Arran and Kintyre 18

an earlier era, although many grand villas have since been converted to hotels, guest houses and restaurants. The double cascade at Glenashdale Falls is a delight to view and the ancient stones at Machrie Moor are a fine example of a Neolithic centre of ritual and domestic activity, scattered across a lonely moorland. It’s a day for trail walking, bird watching, wildlife photography and marvel at the views and countless natural highlights. Dinner will be served back at your hotel this evening. (B D)

Tuesday 13th June Western Arran and on to Kintyre Today you travel through the heart of Arran by coach, with road stops at some striking vantage points, before taking the island’s main road for a drive along Arran’s West coast. At Lochranza village you’ll enjoy the views of the ruined stone castle, originally built as a hall-house in the late 1200s or early 1300s, before boarding the CalMac ferry for a 30-minute crossing over to Claonaig on Kintyre. Your comfortable road coach then takes the scenic main road along the west coast of Kintyre south to Campbeltown, once again stopping at the most picturesque nature spots. You arrive later at the graceful Royal Hotel in Campbeltown, overlooking the delightful working harbour, replete with fishing boats and leisure craft. Dinner is at your hotel this evening. (B D)

Wednesday 14th June Davaar Island, Dunaverty Beach and Mull of Kintyre Today is dedicated to exploring the very southern tip of the Kintyre peninsula, including rocky Davaar Island, located just east of Campbeltown and only accessible by a causeway road. You’ll also discover Dunaverty Beach and the famous Mull of Kintyre, made famous by Paul McCartney’s song of the same name. This is a beautiful area, combining rugged cliffs and coastline facing the North Atlantic, with secluded and often deserted, golden sandy beaches. It enjoys a special climate all of its own, as evidenced by the many palm trees growing out in the open, and often has better weather than much of the rest of Scotland. You return to Campbeltown in the late afternoon and look forward to a silver-served dinner at your Royal Hotel. (B D)

Thursday 15th June Leisure in Campbeltown and Machrihanish Dunes After several active days, it’s time for a more relaxing morning at leisure in wonderful Campbeltown. Located on a deep bay sheltered by Davaar Island and the surrounding hills, Campbeltown has three whisky distilleries (out of a one-time 28) and was once the whisky capital of the world! In the afternoon your coach then takes you to the sandy Machrihanish Dunes on the western coast of Kintyre, just outside Campbeltown and home to a famous links golf course. Enjoy the undulating dunes and the wonderful coastline scenery. Dinner is back at your hotel tonight. (B D)

Friday 16th June Return to London You’ll rise early today for the crossing on the direct CalMac ferry from Campbeltown to Ardrossan Harbour, which only runs on two days of the week. During the trip, you’ll again have excellent views of Arran as the ferry rounds the island to the south. From Ardrossan Harbour you continue on to Glasgow Central on a fast, electric service with ScotRail. From there it’s a trip on an Avanti Pendolino train in First Class comfort back to London. (B)

Tour Summary

Tour price £1695 Single supplement £275

Price includes:

• 6 nights accommodation with breakfast at hotels • 1 lunch • 6 dinners • All specially chartered steam trains as detailed in the itinerary • All rail, bus and boat journeys as detailed in the itinerary • All visits as detailed in the itinerary • Rail travel from London to Brodick and from

Glasgow to London • All seat reservations and transfers • The services of a tour managerr

All prices shown are per person based on two persons sharing. Meals included each day are shown as: B = Breakfast - L = Lunch - D = Dinner

June 2023

Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun 29 30 31 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 1 2

Approx. timings Outward Return London Euston 09:10 17:36 Holyhead 13:10 13:57

The Far North and Orkney

Thursday 15th June to Friday 23rd June 2023

The rugged landscapes of the Scottish Highlands and Islands take centre-stage on this popular tour to one of the most extraordinary places in Northern Europe. • Explore both of Northeast Scotland’s steam traction heritage railways, the Royal Deeside Railway west of Aberdeen and the Caledonian Railway at Brechin. • Experience a midsummer ‘White Night’ when the sun never entirely sets, on a sea ferry trip to the enchanting island of

Orkney. • Explore Orkney’s pristine beaches, stunning coastline and mystical rock formations during your 3-day visit, including a distillery visit and a trip to the ‘Heart of Neolithic Orkney’ World Heritage Site. • Journey back to the mainland over the most northerly railway in the UK, taking in lunch at John O’ Groats before travelling on the spectacular Far North Line via Thurso to Inverness. • Cap your memorable holiday with a trip on the nostalgic heritage Strathspey Steam Railway and a visit to the formidable artillery fortification at Fort George.

Thursday 15th June London to Aberdeen Your adventure begins in the First-Class lounge at London Kings Cross, for a mid-morning departure from London to Aberdeen. Travelling along the East Coast Main Line aboard the HST 125 train, you’ll enjoy complimentary drinks and a light lunch as you travel north via York, Newcastle and Edinburgh, crossing the stunning Firth of Forth and Tay Bridges. You arrive in Aberdeen late afternoon and check into your city centre hotel. The rest of the evening is spent at leisure. (L)

Friday 16th June Steam at the Royal Deeside Railway and Crathes Castle You’ll visit both of Northeast Scotland’s steam traction heritage railways during the next two days, starting with the Royal Deeside Railway. This delightful standard gauge railway features a two-mile round trip through rural scenery and gentle rolling hills, running close to its namesake river. There’ll be photo opportunities en route and a ‘false arrival’ staged at the station. Afterwards, lunch is taken at the Milton Crathes Brasserie followed by a visit to Crathes Castle, replete with turreted towers and walled gardens. There’ll be plenty of time to explore this stylish estate before your road coach takes you back to Aberdeen. (B L)

Saturday 17th June Steam at the Caledonian Railway and Ferry Crossing to Orkney After breakfast your coach transfers you to Brechin, home of the Caledonian Railway. A privately chartered steam train takes you on the eight-mile round trip from Brechin to Bridge of Dun and back. Light snacks and refreshments are provided, afterwards there’s time to visit Brechin’s historic Cathedral and Round Tower. You then return to Aberdeen and board the modern ferry for a six-hour evening crossing to Kirkwall. The ferry sails within sight of the north-eastern coast of Scotland before entering the open North Sea. Dinner is served on board. You reach Kirkwall at 11pm, as the sun is setting, an experience common to the far north during summer solstice. You disembark and transfer to your centrally located hotel. (B L D)