As the mist swirls around the stone circle you can sense the history which has gone on before in this place. Scotland is a land steeped in mystery and history - and with the Celtic Dream Tour's Highland and Islands 2008 tour you get a chance to sense it all.
Travel with us as we visit many famous Scottish tourist spots, visit the museums, see how whiskey is made in the many excellent Scottish distilleries, see the magnificent scenery of Skye and the Western Isles, visit the far north of Scotland, and round of your trip to Scotland with the famous Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Don't miss this lifetime opportunity to see Scotland in a small group of like minded tourists.
Tour Itinerary:
Wednesday July 23rd: Depart on your own (not inc) on overnight flight from the USA or Canada to Glasgow, Scotland.
Thursday July 24th: Arrive at Glasgow airport and you are met by tour director and coach/driver. Head north from Glasgow to Balloch where we visit Loch Lomond Shores, where we get our first introduction to what lies ahead for us in a beautifully photographed video of the history behind the song Loch Lomond and see some beautiful views of the local area. We then head to Luss where we have lunch at a local tea room (not inc) and have some time explore the historical church shown in the video and the quaint village. We then head over the back roads towards the Rest and Be Thankful, where we stop for a photo opportunity. Continue on to the town of Inveraray where we can shop at the best Whisky shop in the country if not the world, Loch Fyne whiskey, if they don't have it, no one does, (or they will get it for you)! Then we head to our hotel for the evening. Overnight in a Country House Hotel in the countryside outside of Oban. Dinner inc.
Friday July 25th: Day trip south to the historical hill fort of Dunadd, where the history of Scotland began, and we have the chance to climb to the top of this historical site with commanding views over the haunted glens surrounding it. We then see some of the standing stones of the haunted valley of Kilmartin Glen, with a visit to the museum and hear the story of the history of the area. We then continue north to Oban where we tour the local Oban Single Malt Distillery and then have some free time to shop, explore or take a short boat ride to Seal Island (not inc). Early Dinner in town, (dinner inc.) return to Hotel. Overnight Oban area.
Saturday July 26th: After breakfast we head North to Castle Stalker view, where we stop at a quaint shop which has commanding views over Castle Stalker, sitting out on an islet on its own small island. Great photo opportunities here. Then we continue on past Glencoe, where the MacDonald's were slaughtered in their beds in 1692, where we stop for photos (we do this often) followed by yet another short stop at Neptune’s Staircase on the Caledonian Canal. At this point we are heading west through the beautiful scenery of the highlands to the small fishing village of Mallaig. We have time for lunch, (not inc) in one of the great little restaurants or pubs in town, before taking the mid afternoon ferry to Skye. When we get to the Isle of Skye, we have time for a visit to the main town of Portree, where we can shop in some of the quaint shops, inc. the Skye soap shop, Skye Batiks or the Over the Rainbow shop, or visit the shop that promotes the Gaelic College on Skye, Sabhal Mor Ostaig, or just hang out in a pub and *meet the locals*. Skye people are very friendly! Then we head to the northern end of the island to our hotel. Dinner on own.
Sunday July 27th: Day to tour Skye with a local guide, tour of Dunvegan Castle, home of the McLeod Clan and site of the Fairy Flag, drive past the Old Man of Storr and Kilt Rock, while stopping at quaint artisan shops along the way, and hearing the story of the island and its Bonnie Prince Charlie connections. Overnight Skye. Dinner on own.
Monday July 28th: After breakfast we will say goodbye to our new friends on Skye and stop for a visit to the Highland Life Museum, a variety of quaint thatched roof cottages showing life on the island, we take a drive through the awesome rock scenery of The Quairang, before we stop at Uig and visit the Skye Brewery and have time for lunch before we catch the 2pm ferry *TBA* to the Isle of Harris in the Outer Hebrides. We stop for a visit to see a tweed weaver in action, making the famous Harris Tweed, then we drive south through the beautiful scenery of the island and visit the Seallam visitor center, the foremost genealogy center for the Western Isles before we head to our various guest houses for the evening. Dinner inc. at Rodel Hotel.
Tuesday July 29th: After breakfast we get together and visit the beautiful historical St Clements Church before we head north on the island to the neighboring Island of Lewis, where we visit the world famous Callanais standing stones, and have a chance to soak in the wonderful atmosphere of this ancient stone circle, then we continue on to the Blackhouse village of Gearrannan were we have another view of life as it used to be on these remote islands. We then continue on into Stornoway the largest town in the Outer Hebrides, possibly stopping to see some Peat stacks along the way. Overnight Stornoway. Dinner on own.
