Scotland - A Guide For Groups

Scotland Supplement

FAMOUS STEA M TRAIN

F ORT W ILLIAM T O M ALLAIG

FORT WILLIAM (An Gearasdan)

Fort William, the largest town in the Highlands and situated at the south end of the Great Glen, lies in the shadow of Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest mountain. This area is a fine location to use as a base to discover the Highlands.

GLENFINNAN (Glean Fhionghain)

We cross the 21-arched Glenfinnan viaduct (a location made famous in the ‘Harry Potter’ films) which overlooks Loch Shiel and the Jacobite monument. The train may pause here, time permitting, to allow you to take in the magnificent view. Once stopped in Glenfinnan station there will be time to stretch your legs and, if you wish, visit the West Highland Railway Museum located in the restored station building. ‘The Jacobite’ may also stop at Arisaig by request to the guard.

MALLAIG (Malaig)

The end of the line, Mallaig is a busy fishing port and ferry terminal with services to Skye and the Small Isles. Here you will find a wide choice of restaurants and pubs You might also like to take a walk around the harbour during the lunchtime stopover.

HOW TO GET TO FORT WILLIAM

From Carlisle, take the M6 and M74 to Glasgow. Follow the A82 from Glasgow. From Edinburgh take the M9 to Stirling then the A84, A85 (to Crianlarich) and A82 to Fort William. From Aviemore take the A9 and A86 or from Inverness, the A82. Whilst there is ample parking in Fort William near the railway station, please allow at least 20 mins for parking.

Fort William station postcode PH33 6TQ

Book

MORNING & AFTERNOON SERVICE

Please see our website for full schedule www.jacobitetrain.com

Some seats are available to ‘Pay on the Day’. However, these operate on a first come first served basis and cannot be guaranteed. Available seats can be purchased on the day from the guard at your chosen station. Timings can be subject to change, please check the website or call our Passenger Information line on 0333 996 6694.

Online now at: www.jacobitetrain.com

or call Monday to Friday 0333 996 6694

Whilst every effort will be made to operate this service as advertised, West Coast Railways reserve the right to cancel or alter this service without notice in accordance with their terms and conditions. West Coast Railways also reserves the right to use diesel traction in the event of high fire risk or steam locomotive failure. Once a booking is made, no refund is normally given except where the service is cancelled by West Coast Railways. Only West Coast Railways’ tickets are valid on this service. Please note: The return ticket price assumes outward and return journeys will be made on the same day and on the same train. All bookings are subject to a minimum £3.75 booking fee. Prices correct at the time of printing.

Inspirational Scotland for groups

To see her is to love her, and love but her forever. Robert Burns was never officially in the diplomatic corps, but he could easily have been hospitality ambassador for Scotland. His only part in the machinery of government was his day job as an exciseman - a customs officer in modern parlance. Visit Edinburgh’s Leith Docks; for high tea aboard MV Fingal; a high seas reminiscence aboard the former royal yacht Britannia; or a high retail time at Ocean Terminal shopping mall; and you may even meet his contemporaries at work on the commercial side of the port.

Burns’ lines have a timeless, effortless grace, that transcends any temporary drama in human history. If ever there was a Scot who took the long view, it is the national bard. So, even if your group plans for the current year have been in some turmoil, fear not. Seas between us broad have roared, since days of long ago, but the timeless performance of Scotland’s rich natural and cultural heritage remains, “until all the seas gang dry.”

To see her is to love her, And love but her forever; For nature made her what she is, And never made anither!

…Robert Burns

Inspirational Landscapes

From Highland peaks to Lowland s hores , Scotl and is a canvas of stirring l andscapes Tour your group through the majestic, uniq ue, unf orgettable n ature of Caledonia.

Inspirational Visits

Baronial cas tles in sumptuous groun ds , and city streets steeped in f olklore. Take time out to expl ore

S cotland’s built heritage and history Every step is a new discovery

S cotland’s Crown Jewels ese are the landscapes , the places , the experiences that epitomise

S cotland Add any of these to your S cottish adven ture and your group will be as Caledonian as a haggis s upper and buttered rowie* on Un ion Street of a Saturday n ight

Inspirational Gatherings e skirl of the pipes and the applause of the crowd. Whether it be the colour of the Highl and Games or the frenetic Festival, join in Your group are part of their own Scottis h odyssey

*Culinary Caledonia: haggis supper and a butt ered rowie: a particularly Aberdonian delight of sheep’s offal and oatmeal in a deep-fried batter jacket, wit h a side order of a but ter-rich bread roll, with added butter Bott led IrnBru beverage opt ional Enjoy while strolling t he Granit e City’s mile-long Union St reet Other suppers, other st reets, are availabl e

e Uig Free church of Scotland,Isle of Skye. Shutterstock Monkey Business

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Contributors: Julie Callaghan

Design: Alexina Whittaker

Managing Director: Nigel Whittaker

Beau Business Media Group Ltd Publishing House, Windrush, Ash Lane, Birmingham, B48 7TS Tel: 0121 445 6961 e-mail: beaubusinessmedia@gmail.com

This is a controlled circulation publication and freely available to qualifying applicants. Care is taken to ensure that the information contained within the magazine is accurate. However, the publisher cannot accept liability for errors or omissions, no matter how they arise. Readers are advised to get facts and statements confirmed by suppliers when making enquiries. The opinions of the author are not necessarily those as the publisher. All rights are reserved. No reproduction of any part of this magazine may be carried out without the consent of the publisher being obtained in the first instance.

