A literary adventure to the British Isles, with a focus on the lives and works of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis. Next trip in May/June 2025!
Great news! Dave has put his trip talks on Recovery, Escape, and Consolation into a new book entitled _Chasing a Disaster of Amazing Good_! It's available on Kindle / Amazon for $5.00 at the following link.
Chasing a Disaster of Amazing Good: Recovery, Escape and Consolation in J. R. R. Tolkien’s On Fairy Stories
Great news! Dave has put his trip talks on Recovery, Escape, and Consolation into a new book entitled Chasing a Disaster of Amazing Good! It's available on Kindle / Amazon for $5.00 at the following link.
Chasing a Disaster of Amazing Good: Recovery, Escape and Consolation in J. R. R. Tolkien’s On Fairy Stories
And....the trip is full! 24 of our 24 spots are full!
Any further travelers interested in our 2025 trip to Oxford, the Lake District, and Scotland are welcome to be added to our wait list. :)
So excited - what a wonderful group of travelers we have!
Greetings friends and (potential) travelers!
We are excited to announce the 2025 Inklings Abroad trip, traveling to Oxford, the Lake District, and Scotland. In addition to our usual Lewis and Tolkien content, this trip will have a special emphasis on J.K. Rowling and Beatrix Potter.
We have updated our website with all of the new information, including an itinerary sketch, dates, and costs. All of this can be found at:
www.inklingsabroad.com.
We also recommend joining the WhatsApp, Inklings Abroad 2025 Main Chat, where potential travelers can ask questions (this is different from the 2025 Updates Chat). If you are not already in this chat, please join it here:
https://chat.whatsapp.com/KD1fkT3DAM94lchGyDLyoK
The trip is limited to 24 travelers, including leaders. Anticipating high interest in this year’s trip, we will fill spots as we receive deposits.
To ensure your spot on Inklings Abroad 2025, you should do both of the following:
1. Send a $750.00 per person non-refundable deposit (or $1000.00 per couple). We have information about how to pay this here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1lU-dNDijhAq27Lwl4N4chOpJkpAootnjct0cpk5_3fA/edit?usp=sharing
If you wish to pay by check, we will count your deposit date as the date you in writing confirm that you have mailed the check.
2. Fill out our registration form. This form is new this year and assures that travelers have familiarized themselves with our most important policies and provide us with basic information:
https://forms.gle/jvrhvvvqbAvXcVWk9
We will be having some meetings later this year to discuss the trip in greater depth and build community. However, if you already know you are interested, we recommend signing up or at least contacting a leader for more information.
Aslan is on the Move!
- The Inklings Abroad Leadership Team
Following a successful annual leaders meeting, we will be announcing the itinerary and other details for Inklings Abroad 2025 in the next few weeks. If you or someone you know is interested in hearing more about that trip, please join (or invite others to join) the Inklings 2025 WhatsApp group using the link below! You’ll be the first to get a sneak peek of our new itinerary and have the first opportunity to sign up. 🥰🌊🏰📚
https://chat.whatsapp.com/K2JKipikpLOHiUNCtKXVy2
Another successful Inklings Abroad trip is in the books! We’ll be posting more photos in the coming weeks, but thank you so much to everyone who travelled with us. Your friendship, creative community, and adventurous spirits are why we keep doing these trips every year. Stay in the loop for 2025’s trip with the links in our bio!
Following a successful annual leaders meeting, we will be announcing the itinerary and other details for Inklings Abroad 2025 at some point in the next few weeks. If you or someone you know is interested in hearing more about that trip, please join (or invite others to join) Inklings 2025: Updates on Whatsapp. (Link below; if it doesn't work, send us a message and we'll send it to you!)
We have no marketing other than our website, and rely on word of mouth from those who had a good experience on Inklings Abroad to generate interest for the following year. Speaking of the website, it will be updated in the next few weeks as well.
Some photos of this year's trip so far... Oxford, Cornwall... now on to the Cotswolds! (No flying!!)
We have a $500.00 scholarship opportunity available this year Inklings Abroad! Click on the link below to learn more and apply:
Scholarships may be awarded to current or potential travelers who demonstrate at least two of the following: • Interest in the lives and works of the Inklings; • Alignment with the Trip Values, especially Creativity in Community; • That they have a financial hardship or limitation. This can in...
Hello everyone! Please see the below Zoom link for our October 15th Inklings Abroad meeting! Please share the word with anyone who might be interested in traveling this year. We still have a few slots available.
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Hi friends,
Here is the Zoom link for our next team meeting--please spread the word! Thanks incredibly!
