 |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
Add further to your core Scotland tour with either or both of these
two extensions. |
|
Prior to the main tour, we
offer time in two historically significant locations - a 700+
year old castle and an Industrial Revolution era mill.
After the main tour we visit Edinburgh, mysterious Rosslyn
Chapel, magnificent York and an English seaside town also with
mysterious links. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Free Newsletter |
In addition to our
feature articles, we offer you a free weekly newsletter with a mix of news
and opinions on travel related topics.
 |
| |
|
Help this Site |
Thank you for your
interest in helping this site to continue to develop. Some of the
information we give you here can save you thousands of dollars the next time
you're arranging travel, or will substantially help the quality of your
travel experiences in other, non-cash ways.
 |
|
|
| |
|
Help this Site |
| Thank you for your
interest in helping this site to continue to develop. Some of the
information we give you here can save you thousands of dollars the next time
you're arranging travel, or will substantially help the quality of your
travel experiences in other, non-cash ways.
|
|
|
| |
|
Help this Site |
| Thank you for your
interest in helping this site to continue to develop. Some of the
information we give you here can save you thousands of dollars the next time
you're arranging travel, or will substantially help the quality of your
travel experiences in other, non-cash ways.
|
|
|
| |
|
Help this Site |
| Thank you for your
interest in helping this site to continue to develop. Some of the
information we give you here can save you thousands of dollars the next time
you're arranging travel, or will substantially help the quality of your
travel experiences in other, non-cash ways.
|
|
| |
|
Help this Site |
| Thank you for your
interest in helping this site to continue to develop. Some of the
information we give you here can save you thousands of dollars the next time
you're arranging travel, or will substantially help the quality of your
travel experiences in other, non-cash ways.
|
|
| |
|
Help this Site |
| Thank you for your
interest in helping this site to continue to develop. Some of the
information we give you here can save you thousands of dollars the next time
you're arranging travel, or will substantially help the quality of your
travel experiences in other, non-cash ways.
|
|
| |
|
Help this Site |
| Thank you for your
interest in helping this site to continue to develop. Some of the
information we give you here can save you thousands of dollars the next time
you're arranging travel, or will substantially help the quality of your
travel experiences in other, non-cash ways.
|
|
| |
|
Help this Site |
| Thank you for your
interest in helping this site to continue to develop. Some of the
information we give you here can save you thousands of dollars the next time
you're arranging travel, or will substantially help the quality of your
travel experiences in other, non-cash ways.
|
|
| |
|
Help this Site |
| Thank you for your
interest in helping this site to continue to develop. Some of the
information we give you here can save you thousands of dollars the next time
you're arranging travel, or will substantially help the quality of your
travel experiences in other, non-cash ways.
|
|
| |
|
Help this Site |
| Thank you for your
interest in helping this site to continue to develop. Some of the
information we give you here can save you thousands of dollars the next time
you're arranging travel, or will substantially help the quality of your
travel experiences in other, non-cash ways.
|
|
| |
|
Help this Site |
| Thank you for your
interest in helping this site to continue to develop. Some of the
information we give you here can save you thousands of dollars the next time
you're arranging travel, or will substantially help the quality of your
travel experiences in other, non-cash ways.
|
|
| |
|
Help this Site |
| Thank you for your
interest in helping this site to continue to develop. Some of the
information we give you here can save you thousands of dollars the next time
you're arranging travel, or will substantially help the quality of your
travel experiences in other, non-cash ways.
|
|
| |
|
Help this Site |
| Thank you for your
interest in helping this site to continue to develop. Some of the
information we give you here can save you thousands of dollars the next time
you're arranging travel, or will substantially help the quality of your
travel experiences in other, non-cash ways.
|
|
| |
|
Help this Site |
| Thank you for your
interest in helping this site to continue to develop. Some of the
information we give you here can save you thousands of dollars the next time
you're arranging travel, or will substantially help the quality of your
travel experiences in other, non-cash ways.
|
|
| |
|
Help this Site |
| Thank you for your
interest in helping this site to continue to develop. Some of the
information we give you here can save you thousands of dollars the next time
you're arranging travel, or will substantially help the quality of your
travel experiences in other, non-cash ways.