Highland glens to rolling Lowland meadows From stout clan redoubts to ostentatious baronial mansions, Scot land’s landscape is st udded with natural landmarks and constructed wonders Here’s the heads up on the low down

Front Cover and Page 3 Images Courtesy of : VisitScotland Fingal's Cave, Staffa Island, off Isle of Mull, Scotland.. Scotland\Ales Micola shutterstock Scotland\clyde_auditorium_the_armadillo_glasgow_sco tland_uk_

Images shutterstock_Christine Dodd shutterstock_Nick Fox.

Inspirational Landscapes

From Highland peaks to Lowland shores, Scotland is a canvas of stirring landscapes. Tour your group through the majestic, unique, unforgettable nature of Caledonia.

Gett in g high in the Low lands

On the excitimometer, where does your calibrated adrenaline level lie? Are you right up their with ‘junkie’ or somewhere nearer to ‘occasional user for recreation purposes’. Where else but in Scotland can you experience so much in one day, the highs and lows, all in one manageable, exciting trip?

Take the South West. It’s where Scotland begins for so many visiting groups. Standing on the shores of the Solway Estuary, with the wide open tidal flats in front of you. Behind you, the Galloway hills and glens, every bit as dramatic as the Highlands. All around, surrounded by fertile green fields and welcoming towns, each with their own character and attractions, there’s a

land to discover that really should take your attention.

Dumf ries and wil dlife

From the parks of Dumfries, where Robert Burns spent much of his life, to the book shops of Wigtown, there are places throughout South West Scotland that make it a unique visit. Seafood suppers in a traditional inn can be a charming way to experience the region. Maybe your group will enjoy the gardens of Castle Douglas, or the artworks of Kirkcudbright - the home of artist EA Hornel and his coterie of ‘Glasgow Boys’. Everything and everywhere paints a picture of Scotland that is unique to you. ere are plenty of accommodation optionsso we’ll pick just one. Holiday Inn Dumfries has a spot of character to go with a recent refurb. Enough

rooms for a coach party too. www hidumfries co uk

Wildlife thrives here, as it does throughout Scotland. Encounters with eagles, discoveries with deer, sightings with squirrels (red ones) - it’s all possible in Scotland. Among the agencies with a remit for the wild, RSPB Scotland have a range of guided walks on offer providing something for everyone as well as an abundance of fresh air. From early morning sunrise goose walks at Loch Lomond, to leisurely high-tide guided walks at Crook of Baldoon

Nature Reserve

www rspb org uk › crook-ofbaldoonin

Newton Stewart, there are opportunities in abundance to explore the range of wonderful natural landscapes and wildlife in Scotland.

A colossal explosion lights up the sky to the north. Moments later, a cacophony assaults the ears. It can mean only one thing. e nightmare of a huge accident at the biggest munitions factory in the world. Fortunately, it’s a nightmare that was never realised. Yet, your group can visit e Devil’s Porridge Museum, between the towns of Gretna and Annan, and learn about the explosive past of this corner of Scotland.

www devils

porridge.org.uk

Hidden away, out of reach of Zeppelin raids, this was the unlikely source of British munitions in the Great War. Take your adventurous group for a devilish delve back into the early years of the twentieth century. Explore this little

De vil ish explo sio n

travellight/shutterstock.com

known slice of Scottish history. Not only is this region famed for its gardens and its pints of prawns. You may be eloping to Gretna, but even the hammer on the anvil would be as nothing to the unending toil of the war effort.

You’ll find no explosives in Gretna Gateway, but you’ll find shopping goes down a bomb at the famous outlet mall. Not to be confused with the nearby village and perennial betrothal spotGretna Gateway satisfies your lasting love with the bargains of fashion. If your group are the sort who find a haggle in the aisles preferable to being walked down one, this is a marriage made in heaven.

gretnagateway com

West C oast Wizardr y

Move the canvas further up the West Coast, and the picture remains just as breathtaking, though not quite as explosive. Subtract the chemistry of war, and add the alchemy of warlocks and wizards. Maybe even introduce a young sorcerer too.

Yes, amid the fairy glens and magical mountains, what inspiration it was to place the young Harry Potter in such spellbinding surroundings. ere has been magic in the land and waters of Scotland for generations, and for generations before that. Wave the magic wand of time travel, and before your very eyes, you can journey way back, to when the ice

age sculpted a landscape that makes modern day Scotland such a dramatic canvas.

Perhaps nowhere is that more so apparent than in the green and blue and hazy vista of Glenfinnan. Take in the view, from the picture windows of a West Coast Trains Jacobite express, steaming over the famous viaduct, looking out on the sea loch that once bore the would-be air to the British throne, the rebel Bonnie Prince Charlie. His monument, in the valley below, the only such memorial to a genuine rebel on British soil, is testament to the deep history that pervades this magical landscape. Yet, as your party cruise by, behind an authentic steam locomotive,

it is likely the fictional young wizard, rather than the Young Pretender that will be evoked most oen.