David Conley is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Inklings Abroad 2024
Time: Oct 15, 2023 05:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://clemson.zoom.us/j/93345978500
Meeting ID: 933 4597 8500
One tap mobile
+16469313860,,93345978500 # US
+19292056099,,93345978500 # US (New York)
Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise video communications, with an easy, reliable cloud platform for video and audio conferencing, chat, and webinars across mobile, desktop, and room systems. Zoom Rooms is the original software-based conference room solution used around the world in board, confer...
For anyone who is considering out annual trip to the UK to see the locations that inspired C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien (and this year, Jane Austen!), the spots began filling up quickly this weekend. I think it is safe to say that there will be openings until the end of September, but we may close the group as early as October if we reach 24 total travelers.
https://inklingsabroad.com/
(ignore preview this is for May-June 2024.
A literary adventure to the British Isles to study the lives and works of C.S. Lewis, J.R.R. Tolkien, and more!
Hello! We are excited to announce that Inklings Abroad 2024 is officially a go! 🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧 This year, we are taking a new approach and really centering Creativity in Community as our trip value. A few ways we will do this:
> We will not go to a bonus country. Instead, the third stage of the trip will be in places we already know well: the Cotswolds & Bath. We'll go deep in these areas visiting locations central to the Inklings and to other British authors, especially Jane Austen. We think this "third stage" will be the best ever, since we already know the best places to see and stay, and the Cotswolds is easily as beautiful as Ireland/Scotland.
> We will have shorter and less stressful travel days (no crazy Ryanair/Bristol day). ❌✈☠
> We will reinvest the money we would have spent getting to a bonus country into extremely nice Bath and Cotswolds accommodations with the goal of making each lodging a place where travelers can rest and enjoy spending time together. 💚🌳🏡
> We will have three meals included in the price of the trip. These will be the Trout and two other restaurants. 🍽🥧🍻
> We will explore other ways to engage in creative community, such as new Inklings talks and writing workshops.
> There are whispers that the Bird and Baby may be reopened by 2024!
For those interested in traveling with us next year, here is some very important information:
1. You can find links to the new 2024 WhatsApp channels here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1en77sFNEyVzpH-6a6uAmsyBVGCajGxuK3qJiemuTB8k/edit?usp=sharing
2. We will hold our first interest meeting for 2024 on Sunday, August 27 at 6:00.
We will post a Zoom meeting invitation here and on the new WhatsApps. If you plan on attending the meeting, please LIKE 👍 this message.
3. The rough itinerary for 2024 is on our website and also here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1paa5MbO14IvG_voFaUgdzB0s0FPasPtByhX-9agvR2I/edit?usp=sharing
Even if you cannot travel, we would greatly appreciate you sharing the word with others. As a small nonprofit with no assets, we take a leap of faith each year paying lodgings deposits and our reliant on new and returning travelers to make the trip happen. Please help us keep the adventure going in 2024! :) 🇬🇧❤🧝♂🧝♀
2024 Rough Itinerary England (Bath & Cotswolds) 26 July Oxford Fri May 24: Depart USA Sat May 25: Arrive in Oxford; (Rew) Sun May 26: Oxford (Rew) Mon May 27: Oxford (Rew) Tue May 28: Oxford (Rew) Wed May 29: Oxford (Rew) Coverack Thurs May 30: Travel Day Try leaving at 9 am to arrive at Tinta...
We're excited to announce our 2023 Inklings Abroad trip! Visit our website to see the itinerary. We are offering a $200 early bird special until the new year.
A literary adventure to England, Cornwall, and Scotland.
Hi friends! This weekend, I'm attending this (virtual) conference hosted by The Rabbit Room, a group dedicated to Christianity and the Arts. Last year, there was so much great community, information, activities, concerts, lectures, etc - I can't wait for this one to start tomorrow!
There are talks for gardeners, visual artists, writers, musicians, cooks, hospitality-showers - the list goes on and on.
Also - you don't have to be able to attend live; for $20, you can have all the content available to you for the month of October. You can watch/listen at your leisure!
So, join me - I know you'll enjoy it!
Happy, happy birthday to our founder and fearless leader, David Conley!! Cheers to you, Dave, and we wish you many more! 🎉🥳🎂🎁🍻
Here is a video of where we stay each year in Coverack!
Hey folks! Two quick announcements:
1. Trip is $120 cheaper if you pay by Friday. Tell David when you pay your deposit that you want the early bird discount.
2. Flights are insanely LOW today. Many leaders just bought ours on United out of Greenville in the $700-$800 range. This is about $300-$400 cheaper than usual for a reputable airline (aka not Norwegian).
So if you are interested in this year's trip, it is totally OK if you need to wait a few months, but if you are pretty sure, then jump on now. If you are already signed up, try to buy your flights during this sale. In any case, if you have questions or concerns, please reach out to us. My number (Matthew) is 706-247-4273.
Here is the current draft of the 2020 itinerary, which is pretty much final.
