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| Day 1 - May 12th, 2011 - You will be met at Glasgow International Airport this morning before we make our way towards the Western Highlands and Islands. Our drive will take us along the bonny banks of Loch Lomond. We'll stop for a cup of tea before heading northward to Loch Awe where St. Conan's Kirk is spectacularly sited overlooking the loch. I could not imagine venturing through this area of Scotland without visiting this romanesque church. After our visit we continue on to Oban, which is known at the Gateway to the Isles. You will have some time to explore Oban before a Welcoming Dinner on the Waterfront. Overnight Oban. (L,D) Day 2 - Today finds us visiting the largest of the Inner Hebridian Isles, Mull. We take a short ferry ride to Mull which offers rough moorlands, rocky peaks and splendid beaches as well as Duart Castle, home of the Mcleans. Standing proudly on a clifftop guarding the Sound of Mull, Duart enjoys one of the most spectacular and unique positions on the West Coast of Scotland. For over 400 years this has been the base of the Clan Maclean's sea-borne power. You may want to visit the castle tearoom before we continue on to the small and very beautiful island of Iona. St Columba began his crusade here in the year 563 and 48 Scottish Kings are buried in the abbey graveyard. We will Lunch at the St. Columba Hotel before visiting Iona Abbey. St Columba and his followers built a small monastery from wood, wattle and daub. Later, the timber was replaced with stone and in around 1200, the Columban Monastery was transformed into a Benedictine Abbey. The end of the day finds us returning to Oban for a local Pub Dinner. Overnight Oban. (B,D) Day 3 - This morning we journey on to Dunstaffnage Castle just a short distance outside of Oban. Dunstaffnage was build in the year 1275 in a strategic spot on the Firth of Lorn upon an immense rock and the shape of the wall was altered to accommodate the odd shape. We will stop for Lunch before we continue to Glencoe which was the site of the 1692 Massacre of the McDonalds. Against a backdrop of craggy peaks and the tumbling River Coe, the Glen offers some of Scotland's most spectacular scenery. Then on to one of my favorite Highland villages, Fort William. Nestled snuggly on the shores of Loch Linnhe, Fort William is always a favorite stop. Dinner and Overnight near Fort William. (B,L,D) Day 4 - This morning we take the Road to the Isles from Fort William on our way to Skye. The Road to the Isles from Fort William to Glenfinnan and Lochailort, through Arisaig and Morar ending at Mallaig is a route steeped in history where Bonnie Prince Charlie found safety and security in this lovely area of the Scottish Highlands. We will make stops in Glenfinnan and Mallaig before we take a ferry to Skye. Once on the Isle of Skye our first stop is Kinloch Lodge, the home of Lord and Lady MacDonald, for a Traditional Afternoon Tea. Following tea we continue our journey past the lovely Cuillen Hills to our home for 2 nights on Skye. Overnight North Skye. (B,L) Day 5 - This morning we journey round the Trotternish Peninsula with its spectacular coastline. We will stop at the grave site of Flora MacDonald at Kilmuir. Flora is best known for her brave act in helping Bonnie Prince Charlie escape after the battle of Culloden, We will also visit The Quiraing being one of the most exciting natural rock formations anywhere in Scotland. We stop for lunch at the Skeabost Country Hotel on the way to visit Dunvegan Castle which has been the stronghold of the Chiefs of MacLeod for nearly 800 years and it remains their home. Built on a Rock once surrounded entirely by salt water, it is unique in Scotland as the only house of such antiquity to have retained its family and its roof throughout the centuries. Next on the agenda is Skye's metropolis, Portree, meaning port of the king. Enjoy an afternoon free to explore this delightful harbour village. Dinner and Overnight North Skye. (B,L,D) Day 6 - It is off to Uig this morning to catch the Ferry to the Isles of Harris and Lewis. Once on Harris we will stop in Tarbert and visit the Harris Tweed Shop. After exploring Tarbert for a while we Stop for Lunch in Tarbert before we continue south on Harris to Rodel. Along the way we will stop at Scarista Beach, one of the most spectacular beaches anywhere in the country! Once in Rodel we will visit St. Clemon's Church. Cruciform in shape, the church was built around 1500 by the Macleods of Dunvegan and Harris. The church's main point of interest are the three tombs carved in black gneiss depicting knights in armour. One of these is the tomb of Alisdair Crotach, the 8th Chief of the MacLeods of Dunvegan, who had it sculpted for himself 19 years before his death in 1547. Dinner and Overnight back in Tarbert. (B,L,D) Day 7 - We cross the almost unnoticeable land bridge to Lewis this morning with our first stop being the Callanish Standing Stones. Dating back over 4000 years, Callanish ranks second in terms of importance only to Stonehenge and is older. On a headland overlooking part of a huge sea loch, 53 pale grey stones of Lewisian Gneiss stand in a curious cruciform. This afternoon we visit the Arnol Blackhouse Museum which tells the story of the original crofters native to this area of Scotland. We will then spend some time in Stornoway before making our way to the ferry to Ullapool. You will want to take this time to find some lunch as well. Dinner Overnight Ullapool. (B,D) Day 8- Back on the mainland this morning we will explore Ullapool for a short time before we make our way northward to Thurso. Ullapool is a lovely picturesque fishing village