early afternoon, and then a return to Boswedden House late afternoon for rest and relaxation. There will also be ample opportunity to sample Cornish cream teams, a local speciality, and on some days to explore nearby towns and villages. Evening meals may be taken in St.Just, where there is a wide choice of good but inexpensive eating places.
Details of Sites
The Tour begins with your collection from either Newquay Airport (direct services from London, the Midlands and North, as well as Ireland) or from Penzance railway & coach station (direct services from all parts of Britain, including London). [Visitors from outside Britain may like to arrive in the country earlier or later than the start date in order to visit other well-known sites in England, such as Stonehenge, Avebury and Glastonbury – we can supply information of getting to these places on request]. We will transport you to your accommodation at Boswedden House, and after settling in, there will be a welcoming meal, followed by a slide presentation by Cheryl Straffon, giving an overview of the sites and their meaning. In the days that follow we will visit sites that include stone circles at the Merry Maidens, the Nine Maidens and Boscawen-ûn, quoits (dolmens) at Lanyon, Mulfra and Zennor, holy wells at Sancreed and Madron, fogous (underground chambers) at Carn Euny and Boleigh, and the famous Mên-an-Tol holed stone. We shall also go to church (!) – to visit the Mermaid of Zennor Goddess carving, and to St.Michael’s Mount, that iconic mystical island; and there will be time to look around the famous Artists’ town of St.Ives and Penzance. All these sites are relatively easy to access and do not involve difficult walking.
After a week of immersing ourselves in these sacred places, we shall move to the Tintagel area of North Cornwall. On the way we shall stop off on Bodmin Moor to visit the Trippet Stones and St Clether’s beautiful hidden holy well. Then at Tintagel we shall visit the famous King Arthur’s Castle, and view it from a different Goddess perspective, and also the mystical St Nectan’s Glen and waterfall and the enigmatic labyrinth carvings in Rocky Valley. Finally, we spend some time at Boscastle’s Witchcraft Museum, with its collection of amazing artifacts and history of witchcraft, run by a sympathetic Museum host. After this cornucopia of wonderful places and experiences, we shall then return you to your train, plane or coach for your journey home.
All arrangements are subject to change arising from local conditions.
Tour Guides
Cheryl Straffon and Lana Jarvis
Costs
The total cost for the full 10 day Tour is £850 for shared rooms or £950 for single occupancy [Payment may be made in your own currency equivalent to these sterling amounts].
This includes:-
- Transfer from and back Newquay airport or Penzance railway station at beginning and end of the Tour
- Accommodation with en-suite rooms throughout
- Welcoming meal and presentation on the first evening
- Transport to all the sites
- Informed tour-guiding and ceremony by guides Cheryl Straffon and Lana Jarvis
You are responsible for making your own arrangements for the following:-
- Transport to Cornwall
- Your travel insurance
- Your lunch & evening meals (we will advise about inexpensive places to eat)
- Adequate footwear, which should include waterproof shoes or boots
As we shall be a small Group, it means that we can try and look after your individual needs as much as possible. The magic of the sites should speak for themselves, but we are also very happy to share our knowledge and love of these places and their meanings with the Group, and to spend time getting to know you and ensuring that you have a deeply fulfilling and nurturing time.
Important things to note:-
If you choose the shared room occupancy you are responsible for providing a room mate. If you wish, we will endeavour to select a room mate for you from any others who have booked for the Tour in this way, but if we are unable to do so, then you will need to pay the single room occupancy supplement. This is a standard requirement for tours of this nature.
A deposit of £100 must be paid at the time of booking this Tour, and the balance no later than 8 weeks before the commencement of the Tour. You have 28 days in which to change your mind about the booking, after which time the deposit becomes non-refundable. This covers any administrative and cancellation charges that we may have to pay. If you are forced to cancel your booking after paying the full amount, the following refunds will be given: Before 8 weeks prior to the Tour – total amount less £100. Between 8 – 4 weeks prior to the Tour – 50% refund. Within 4 weeks – no refund. If we are forced to cancel the Tour for any reason, we shall refund any money paid in full.
We shall endeavour at all times to ensure that care is taken of your needs and abilities, but equally you are responsible for your own safety, and by signing up for the Tour, you agree to absolve the Tour and its organisers from any responsibility for your own safety.
Background Reading
Pagan Cornwall: Land of the Goddess
Cheryl’s book provides a background to the Tour and the sites we shall be visiting.
To order a copy on-line please click here
www.meynmamvro.co.uk
Booking
You download details of our "A sacred sites tour of Cornwall for women" as a PDF document, 708kb.
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Carn Gulva - Penzance - Cornwall