Fly out on Friday PM May 29 (or earlier) and arrive in England on Saturday May 30
Oxford: Saturday May 30 through Thursday June 4
May 30 – Arrival: We will walk along the Thames to the Trout, one of the many pubs frequented by the Inklings, for our arrival meal.
May 31 – Inklings Walk: We will go on a walking tour of Oxford to see many of the sites that were important to the Inklings, such as the Bird and the Baby pub and the colleges where they lived and worked. We’ll read Lewis’ famous sermon The Weight of Glory in the church where it was originally delivered.
June 1 – Lewis Day: We will head out to nearby Headington to tour the home, nature preserve, and church of C.S. Lewis, learning about his life and marriage to Joy from the scholars who preserve his house and memory. We will also visit his grave, where we will read from The Last Battle.
June 2 – The Cotswolds: Trip out to the Cotswolds to explore some perfectly Shire-esque countryside, including Broadway Tourt. Optional horseback riding.
June 3 – Optional Day Trips or Rest Day: Some may take the day easier by exploring Oxford at their own pace. Others may head to London, Cambridge, Stratford, or elsewhere.
Coverack: Thursday June 4 through Wednesday June 10
June 4 – Travel Day: This day will be spent primarily traveling by train out to Cornwall. Our favorite driver Gary will pick us up in Redruth and take us to Coverack, our favorite place in the world.
June 5 – St. Michael’s Mount: We’ll travel to Marazion to explore the island fortress and gardens, which can only be reached by boat at high tide. This is a great place to discuss Tolkien’s captivation with the sea.
June 6 – Tintagel: We’ll learn about the Arthurian mythos and its connection to the works of Tolkien, Lewis, and Williams at Tintagel, a Roman and Celtic ruin where a young Arthur was supposedly kept hidden by Merlin in the hidden caves.
June 7 – Kynance Cove: Gary will take us to Lizard, where we’ll have local pasties, explore the village, and then walk to Kynance Cove, one of the most beautiful places in the world. Just look up the pictures!
June 8 – TBA: Due to popular demand, we are adding another day of adventure in Cornwall. We are not sure yet, but we may explore St. Ives.
June 9 – Rest in Coverack: This is a day just to sit back and enjoy the beauty of Coverack and prepare for the next stage of the journey. Walking along the coastal paths to find Shetland ponies, hanging out at the local pub, and even watersports in the bay are all great ways to spend your day.
Fort William: Wednesday June 10 through Sunday June 14
June 10 – Travel Day: We’ll take a combination of busses, trains, and planes up to Scotland.
June 11 – Hogwarts Express and Isle of Skye: One of the most magical days of the trip. We’ll take the Jacobite Express / Hogwarts Express across the Highlands to a port, and from there take boats out to explore the Isle of Skye. Then we’ll do it all in reverse.
June 12 – Ben Nevis: Some may choose to climb the tallest mountain in the British Isles. It’s so high that there is snow at the top in June and really helps one envision the Inklings’ love of mountains and hills. We believe in “challenge by choice” though, so there will be other, more sane options as well.
June 13 – Rest / Free Day: We are building in a day for additional adventures for some and recovery from Ben Nevis for others.
Edinburgh: Sunday June 14 through Monday June 15
June 14 – Travel / Edinburgh: We will pop down to Edinburgh as early as possible and explore the many J.K. Rowling / Harry Potter sites.
Fly home on Monday AM June 15 (or stay longer)
Our website has tons of information on this year's trip!
A literary adventure to England, Northern Ireland, and the Republic.
Lol
Some words of insight from Nicole on travel and difference between Travelers and Tourists:
"Why is being a tourist such a bad thing? Chesterton’s logic was travelers go to places to experience them for what they are, and not what they expect them to be. Travelers don’t bring any “baggage” with them. Tourists, on the other hand, go to places toting along all their preconceived expectations, misconceptions, and prejudices. They already have an image in their mind of what the experience is going to be like, everything is already planned out in their head, and because of that their journey is limited by their own state of mind. Sounds pretty rigid and boring to me. I definitely don’t think Chesterton was against having a general plan when traveling, but he believed that being flexible and open to the present moment was the best way to travel. After being overseas twice now, taking in the countries I visited as they were, and being open to new experiences, I can now say that I am with Chesterton on this one."
For teachers, summer is a time of relaxation. A time to recuperate and rest after being hard at work in the trenches during the Battle of the School Year, and trust me, we need the break. Teaching …
This year's group at Kynance Cove playing guitar and enjoying the view.
Inklings Abroad 2019 trip in progress! Started in Ireland; currently in Coverack!