with many shops along the harbour. We travel the Scenic Coastal Route to Thurso with some of the most spectacular scenery to be found anywhere in Scotland. Have your cameras ready as there will be several wonderful photo ops. I love the drive through the Assynt Mountains and Loch Assynt which has a spectacular viewpoint. Then we continue on to the coast where you will see some of the most amazing Beaches and Cliffs I have ever seen!Much of the coastline is composed of sea lochs and kyles and including Loch Laxford, Kyle of Durness, Loch Eriboil, Loch Hope and the Kyle of Tongue. Our journey will eventually end up near the town of Thurso where we find dinner waiting. Dinner and Overnight Thurso. (B,L,D) Day 9 - This morning finds us boarding the Ferry to the Orkneys. Our first stop once on the islands is Skara Brae a neolithic village dating from 2,500 BC which has been hidden under sand dunes, perfectly preserved, for thousands of years and was only rediscovered 100 years ago. We will also visit the Standing Stones of Stenness dating from 3,100 BC making the stones complex one of the earliest stone circles in Britain . We will also visit the Royal Burrough of Kirkwall which is the capitol of the Orkneys. We will take some time to investigate before we return by ferry to the mainland. Dinner and Overnight Thurso. (B,L,D) Day 10 - Today we will make our way to Dunnet Head, the most northerly point on mainland Britain and on a clear day it commands some of the most extensive views you are likely to find anywhere in northern Scotland. We will also visit Mary Ann's Cottage, a window on the crofting past, showing how successive generations of a crofting family lived and worked over 150 years. The cottage was the home of Mary-Anne Calder until she was 93 in 1990. It is now maintained as it was when she left, a farming croft in continuous occupation since it was built by her grandfather in the first half of the 19th Century. Our next stop is the Castle of Mey, the most northerly inhabited castle on the British mainland. The Queen Mother renovated and restored it and for almost half a century she spent many happy summers here and shorter visits at other times of the year. Next, a must stop is Dunrobin Castle, seat of the Earls and Dukes of Sutherland, this beautiful castle with a French influence sits looking out across the North Sea and is well worth a visit. With 189 rooms, it is the largest house in the Northern Highlands. We continue on to south toward Inverness. Dinner and Overnight near Inverness. (B,L,D) Day 11 - This morning we will visit Culloden Battlefield, the site of the last battle to be fought on British soil on 16th April 1746 when Bonnie Prince Charles Edward Stewart made his last bid for the Monarchy. The battlefield itself is now restored to as close as possible that two side marched on that fateful day. We will find out why this battle that lasted only one hour changed the way of life of the Highlands and Islands forever. Our next stop is Speyside Heather Centre. This family run business is a well established attraction for both tourists and locals and we will Lunch at the Clootie Dumpling Cafe while here. Blair Castle is set in extensive parklands, including the recently restored Hercules Garden and Diana's Grove, and with 725 years of history and over 30 rooms open to the public. Our next stop is Pitlochry where dinner awaits us. Following dinner we are off to the Pitlochry Festival Theatre for a live performance. Dinner and Overnight Pitlochry. (B,L,D) Day 12 - Today our first stop is The Queen's View named after Robert The Bruce's wife Isabel but made popular by Queen Victoria. This is one of the most breathtaking sights in Scotland and will become a favorite of yours. You can't stop here without Visiting the Tearoom and having a piece of millionaires shortbread! Next we visit Edradour Distillery, which is Scotland's smallest distillery. After a Tour of the Distillery we return to Pitlochry for Afternoon Tea at Atholl Palace. This afternoon you will have plenty of time to visit my favorite Highland village before Dinner on your own in Pitlochry. Overnight Pitlochry. (B,L) Day 13 - On the way to Glasgow this morning we stop in Crieff and visit the Stuart and Waterford Crystal Showroom and also the Christmas Shop. From here, we make our way to Stirling and the Tearoom in Stirling for lunch. Following lunch, we visit Stirling Castle for a guided tour. Stirling Castle is one of the finest examples of Renaissance architecture in Scotland. Mary Queen of Scots was crowned here and the Great Hall and Chapel Royal are wonderful highlights. We then make our way to our accommodation in Glasgow with some time to relax before we are off to a Highland Dinner and Show complete with bagpipes, music and dance. Overnight Glasgow. (B,L,D) Day 14 - After breakfast you will Tour the City aboard an Open Top Tour Bus complete with tour guide. Highlights of the tour will be Glasgow's amazing architecture, University of Glasgow, George Square and The River Clyde. This afternoon you may want to visit Glasgow's City Chambers Building. The City Chambers is truly and architectural delight built in the grandest Victorian Style and the tour is not to be missed. You will also want to visit Glasgow Cathedral. The Cathedral is one of the few to escape destruction during the Scottish Reformation and dates to the 13th century with the site dating back to the 6th century. This evening it is out to a Farewell Dinner at Two Fat Ladies and a Theatrical Performance. Overnight Glasgow. (B,D) Day 15 - This morning we return to Glasgow International Airport for our journey home. (B) |
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