Category Archives: Harp in the Highlands and Islands Trip

Summer’s coming

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Summer’s coming July 29 to August 10, 2024

This is the time of year when I start to run down the summer happenings that I’m looking forward to, hopefully in enough time that you can also plan to come along too!  The great thing about summer events is that they offer an opportunity to learn and do in ways that don’t happen as much throughout the rest of the year.  They are built on the break summer seems to bring to our “every day” world.  And better still summer events have great opportunities to learn and grow…and have a little fun!

This summer we will have our first Harp the Highlands and Islands trip that starts in Ireland (don’t worry, we make it to Scotland too)! We’ll travel with the amazing Alexandra who is not only a teacher but also a historian (by dint of education and enthusiasm!). She has planned a compelling itinerary and we’ve layered harp events on an unending array of beautiful and interesting stuff. 

Things we changed – we starting in Ireland and will see parts that aren’t as well traveled (which leaves us open to exploring more than the usual stuff). Things we haven’t changed – we still have a small band of travelers (no more than 8!) that ensures you have an intimate and tailored visit. We’ll meet local people and learn tunes and have an incredible time doing it!  And just when we’re fit to burst from Ireland, we’ll head over to Scotland and do it some more!

You know that having music in each travel day will make it all the more fun – and since we’re not just listening to it, we’ll be even tighter with itinerary informing the tunes we learn.  We’ll start in Shannon and then travel north to enjoy some time on the Wild Atlantic Way, visit castles, holiday towns, and meet some of the locals. We’ll also check out the stunning Kylemore Abbey! Then we’ll continue north towards Belfast and discover what makes the Northern coast so enchanting. We’ll cross over to Scotland in style on the ferry then round out our adventure in Glasgow and Edinburgh.  Here’s what’s coming:

Day 1 – Welcome to the Emerald Isle! We start at Shannon International, shake off that jet lag and head north on the Wild Atlantic Way.  First stop – Galway and then we’ll make our way to Westport. From here we’ll set out to explore this amazing corner of the world.

Day 2 – We’ll launch out today to explore the Connemara National Park. Nestled into the lakeside, Kylemore Abbey waits for us to enjoy. We’ll take a tour of the main house as well as the chapel, and gardens where the famous Kylemore ponies wait to greet us! We’ll head back to Westport for the evening our daily harp workshop.

Day 3 – Deep in County Mayo, we’ll visit the famous Ashford Castle grounds as we participate in a Hawk Walk with the National School of Falconry. Here, you’ll meet the local residents and get to know why this sport became such an important part of Ireland’s history. After, we’ll sit down for a lovely lunch at the Ashford cottage complex before heading back to Westport and our daily harp workshop.

Day 4 – We’ll head north to meet a phenomenal athlete, Moe, the sheepdog! Moe will teach us all about how amazing she is and why the relationship between shepherd and dog is so vital to this industry. After a quick lunch, we’ll saddle up and take in the splendor of the Irish coast on the iconic beaches of Donegal. We’ll arrive back in Westport for our daily harp workshop and an evening in this charming vacation town.

Day 5 – We’ll say so long to Westport and head into Northern Ireland. Along the way we’ll pull over and enjoy some of the hidden secrets in the small towns that dot the area. We’ll head to the northern coast of Ireland where we’ll learn a little about the distilling process at the world famous Bushmills Whiskey Distillery! We’ll enjoy the seaside town of Portrush and check in with our daily harp workshop.

Day 6 – Today, we’ll take in the splendor of the iconic Giant’s Causeway. We’ll learn the scientific reason why the causeway exists and maybe check in on the reason the locals think it sits here on the northern coast. After, we’ll enjoy an evening consisting of our daily harp workshop and dinner along the scenic coast.

Day 7 – We’ll make our way into Belfast where we’ll learn about the Titanic and its connection to Ireland. Our daily harp workshops continue and dinner will be a short distance away in our city center.

Day 8 – We’ll spend the morning learning about the history of Belfast’s most infamous story, “The Troubles”. This part of Belfast history is best told in the murals that dot the neighborhoods in the west of town. After, we’ll say goodbye to Ireland and take the Stenna Line Ferry across the Irish Sea and arrive in Cairnryan Scotland. We’ll head north for Glasgow to start our Scottish adventure!