|
|
| |
|
Help this Site |
| Thank you for your
interest in helping this site to continue to develop. Some of the
information we give you here can save you thousands of dollars the next time
you're arranging travel, or will substantially help the quality of your
travel experiences in other, non-cash ways.
|
|
| |
|
Help this Site |
| Thank you for your
interest in helping this site to continue to develop. Some of the
information we give you here can save you thousands of dollars the next time
you're arranging travel, or will substantially help the quality of your
travel experiences in other, non-cash ways.
|
|
| |
|
Help this Site |
| Thank you for your
interest in helping this site to continue to develop. Some of the
information we give you here can save you thousands of dollars the next time
you're arranging travel, or will substantially help the quality of your
travel experiences in other, non-cash ways.
|
|
| |
|
Help this Site |
| Thank you for your
interest in helping this site to continue to develop. Some of the
information we give you here can save you thousands of dollars the next time
you're arranging travel, or will substantially help the quality of your
travel experiences in other, non-cash ways.
|
|
| |
|
Help this Site |
| Thank you for your
interest in helping this site to continue to develop. Some of the
information we give you here can save you thousands of dollars the next time
you're arranging travel, or will substantially help the quality of your
travel experiences in other, non-cash ways.
|
|
| |
|
Help this Site |
| Thank you for your
interest in helping this site to continue to develop. Some of the
information we give you here can save you thousands of dollars the next time
you're arranging travel, or will substantially help the quality of your
travel experiences in other, non-cash ways.
|
|
| |
|
Help this Site |
| Thank you for your
interest in helping this site to continue to develop. Some of the
information we give you here can save you thousands of dollars the next time
you're arranging travel, or will substantially help the quality of your
travel experiences in other, non-cash ways.
|
|
| |
|
Help this Site |
| Thank you for your
interest in helping this site to continue to develop. Some of the
information we give you here can save you thousands of dollars the next time
you're arranging travel, or will substantially help the quality of your
travel experiences in other, non-cash ways.
|
|
| |
|
Help this Site |
| Thank you for your
interest in helping this site to continue to develop. Some of the
information we give you here can save you thousands of dollars the next time
you're arranging travel, or will substantially help the quality of your
travel experiences in other, non-cash ways.
|
|
| |
|
Pre and Post Tour
Options for the
2018 Scotland's Islands and Highlands
Tour
|
|
|
David (left) and Coach Captain Jim
- we look forward to meeting you and sharing this wonderful
expedition through Scotland's Highlands and Islands with
you.
Add further to your
Scotland experiences and enjoyment with these additional touring
opportunities before or after the main Islands and Highlands
Tour.
|
|
Optional Extensions Our tour's main core itinerary, almost
two weeks in duration, gives you a great exposure to the
most distinctive parts of Scotland and its culture - the
islands off its west coast, its Highlands and Loch Ness.
There is of course plenty more to see and do in
Scotland.
We are offering some Travel Insider options both before and after
the main tour. Exact details and pricing will depend on the number of people
participating in the options, but we're showing the itinerary
and activity details below so
you can decide which (or all) of these options to choose.
|
After you've finished viewing
the details of the tour options below, please
click here to return to the
main Scotland's Islands and Highlands Tour page and/or
to the main tour's detailed
itinerary page.
You can choose to add one or
two nights before the main tour, and two or more nights after
the main tour.
Details of these different
options follow.
|
Pre-Tour Option 1 - Culcreuch Castle |
The oldest parts of Culcreuch Castle (the 'Keep' on the
left) date back to 1299.
Culcreuch Castle is located in lovely grounds close to
the tiny town of Fintry.
A friendly bar gives you a chance to mix with locals and
two restaurants ensure you have lots of dining choices. |
If you'd like to add one additional
night to your tour, we recommend you join us at Culcreuch Castle for
the Sunday evening
immediately before the tour starts.
