EALASAID's
SCOTTISH TOURS LTD.
Vacation Itinerary Summary
Day 1
As this is a "Land Only" tour, I
will meet you at Glasgow International Airport. We’ll travel north to the
Highlands and have a stop in Pitlochry to have a wee look around. Then
we’ll head over the hills to Glenshee, through some spectacular scenery,
making our way to Tomintoul, the Highest Village in the Highlands. In the
past we would have stayed here, but this year we are going to do something
different and travel a little further to Grantown-on-Spey, in the beautiful
Spey Valley and stay at the Garth Hotel. This wonderful hotel is situated
on The Square and is a lovely place for a welcoming cocktail reception and a
traditional Highland dinner. We'll have an early night in preparation for
our further adventures...
Day 2
We are out and about to explore the
North Eastern coastline, with stops at Elgin Cathedral, Johnstone of Elgin's
marvellous woollen mill, the Banff Springs Hotel and Duff House in Banff.
Finally, into the hills to visit The Old Monastery for a fine dinner. The
Monastery is regarded by the local Highlanders as one of the finest
restaurants in the area and has the added charm of actually having been, in
days past, a monastery.
Day 3
Choices! You can Golf the Highlands,
go Salmon fishing in the world famous River Spey, or Pony Trekking in the
Grampians. If you prefer something less strenuous there is a Wildlife Park
at Kincraig or maybe just some shopping! Later, we'll all join in a
traditional Scottish High Tea, followed by a private Highland Whisky Nosing.
Day 4
We're off to see some favourite
Highland Castles: Balmoral (the Queen’s Highland residence) Crathie Kirk,
Fyvie and Ballindalloch.
Day 5
A day of Whisky Distillery tours, to
help ease any aches and pains (there are lots of steps in those castles).
We’ll have a fairly easy day today, followed by dinner at the hotel.
Day 6
We'll spend the morning boating down
Loch Ness (keep a keen eye!), to the famous ruins of Urquhart Castle, then
it’s off to historic Culloden Moor, and Cawdor Castle of Macbeth fame.
Day 7
We are off to the Highland Games in
Cornhill and on our return there’s a special Ceilidh planned. By now you'll
likely have met many of the local folk and we'll have a grand time together,
before we set off for Thurso and the Orkney Islands tomorrow.
Day 8
In case anyone wants to do a little
shopping on our way to Thurso we’ll stop at Pringles’ Woollen Mill in
Inverness. Lots of bargains here. We’ll drive up the coast and stop at
Dornoch (yes, where Madonna got married) for lunch and then visit Dunrobin
Castle, the seat of the Earl of Sutherland. It’s a long way up to Thurso so
we’d better keep going just to make sure we get there in time for a cocktail
before dinner.
Those on the
8-Day Tour will be provided with transportation back to Glasgow after saying
goodbye to their newfound friends.
Day 9
We are off to John O’Groats first
thing this morning so that we can catch the ferry over to Orkney. We have a
full day there seeing The Churchill Barriers and Scapa Flow and visiting
Skara Brae, the Mystical Stone Circles, Kirkwall, Stromness and the Italian
Chapel, before catching the ferry back in the early evening.
Day 10
We are off along the north coast of
Scotland with stops in Tongue and the Smoo Caves. The Strathnaver Museum in
Bettyhill commemorates the drastic effects of the Highland Clearances of
Caithness and Sutherland. Tonight we’ll dine at the Upper Deck Restaurant
at The Ferry Inn on the harbour in Scrabster.
Day 11
Today we’ll leave the rugged beauty
of the north of Scotland and head back down to Glasgow. On our way we'll
visit Bannockburn, where Robert The Bruce freed Scotland, mighty Stirling
Castle, cross Stirling Bridge where Sir William Wallace's most famous
victory was won, to the monument in his honour. If you can reach the top of
this impressive spire, you may deserve the title brave heart yourself! Then
we’ll carry on to the Uplawmoor Hotel, a wonderful old coaching inn.
Day 12
We are off to Edinburgh today to
visit Edinburgh Castle, walk the Royal Mile and see Holyrood, the Queen’s
official residence in Scotland. Hopefully you’ll find time for some
shopping along Princes Street as well before we head back to The Uplawmoor.
Day 13
Today we are going to pay a visit to
part of the West Coast. We’ll travel up Loch Lomond and over Rannoch Moor
to Glencoe. Then we’ll pay a short visit to Fort William before heading
south to Oban and back to the Uplawmoor for our final evening together.
Day 14
Sadly, I say goodbye to the last of
my guests as we transfer to the Glasgow International Airport. I always miss
all of my new friends as we go our separate ways, but we'll have fond
memories, some wonderful pictures to show and stories to tell, and as
always, our parting wish will be,
Haste Ye Back!
