36 minute read
Edinburgh (81 Cumbernauld (80)
Scotland THE EDINBURGH TATTOO
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Edinburgh
Mon 22 - Fri 26 August 2022 4 Nights £719
The Edinburgh Military Tattoo was first performed in 1950 at the Edinburgh Music Festival. Today, with its captivating blend of music, ceremony, entertainment and theatre, set against the backdrop of Edinburgh Castle, it is without doubt one of the world’s greatest shows. NB Access to the Tattoo is via a steep gradient, which may be a problem for people with walking difficulties. Your Holiday Itinerary
Look What’s Included:
྆Door to Door Service྆Our own courier service྆Club Class Extra Legroom Coach྆4 nights half board (Note lunch replaces dinner on Day 2) ྆Welcome Drinks Reception྆4Course Individual Dining Experience in the Merlin Restaurant including a ‘Taste of Scotland’ dining྆High Quality Wine with dinner྆Tea/ Coffee after dinner྆At least 2 nights entertainment྆Edinburgh Tattoo Ticket྆Pollok House (NTS) & Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum. Not included: All lunches.
Monday We head north through the Scottish Border Region and on to the village of Drymen where we stay for 4-nights at the popular Winnock Hotel. Enjoy dinner this evening followed by Scottish themed entertainment. Tuesday A morning to relax in Drymen with an included lunch at the hotel before we depart for Edinburgh. Enjoy some time for shopping or sightseeing in this captivating city before we make our way to the castle and take our seats for the 9pm performance of the military tattoo. (Please note that this will be a very late return). Please note that the actual date we visit the Tattoo may be subject to change. Wednesday Following a leisurely breakfast, we take a drive to the Loch Lomond Shores Visitor Centre, located on the banks of bonnie Loch Lomond - Regarded as the Queen of the Scottish Lochs and measuring some 23 miles long and 5 miles across, Loch Lomond is the largest expanse of fresh water in Great Britain. Thursday Today we enjoy a guided tour around Pollok Park, located in the south side of Glasgow. Pollok House (NTS) is Scotland’s answer to Downton Abbey and gives a real taste of upstairs/downstairs life in the 1930’s. this grand country house is filled with lavish and priceless furniture as well an impressive collection of Spanish Art. We return via the marvellous Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum – one of Scotland’s most popular ‘Free’ attractions and features 22 themed, state of the art galleries displaying an astonishing 8000 objects. Friday After a traditional cooked breakfast we journey home to the Midlands.
Popular Favourite
Winnock Hotel, Drymen
Situated on the pretty village green in the conservation village of Drymen, located in the heart of the beautiful Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. Sensitively extended and refurbished, whilst retaining all its traditional charm, the hotel offers friendly hospitality and comfortable accommodation. Restaurant, Bar & Conservatory Lounge. Mobility Grade: 3 – The resort & hotel are on the level. Hotel has no lift, but rooms are on ground & first floor only.
Supplements
Calton Hill in Edinburgh
Mon 14 - Fri 18 March 2022 4 Nights £679
Nestled between the North Sea and a beautiful stretch of rolling, rocky hills, Edinburgh offers some of the most picturesque scenery in Europe. Famous for its medieval skyline and whisky trails, the capital has plenty to see and do. Take in the colourful views from atop Edinburgh Castle and Arthur’s Seat, enjoy a crisp seaside stroll along Portobello Beach, and wander the historic Royal Mile.
Your Holiday Itinerary Look What’s Included:
྆Door to Door Service྆Our own courier service྆Luxury Traveller Coach with ‘First Class’ seating & legroom྆Fully reclining seats with calf supports྆Complimentary on board hot and cold drinks྆Free WiFi and USB charging points ྆Complimentary gift bag ྆4 nights half board྆Outlined Excursions྆Open-Top ‘Hop-on, Hop-off’ Edinburgh Sightseeing Bus Ticket྆The Royal Yacht Britannia ྆Edinburgh Zoo྆The Palace of Holyrood House. Not included: All lunches.
Monday We journey north through the borders to Edinburgh, arriving in the afternoon for our 4-night stay. Tuesday Breakfast at leisure and then to help familiarise yourself with the beauty that is Edinburgh, we include tickets with the Open-top, ‘Hop-on, Hop-off’ Edinburgh Sightseeing Bus Tour Company. Lasting approximately 75 minutes you will receive a tour of the main attractions, viewing, Edinburgh’s Old Town, Edinburgh Castle and Carlton Hill. Departing and returning to Waverley Bridge we are then free to explore Edinburgh’s attractions at leisure, including the high-quality shops on Princes Street or the city’s infamous Royal Mile. Wednesday This morning we head to the Ocean Terminal at Leith for a visit to the Royal Yacht Britannia. Home to the British Royal Family for over 40 years, we can follow in their footsteps as we explore this floating Royal residence with a fascinating audio tour. In the afternoon we visit Edinburgh’s amazing hill side zoo… Home to Lions, Tigers and Panda Bears and over 1000 rare and endangered animals this will be a day never to forget and make sure you do not miss the famous Penguin Parade. Thursday A morning visit to the Palace of Holyroodhouse – The official residence of the Royal Monarchy in Scotland. Here, we can discover 14 magnificent historic and State Apartments. The rest of the day is free for your own pursuits. Friday After breakfast we commence our journey homeward, arriving back during the evening.