Day 9 – Our Glasgow adventure continues as we take in some of the local sites and enjoy noting the differences between each side of the Irish Sea. We’ll spend the day enjoying all things Scottish then settle in for our workshop time and dinner just a walk away from our hotel.

Day 10 – We are off to our final destination! Edinburgh awaits us with plenty to see and to do! We’ll arrive in style by train and pull into Waverly Station. from here, we are just a short distance to our hotel. Just off the Royal Mile, we’ll set out to enjoy the local area and enjoy our workshop as well as dinner.

Day 11 – Edinburgh continues to delight and today we will take in one of the marquee events! After enjoying Rosslyn chapel to the south of town, we’ll have an early afternoon workshop before heading to the world famous Military Tattoo at the Castle. This spectacular show never disappoints and promises to entertain and delight.

Day 12 – We’ll round out our time in Edinburgh with a few optional tours and destinations and complete our workshop series today. There will be plenty to choose from depending on your interests. From The Whiskey Experience to Holyrood Palace, we’ll get you started in the right direction to enjoy all Edinburgh has to offer. We’ll end the day with our signature farewell dinner then give everyone a little time to pack up before our airport transfers tomorrow.

Departure Day – We know that this experience will have you falling in love with both sides of the Irish Sea! As we say goodbye to you here, know that both Ireland and Scotland fondly await your return!

As always, we’ll get to know you so that we will be able to find those little corners of Ireland and Scotland that delight and enchant. From magical bookstores, fabled artworks, and secret passageways, we’ll share with you those little things that make this the experience of a lifetime.

Our estimated price for the 2024 season is $4700.00 plus airfare.  What’s Included?

  • Breakfast at our hotels and dinners at unique locations daily.
  • Balance between scheduled experiences and unscheduled time to explore further or relax as you choose.
  • Plenty of downtime to enjoy unscheduled moments any way you please.
  • All attraction tickets and passes for experiences and guided tours (always with local experts).
  • All transportation including airport transfers upon arrival and departure.
  • Daily music workshop time to develop those crucial skills (and a small harp – no traveling with your harp!).
  • A dedicated opportunity to refresh your bags during our travels.

So you’re interested, right? Let us know so we can keep you in the loop! Details and fine print here on the website.  Have questions?  I’m happy to answer any you have. 

Are you coming?  Let me know in the comments!

Join Celtic Journeys in 2024

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Join Celtic Journeys in 2024

We have visited Scotland on the Harp the Highlands and Islands trips since 2010, so I was understandably sad when my dear friend David shared that he was ready to move along, fully retire, and enjoy more time with his lovely wife, Heather.  They both had done so much to share their country with harpers and harp appreciators that I couldn’t even imagine that I would be able to continue sharing the music of my favorite place on earth with other harpers (and their fans)!

But, honestly, I didn’t want to be done, and I didn’t have a solution, which made me sad.  Curiously, life in my world is always interesting, and another opportunity sprang up.

It’s a wonderful alignment with a travel company that specializes in small group travel experiences – much like what David had crafted.  I am so excited to join with Babcia and Yiayia who get what I wanted to share with you!  I think you’ll enjoy the B&Y approach too!

The focus is on creating a thoughtfully curated package of experiences that includes site seeing, interacting with people, and enjoying history, culture, food, and events, as well as incorporating a harp events where you learn and grow!  As before, the harp will be there for you (no schleping your own!).  And we know that not everyone necessarily plays the harp so harp appreciators are welcome to join us!   Play another small trad instrument? Also welcome!

Over the years, you had said that you’d like to see Ireland as well as Scotland and I heard you!  This year we have a completely new itinerary – on this trip we will travel for nearly two weeks, starting in Ireland and ending in Scotland!  The 13 day/12 night trip will include highlights of the north of Ireland and Northern Ireland with stops in Galway, Connemara, Antrim, and Belfast to see hawks, sheepdogs, giants, and glorious scenery.  Then we’ll travel to Scotland to see the sites of Glasgow and Edinburgh including the Royal Mile and the Edinburgh Tattoo!

