Two Week Self Drive Vacation with
B&B's Scotland, England, Wales Scottish car tours
Price Includes:
Day 1 Airth Castle Arrival Arrive at
Edinburgh/Glasgow Airport and pick up your self-drive car. Explore your arrival
city. Head for your splendid hotel in the Falkirk area. Airth Castle Hotel is a
14th Century Castle and converted Stables nestled in 14 acres of wooded
parkland and landscaped gardens, providing a world of relaxation at one of
Scotland’s most exclusive country retreats. Enjoy the grandeur of your
hotel tonight
Day 2 Airth Castle Travel onto Stirling and visit Stirling Castle,
magnificent both in its situation on a commanding rocky outcrop and in its
architecture. Of outstanding interest are the Great Hall and the Gatehouse of
James IV, the marvelous palace of James V; the Chapel Royal remodelled by James
VI, and the artillery fortifications of the 16th and 18th centuries. The castle
was a favourite royal residence and the birthplace of James II in 1430. See the
weavers create a masterpiece in the Tapestry Workshop.
Day 3 Edinburgh – Royal Deeside You will depart in the direction of
Aberdeen. You will visit Scone Palace, the home of the Earl of Mansfield. Scone
is a castellated palace, enlarged and embellished in 1803, incorporating the
16th century and earlier palaces. The Moot Hill at Scone was the site of the
famous Coronation Stone of Scone (The Stone of Destiny), brought there in the
9th century by Kenneth MacAlpine, King of Scots. In 1296, the Stone was seized
by the English and taken to Westminster Abbey. In 1997 the Stone was returned
to Scotland and is now in Edinburgh Castle. You will continue through Royal
Deeside. Outside Aberdeen, visit Crathes Castle which has royal historic
associations dating from 1323 when the Land of Leys were granted to the Burnett
family by Robert the Bruce. The castle features some remarkable late 16th
century painted ceilings. There is a large walled garden and the great yew
hedges date from 1702 with fascinating examples of topiary. You will continue
through Royal Deeside.
Day 4 Royal Deeside - Highlands
Travel northwards towards Inverness. In the morning follow the Whisky Trail and
visit one of the many famous distilleries in the area. You can visit
Glenfiddich, McCallums, Grants, Cardhu and many more. Each gives an
audio-visual show and then a guided tour of the distillery to learn of the
processes and for many the highlight is a tasting at the end of the tour. The
choice of what to see and do in the Speyside area is huge – there are
castles – Brodie, Cawdor (made famous by the Shakespeare’s Macbeth),
and Ballindalloch. Visit Culloden Moor, site of the last land battle on British
soil, wander around Inverness, capital of the Highlands, take the Strathspey
Railway from Boat of Garten to Aviemore, watch the Ospreys at Loch Garten.
Accommodation in Dingwall at Tulloch Castle. Tulloch Castle dates from the 12th
Century, when first the Bains and later the Clan Davidson laid claim to its
lands. Like its lively history, the Castle's fortunes have changed many times.
Now, it is once again a magnificent fortress, with a ready welcome for
travellers. When you arrive, you will be met with Tulloch’s countless
period features including the 250-year old panelled Great Hall. As you enter
the magnificent hallways you will pass by painstakingly restored original
fireplaces and ceilings and you will begin to realise that this is only the
start of an experience you will never forget.
Day 5 Highlands (Inverewe Gardens) Enjoy a day
visiting the West Coast of Scotland. Journey across to Ullapool, a quaint
fishing village. Then travel down past the dramatic Corrieshalloch Gorge to the
Inverewe Gardens, run by the National Trust for Scotland. These magnificent
gardens have a famous rhododendron collection and who would expect to find palm
trees in Scotland. Return through the magnificent scenery of the Torridon area
and past Loch Maree. Return to Dingwall.
Day 6 Highlands – West Coast Today travel
south via Loch Ness. Loch Ness forms part of the Caledonian Canal a feat of
some great engineering by Thomas Telford linking East Scotland with West by
using a series of lochs linked by a canal system. Make a stop at Urquhart
Castle, a very scenic spot and also the place where the most sightings of
Nessie have been. Continue towards Fort William, which nestles beneath the
highest mountain in Great Britain – Ben Nevis. If time allows, why not
take a ride up in a gondola at Anoch Mor that on a good day will offer stunning
views over the west coast. From Fort William, continue south to Ballachulish.
Day 7 West Coast - Edinburgh You
will drive through Glen Coe, the dramatic and historic glen (valley), and scene
of the 1692 massacre of part of the MacDonald clan by soldiers of King William.
Its steep sided mountains offer super walking and climbing. Red deer, wildcat,
golden eagle and rare arctic plants can be seen among the breathtaking peaks
and spectacular waterfalls.Stay at Airth Castle.
The prices are for general information only and not a reflection of current seat availability. Airfare is subject to change unless ticketed. Price based on instant purchase. CHILD RATES APPLY WHEN A CHILD UNDER 12 SHARES A ROOM WITH 2 ADULTS. When your trip spans two time periods, higher prices
Luxury 1 week vacation
Scotland B&B's and a castle
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