West Coast Railw ays westcoastrailways.co.uk › jacobite › s team-train-trip

Be n Nevis view s

As the line twists and turns, rises and falls, hugging the shores of lochs and skirting round munros, including the mighty Ben Nevis, the drama of the landscape equals anything on screen. ere will be time to ponder at a station or two, as the regular services pass by, carrying folks from Mallaig to Fort William and on to Glasgow. Your party can settle back into the relaxed surroundings of your own special train,

Visit Scotland Kenny Lam

Step into Highlan d

romantic ruins of the former castle and manor house are set within 40 acres of stunning gardens, where visitors can enjoy wandering among exotic colourful plants and magnificent trees.

South Skye’s 5 Star visitor attraction extends a warm Highland welcome to tour groups. Spectacularly positioned overlooking the Sound of Sleat, Armadale Castle, Gardens & Museum is a ‘must-see for a visit to Skye’ (Trip Advisor). In this unforgettable location you can explore exotic gardens, take in the spectacular views, and discover the epic story of Clan Donald – Scotland’s largest and most powerful clan.

is historic site was formerly the ancestral seat of the Macdonalds of Sleat and is now run by a charitable trust. e

named Jacobite aer that rebel prince. Its appearance on screen as the Hogwarts Express may have brought new fame to the train, but you’ll know it more for the journey and the destinations.

Like everywhere in Scotland, even Mallaig need not be the end of the line. For sure, it’s as far as the rails travel, but that just means it’s time to change to another mode of transport.

From Mallaig, that almost always means a ferry. Not quite the ‘grand central’ of ferry traffic represented by Oban, this terminal is nevertheless busy with traffic to a whole array of destinations.

One exciting option looms large on the horizon, literarily.

specially designed Museum of the Isles, included in the entrance ticket, provides a fascinating introduction to Highland history and culture with artefacts ranging from Jacobite memorabilia to a reconstructed emigrant ship. ere’s also a fascinating library with lots of information on family history and helpful staff on hand to assist with enquiries.

Armadale Bar & Bistro offers welcome refreshment in the beautifully restored stables building. Run by award-winning Z’s Amazing Kitchens, the bistro can provide either set lunches or a daily menu with rapid service. ere are two lovely gi shops too, selling everything from Macdonald tartans to locally made cras.

e Sleat Peninsula, where Armadale

Isle of Skye castle s e misty Isle of Skye has plenty of reasons to visit. From Mallaig, it’s a gentle crossing over the Sound of Sleat to the southern pier at Armadale. Astute travellers will have spotted that of Armadale there is a surfeit in Scotland. Whatever the one in West Lothian, or the one in Sutherland may have in abundance, this island Armadale - or ‘elongated valley’ as the name derivesis the only one with a Gaelic language university, notable gardens, a clan centre, and a fabulous ruined castle. Well worth the sea crossing.

Making Armadale the start of an inspiring adventure on Skye is an astute choice. e fourth biggest island in the British archipelago commands more than a day to visit. It’s over sixty miles,

Castle is situated, is easily accessible via the Armadale Ferry or on a fast road from the Skye Bridge and Broadford. With its mild climate and abundance of trees the peninsula is known as the ‘Garden of Skye’. Don’t miss this ‘garden within a garden’ – open March to November and a floral paradise waiting to be discovered.

Arm ada le Castle, Gardens & Museum of the Isles Armadale, Sleat, Isle of Skye I V45 8R S Tel 014 71 84430 5 www arm ada lecastle com

office@arm ada lecastle com

Open March – end October

around the foothills of the challenging Cuillin mountain range, to Dunvegan, the next most notable fortification on the island. Home to the historic Fairy Flag of the Clan Macleod, legend has it that the unfurled standard will protect the clan and their allies in times of great danger. is power is said to persist for three occasions and, in the centuries since the flag came to reside at the castle, it has only been so displayed twice in the face of grave danger, or the approach of an invading army. Who knows when it might be unfurled for a final time, that its charm may save the day one more time?

www dunvegancastle com www.armadalecastle.com

Invading armies may not be a threat these days, but Scotland is not without armed castles - even today. Blair Castle, ironically built as a baronial mansion in the fashion of a fortress, but without any real military pediments, is home to the only private army in Britain. Permitted by royal decree, the Duke of Atholl exercises his right to raise men at arms. See the Atholl Highlanders, around 100 strong and the only private army in Europe, parade on a visit to the distinctive white Did youknow?

