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17 days (16 nights)
Land Package: Starts in Edinburgh, finishes in Glasgow
Monday, August 27 – Wednesday, September 12, 2012.
Land only: $4,725. Land & Air (out of Vancouver): $6,375 Single Supplement: $640
**See Optional below
Scotland is a country of great diversity. Best-known for its wild,
romantic Highland scenery, it has many lesser-known parts which are
equally as attractive both historically and scenically. There are the
lovely, rolling borderlands with their ruined castles and abbeys, stark
memories of more turbulent times; beautiful coastlines with gorgeous
beaches—which would be lined with hotels were it not for the temperature
of the water!
There are lovely gardens with exotic plants, courtesy of the Gulf
Stream, found far further north than would be expected; heritage
villages which have been carefully restored so that we can see what life
used to be like; and enough fairy-tale castles, with many different styles
of fascinating architecture, to satisfy any keen photographer—not to
mention the Whisky trail.
Many tours of Scotland cover the major tourist attractions. We cover
the "majors" and much, much more, including the smallest
distillery in Scotland! But we concentrate on the small towns and villages
rather than cities, visit as many sites as possible made famous by novels,
films and TV movies, and stop for pub lunches wherever possible.
Included in the price:
- Airport transfers for those arriving and leaving with the group
- Accommodation and transportation (up to 35-seater coach) for tour length
- All breakfasts and dinners as specified in the itinerary
- Admission to all attractions as per itinerary
- Porterage - one bag per person in and out of hotels
- Gratuities except as noted below
- Escort throughout
Not included:
- Airfare and related taxes
- Lunches, unless specified
- Any Insurance
- Personal requirements, laundry
- Gratuities for driver and escort/guide - if you wish
**Optional — Edinburgh Extension.
The dates for this tour have been arranged thus because nearly everyone who wants to go on the 2012 Scotland tour wishes to either attend
the Royal Military Tattoo and/or spend some time in Edinburgh prior to the tour; and as the Edinburgh Festival
will also be taking place the city will be an especially exciting place to visit. We attend the Tattoo on
Saturday, August 25, and the rest of the time in Edinburgh will be on your own to explore.
3 nights extension + Tattoo ticket = $560
Single Supplement: $275
Optional Extension:
Aug 23
Today we fly from North America overnight to Edinburgh, arriving the next day.
Aug 24
Today we arrive at Edinburgh Airport where we make one group transfer to our lodgings near the city centre.
The rest of day is free to enjoy Scotland's historic capital.
First of 3 nights: Chancellor's Court Halls of Residence, Edinburgh University or similar.
No meals.
Aug 25
Today is free to enjoy Edinburgh. You may wish to start with a Hop-On-Hop-Off bus tour to orient
yourself in this great city. At this time Edinburgh will be hosting the world's largest arts festival.
Performances are to be found everywhere, including in the streets. This evening we enjoy the spectacular
Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo on the esplanade of the castle.
Second of 3 nights: Chancellor's Court Halls of Residence, Edinburgh University or similar. No meals.
Aug 26
Today is another free day to visit highlights such as Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace and the Royal Mile.
Last of 3 additional nights: Chancellor's Court Halls of Residence, Edinburgh University or
similar. No meals.
Aug 27
This evening the rest of our group join us to start the main tour.
Main Tour:
Day 1 (Mon 27)
This afternoon we arrive at Edinburgh Airport where we make one group transfer to our lodgings near
the city centre. The rest of day is free to enjoy Scotland’s capital as it hosts the world’s largest arts
festival. Performances are to be found everywhere, including in the streets.
(Overnight) Chancellor’s Court Halls of Residence, Edinburgh University. Dinner
Day 2 (Tue 28)
This morning we transfer from Edinburgh to New Lanark. We stay in a truly stunning hotel overlooking
the River Clyde. It is a conversion from an original 18th century cotton mill set in the middle of a
fascinating World Heritage Site. After a guided tour, we have free time to enjoy this factory town which
was a new model of worker/management co-operation in its day. The whole town is now a museum. You may also
like to enjoy a lovely walk through the forest to the nearby waterfalls.
(Overnight) New Lanark Mill Hotel, New Lanark. Dinner & Breakfast
Day 3 (Wed 29)
We depart for dramatic Culzean Castle where Eisenhower had an apartment, then stop at a “farm shop”
for lunch, before visiting the amazing Creetown Gem Rock Museum, which houses one of the finest
privately owned collections of gemstones, crystals, minerals, gemstone objets d'art and fossils in Britain.
Our hotel tonight is in Dumfries.