This commences with your collection from Glasgow's Central
Railway Station at 1.30pm. We then travel through
scenic countryside up to this lovely 14th century castle, in
stately grounds and on the outskirts of the tiny town of
Fintry. The castle has walking trails,
two restaurants and a cosy bar, as well as several public
reading rooms for you to relax in, in addition to your room
for the night. Although the castle is
old, your room does have modern plumbing and a private
bathroom! After a memorable night at
the castle, and - who knows - possibly even an encounter
with the castle's ghost (a harpist), we return a different way to
Glasgow on Monday morning to meet up with the start of the
main tour. |
|
Pre-Tour Option 2 - Stirling,
Wallace Monument & New Lanark World Heritage Site
(then Culcreuch too) |
|
An iconic view of the National Wallace Monument that
dominates the surrounding countryside.
Stirling Castle is mounted on a craggy rise, similar to
Edinburgh Castle.
The engineering marvel that is the Falkirk Wheel enables
canal boats to go from one level to another.
The New Lanark World Heritage Site comprises the mills,
houses, and other buildings that date back to the
Industrial Revolution, and on is on the banks of the
upper River Clyde.
The lovely hotel at New Lanark is in one of the mill
buildings.
A variety of presentations and exhibits even includes a
ride through a recreation of life back then.
|
If you have an additional day to spare, then join us on Saturday for
a richly varied day of sightseeing.
We start at Glasgow Central Railway Station at 10.15am and
travel first northwest to the Stirling region, made famous in the movie 'Braveheart'.
We go to visit magnificent Stirling Castle, one of the
largest and most important castles, both historically and
architecturally, in Scotland.
We will have time for lunch in Stirling.
After lunch we travel down to New Lanark, stopping at the
amazing Falkirk Wheel on the way.
New Lanark is a
very interesting and very beautiful site, south of Glasgow,
and was founded in 1786, and which operated as a cotton mill
complex until 1968.
It is now a world heritage site and shows a good example of
an Industrial Revolution cotton mill and the related life of
its workers.
However, workers at New Lanark were very fortunate,
because during the period it was owned and managed by noted
social reformer and philanthropist, Robert Owen, it became a
successful business and an epitome of utopian socialism as
well as an early example of a planned settlement and so an
important milestone in the historical development of urban
planning.
We spend a night at the lovely hotel located in one of the
former mill buildings, and have time to tour around the site
as we wish.
The next morning (Sunday) we return to Glasgow where we
have time for lunch and then join up with other people for the
tour up to Culcreuch Castle.
|
|
Post-Tour Option 1 - Edinburgh
and Enigmatic Rosslyn Chapel |
|
The Edinburgh skyline.
Fascinating two-level Victoria Terrace in Edinburgh's
Old Town district.
The outside of mysterious Rosslyn Chapel.
Mysterious symbols and patterns on the chapel ceiling.
|
Our post-tour option has
you spending two nights in Edinburgh.
We will arrive in Edinburgh mid/late afternoon on
Thursday, and spend two nights there.
During Friday we will enjoy a city tour around the major
highlights of this glorious and very historic city, and then
we will travel a short distance south to visit Rosslyn
Chapel.
Rosslyn Chapel was featured in the popular novel 'The Da
Vinci Code' as being the home of the Holy Grail. This
was of course fiction, but there are enduring stories
connecting this small church with some of the Christian
church's most ancient mysteries.
Rosslyn Chapel also shows strong hints in some of its
symbolism of having a link to the Knights Templar.
Other strange patterns hint at codes and hidden meanings.
Come visit Rosslyn with us and see if you can puzzle out
any of these enduring mysteries.
On Saturday morning, this tour option ends, but
if you wish, you can stay longer in Edinburgh - there's a
huge amount to see (the Royal Yacht Britannia in Leith
Harbour is a popular favorite), and/or of course, you can
travel elsewhere in Scotland, Britain, or Europe.
Let us know if we can help you with your plans.
|
Option Costs
Indicative pricing is $150
per person for the one night at Culcreuch before the tour, and
about the same for the one night at New Lanark before the tour,
including hotel for one night, breakfast, and touring.
The two night post tour in
Edinburgh is about $350.
Exact costs depend on how
many people choose these options and the hotel standard you
choose.
For More Information
Please return to the main
page for more information about our
2018 Scotland's Islands and
Highlands Tour.
And here's a link to jump you directly down to the
booking form.
Or, if
you prefer, you can go back to the
day
by day itinerary for the main tour.
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
 More
Information |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