Scotland’s national animal is a unicorn

histor y at Arm adale Castle, Ga rden s & Museum

Photo Simon Larson

Castle Tours | Walled Gardens

Terrace Café & Deli Shop | Events | Gift Shop

mansion house. You’ll find Blair Castle about ten miles north of the victorian spa town of Pitlochry. You can’t miss it, even as it nestles in the coniferous woodland of the Caledonian Pine Forest. en again, built not as a fort, but as an ostentatious display of feudal financial power, isn’t conspicuous display the whole point. www.blair-castle.co.uk

Meanwhile, back on the train, there is more to the timetable than the fishing village and ferry port of Mallaig. e west coast is not the only destination for West Coast Railways. Rather belying their name, they organise frequent eastward excursions to Edinburgh, departing from many English towns. For the highest of railway experiences, the Northern

Belle luxury train is in their care too, with ultimate destinations including Glamis Castle on Royal Deeside. No luxury gap to mind on this regal railway excursion. Memorable group experiences for sure.

Cr uise with Crannog

Take a more leisurely pace at the helm of Crannog Cruises, taking in Fort William, the West Coast and Ben Nevis, all from a vantage point at sea. To get there, follow the A82 Great Western Road, all the way from Glasgow’s leafy and prosperous West End. ree hours or thereby, of everchanging scenery later, and you’ll be there. From the historic and industrial River Clyde; along the shores of Loch Lomond; through the Trossachs National Park; into the mountainous

Highlands and the shores of Loch Linnie and the Atlantic Ocean; to reach Scotland’s self-proclaimed capital of outdoor living and inspirational adventure: Fort William.

Almost as you cross the town boundary, you encounter the Crannog Restaurant. is well known stop has recently been completely refurbished on its original site on the Town Pier. e business runs in tandem with the cruising operation which takes groups out on to the waters, and the surrounding coastline. A highlight of the cruise is a visit to Seal Island, where the eponymous residents bask in the sunlight waters, and can’t help but be playful in the presence of visitors.

ere’s plenty of room aboard the cruiser, with 126

berths in heated lounges. Do spoil your appetite with the tempting snacks on offer, but save yourself, especially if you’ve booked for a meal at the terminal restaurant. All ashore that’s going ashore, for sure.

ww w.crannog.net

Did youknow?

You've heard of Nessie, now meet Morag, the monster of Loch Morar. is large and elusive female is said to have attac ked two fishermen in August 1969. ey saw a creature described as around 30ft long with rough brown skin, three large humps and a snakelike head

Bla ir Ca stle and Ga rdens

Blair Castle has been the home of the Atholl family for over seven centuries. e castle has had a diverse history, witnessing both turbulent and peaceful times, enlarged and adapted over 700 years to suit the needs of the family and style of the day. Home to politicians, soldiers, agriculturalists and entrepreneurs, the family history is brought to life against a backdrop of fine 18th century interiors and Scottish baronial architecture, in 30 rooms

Blair Castle is ideally located for group visits,

located conveniently off the A9, 40 miles north of Perth, Guided tours for groups are normally available, covering all 30 of the exhibition rooms, finishing in their Victorian Ballroom, a space that epitomises the Highland spirit, As well as English, tours are usually available in other languages by prior arrangement. Room notes are provided in English, German, French, Italian, Russian, Dutch, Japanese and Swedish for visitors to read at their leisure.

e

Tullibardine

Restaurant seats up to 125 people and serves a range of home-made hot

Blair Castle Caravan Park Blair Castle and Gardens

Blair Castle is situated in the Cairngorms National Park, 7 miles North of Pitlochry and provides the perfect stop on your journey exploring Scotland.

• Self-guided tour around 30 rooms with translated notes in each room.

• Visit our gift shop lled with local products or dine in our Tullibardine Restaurant for lunch, speciality tea & coffee and homebaked cakes.

• Head out into the grounds and enjoy walking round Hercules our 9 acre walled garden, discover some of the tallest trees in Britain in Dianas Grove.

• For the children there is our deer park and adventure playground.

• Group discounts and speciality tours available, please contact us for more details.

Castle Open Daily from 9.30am to 5.30pm 1st April - 31st October 2021

and cold meals, sandwiches, soups, salads and a large selection of cakes. Groups are welcome to visit the restaurant in their own time when visiting the castle or they can prebook from their wide selection of menus and where available theywill

reserve an area for groups to sit together.

If you would like to discuss your group visit to Blair Castle and Gardens, please contact the bookings office on 01796 481207 or email bookings@blair-castle.co.uk

Inspirational Visits

Baronial castles in sumptuous grounds, and city streets steeped in folklore. Take time out to explore Scotland’s built heritage and history. Every step a new discovery.

Forth Tours are fi rst

Bridging the gap. ree times. As built heritage goes, it doesn’t get much bigger than the Forth Bridge. Except that it does. ere isn’t just one, there are three mighty bridges over the Firth of Forth, all line abreast between North and South Queensferry. e two road bridges are open to coach traffic, and your group could easily complete the trio with a short rail journey. Commuter trains run every few minutes over the famously ochre cantilevers of the greatest monument to Victorian over-engineering. Yet there’s a way to take a unique perspective on all three bridges, by sailing under them with Forth Tours. From a base in South Queensferry, just a few miles from Edinburgh, cruise boats leave from the very pier that used to berth the ferries that plied the crossing between e Lothians and Fife, right up until the opening of the Forth Road Bridge in 1964.