(Overnight) Aston Hotel, Dumfries. Dinner & Breakfast
Day 4 (Thu 30)
Our first stop is Caerlaverock Castle, an unusual 13th-century
triangular fortress, one of the finest medieval moated ruins in Scotland,
which was seized by Edward I in 1300. The rocks it is built of are amazingly colourful!
Then we have a beautiful drive through the Scottish borderlands to
visit Abbotsford, the original home of Sir Walter Scott. We
continue to the attractive little town of Melrose, where we see the ruins
of Melrose Abbey, a Cistercian Abbey begun in 1136, redone in
ornate Gothic style and then decimated again in 1543. One of the most
famous of the great Borders abbeys, it is now one of the most beautiful
ruins in Britain, and herein lies the heart of Robert the Bruce.
(Overnight) Buccleuch Arms Hotel, St. Boswells.
Dinner & Breakfast
Day 5 (Fri 31)
Near the attractive market town of Kelso, we visit Thirlestane
Castle, one of the most popular castles of the Borders. Home of the
Maitland family since the 13th century, it is most remarkable for its rich
plasterwork. With its magnificent Baroque features, it surely looks like a
fairy-tale castle.
We continue for the "shock village" of the Royal Burgh of Culross with its
palace and heritage village, the nearest thing to a 16th century time capsule
anywhere in Scotland. After a fascinating visit to this unusual village, we continue on to the lakeside resort of Kinross.
(First of 2 nights) Windlestrae Hotel, KINROSS.
Dinner & Breakfast
Day 6 (Sat 1)
We have a short photo stop at the picturesque fishing village of Pittenweem and then visit the
attractive harbour resort of Anstruther, before continuing along the coastal route of Fife to St. Andrews,
famous for its golf courses and Prince William & Kate(!), with free time to explore the town,
ruined castle and cathedral. In the afternoon we visit Falkland ancient village, and Falkland Palace and Gardens
which was once the hunting lodge of the Royal Stuarts and is still in regular use as the oldest court in the United Kingdom.
(Last of 2 nights) Windlestrae Hotel, KINROSS. Dinner & Breakfast
Day 7 (Sun 2)
Today we see magnificent Glamis Castle, with a dozen storybook
turrets, the legendary setting of Shakespeare's play, Macbeth, and
childhood playground of the Queen Mother. On to the Angus Folk Museum
with one of the finest Folk Collections in Scotland, housed in a row of
six restored early 18th-century cottages with stone-slabbed roofs.
We drive via Kirrimuir, home of J.M. Barrie, author of Peter
Pan, and after a stop in the lovely restored village of Dunkeld,
with one of the most magnificent ruined cathedrals, we continue to Pitlochry
where we stay in a magnificent castle hotel overlooking the town.
( First of 2 nights) Atholl Palace Hotel, PITLOCHRY.
Dinner & Breakfast
Day 8 (Mon 3)
We take the famous drive along Loch Tummel for the Queen's View
en route for Blair Castle, full of marvellous artifacts from all
around Scotland dating from as early as the 12th century. Its grounds are
used for training the Duke of Atholl's army, the only private army in
Western Europe. There is also a magnificent garden.
After lunch at Blair, we visit attractive Edradour, the smallest and most picturesque distillery in
Scotland, the rest of the day is free in Pitlochry.
(Last of 2 nights) Atholl Palace Hotel, PITLOCHRY. Dinner
& Breakfast
Day 9 (Tue 4)
After a photo stop, and perhaps a visit(!), at the Royal Bakery at Ballater, we
visit Crathes Castle and Garden, a 17th-century castle with fairy-like turrets, fantastically shaped
gargoyles, spiral staircases, superbly-painted ceilings and lovely interior, with the most delightful series of
small-scale, yew-hedged gardens.
This is such a popular attraction that timed tickets are needed to gain admission.
We finish the afternoon at the delightful little harbour of Stonehaven, voted in 2010 as the “best
seaside town in Scotland.” Centred around a picturesque market with 1826 buildings, and surrounded on both sides by
100 ft. cliffs, it is also overlooked by the impressive ruined fortress of Dunnotter Castle, which at one time housed
the Scottish Crown Jewels. Cromwell's troops laid siege to the castle trying to obtain the jewels —
without success.
(Overnight) Mercure Aberdeen Ardoe House Hotel, ABERDEEN. Dinner & Breakfast
Day 10 (Wed 5)
We start the day at the wonderful French-style formal Pitmedden Garden, originally laid out in
1675 by Pitmedden's first baronet, Sir Alexander Seton, and re-created by the National Trust for Scotland in the 1950s.
The elaborate designs were inspired by those reputedly used in the garden of the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.