DoubleTree by Hilton, Edinburgh City Centre
Located in Old Town, this hotel is within a 10-minute walk of Usher Hall, Grassmarket and Princes Street. Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle are also within 15 minutes. Restaurant, Bar/Lounge, Coffee. Mobility Grade: 4 – The resort & hotel are on the level. Hotel has a lift to all floors.
Supplements
Single Room: £190 | Holiday Insurance: £29.50 This departure includes the £5 per person per day ‘Luxury Traveller’ Coach supplement. (All prices are per person & are for the entire tour).
& Loch Cruising Scotland
Loch Lomond Loch Lomond
Thu 14 - Mon 18 April 2022 4 Nights £569 Thu 12 - Mon 16 May 2022 4 Nights £649
The stunning scenery of Scotland changes with each season and no matter when you visit you will be amazed at the awe-inspiring beauty of the many Lochs backed by snow-capped mountains and the lush green hills. Our AllInclusive holiday based at the Winnock Hotel, close to Loch Lomond includes some of the most stunning scenery possible as we journey through the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Parks.
Look What’s Included:
྆Door to Door Service྆Our own courier service྆Club Class Extra Legroom Coach྆4 nights half board྆Welcome Drinks Reception྆4-Course Individual Dining Experience in the Merlin Restaurant྆High Quality Wine with dinner྆Tea/Coffee after dinner྆At least 2 nights entertainment྆Open Bar from 7.30pm-10.30pm each night (Selected Brands)྆Packed lunches on 3 Days྆Entrance to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Not included: 2 lunches.
Your Holiday Itinerary
Thursday Travel north through the Border Region arriving at our hotel in the late afternoon. Welcome evening drinks reception before dinner. Friday A wonderful scenic excursion takes us firstly to the pretty town of Luss on the shores of Loch Lomond, where we spend a little free time before continuing our journey. We travel through Arrochar at the northern tip of Loch Long before enjoying a stunning mountain drive passing ‘The Cobbler’ before reaching the stunning Rest and Be Thankful Pass. Shortly, lovely Loch Fyne comes in to view and we follow its shores to Inveraray which overlooks Loch Shira. Saturday In the morning we visit ‘Auld Reekie’, an affectionate local name for the beautiful city of Edinburgh. We visit the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Scotland’s famous royal residence, which dates to late 15th century, followed by some free time at leisure in Scotland’s first city. Sunday Another scenic excursion today taking us into the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park & the Trossachs, we pass the Lake of Monteith - Scotland’s only natural Lake and enjoy a stop at Callander. We return to our hotel passing Loch Venachar & Loch Achray. Monday Departing after breakfast we commence our journey homeward, making a suitable stop for lunch en-route.
Popular Favourite Britain’s favourite flower grows in abundance in the Trossachs National Park and our tour will try to capture the Bluebell glades in full bloom. Enjoy a wonderful four-night break at the popular Winnock Hotel, exploring the area and culminating in a delightful visit to see Duntreath Castle and Gardens.
Look What’s Included:
Your Holiday Itinerary
྆Door to Door Service྆Our own courier service྆Club Class Extra Legroom Coach྆4 nights half board྆Welcome Drinks Reception྆4-Course Individual Dining Experience in the Merlin Restaurant including a ‘Taste of Scotland’ dining྆High Quality Wine with dinner྆Tea/Coffee after dinner ྆Light lunches or refreshments between Friday & Sunday྆At least 2 nights entertainment྆Cruise on Loch Katrine྆Loch Lomond Cruise྆Tour of Duntreath Castle. Not included: Thursday We journey north to Lunches on Thu, Sat & Mon the pretty conservation village of Drymen, situated in the heart of the beautiful Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. Friday After breakfast we depart for a day’s adventure in to the Trossachs. Travelling via Aberfoyle we climb ‘Dukes Pass’ to lovely Loch Katrine where the hunt begins for the ‘carpets of blue’! The drive has often been described as one of the most beautiful in Britain. After a soup & sandwich lunch at Brenachoile café, we enjoy a 2-hour leisurely cruise on-board the Steam Ship ‘Sir Walter Scott’. Saturday Taking to the water again, we enjoy a 2-hour cruise exploring the secret islands and Narrows of Loch Lomond. We make a stop on Cailloch Island where refreshments are served. Explore the waves of bluebells growing in the dapple shades of the island’s ancient woodland. Tonight, after dinner, we have a Scottish Show with bagpipes, haggis and Highland dancing. Sunday We set off to the delightful 16th century Duntreath Castle at Blanefield. Here, you will be met by Lady Edmonstone and Sir Archie who will show you around their home. Afterwards enjoy morning coffee and some home-baking, after which you are free to explore the castle, grounds and keep at leisure. A light lunch is provided back at the hotel. Free time in the afternoon. Tonight, after dinner there is live musical entertainment. Monday After breakfast we commence our journey homeward, arriving back during the evening.
Popular Favourite
Winnock Hotel, Drymen
Situated on the pretty village green in the conservation village of Drymen, located in the heart of the beautiful Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. Sensitively extended and refurbished, whilst retaining all its traditional charm, the hotel offers friendly hospitality and comfortable accommodation. Restaurant, Bar & Conservatory Lounge. Mobility Grade: 3 – The resort & hotel are on the level. Hotel has no lift, but rooms are on ground & first floor only.