www.for th tour s. com

Inches of islands

e modern cruisers offer a much higher level of comfort than the rather utilitarian old ferries ever did, and have a much more

varied life too. In addition to pleasure trips under the bridges, fully catered and enclosed in warm cabins, the boats of Forth Tours also sail further afield, to visit the Inches of the Forth - the islands in the river estuary. Groups can seal the deal with a visit to the seal and gull colonies. ere are abandoned forts too, most recently in use for Second World War defence of the nearby naval base at Rosyth, from where more recently the mighty aircra carriers Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales were commissioned.

e slightly smaller ships of Forth Tours are able to visit rather more ports of call than the huge warships. One such destination is the granite warship herself, Blackness Castle, a few miles upstream. e ancient monument is oen likened to a warship, since its profile, silhouetted in the morning light, has the demeanour of a ship’s prow, and her canons face towards the waters, to ward off unwelcome visitors. Tours run from Edinburgh, combined with sightseeing bus operators, and there’s a joint ticket with the heritage railway and museum at Bo’ness. Coach groups find this arrangement particularly convenient.

www. bkrailway.co.uk

Castles and Codes

at great rail bridge over the Forth is connected halfhourly, directly and by changing in Edinburgh, with the Borders Railway, the northern thirty-five miles of track that once was the famous “Waverley Route”, all the way through the agricultural and textile landscape of the Scottish Borders.

e splendidly scenic ride takes about an hour, and includes views of at least one palace (Holyrood); two river crossings (Esk and Tweed); and three castles (Edinburgh, Crichton and Borthwick). e regular service train deposits your group just a mile-long transfer by bus or on foot to the world famous Melrose Sevens rugby tournament. It’s the same distance and the same shuttle bus arrangement to reach Abbotsford, the impressive home of Sir Walter Scott, who’s epic Waverley novels gave their name to the original railway route. Transfer by private coach, or service bus to the pretty equestrian market town of Kelso. Undoubtedly, the town’s top attraction, and one of the best loved in Scotland, is Floors Castle.

e famously so, smooth pronunciation sets Floors

apart. e summer Horse Trials draw interest from all over the world.

From the Terrace or the Courtyard cafes, both of which sell estate produce and offer lovely views, your group can plan a stroll, or rendezvous with a guide for a bespoke tour. e Duke and Duchess are oen seen in residence. is remains the Roxburghe family seat and the largest inhabited castle in Scotland. By that, we mean this baronial elegance is huge. Be sure to take enough time to explore the collection of fine art, porcelain and restored tapestries amid the exquisite halls, galleries and corridorsall with beautiful views of the well tended grounds and rolling Borders countryside.

Rosslyn Chapel

One needlework that isn’t here in Floors Castle is the contemporary Tapestry of Scotland, its own home currently under construction in Galashiels.

e railway company would have you take their trains to Rosslyn Chapel, but that’s a bit of wishful thinking on their part, unless your group enjoys hiking. ere’s a nice ramble along an old branch line, but you’d be better off just catching a service bus from Edinburgh, direct to

modern day Roslin. It’ll take you straight to the door of the world famous chapel. If only Tom Hanks had brought his bus pass, he could have solved that Da Vinci Code for free. Catch that bus back into town. It’ll take you all to the doors of the National Musuem Scotland, Edinburgh’s most visited attraction - unless you count the terrier-sized statue of Greyfriars Bobby - the loyal little dog - mounted on a plinth nearby the museum entrance. Easily missed - it is the size of a West Highland terrier aer all. Check out (or check in) at the Glasshouse. Not just a unique hotel, but a good stop for a cracking skyline view of Edinburgh and the best group photo opportunity of the day. Just saying.

www floor scastle com

www.rosslync hapel.com

Edinb urgh and East

Lothian

Even though the city is Scotland’s most popular destination in its own right, tours big and small depart constantly from Edinburgh. Established operators like Rabbie’s Tours will whisk you and your group off for short or long adventures, oen involving an overnight or two. Demand is high for the day trip taste of Scotland’s cra beer and whisky tour - we can’t imagine why. ere’s also a one-day tour of "e Beers, Whiskies & Gins of East Lothian".

So, if the golf, the beaches,

the seaside resorts of North Berwick and Dunbar, the Roman and Pictish sites, the stately homes, horse racing and the Museum of Flight don’t grab your attention, you could always try that tour instead. Really adventurous groups can do a five day bender to the Outer Hebrides & the Scottish Highlands, stopping off at the breath-taking Cairngorm peaks and the white sands of Luskentyre – sometimes known as the Scottish Maldives. We can’t help but wonder if the Maldives are known locally as the Indian Ocean Scotland. Possibly not, owning to the lack of really significant mountain scapes and hairy, horned cattle.

Outlandishly Outlander

It’s time for some set-jetting, Scotland style. If your group fall into the generally afflicted demographic, known as Outlanders, then this is for you. ere are a whole ra of landmark destinations they will implore you to visit, but there are a couple of exclusively outdoor locations made even more popular by the hit TV series.

