A Local Adventure – Columcille

I think so many times traveling gets shoehorned into the definition of some out of reach construct that takes a colossal amount of time and money and can only be achieved by going to some far off destination. Even Oxford Dictionary defines travel as going from one place to another, typically over a large distance. This limits what people consider travel. With so many restrictions on traveling lately, redefining what traveling is to me made last year so much better. Words aren’t meant to be stagnant or exclusive. Learning to appreciate what’s nearby and rather than yearning for what is out of reach at the moment can be liberating.

For this particular adventure I was drawn to Columcille Megalith Park, a hidden gem about an hour and a half’s drive from me. Opened in 1975, Columcille is “rooted in Celtic spirituality and inspired by the Isle of Iona off the coast of Scotland.” The park has over eighty standing stones and is regarded as a space for quiet meditation.

On Sunday I woke up and gathered everything I would need: snacks, water, camera, and, of course, a mask. Unfortunately, I didn’t check the lens on my camera, so I couldn’t get any useable photos off it. Lesson learned. The drive through Eastern Pennsylvania towards Bangor was beautiful. Once I got there, I wandered the trails for a couple hours. In addition to the trails, there are a bunch of structures to explore including the Saint Columba Chapel and the Saint Oren Bell Tower. There is also a stone circle that is reminiscent of Stonehenge. The park has a map on their website you can print out which is super helpful in case you’re worried about missing anything.

The park was beautiful and unique. It had a very whimsical vibe. I can’t wait to visit it in the spring when everything is back in bloom. I wrote a piece similar to this earlier in the year on Stoneleigh. I decided to make this a kind of mini series since adventure can be found right in our backyard; they’re just waiting to be discovered.