The trip will be 29 July – 10 August and there are details here on the trip page.  If you have questions, ask away!   I am looking forward to seeing all these fantastic things with you!

Another great trip!

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Well, I’m home again but have one more set of photos to share.  We had a wonderful time, lots of fun and laughs and tunes!  Last week we were nearly done but not quite, so here’s a little more:  Then it was time to come home.

The funky Edinburgh wall paper from my last night’s hotel, I never miss the beach! Another landscape, and the ultimate Edinburgh view – the Castle

David wasn’t finished! We went to Ballindalloch Castle, seat of the Laird of the Grant.  We shared tunes in the beautiful dining room, toured the house, the gardens, and the tea shop!  We (finally) got a group shot – happy harpers and harp appreciators!  Here I mixed in some other photos from before I left – a glorious sunset, the Queen’s Jubilee display from the Princes Street Gardens in Edinburgh, that breathtaking sky.  And another tiny sink – this one in the hotel I stayed in before my flight home.

You already know I love the sky in Scotland, so another look.  The tiny sink from St. Andrews. A shot of the port of Stonehaven.  Nearby is Dunottar Castle ruin.  We spent a lot of time going places, so the road deserves a shot!

It really was a fantastic trip with good company – I can’t wait to go again.  But this week is a turn around – because next week we’re at Ohio Scottish Games and Ohio Scottish Arts School!  I’ll be teaching so I will probably be back to my usual forgetting to take photos but I’ll try!

Scotland through Strings

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We met up as a group just after last week’s post and I’ve been posting to facebook but I know that not everyone is on that platform so I promised more here.  This week, just a collection of photos I’ve taking.  We’ve played harp every day and had a great time. We’re not done yet, so I’ll be posting a few more, but for now…

W

We were in Perth and went to the very interesting Black Watch Museum – where I found sheet music and heard some tunes I know and some I didn’t!

Gratuitous waterfall and mountains as well as Wade’s Bridge which I always love seeing!

I found historical harps in Fort William’s small but mighty museum after watching the magical viaduct for approaching trains and a couple of gratuitous nature shots.

While in Skye we were intrepid travelers, even in the face of pelting rain and gusty winds – which lead to beautiful rapids. We got enough clear to see Portree and the Tongadale Hotel – that was reel-y fun to see.

On Skye, the weather made us all want to sing sea shanties about being caught in a storm! But it lead to great views, including the Old Man of Storr who was hiding in a cloud. and my impression of a sheep…

Back to the (much drier) mainland for Fort George, some wildlife, an amazing sunset and another harp!

Since we’re not done yet, there could be more – I’d love to hear which photos you liked and what you’d like to hear more about!

And so we prepare

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I’m really excited to be in Scotland!  David will get us started on our trip soon but until then, I’ve been visiting friends and seeing the sites that have always seemed not quite important enough to have fitted in before.  Boy was that dumb!

So this week (and next) rather than my usual wordy posts about practicing or playing or theory or technique – mostly photos of lovely days out!  The weather has been exceptionally hospitable since I’ve arrived (although I’m expecting more “authentic” weather soon – you know, “fine, soft days”).  And to be fair, up to this point, I’ve not had a harp in hand, so I’ll get caught up on that soon – for now, I’ve been indulging in other pleasures!  Hope you enjoy these as much I as I enjoyed experiencing them!

Clockwise from top left: entry to the Scottish National Museum of Modern Art; Dean Village and the Water of Leith Walkway; yummy hot chocolate (no cocoa for me!); a lovely day for a walk; and an interesting restaurant sign that could be considered enticing…maybe!

Scotland photos before harping 1

Clockwise from top left: Whale in Dundee; V&A and it’s facade meant to recall the cliffs of Arbroath; part of a work by Barbara Hepworth;;sometimes the best art is a mashup of nature and nurture, proto-whisky (barley in a field); and although I’m not really interested in flowers, these poppies really caught my attention

I’ll do my best to occasionally stop gawking at the wonder around me and take photos – and I’ll post them on facebook throughout the week – so keep an eye out there if you’re of a mind to. I’ll also post some more here next week. 

Until then, I’m itching to play – how about you?