Calderglen Country Park lies just south of East Kilbride, one of Scotland’s five designated “New Towns” from the 1960s. For architecture and amenity, it’s certainly up there with the other four. at could be why Calderglen sometimes gets overlooked, since there is a surfeit of other parks nearby - Strathclyde Country Park; Chatelherault

Country Park and Cathkin Braes are all more illustrious. at however all changed, when Jamie and Willie made camp in the park, for the benefit of the Outlander cameras. Don’t worry, if this means nothing to you: we had to look it all up as well.

Calderglen gets TV stardom

Campsite pilgrimage aside, Calderglen Country Park does deserve a second glance. ere’s a Zoo and tropical conservatory, ornamental gardens, lots of nature trails and walks, a delightful courtyard cafe, play areas for younger groups, and a golf course for older toddlers too. A river runs through it, for an obscure second movie reference. e Zoo does group animal experience visits as well (maximum 25 persons per group). Torrence House, the park visitor centre, is suitably historic. Much maligned East Kilbride - and, let’s face it, East Kilbride has much to be maligned about - does have some other redeeming features. Not least, the major national attraction of the Museum of Rural Life.

www nms ac uk

Also, there’s something rather different, for true fans of modernist architecture.

e brutalist brick-built St Bride's Roman Catholic Church is possibly the most un-ecclesiastical place of worship in all of Christendom.

www.sbek.org

www visitscotland com

Muiravonside Countr y Park

Head off north, though Bellshill, famously the birthplace of Sheena Easton (actually, not that famously, since few people these days know who Sheena Easton is/was) and within the hour, you’ll be at Muiravonside Country Park. For some reason, the producers of Outlander chose to make Muiravonside stand-in for the battle site of Prestonpans. e reason for this being that the actual battle site of Prestonpans has a demolished power station dumped upon it at the moment, somewhat compromising its eighteenth-century credibility. at’s not actually true, least we offend the custodians of the site, but it makes good copy.

Prestonpans battle site is actually rather pleasant (more so now the power station is no more).

If you linger at Muiravonside, you’ll find much natural heritage packed into a compact and hilly beauty spot. e waterfalls are a lovely distraction, while a walk across the aqueduct that carries the Union Canal high above the disused mineral railways. Stride across its arches and you can lay claim to walking the John Muir Way - a long distance trail that commemorates the inspirational conservationist.

Back after the break

Now that you’ve done the obligatory group pictures, you can jump back on the bus, and head off for a few minutes to reach Linlithgow

(the ruined palace features in the TV series too). If you’ve made it to bustling and historic Linlithgow it would be remiss of you not to take what TV types call ‘a break’, and head for … Falkirk.

Now, before those of you in the know fall off your collective group organisers’ chairs, consider these points.

e archaeological Antonine Wall - the northern extent to the Roman Empire is still extant. French renaissancestyled Callendar House is one of the most significant buildings and landscapes in Scotland. e latter of course will be instantly recognised by the Outlanders. Good for a quick group photo we’d say. www.falkirkcommunitytr ust. o rg › venues › c allendar-house

en there’s the extraordinary experience of the Kelpies - huge equestrian art works, towering over their own park. en, for a finale, a ride on the Falkirk Wheel, the unique boat li that links the Union Canal to the Forth and Clyde Canal. Still wondering why quaint little Falkirk is one of the biggest attractions outside Scotland’s cities? No, we thought not.

Blackness Castle

Alright, back on the Outlander trail. Blackness Castle, of which we mentioned earlier, is but a few miles further on, and well worth the effort. Coach drivers will need to be on their mettle to negotiate the medieval lanes that lead to

the short and the castle’s location. Of all the locations on the Outlander trail, Blackness has benefitted most, with visitor number almost trebling since it took a starring role.

In fairness, Blackness is still a quite relaxed visit, so you’ll largely have the place to yourselves. It’s not quite the hajj-level pilgrimage that is endured by Rosslyn Chapel, for example, but 70,000 visitors per annum is praiseworthy enough. www.visitscotland. com/info/se e-do/blackness-castle

Did youknow?

e shortest commercial flight in the world is in Scotland.

e journey from Westray to Papa Westray in Orkney is approximately 1.5 miles long and takes just 47 seconds

Scotland’s Crown Jewels

ese are the landscapes, the places, the experiences that epitomise Scotland. Add any of these to your Scottish adventure and your group will be as Caledonian as a haggis supper and buttered rowie on Union Street of a Saturday night.

visit in itself. Contrast that with Georgian Edinburgh, the World Heritage New Town, and the Castle of course. Yet, in ancient Stirling, there’s a castle of equal drama - and you’re so much nearer to Gleneagles too. Perth (see above) is the fair maiden city and as affluent as ever, home and near neighbour to Scone Palace and the world famous Game Fair. Britain’s most northerly horse race course is in the grounds. www scone-palace co uk/

Crown Je wel Landscape s

ink Scotland, think Highlands. Classically, the journey from Perth to Inverness. From the Gateway to the Highlands, all the way to the Capital of the Highlands. Be that by the A9 road or the Highland Main Line (the clue is in the title), you can’t help but spot the evergrowing mountains. Look out for snow up there - even in Summertime. Global warming notwithstanding, it’s been there since Bonnie Prince Charlie fled the Redcoats in 1746.