Supplements
Winnock Hotel, Drymen
Situated on the pretty village green in the conservation village of Drymen, located in the heart of the beautiful Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. Sensitively extended and refurbished, whilst retaining all its traditional charm, the hotel offers friendly hospitality and comfortable accommodation. Restaurant, Bar & Conservatory Lounge. Mobility Grade: 3 – The resort & hotel are on the level. Hotel has no lift, but rooms are on ground & first floor only.
Supplements
Scotland RAIL & SAIL IN THE WESTERN HIGHLANDS
Loch Lomond, Trossachs
Tue 14 - Sun 19 June 2022 5 Nights £845
Based in Drymen near to Loch Lomond, known for its waterfalls and trails, discover breath taking views of the west of the Highlands incorporated with a journey on board some of Scotland’s finest boats and trains.
Look What’s Included:
Your Holiday Itinerary
Tuesday We journey north with suitable stops en-route, arriving in Drymen during the afternoon with time to settle into our rooms, before joining our host for a welcome drink followed by dinner. Wednesday A full day exploring the Trossachs with a two-hour cruise along the length of Loch Katrine on Steam Ship SS Sir Walter Scott included. Thursday A journey to Falkirk and a trip on The Falkirk Wheel, a rotating boat lift in central Scotland, connecting the Forth and Clyde Canal with the Union Canal. We also enjoy an afternoon train ride on the Bo’Ness and Kinneil steam railway with afternoon tea served on board. Friday Glasgow to Oban Single Journey We travel to Glasgow where we join our Scotrail train for a scenic journey to Oban, one of Scotland’s most scenic rail routes. Time available for sightseeing in Oban before return to the hotel by coach, in time for dinner. Saturday Explore Loch Lomond with a stop at Lomond Shores for shopping followed by a two-hour cruise on the loch discovering its hidden islands. Sunday We bid a fond farewell to Scotland and commence our homeward journey, making suitable stops en route. Please note: The days on which the included excursions operate may be subject to change.
྆Door to Door Service྆Our own courier service྆Luxury Traveller Coach྆5 nights half board྆Welcome Drinks Reception ྆4-Course Individual Dining Experience in the Merlin Restaurant including a ‘Taste of Scotland’ dining ྆High Quality Wine with dinner ྆Tea/Coffee after dinner྆At least 2 nights entertainment྆Cruise on Loch Katrine྆Falkirk Wheel & train ride on the Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway ྆Scenic train ride from Glasgow to Oban྆Loch Lomond Cruise. Not included: All lunches.
Popular Favourite Stirling Castle
Tue 26 - Sat 30 July 2022 4 Nights £699
Visit and explore Scotland’s great castles, lochs and gardens including a chance to explore the castle & grounds at Duntreath Castle with Lady Edmonstone.
Look What’s Included:
Your Holiday Itinerary
྆Door to Door Service྆Our own courier service྆Club Class Extra Legroom Coach྆4 nights half board྆Welcome Drinks Reception ྆4-Course Individual Dining Experience in the Merlin Restaurant including a ‘Taste of Scotland’ dining Tuesday We journey north with ྆High Quality Wine with dinner suitable stops en-route arriving ྆Tea/Coffee after dinner྆At in Drymen during the afternoon least 2 nights entertainment྆The with time to settle into our rooms, Royal Yacht Britannia྆Edinburgh before joining our host for a Botanic Gardens྆Cruise on Loch welcome drink followed by dinner. Katrine with cream tea on-board Wednesday Today, we visit ྆Stirling Castle྆Duntreath House Edinburgh where we Where we with morning coffee & home baking step aboard The Royal Yacht ྆Glengoyne Whisky Distillery. Britannia. Britannia was HRH The Not included: All lunches. Queen’s former floating palace for over 40 years. Berthed in Edinburgh, we follow in the footsteps of Royalty to discover the heart and soul of this most special of Royal residences. Later, we visit the famous Botanic Gardens. The Botanics offers visitors peace and tranquillity amongst its stunning 72 acres in Edinburgh city centre. Founded in 1670, the Garden is acknowledged to be one of the finest in the world. Thursday Enjoy a cruise aboard the ‘Lady of the Lake’ to experience the beauty of Loch Katrine and the magnificent scenery. Listen to the tales of the loch and admire the ever-changing Trossachs landscape. A cream tea on-board is included. Friday A visit to “The Key of Scotland” - Stirling Castle with admission included. This impressive castle offers a dominating view of the area around it from its impregnable walls. Saturday We set off to the delightful 16th century Duntreath Castle at Blanefield. Here, you will be met by Lady Edmonstone and Sir Archie who will show you around their home. Afterwards enjoy morning coffee and some home-baking, after which you are free to explore the castle, grounds and keep at leisure. We continue in the afternoon to nearby Glengoyne Whisky Distillery. Tonight, after dinner there is live musical entertainment. Sunday We bid a fond farewell to Scotland and commence our homeward journey, making suitable stops en route. Please note: The days on which the included excursions operate may be subject to change.