Happy Anniversary! Our 10th year

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It’s amazing to realize that I started writing this blog 10 years ago this week!  The time has flown by.  I started to blog to get the word out about the Harp the Highlands and Islands trips.  And here we are, so much later, talking not only about the trips but also about becoming better harpers and learning stuff! 

Have you ever wondered how the trips came about?  Through serendipity of course!

My first trip to Scotland was to St. Andrews.  I didn’t even play the harp then.  The weather was horrible – grey, drizzly, much colder that I expected.  And then – it snowed.  And it was windy and the water looked angry and the beach was bleak – and I l-o-v-e-d it!!

Over time, I went back to visit, getting a better appreciation for the varied areas.  And the people, the geography, the history, and the sky – the breathtakingly, achingly beautiful sky!  I had a favorite hotel, a favorite B&B, lovely friends to visit, etc.  My favorite place was anywhere within 70 miles of the ocean*.

Then I began to play the harp, and after a few desultory attempts at celtoid music, my wonderful teacher gave me a gentle nudge that introduced me to Scottish music.  And I found that it was quite possible that I loved the music even more than I loved the sky!

While at the Ohio Scottish Arts School one summer, it hit me (finally) that nearly all the tune names referred to real places, real people, real events.  I had just seen Killiecrankie Leap – and was possessed with the need to play the tune Killiecrankie.  It was while walking to a meal in Oberlin, Ohio that I was struck by how cool it would be to sit on that rock where the great leap occurred and play that tune!

I wanted to go to all the places and play all the tunes!!

That thought simmered for a few years.  I had no idea how would I drag my harp along all those rivers, braes, burns, battlefields, towns’ streets, and through all those castles and stately homes!

In January 2009 I was invited by my dear friend David to play a Burns Supper.  It was an incredible event and I thoroughly enjoyed myself.  At the end of the trip, on the way to the airport as we chitchatted as friends do as their time together draws to an end and I shared my crazy idea to “play the harp at all the places” with him. 

Well, he took those wisps of thoughts and crafted a trip that landed in some great spots by getting off the beaten track to show people Scotland unpackaged – the place I had come to love and not just some glossy brochure “Outlander” paper doll cut out!  And he scheduled in time to play the harp – every day!  I put together arrangements of tunes that fit the itinerary (and a few extras, just in case) and the trip was born!

We focused on very small groups in a highly curated approach to travel (and we still do).  David is an amazing host.  I got to meet harpers I would not know otherwise and share tunes I love in locales I adore.

In 2020, we’ll celebrate our 10th year of sharing with you!  Perhaps the highest complement is how many people have come back to travel with us repeatedly.  In the digital age, I know I should have more photos, but I’m usually too busy being in the moment, sharing with new friends, or making music to take too many photos, but others have done a great job.  In addition, our 2020 trip is sold out already!  Thank you for joining us!

We’ll keep at it as long as we’re having fun.  If you’ve missed us for our 10th year but you want to come along, leave me a comment and I’ll add you to my contact list for the next trip.  And lift your metaphorical glass – to our anniversary!

* FYI, no part of Scotland is 70 miles from the ocean!

Scotland is calling! Be an Early Bird

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Scotland is Calling Harp the Highlands and IslandsI am already excited about our next trip to Scotland…and it’s still eight months away!!  I know that you’re so excited about the prospect of going too since I have talked to you and some have already taken advantage of the Early Bird pricing and booked your spot.

I know that some of you are still thinking about it.  So, I wanted to encourage you to get in on the Early Bird pricing.

I talked with David this week and I have a new urgency to share with you – lots of other people want to go then too.  All those other interested people translate to accommodations booking up.

Since so many of you said you’d love to go to Skye (or as some said, go to Skye “again and again and again!”), David’s been planning an itinerary around that.   Even those of you who have come with us before have only seen a small fraction of all the breathtaking beauty of Skye.  But if there are no accommodations available, we’ll have to reroute (after all – we need to have a place to sleep!).

Now, that’s not a problem…unless you want to see Skye.

If we were a big bus tour, it wouldn’t be an issue – we’d just take the reservation…and at the last minute, let go of the rooms we don’t need.  But we’re not, and that’s not how we roll.  Besides, we need to get the right room for each of you – and to do that we need to know how many singles, doubles, or twins!