Other Highland experiences are available. A

half-hour commuter train ride from central Glasgow has you in Balloch or Milngavie (“Mull-Guy”) on the shores of Loch Lomond and geographically north of the Highland Line. George Square to the Highlands in less than thirty minutes, and on an off-peak day return too.

Explore the Scottish Borders for a landscape as dramatic, but you’ll be back across in England in time for tea, you southern soies.

Crown Je wel Place s

So, by global standards, Scotland’s cities are mere towns, in the main. All the

better for you and your posse, who can get around the sights as quickly as a timorous wee beastie, and not worry about the shoe leather either. Yet, with modest size comes the advantage of almost instant karma, as you can be in the Scottish countryside in a matter of minutes (well, more than a few minutes if you try to exit Edinburgh or Glasgow at 4pm on a weekday - you have been warned).

Glasgow’s Kelvingrove Gallery and Park, (ww w.visitscotland.com/info /see-do/kelvingrove-artgaller y-and-museum) on the edge of the West End - is a

Dundee - by the silver y Tay, with t he ico nic Victoria & Albe rt Museum on the shore

ese streets were once the Discovery of Robert Falcon Captain Scott of the Antarctic. His ship is still here and a major attraction. As if to prove that epithet of nearness, less than thirty minutes north into the Angus countryside, and you’ll dine on a Forfar Bridie, or spirit away on a fairytale with Peter Pan in the picture-book surroundings of Kirriemuir, birthplace of JM Barrie.

www nts org uk/visit/ places/j-m-barries-birthplace

www vam ac uk

Aberdeen, the Granite City, built on mineral wealth and

DigitalNatureScotland/shutterstock.com

The Crowning Place of Scottish Kings

■ Immerse yourself in Scotland’s history as you experience the crowning place of Scottish kings. Stand on the Moot Hill, where the Kings of Scots were crowned on the famous Stone of Scone.

■ Explore our magnificent and extensive grounds which feature the Victorian pinetum, plant hunters pavilion, kitchen garden, Murray star maze and walled garden development.

■ Browse around Food and Gift Shops where you will find a wealth of fine Scottish products together with homemade produce. Enjoy delicious refreshments in our selfservice Coffee Shop.

■ Winter Hours: FREE ADMISSION to the Grounds, Food Shop and Coffee Shop each Friday, Saturday and Sunday in November, December, February and March.

■ Exciting events programme throughout the season including the International Ceramic Art Festival, Potfest, Halloween with the Spirits of Scone and various Music Festivals.

■ GARDEN TOURS - explore our grounds and gardens with our Head Gardener, Brian Cunningham who regularly features on BBC Beechgrove Garden.

■ Coach Friendly Status

■ Discounted rates for groups of 15 or more

■ Exclusive group dining options in either our Old Kitchen restaurant or Murray Suite.

the harvests of the fertile North East, is the oil capital of Europe, and its docks bring huge service vessels almost on to Union Street itself. Will your party head north up the coast (past e Donald’s controversial golf courses) or head west, deep into Royal Deeside and Balmoral. en on to Inverness. Yes, that really is the River Ness flowing though the city centre. Nessie may not make an appearance, but that need not dissuade you from

sailing the famous Loch.

Crown Je wel Exp eriences

Experience what you cannot experience anywhere else in the world. What would be a visit to Edinburgh without the Edinburgh Festivals - the biggest arts gathering in the world. en again, why stop at that. Edinburgh isn’t called the Festival City for nothing. ere’s something festive in every season. Glasgow’s Celtic

Connections celebrates folk culture like no other, and the Viking winter warmer that is fire festival of Up Helly Aa makes a visit to the very northern tip of the British Isles unforgettably inflammable.

What else makes Scotland Scotland? at you can emerge from Waverley Station to the skirl of bagpipes on the capital’s main street - that’s one.

at the Duke of Wellington is not

considered dressed in Glasgow, unless he has a traffic cone on his head (don’t try this at home, kids).

Distilleries. Would you come to the spiritual hime of whisky without a spiritual visit to a distillery? Of course not. Now, the good news. While places like Speyside (w ww.speyside dist illery co uk) are renowned the world over for their production, that’s not the only place you can go to for the authentic

Abhi Bose/shutterstock.com

experience. Whisky is distilled all over Scotland, and no premises worth a dram is without a welcome as warm as the water of life itself. From Pulteney in Wick, Balblair Distillery (www balblair com) and Balmenach Distillery in Speyside

www caorunngin com (which produces Caorunn Scottish Gin), you’ll find a visit to suit your itinerary. Ardnahoe Distillery, (ardnahoe distiller y.com)

on the island of Islay - the latest addition to the offshore fold - is one of nine on that island alone.