Popular Favourite
Winnock Hotel, Drymen
Situated on the pretty village green in the conservation village of Drymen, located in the heart of the beautiful Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. Sensitively extended and refurbished, whilst retaining all its traditional charm, the hotel offers friendly hospitality and comfortable accommodation. Restaurant, Bar & Conservatory Lounge. Mobility Grade: 3 – The resort & hotel are on the level. Hotel has no lift, but rooms are on ground & first floor only.
Supplements
Winnock Hotel, Drymen
Situated on the pretty village green in the conservation village of Drymen, located in the heart of the beautiful Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. Sensitively extended and refurbished, whilst retaining all its traditional charm, the hotel offers friendly hospitality and comfortable accommodation. Restaurant, Bar & Conservatory Lounge. Mobility Grade: 3 – The resort & hotel are on the level. Hotel has no lift, but rooms are on ground & first floor only.
Supplements
Loch Katrine Loch Lomond
Thu 22 - Mon 26 September 2022 4 Nights £629 Sun 30 Oct - Thu 3 Nov 2022 4 Nights £569
Delve into the mysteries of Scotland’s watery depths and explore some of the finest waterways and historic places with this fun-filled itinerary.
Look What’s Included:
Your Holiday Itinerary
Thursday Travel north through the Border Region arriving at our hotel in the late afternoon. Welcome evening drinks reception before dinner. Friday Our tour of the Trossachs today takes us to Aberfoyle Woollen Mill before a storytelling cruise on Loch Katrine on-board the steam ship SS Sir Walter Scott. After an included lunch at a Lochside restaurant we enjoy a scenic drive via Callander to view the magnificent Falls of Dochart at Killin. Located at the western end of Loch Tay the falls can be viewed from the village’s bridge where we can admire the misty spray and crashing white waters that flow around the Islands of Inchbuie, known locally as the ancient burial site of Clan McNab. Saturday After a leisurely breakfast we visit enjoy an excursion travelling along the western shores of Loch Lomond to Luss. At Tarbet, where we turn westwards via Arrochar and Loch Long to the magnificent viewpoint of ‘Rest & Be Thankful’ before reaching the town of Inveraray which is situated on the shores of Loch Fyne. Sunday Today we visit two of the most spectacular attractions in Scotland. Enjoy a boat trip on the Falkirk Wheel, the world’s only rotating boat lift which replaces the original 11 locks linking the Forth & Clyde and Union Canal’s. Then towering 30 meters above the Forth & Clyde Canal, The Kelpies are a feat of engineering. Each made with 300 tonnes of structural steel they are a monumental tribute to the horse-power heritage that was vital to the early industries of central Scotland. Monday Departing after breakfast we visit Glengoyne Distillery before commencing our journey homeward. Please note: The days on which the included excursions operate may be subject to change. ྆Door to Door Service྆Our own courier service྆Club Class Extra Legroom Coach྆4 nights half board྆4-Course Individual Dining Experience in the Merlin Restaurant ྆High Quality Wine with dinner ྆Tea/Coffee after dinner྆At least 2 nights entertainment including a Scottish weaponry display with swords, kilts and storytelling and traditional Scottish Night & live music ྆Packed lunches are provided where a lunch is not included. ྆Aberfoyle Woollen Mill྆Loch Katrine Cruise྆Boat ride on the Falkirk Wheel & entrance to the Kelpies྆Visit to Glengoyne Distillery.
Popular Favourite Autumn is a very special time to visit Loch Lomond and the Trossachs. It is a time of change as the surrounding native woodlands are transformed by the glorious autumn colours. This early Scottish ‘All Inclusive, Turkey & Tinsel’ break is the perfect chance to enjoy the Spirit of Christmas and the excitement of a Scottish Hogmanay all in one holiday.
Look What’s Included:
Your Holiday Itinerary
྆Door to Door Service྆Our own courier service྆Club Class Extra Legroom Coach྆4 nights Turkey & Tinsel style accommodation including྆Afternoon tea in the conservatory on ‘Christmas Eve’ ྆Guaranteed snow on ‘Christmas Day’ created by the Hotel’s own snow machine྆Traditional ‘Christmas Dinner’྆A visit from Father Christmas྆3 night entertainment including a Scottish weaponry display with swords, kilts & storytelling, traditional Scottish dinner with Scottish entertainment on ‘Hogmanay’, one extra nights live entertainment྆Nightly Free Bar from 19.30-22.30 (House Brands) ྆Farewell hot toddy྆Entrance to Sunday Travel north through the Stirling Castle. Border Region arriving at our hotel in the late afternoon. Welcome evening drinks reception before dinner. Monday Savouring the autumnal tints of the Trossachs and the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park we drive to Callander. Situated on the River Teith, the town is a popular tourist stop and is often referred to as the ‘Gateway to the Highlands’. Tuesday Enjoy a leisurely cruise on lovely Loch Lomond before returning to our hotel for lunch. An afternoon at leisure in Drymen. Wednesday After a leisurely start to the day we visit to “The Key of Scotland” - Stirling Castle with admission included. This impressive castle offers a dominating view of the area around it from its impregnable walls. Thursday Departing after breakfast we commence our journey homeward.
Please note: The days on which the included excursions operate may be subject to change.