Our trip will be 9 – 16 September 2020.  The Early Bird booking closes 1 October.  While we cannot take more than six people and we do need at least four.  We are getting there – but we’re missing you.

So, I’d like to encourage you to make your final decisions and book soon.  Get the Early Bird price!  We’ll take reservations first come/first served and your deposit holds your place.

The early bird price is $3200 per person.  Concerned you might have to pay the $350 single supplement?  Sometimes others are willing to share – so don’t let that stop you!

As always – if you have questions, ask away.  I’m always happy to talk about our trip and how you can get the most from it.  You can email me or leave a comment and I’ll get back to you.

Looking forward to sharing some of my favorite tunes – and seeing new things with you in just eight months!

In the Bleak Mid-Summer…8 ways to stay Motivated

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It is the Bleak Midsummer – that time of year when it might as well be winter for all that you intend to go outside!  It’s predicted to be about 100o tomorrow – ugh.  And raining.  The remnants of a tropical depressed (yes, I meant that).

Of course, it will be pouring while I try to load my car to head to Somerset Folk Harp Festival.  Why does it always rain when you need to load your harp into the car?  It’s just a law of nature I supposed.

But that’s the thing about the Bleak Midsummer (you might call it the Summer Doldrums, but that’s not bleak enough for me) – the heat, the humidity, the knowing that it will last another eight weeks – all gang up on you and sap your strength and motivation!  Who wants to play when you know you’re going to sweat on your harp?

Ugh.

So, how do you stay motivated?  Here are 8 ways that might work for you:

  1. Go to summer harp events! I’m delighted to be going to Somerset Folk Harp Festival and I’m missing all the fun we had at the Ohio Scottish Arts School, and I’m really looking forward to Harp Quest! I wish I was able to fit more in, but these events (and others like them) really help you break out of any rut you might be in, let you catch up with old (but distant) harp friends, make new harp friends, and learn a lot in a relatively short time.  Best of all, you come home with new tunes, cool tricks and tips, and usually a bounce in your harp-step!  [BTW -There only a few remaining spots in Harp Quest and registration will close soon, so be sure to get in while there’s space!  More info here or contact us here]
  2. Use the long days to your advantage – if you normally practice in the evening, you can use the early light to get a new view on your playing. Never gonna happen that you get up at 5 to practice? No worries – enjoy practicing in the late afternoon or early evening – here too the light is so bright and the sun still so high that it feels like you’re practicing much earlier than you are. Or wait until the lingering sunsets of summer to enjoy the feel of playing the evening in.  No matter what, you can use the longer days to get a fresh perspective on your playing.
  3. Don’t let the short nights get the better of you – be sure you’re still getting enough sleep. Getting enough sleep will not only help you play better but will also help stave off the blues.  Those long nights will be upon us before we know it (even if it feels like they’ll never come) but you can still arrange to get plenty of rest.
  4. It’s VACATION TIME! You can take this a number of ways. You’re going to go away and have a frabjous time somewhere else doing nothing (including not playing).  Or you’re going somewhere amazing and taking your harp with your time away.  Either way – use the down time to rest and recover.  And maybe devote a few quiet moments to reminding yourself of how much you love playing the harp and that the work is just a path to enjoyment. [And if you want to plan ahead – you could never go wrong spending your vacation on a trip with us!  Harp the Highlands and Islands 2020]
  5. Use those long sunny (hot) days to spend time in your favorite chair with your favorite libation thinking about how lucky you are to play the harp! That should perk you up and make you want to play (and maybe even to practice?). Of course, that libation should be part of your hydration plan – it’s so easy to get dehydrated in the summer and that will throw you off your game, sap your motivation, and probably give you a headache – all no fun.
  6. Think about Christmas – every year Christmas comes racing up and we’re never really ready, so give it a little thought now. Maybe plan out your cold weather strategy while it’s still nice and hot. When will you start?  What tunes are you going to add this year?  What have you played in the past that needs more work  (and inevitably, more than you think)?  Where are you going to play?  What non-holiday tunes will you keep in the rotation to avoid boring the socks off your listeners?  See, there’s loads to think about, while you’re sweating and not wanting to play.
  7. Just sit for 15 minutes. Promise yourself that you’ll only play for 15 minutes – after all, it’s hot and you won’t be able to concentrate for too long, so don’t think you will – just do it in bite sized chunks throughout the day.
  8. Have ice cream. Really? You’re going to question this?  Fine, I’ll have yours.