Tartan, and men who wear the kilt to work - it’s common. Traditional chip shops and not-sotraditional deep fried Mars Bars (don’t try this at home, kids). It’s not all deep fried delights. Traditional Scottish cuisine will open your eyes and tastebuds too. From fish in Fraserburgh to ice cream in Largs, by way of an Aberdeen Angus

steak, you’ll be well fed before you’re on your way home. A curry in Glasgow’s West End - unforgettable. Fully fed, hit the shops. Glasgow is the UK’s biggest retail centre outside London. Alternatively, hit the culture: the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum we’ve already mentioned, but don’t overlook the striking Science Centre, and the Riverside Transport Musuem too.

www vam ac uk

Did youknow?

Imports of haggis to the US have been banned since the 70s

Inspirational Gatherings

e skirl of the pipes and the applause of the crowd. Whether it be the colour of the Highland Games or the frenetic Festival, join in. Your group can be part of their own Scottish odyssey.

Go lf

Now, where could you go for a golfing experience in Scotland? Well, there’s Muirfield or the other three Gullane courses; or the once-cited oldest ‘club’ in the world which is also in East Lothian. ere’s Gleneagles or the twenty-odd other Perthshire courses. ere’s Royal Troon, or a dozen other links courses in Ayrshire. ere’s Carnoustie, with not one but two dedicated railway stations, and several other parkland courses around Dundee with slightly inferior rail connections. Have we forgotten somewhere? Ever heard of a little coastal town called St Andrews? A right royal hang-out for its high street and university, there’s also the small matter of a golfing heritage that goes all the way back to the beginning. e Old Course, and its famous hotel, are testament to that. To document that heritage, a visit to the British Golf Museum is a must for any self-respecting hickory hacker. www.st andrews.com

www briti shgolfmuseum co uk

Highland games

While on the subject of Scottish games. From May to September, get your caber tossed at over sixty registered locations. e official Scottish Highland Games Association tournaments take place, at locations from Pitlochry to Penicuik. If that’s not truly Scottish enough for your group, then over the same

months, every town of note in the Scottish Borders holds a Common Riding - a traditionally mounted patrol of the civic boundary. e traditional tradition of executing anyone found with the civic boundary to be of evil intent (ie: English) has been largely discontinued - or at least frowned upon.

As we mentioned earlier, the Scottish Borders has become much more group-friendly since the Borders Railway opened from Edinburgh in 2015. Now, in just under one hour, your entire party can be delivered in the former mill town of Galashiels, on the confluence of the Gala Water and e Tweed. Carry on a few more minutes to the Tweedbank terminus and you’ll be within a hike of Abbotsford, the home of Sir Walter Scott (don’t worry - they do a bus shuttle). If you thought

JK Rowling was Scotland’s biggest selling author - think again. Scott (the one for whom that ever so modest 200-foot tall monument was built in the middle of Edinburgh) was more popular in his day than God. His works outselling the bible in his lifetime. Eat your heart out Rowling, Rankin and McCallSmith.

Ru

gby

What though are you in the Borders for, if you don’t follow rugby. Yes, it’s still true to stay that the south of Scotland is rugby country. Not, it has to be

said, in the cynically slick way that professional rugby has embraced the top leagues around the country. Rugby in the Borders is still very much a community affair, where township pits against the township, in rivalries that go back generations. From the Borders Railway terminal at Tweedbank, you’re less than a hop, skip and a jump from Melrose. Not just a ruined abbey and a brace of delightful gardens, Melrose is possibly the prettiest of Border towns, and also the home of the Greenyards, the very field where Sevens were invented, the abbreviated form of rugby. e world-famous tournament is held here every April, and club games are played every week of the season.

Horseplay

Something else from Tweedbank. e Track to Track shuttle will deliver your thoroughbred group to Kelso. Home of Floors Castle of course, but this Kelso shuttle will take you to the racecourse, where the friendly atmosphere is tempered by runners and riders that have triumphed at the pinnacle of the sport. Perhaps though, your group favour less a day at the races and more a night at the opera, so to speak. e Playhouse Edinburgh; (www.pl ayhousetheatre.com)

e Royal Concert Hall Glasgow; (www glasgow

concerthalls.com)

or His Majesty’s Aberdeen. www aberdeenperfo rming arts com ree of the best performance spaces in Britain. Big time shows, big-time concerts, big-time acts. Culture in Scotland? You’re having a laugh, aren’t you? Well, maybe you are, but only because laughs are on the bill. Glasgow’s Glee Club or Edinburgh’s Stand is among the funniest venues in the country, and both in their respective city centres. e Glee Club just celebrated its first birthday - it was a laugh. e Stand is rather more mature. Somehow that’s not an adjective that is appropriate for a comedy club.

www.glee.co.uk › g lasgow › comedy www.the stand.co.uk › edinburgh

So, smile. You’re in Scotland. How’s that for a punchline.

Did youknow?

e Scots invented golf with St Andrews considered as the ‘home of golf ’ .

e sport has been played there since the 15th c entury

Home to Golf’s History

Museum • Shop • Café

The award winning British Golf Museum uses a mixture of highly visual displays and exciting interactives to explore over 500 years of golfing history.

For more information call 01334 460046 or visit www.britishgolfmuseum.co.uk

THE BRITISH GOLF MUSEUM, BRUCE EMBANKMENT, ST ANDREWS, FIFE, KY16 9AB. The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews Trust. A Scottish Charity SCO 07857