Popular Favourite
Winnock Hotel, Drymen
Situated on the pretty village green in the conservation village of Drymen, located in the heart of the beautiful Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. Sensitively extended and refurbished, whilst retaining all its traditional charm, the hotel offers friendly hospitality and comfortable accommodation. Restaurant, Bar & Conservatory Lounge. Mobility Grade: 3 – The resort & hotel are on the level. Hotel has no lift, but rooms are on ground & first floor only.
Supplements
Winnock Hotel, Drymen
For hotel information, see the opposite holiday.
Supplements
Scotland NATIONAL TRUST TREASURES OF SCOTLAND
Kellie Castle & Gardens NEW TOUR
Mon 11 - Fri 15 July 2022 4 Nights £820
The National Trust for Scotland has in its care some of the most fascinating castles and imposing historic houses and visitor centres imaginable. This new itinerary introduces you to three of the region’s most popular NTS attractions whilst also including a visit to Holyrood Palace, Scotland’s most famous royal residence.
Look What’s Included on your Holiday:
྆Door to Door Service྆Our own courier service྆Luxury Traveller Coach with ‘First Class’ seating & legroom྆Fully reclining seats with calf supports྆Complimentary on board hot and cold drinks྆Free WiFi and USB charging points྆Complimentary gift bag྆4 nights half board྆The Kelpies྆Entrance & boat ride at the Falkirk Wheel྆Bannockburn Experience (NTS)྆Kellie Castle & Gardens (NTS)྆Pollock House (NTS) & the Burrell Collection. Not included: All other lunches.
Your Holiday Itinerary
Monday Joining our Luxury Traveller coach, we can sit back and relax and enjoy a leisurely drive north through the Borders, arriving at our hotel in the Central Lowlands in time for dinner. Tuesday After breakfast we visit the Kelpies - two magnificent steel structures which stand 30 metres above the Forth and Clyde Canal in Falkirk. The name reflects the mythological creature believed to possess the strength and endurance of ten horses and is an outstanding tribute to the horse powered heritage of central Scotland. We continue to the Falkirk Wheel, a rotating boat lift, connecting the fourth and Clyde canal with the Union canal. Soaring 35 metres into the air, we enjoy a cruise along the Union canal before returning to your starting point at the Visitors Centre. After lunch, we visit the Battle of Bannockburn Experience (NTS) – This exciting new Visitors Centre harnesses 3D technology to Scottish history to life. Wednesday We head to the Kingdom of Fife and visit Kellie Castle & Gardens (NTS). Dating from the 14th Century it was sold to the NTS in 1970. In addition to the Castle, there are 6.5 acres of gardens, a walled garden, various woodland walks, shop and the ever-pleasing sight of a tearoom. Following our visit, we enjoy a scenic drive around the scenic coastline through Crail to St Andrews. Thursday Today we drive to Pollok Park, located in the south side of Glasgow. Pollok House (NTS) is Scotland’s answer to Downton Abbey and gives a real taste of upstairs/downstairs life in the 1930’s. Within the grounds lies the Burrell Collection, one of the greatest art collections ever amassed by one person and includes over 8,000 objects including work by major artists including Rodin, Degas and Cezanne to important examples of late medieval art, Chinese and Islamic art, ancient civilizations and more. Friday After breakfast we commence our journey south. After a stop for lunch, we arrive home in the evening.
Pollok House
Macdonald Inchyra Grange Hotel & Spa
The 4* Macdonald Inchyra Hotel & Spa is one of Scotland’s finest hotels, set in a traditional Scottish manor house within landscaped gardens on the outskirts of Falkirk and Grangemouth. Boasting beautiful boutique rooms, an AA Rosette-awarded restaurant, and state-of-the-art facilities, this relaxing retreat makes for the perfect haven to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life! Featuring a state-of-the-art technogym and a 20 yards indoor swimming pool, the spa has 8 treatment rooms, a spa relaxation room, aroma steam room, rock sauna, ice fountain and massage showers. Mobility Grade: 4. The hotel offers good access throughout with a lift to all floors.
& Scottish Island Gardens Scotland
River Tay
Mon 16 - Fri 20 May 2022 4 Nights £615
A tour packed full of culinary experiences whilst taking in the beautiful Scottish landscapes around Tayside and Perthshire. This holiday will be sure to tickle taste buds with whisky, gin, chocolate and a Scottish afternoon tea. Come and experience Scotland’s culinary delights for yourself.