Beautiful article!! http://www.cslewisinstitute.org/War_Friendship_and_Imagination
he last soldier to die in the Great War was an American, twenty-three-year-old Henry Gunther, a private with the American Expeditionary Force in France. He was killed at 10:59 a.m., November 11, 1918, one minute before the Armistice went into effect. Gunther’s squad had encountered a roadblo...
Extensive collection of C.S. Lewis materials coming to Mercer, with some interesting-sounding lectures at the kickoff!
https://news.mercer.edu/university-library-to-showcase-extensive-private-collection-of-c-s-lewis-materials-donated-to-mercer/
Friends from 2018! Especially those of us who went to the Jane Austen museum in Bath - check out this article! It may be a confirmed portrait of Jane herself! How exciting would that be??? (This is Tricia posting, BTW)
https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/family-says-overlooked-note-confirms-portrait-is-of-jane-austen-1.4995883
The identity of a woman painted by Ozias Humphry has long been disputed. But a note has surfaced that the current owners say proves the artwork is the only known professional painting of Jane Austen.
C.S. Lewis preached his most famous sermon, The Weight of Glory in Oxford, at a church that we will be visiting this summer on our annual trip. Here is one of our favorite parts:
"When I attempted . . . to describe our spiritual longings, I was omitting one of their most curious characteristics. We usually notice it just as the moment of vision dies away, as the music ends, or as the land- scape loses the celestial light. . . For a few minutes we have had the illusion of belonging to that world. Now we wake to find that it is no such thing. We have been mere spectators. Beauty has smiled, but not to welcome us; her face was turned in our direction, but not to see us. We have not been accepted, welcomed, or taken into the dance. We may go when we please, we may stay if we can: “Nobody marks us.” A scientist may reply that since most of the things we call beautiful are inanimate, it is not very surprising that they take no notice of us. That, of course, is true. It is not the physical objects that I am speaking of, but that indescribable something of which they become for a moment the messengers. And part of the bitterness which mixes with the sweetness of that message is due to the fact that it so seldom seems to be a message intended for us, but rather something we have overheard. By bitterness I mean pain, not resentment. We should hardly dare to ask that any notice be taken of ourselves. But we pine. The sense that in this universe we are treated as strangers, the longing to be acknowledged, to meet with some response, to bridge some chasm that yawns between us and reality, is part of our inconsolable secret. And surely, from this point of view, the promise of glory, in the sense described, becomes highly relevant to our deep desire. For glory means good report with God, acceptance by God, response, acknowledgement, and welcome into the heart of things. The door on which we have been knocking all our lives will open at last."
Announcing the tentative itinerary for Inklings Abroad 2019! This past year we've heard a lot of interest in spending more time in Ireland to really dig deep into the biography and writings of C.S. Lewis. Well here it is - over half of the 2ish week trip will be in Northern Ireland and Ireland. We'll be hosting meetings in Clemson, Athens, and online over the next few months to flesh out all the details, so be on the lookout for those. And in the meanwhile feel free to message any of our leaders if you are at all interested. David Conley Tom Bombadil Betsy Weinrich Tricia Agan Caroline Johnson-Hall Matt Hall
A literary adventure to England, Northern Ireland, and the Republic.
Today the last batch of travelers from Inklings Abroad 2018 fly home. Thanks Nicole Wiebelhaus for putting together this epic video of the first 2/3 of the trip!
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Some highlights from Inklings Abroad 2024 - Oxford, Cornwall, and the Cotswolds! Some photos taken by travelers, including Catherine Haws, Julie Benitez, and Erin Rogan.
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We’ve all heard of J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, whose works, The Lord of the Rings and The Chronicles of Narnia, continue to capture the hearts and imaginations of millions around the world. But few of us know the story of the Inklings, the literary group frequented by Lewis, Tolkien, and other great fantasy writers and apologists of the twentieth century.
Inklings Abroad seeks to tell that story.
We’ll trek out to Cornwall on the southwestern tip of England, exploring the rugged and spectacular Cornish coast which inspired J.R.R. Tolkien’s mythology. There we’ll see the breathtaking Tintagel, the legendary birthplace of King Arthur, as well as St. Michael’s Mount, a majestic castle in the midst of the sea.
We’ll take you to Oxford, England, the “city of dreaming spires” and the gateway to so many fantasy worlds. You’ll see the Kilns, home of C.S. Lewis, raise a glass at the Bird and Baby, where in their time the Inklings swapped their world-changing stories with each other before sharing them with the world.
In 2018, travelers will also have the opportunity to travel to northern France and the Swiss Alps. We will delve into the rich history and legacy of Lewis, Tolkien, and their friends in the Great War while staying in a country chateau. We will also stay several nights in alpine town of Lauterbrunnen and in the city of Geneva, immersing ourselves in the spectacular landscapes which inspired many parts of Tolkien’s Middle-Earth.
For lovers of fantasy and myth, this is the adventure of a lifetime.