Power through – it’ll be autumn soon and before you know it, we’ll be complaining about how cold it is!  There’s eight ideas – do you have others?  How do you stay motivated throughout the summer?  Leave me a comment and share!

Announcing the Harp the Highlands and Islands trip for 2020!

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We are so excited to be planning the Harp the Highlands and Islands trip for 2020.  It sounds so far away – and it is…until it isn’t!

This is your chance to see Scotland in the glorious early summer—when days are bright, and temperatures are nothing like you experience at home!  Our trip will run 9– 16 June when the flowers are blooming but before the tourists have arrived in earnest!

If you’re not familiar with our trips – it’s your opportunity to tour Scotland with our amazing guide and driver – native (and harp appreciator) David Leitch.  And I really look forward to sharing Scottish tunes each day!  David continues to build on the resounding success of his customized Scottish Highlands and Islands tours, and we have worked together to expand his tour to include elements that inspired the tunes that harpers love to play.

Each day we’ll see more of the Highlands and Islands while learning tunes related to our travels.  You will enjoy an intimate group setting – we never take more than six travelers which allows you to see the real Scotland.  And you certainly see, and experience more than you would from the heights of a giant tour bus.

The itinerary includes the natural beauty and manmade testaments to Scotland’s history, as well as the prospect to learn more about history and the harp.

The trip includes all bed and breakfast accommodations, dinners, David’s enchanting guiding, entrance to group attractions, a small harp for your use and harp tunes from Jen. The very small group size allows flexibility so that each day you can see the very best Scotland has to offer!

Each trip David crafts an itinerary to assure that you see the wonders of Scotland.  But we also know that a number of you have come with us before and are thinking of coming again – so if you come along, he has planned some new amazing things for you to see!  A sample itinerary might include:

David and Jen will meet you in Edinburgh and our adventure begins — on to Perth, one of Scotland’s seven cities!  The next day we might see the scenic beauty of the Falls of Dochart, the enigmatic splendor of Glencoe.  We could follow the Great Glen and the Caledonian Canal, then head westwards in pursuit of the Islands.  We will see a lovely island including unique and stunning scenery and possibly gain an insight into the people who live there now and over time.  And of course we’ll see loads of magnificent views through the Mountains.  But the Highlands are calling and we could see incomparable Eilean Donan Castle or meander through the glens to Inverness.  We could explore a dark, mysterious, and well storied Loch or wander the coast and it’s quaint fishing villages.  Our final night, David and his beautiful wife Heather will welcome you to dinner in their home for authentic Scottish cuisine and hospitality. Then we’ll head back to Edinburgh for the journey home…or you might decide to explore Edinburgh on your own. Our final itinerary will be determined by you!  If our group includes old friends who have traveled with us previously, we will have an itinerary that promises all of us new delights and sites that we will all enjoy – without repeating a previous itinerary! 

Music is central – each day you’ll learn a new tune, add to your harp lore and experience the history of our harp heritage.  The tunes taught will be associated with the places we see, the history we uncover, and the incredible Scots we meet.  And your travel will be easier with a lovely small loaner harp waiting for you, so you don’t have to travel with your harp and all the worries that brings! 

Invite another harp player or bring a harp loving companion!  There will be activities both for harp players and for harp appreciators. Not a harp player?  We welcome other small traditional instruments!

The price includes seven nights dinner, bed and breakfast accommodation, tour and guide, admissions, lend of a harp for your exclusive use, harp tuition, and special treats.  Price per person double is $3499.  If you prefer to have a room to yourself, single supplement is $350. A $1000 deposit will hold your place (remember there are only 6 places per tour), with the balance due two months prior to your trip.  Discount for early booking — book by 15 October and pay just $3200.  Got a crowd that will fill the minibus? Call for discount booking, but hurry before the bus is booked up.