Look What’s Included:
Your Holiday Itinerary
྆Door to Door Service྆Our own courier service྆Luxury Traveller Coach with ‘First Class’ seating & legroom྆Fully reclining seats with calf supports྆Complimentary on board hot and cold drinks྆Free WiFi and USB charging points ྆Complimentary gift bag྆4 nights half board (Inc 1 Nt Fish & Chips Dinner)྆Signal Tower Museum ྆Scottish Afternoon Tea྆Whisky Monday We journey north through the Borders, arriving late afternoon tour & tasting྆Entrance to Glamis Castle྆Gourmet Chocolate Tasting ྆Gin Bothy visit & tasting. at the Invercarse Hotel, Dundee for Not included: All lunches. our 4-night stay. Tuesday On the trail of the famous Smokie, a coastal drive takes us through the golf town of Carnoustie then onwards to Arbroath. Steeped in maritime history the Signal Tower Museum tells tales of the town and its famous fish. We return to Dundee for free time and enjoy an Afternoon tea of Scottish delights at 4* Hotel Indigo, a converted Scottish Jute Mill. Wednesday St Andrews isn’t only famous for golf, Kingsbarns distillery offers the perfect introduction to Scotland’s amber nectar with a tour and tasting. Afterwards enjoy free time in St Andrews. Included is a Scottish Fish and Chip dinner. Thursday Following the River Tay to Glamis, we visit Glamis Castle, where we can experience over 1000 years of history. Ancestral seat to the Earls of Strathmore and Kinghorne, Glamis was the inspiration for Shakespeare’s Macbeth and childhood home of H.M. Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. Afterwards free time in Pitlochry before travelling deep into Perthshire for a visit to the Highland chocolatier. Known as the Chocolatier of the Highlands. Iain Burnett’s chocolates are hailed by Michelin star chefs worldwide. (Iain Burnett will board the coach with individual tasting boards). During the evening we will be welcoming the Dundee Gin Company to sample all five of their gins along with three cocktails. Friday After breakfast we leave and head for home.
Invercarse Hotel, Dundee
Best Western Invercarse Hotel in Dundee has a great location with outstanding views over the River Tay and its own private grounds. This traditional 3-star hotel is just minutes away from Dundee city centre and offers a comfortable and charming atmosphere. 68 Bedrooms. Bar, Restaurant & Outdoor Terrace. Mobility Grade: 4. Easy access throughout, lift to all floors with ground floor rooms and walk-in showers available upon request.
Supplements
Single room: £100 | Holiday Insurance: £29.50 This departure includes the £5 per person per day ‘Luxury Traveller’ Coach supplement. (All prices are per person & are for the entire tour). Isle of Bute
Mon 29 Aug - Fri 2 Sep 2022 4 Nights £575
Be it spring, summer or autumn, the Scottish Islands are a joy to explore with their colourful gardens on display throughout the seasons. Our island garden tour is designed for those who not only appreciate gardens but also for those who wish to visit the beauty of Scotland’s West Coast & two of its most tranquil of islands.
Look What’s Included:
྆Door to Door Service྆Our own courier service྆Luxury Traveller Coach with ‘First Class’ seating྆4 nights half board྆A minimum of 2 nights entertainment྆All Ferry Crossings highlighted྆Entry to Mount Stuart ྆Entry to Achamore Gardens ྆Guided tour of Kilmun Church with light refreshments྆Entrance to Benmore Botanic Gardens. Not included: All other lunches
Your Holiday Itinerary
Monday We journey north through the Borders to Glasgow before making our way to Gourock for the 20-minute crossing to Dunoon for our 4-night stay at the Esplanade Hotel. Tuesday A short but beautiful drive over the Kyles of Bute to catch the short crossing from Colintraive to the Isle of Bute. Free time in the Victorian seaside town of Rothesay, the islands capital. Afterwards, the coastal drive to Mount Stuart - a 19th-century neo-gothic mansion with extravagant interiors and over 300 acres of landscaped gardens with a wide selection of native and exotic flora. Wednesday A rare opportunity to visit the magical Island of Gigha. We hop on the ferry for the short crossing of Loch Fyne from Portavadie to Tarbert. Travel south along the Mull of Kintyre coastline to catch the short ferry crossing to the unspoilt Isle of Gigha – 7 miles long and 1 mile wide, with sandy beaches, clear green seas and an increasing population of 165. We include entry to Achamore Gardens - 50 acres of natural woodland, large walled garden & pond area with many rare plants. After visiting the vantage points on the islands, a soup and sandwich lunch is provided, before retracing our steps back to Dunoon. Although a long day, this will be one that will be well worth the experience! Thursday Join us for a late morning drive along the peninsula to visit delightful Kilmun Church, where we can discover the Argyll Mausoleum, dating from 1790 that houses the remains of the Dukes and Earls of Argyll, Chiefs of the Clan Campbell, and their families. Our guided tour includes interactive screening and light refreshments. We continue through wonderful scenery to visit beautiful Benmore Botanic Gardens in its magnificent mountain setting. It is an enchanting garden steeped in history and surrounded by dramatic scenery. Friday After breakfast we leave and head for home.
The Esplanade Hotel
Ideally situated in Dunoon on the West Bay Promenade, this beautiful 3-star hotel has spectacular views over the Firth of Clyde. The hotel restaurant offers a varied menu including a selection of traditional Scottish dishes. The hotel also has a sun terrace and provides entertainment most evenings. Mobility Grade: 3 – Resort and Hotel: Generally level. Hotel has steps and slopes in some corridors to access some bedrooms. Lift serves most floors.
Supplements
Scotland HIGHLAND HERITAGE
Urquhart Castle at Loch Ness
Tue 4 - Sun 9 October 2022 5 Nights £719
Fort William – The perfect location for exploring The Great Glen and the coastline of the Western Highlands. A boat cruise is included on probably the most famous of Scottish lochs and a scenic railway journey on the Harry Potter line between Fort William and Mallaig.
Look What’s Included:
྆Door to Door Service྆Our own courier service྆Club Class Extra Legroom Coach྆4 nights half board at Fort William & 1 Nights half board in Cumbernauld྆1-Hour cruise on Loch Ness྆Single Journey train ride from Fort William to Mallaig. Not included: All lunches.