Wednesday July 30th: Morning to explore the town before we meet for the 12.40 Caledonian McBrayne ferry back to the mainland, to the port of Ullapool, on the northern west coast of Scotland, where we will stop and have lunch at the well known hotel called the Ceilidh Place (not inc) then have some free time to roam around this port town with a rich fishing history. We then head north for an hours drive, through some truly stunning scenery to our small hotel at Scourie for the evening. Dinner inc.
Thursday July 31st: After breakfast we continue around the very north western coast of Scotland, where not many *travelers* go, to Durness where we stop at Smoo Caves, for a visit to these very interesting caves on the very northern coast of Scotland, with some gorgeous scenery and stops for photo opps along the way. We will have lunch (not inc) in a small quaint pub, before we continue on to Bettyhill to visit the Strathnaver Museum which inc. a Clan McKay room. Continue on to Scrabster, just outside of Thurso where we catch the 7pm ferry to the Orkney Isles. Time allowing we will go into the town of Thurso for some free time or Dinner.*** Dinner on own. Overnight Orkney.
Friday August 1st: Today we explore the northern island chain of the Orkney islands including a visit to the Italian Chapel, Skara Brae archaeological site, the standing stones of the Ring of Brodgar, the mystical Mae's Howe, and a drive by the famous Churchill barriers, with a visit to the Highland Park distillery if time allows, lots of great historical sites on Orkney, not to mention the best ice cream in the world!!! Overnight Orkney. Dinner Inc.
Saturday August 2nd: We take a mid morning ferry back to the mainland and head south down towards Inverness, Our first stop is the small Clan Gunn Museum, which has interesting artifacts belonging to the history of the Clan in this area, with stories of the Highland Clearances, before we continue south to visit Dunrobin Castle at Golspie, home of the Duke of Sutherland. We continue south to Inverness where we check into Culloden House Hotel, for the next two nights. Dinner Inc. We have a visit from the Culloden Ghost tonite.
Sunday August 3rd: After breakfast we have a short drive to Johnstones Woollen Mill at Elgin for a tour of this real working woollen mill, a visit to Clava Cairns, the standing stones and burial carins made famous in the Outlander Series of books by Diana Gabaldon, a visit to Culloden Battlefield, where Bonnie Prince Charlie led the last land battle on British soil & was defeated in 1746. Overnight Culloden House. Dinner on own.
Monday August 4th: After our good Scottish Breakfast, we drive down south to St Andrews, where we have some free time to explore this historical Home of Golf, inc. a visit to the Historical ruined St Andrews castle and the St Andrews cathedral, before we head to the Old Course Practice range (subject to availability) and have fun hitting balls at the range, with the views of the Old Course 18th Hole in the distance. Then we continue south to Edinburgh, and check into our hotel for the next two nights. Dinner on your own before we meet at 8.30. Tonight we have tickets to the World Famous Edinburgh Military Tattoo @ 9pm.
Tuesday August 5th: After breakfast you have a free day to explore the city, visit Edinburgh castle, (inc.) Holyrood Palace or the new Parliament buildings, take an underground haunted tour of Mary Kings Close, or do some shopping on Princes Street or George Street, or take advantage of all the free museums in this exciting capital city. (No coach available today). Dinner on own. Overnight Edinburgh. (Holyrood Palace, Parliament & Mary King's Close not inc - optional) Overnight Edinburgh.
Wednesday August 6th: Morning drive south to visit the Scottish Mining Museum, and learn the history of this heavily mined area, then we continue on south to Rosslyn Chapel were we tour this beautiful historical chapel made even more famous by the book The Da Vinci Code, We have lunch in a quaint pub in the village of Roslin (not inc) before we continue over The Pentland hills and head over towards Glasgow to our Country House Hotel for our final night. Final Night Dinner included.
Thursday August 7th: After breakfast, Morning transfer back to Glasgow airport for flights home.
Member discount:
10% discount for InfoHub customer. Request a free gift certificate.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- All entry fees into sites are included. We do not drive by any of the sites listed, we visit them all!
- All hotels are 3 - 4 star luxury hotels, not tourist class hotels.
- Meals are included as listed.
- Upgrades to suites available for the Maximum cost.
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Scotland
Cultural Journey
Archeology/History
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