We continue to Fyvie Castle, probably the grandest example of Scottish baronial architecture, with a
marvellous frontal facade of fairy-tale, crow-stepped gables, turrets, and sculpted window surrounds in the form of
musicians. It contains the finest great wheel-staircase in Scotland in addition to several interesting collections.
Our last visit today is to the famous Glenfiddich Distillery en route to spend the first of two nights
in Inverness.
(First of 2 nights) Beaufort Hotel, INVERNESS. Dinner & Breakfast
Day 11 (Thu 6)
First we visit beautiful turreted Cawdor Castle,
associated with Shakespeare's "Macbeth" as home of the
thanes (clan chiefs) of Cawdor. Dating from the 14th century it has
been the home to the Campbells for 600 years. A well-preserved
drawbridge crosses an equally well-kept moat, and the two separate
gardens are lovely, as are the woodland walks.
A short stop at Clava Cairns, an ancient burial ground, with tombs and standing stones, before lunch at
Culloden, scene of the last battle fought
on British soil in 1746, where the battlefield has been re-created.
And then on to explore the dramatic ruins of Urquhart Castle which was one
of the largest castles in Scotland before it was blown up in 1692 to
prevent Jacobite occupation. It is now much more famous for the
number of movies in which it appears.
(Last of 2 nights) Beaufort Hotel, INVERNESS. Dinner & Breakfast
Day 12 (Fri 7)
A delightful drive through the Highlands to Inverewe Gardens
on Scotland's glorious West Coast. Set alongside lovely Loch Ewe,
there are spectacular views from this unexpectedly beautiful
sub-tropical garden far in the north-west of Scotland which has
stunning displays of plants from many far-away places.
After yet
another spectacular drive through the Scottish mountains we visit Eilean
Donan Castle, the romantic, restored 13th-century castle, home
of the Clan Macrae, picturesquely set on an islet in Loch Duich,
and perhaps one of the most-photographed castles in Scotland.
(First of 2 nights) Kings Arms Hotel, Kyleakin, Isle of Skye. Dinner & Breakfast
Day 13 (Sat 8)
Today we drive around the dramatic and romantic Isle of Skye,
strongly connected to Bonnie Prince Charlie, to see its delightful
capital, Portree, Kilt Rock Waterfall which descends over
dramatically high cliffs directly into
the sea. We visit the Skye Museum of Island Life, and explore tiny, single-lane roads to small
craft villages.
(Last of 2 nights) Kings Arms Hotel, Kyleakin, Isle of Skye. Dinner & Breakfast
Day 14 (Sun 9)
We leave Skye by ferry from Armadale to Mallaig for the Glenfinnan
Monument where in 1745 Bonnie Prince Charlie raised his standard and
succeeded in rousing various clans to follow him to the disaster of
Culloden. Then on to Fort
William to see Neptune's Ladder, where a ladder of eight locks at the western end of the Caledonian Canal raises the water
level 70 ft. over the short distance of 500 yards. Hopefully, we may also
see Ben Nevis (4,406 ft.), the highest mountain in the British Isles.
After lunch we continue for a drive up Glencoe, famous, or
rather, infamous, for the Glencoe massacre in 1692. We finish the day at
Oban, with its attractive and interesting harbour, the busiest
ferry port on the west coast, overlooked by McCraig's Tower, a Colliseum-like
structure, where there is some free time to explore.
(First of 2 nights) Oban Bay Hotel, OBAN. Dinner & Breakfast
Day 15 (Mon 10)
We spend today on the Isle of Mull, a lovely island which
has a permanent population of only approx. 2,500 people and 10,000
sheep! But we especially visit the tiny Hebridean Island of Iona,
a unique place visited by thousands of pilgrims, royalty, artists
and craftsmen, where, in 563, St. Columba, exiled from Ireland,
landed in a coracle boat and built what was to become one of the
major centres of medieval Christendom. We also have some time in Tobermory,
capital of Mull, which is basically a string of very colourful and
interesting buildings stretched along the bay.
(Last of 2 nights) Oban Bay Hotel, OBAN. Dinner & Breakfast
Day 16 (Tue 11)
We drive south along the Argyll coast, with a photo stop at the Bridge over the Atlantic, and at
Kilmartin Church and nearby field of standing stones before we depart for Inveraray,
where we visit Inveraray Jail, a fascinating recreation of a 19th-century jail, before driving down the
shores of Loch Lomond to our final hotel.
(Overnight) Ramada Glasgow Airport Hotel, GLASGOW. Dinner & Breakfast
Day 17 (Wed 12)
End of Tour. Transfer to Glasgow Airport for an early flight to Vancouver.
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