Your Holiday Itinerary
Tuesday We travel north through the Borders and Central Highlands to Fort William, and our base for 4-nights at the Imperial Hotel. Wednesday Our first stop is the Commando Monument overlooking Ben Nevis at Spean Bridge before continuing along the epic Great Glen, hugging the lochside for much of the way, with time free in Fort Augustus at the head of Loch Ness. Board the boat at Urquhart Castle for a cruise out on to Loch Ness arriving at the Clansman Marina, where your coach awaits to take you to Inverness with free time, before returning to Fort William, along the eastern shoreline of the loch. Thursday The best of both worlds today! - Not only will you be travelling on the most famous railway in the world – thanks to both Harry Potter and the amazing scenery along the 46-mile journey between Fort William and Mallaig. But also, be absorbed in the equally spectacular “Road to the Isles” drive, stopping off at various vantage points along the way, such as Glenfinnan Viaduct, Loch Morar & Neptune’s Staircase. Friday Today we enjoy a scenic lochside drive all the way to Oban, with time free in this bustling harbour town. Here you will see boats of all shapes and sizes plying their trade between the Hebridean Islands. After lunch, turn south for 12 miles to cross the “Bridge O’er the Atlantic” and on to the pretty but small island of Seil. Time to roam the conservation village of Easdale, with its pretty whitewashed miners cottages surrounded by turquoise blue waters with sweeping views across to the outer Isles. Saturday Departing after breakfast we enjoy a leisurely drive through remote Glen Coe, then along the shores of Loch Lomond to our overnight at the Westerwood Hotel in Cumbernauld (4-Star). Sunday After breakfast we head homeward, arriving during the early evening.
Best Western Imperial
The Imperial Hotel is situated in the heart of Fort William nestling between the Main Street and Loch Linnhe with some fine views over the loch and surrounding hills. All rooms are furnished to a very high standard. There are two bars and our Italian restaurant within the hotel. Mobility Grade: 2 – Resort: generally level. Hotel: On the level with a few isolated steps. Please note the hotel does not have a lift nor are there any ground floor rooms.
Supplements
Loch Ness
Sun 26 Jun - Fri 1 July 2022 5 Nights £799
Breathtaking Railway journeys capture the contrasting villages of Inverness, Fort William, Aviemore and the Kyle of Lochalsh – Sit back and relax as the dramatic Highland landscapes glide past you.
Look What’s Included:
Your Holiday Itinerary
྆Door to Door Service྆Our own courier service྆Club Class Extra Legroom Coach྆5 nights half board྆Single journey on the Strathspey Steam Railway ྆Entrance to the Speyside Centre ྆2-Hr Jacobite cruise on Loch Ness྆Single train journey from Sunday Enjoy the ever-changing scenery as we journey north to Inverness to the Kyle of Lochalsh ྆Single Journey on the Jacobite Steam Train between Fort William & Kingussie. Mallaig Monday We take the short drive Not included: All lunches. to Aviemore where we board the Strathspey Steam train to Broomhill. Next, we journey up the ‘Whisky Trail’ to Grantown on Spey before visiting the acclaimed Speyside Centre at Dulnain Bridge, explaining the myths, legends and folklore of whisky in the Cairngorms. Tuesday Today we journey to Dochgarroch where we will enjoy a 2-hour Jacobite cruise on Loch Ness where you will be able to enjoy the breathtaking vista of Scotland’s most infamous Loch in all its natural wonder. Wednesday We head to Inverness for our train for Kyle of Lochalsh. Our route takes us via Dingwall to Loch Carron. Here, we twist and turn through the tiny loch inlets before reaching Kyle of Lochalsh – the ‘Gateway to the Isle of Skye’. Enjoy fantastic views of the Skye Bridge and the Cuillin Mountain range before re-joining our coach for the scenic drive back to our hotel. Thursday We include reserved seats on the Jacobite Steam Railway for our single journey train ride between Fort William and Mallaig. The journey takes approximately two hours with time available to explore the delightful fishing village of Mallaig. One leg of our journey is by coach, which affords us the opportunity to stop at Glenfinnan for photo opportunities of the Bonnie Prince Charlie Monument, the impressive viaduct and lovely Loch Shiel. Friday After breakfast we commence our journey homewards. Please note: The days on which the included excursions operate may be subject to change.
Duke of Gordon Hotel
With origins in the eighteenth century the hotel was originally built as a stopover for passengers travelling by stagecoach. Restaurant, bar and lounge, nightly entertainment. Mobility Grade: 3 - Locality fairly level. Hotel – ramp alternative to steps into the main entrance. Lift to two floors.
Supplements
Single Room: £75 | Holiday Insurance: £32 (All prices are per person & are for the entire tour).
Queens View, Pitlochry
Mon 17 - Fri 21 October 2022 4 Nights £599
Immersed in a palette of breathtaking colours, arguably, Scotland is at its best in the autumn time – deep reds, gold, purple, copper and russets transform the mountain and valley landscapes. Also included is entry into the amazing “Enchanted Forest” – depicting nature’s forces of earth, wind and fire!
Look What’s Included:
྆Door to Door Service྆Our own courier service྆Club Class Extra Legroom Coach྆4 nights half board྆Guided tour of Blair Castle ྆The Black Watch Museum྆Entry to the “Enchanted Forest” & Show ྆Dunkeld Cathedral྆Guided tour of Scone Palace. Not included: All lunches.
Your Holiday Itinerary
Monday To Scotland passing Stirling and its mighty castle and into Perthshire “the Big Tree County” - renowned for its magnificent scenery, where we arrive at our hotel in Pitlochry during the late afternoon. Tuesday A leisurely morning drive to Loch Tummel and the marvellous Queens View, viewpoint. Enjoy stunning views from the Visitors Centre of the loch and beyond to the iconic Schiehallion mountain peak. We continue to Blair Castle, home to the Dukes of Atholl for 19 generations. We enjoy a guided tour of the opulently decorated rooms displaying paintings, furniture and artefacts gathered over the years. Take time to stroll the well sculptured grounds where red deer, highland cattle and native red squirrels’ roam. Wednesday This morning we visit the Black Watch Regimental Museum in Perth. This museum takes you through the history of the oldest Highland Regiment with a range of exhibits and artefacts that tell the story of the regiment from the Napoleonic Wars right up to the recent conflicts. The museum is staffed by retired soldiers from the regiment who will happily tell you some stories. We return via Aberfeldy taking time to view the magnificent Black Watch Memorial. Tonight, after dinner, we include entry to the award winning ‘The Enchanted Forest’ - Located close to Pitlochry, we experience a sound and light show allowing you the unique opportunity to experience the outdoors at night with spectacular imagery. Thursday This morning we visit Dunkeld Cathedral with its beautiful arched ruins situated in a peaceful setting close to the banks of the River Tay. Look inside the main building for the cursed tomb of the wicked ‘Wolf of Badenoch before we continue to Scone Palace for a guided tour. One of Scotland’ most important stately homes. The seat of parliament and crowning place of the Kings of Scotland, including MacBeth and Robert the Bruce, this stunning Palace has over 1500 years of history within its walls! Friday Homeward bound, arriving back during the evening.
Fishers Hotel, Pitlochry
Situated in a perfect location on the main road and just a few minutes’ walk to the shops, this welcoming hotel offers comfortable Scottish hospitality. Bedrooms have views over the private gardens or Pitlochry and the surrounding countryside. Facilities include a restaurant, bar, lounge, garden room, ballroom. Regular entertainment. Mobility Grade: 3. Locality generally level. Hotel: Public areas are level and a lift serves all floors.
Supplements
Inverness
Sun 10 - Fri 15 April 2022
Sun 23 - Fri 28 October 2022 5 Nights £715
5 Nights £769
Join us at the Best Western Palace Hotel Inverness on this superb ‘All Inclusive’ break. Dating from the 1890’s, the Hotel combines the best of the past with the contemporary style of the present with elegant interiors, comfortable bedrooms and a superb Leisure Club & Spa.
Look What’s Included:
Your Holiday Itinerary
྆Door to Door Service྆Our own courier service྆Club Class Extra Legroom Coach or Luxury Traveller Coach྆5 nights accommodation྆Welcome cocktail reception on the first evening ྆Complimentary drinks package from 7-10 pm each evening ྆Wine with dinner each evening ྆Entertainment programme (2 nights guaranteed)྆3-course dinners ྆Lunch each day or packed lunch if Sunday We journey north to the Scottish Highlands arriving in Inverness during the early we are out on excursions྆Afternoon tea & cream scones each day྆Buffet breakfasts྆Free tea/coffee any time of the day྆Loch Ness Cruise evening. ྆Entrance to Inverewe Gardens (NT) Monday Today we include a ྆Culloden Battlefield Visitors Centre cruise on the world-famous (NT). Not included: Lunches on Days Loch Ness. Although forever 1 & 6 associated with legend, there is much more to Loch Ness than just the elusive monster! It is Scotland’s largest loch, and it is more than 600ft deep for much of its 23 miles length. Tuesday A day at leisure in Inverness, with time to explore the shops, parks and gardens of the Capital of the Highlands. Wednesday Enjoy a full-day tour visiting Loch Maree and Inverewe Gardens (NT). A true example of the rugged scenery of the west coast, Loch Maree lies in the shadow of the towering Ben Slioch and has around 30 isles, which lie like a cluster of jewels strung together to form a treasure of unrivalled beauty. We continue to the world-famous Inverewe Gardens, which boast a stunning location, overlooking Loch Ewe. Thursday We visit the Culloden Battlefield & Visitors Centre (NT), which features a state-of-the-art exhibition bringing the battle alive in an immersion film and accounts from genuine characters involved in the events when the British troops defeated Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Highland clans in 1746. Friday Today we are homeward bound.
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Best Western Palace Hotel
Our hotel nestles on the banks of the River Ness, opposite Inverness Castle and is just a few short steps from Inverness city centre. Restaurant, lounge, bar, swimming pool, steam room & sauna. Mobility Grade: 4 – The resort & hotel are on the level. Hotel has a lift serving all floors.
Supplements
Single Room: £120 | Holiday Insurance: £30.50 (Apr) £32 (Oct) Reductions available for (NT) National Trust Members (All prices are per person & are for the entire tour)
