Overview

A special package departing from Edinburgh. Includes overnight in two amazing castle style hotels, exclusive access to some of the most historically important houses and castles in Scotland and unusual insights given by the people who work passionately to keep ancient history alive.

Inclusions

• Transportation throughout by modern touring mini-coach
• Services of an experienced local driver/guide
• 3 nights castle & manor accommodation
• All rooms ensuite
• Full Scottish breakfast daily
• All ferry & bridge crossings
• Discount card for local restaurants, shopping & attractions
• Service charges and local taxes

Itinerary

Day 1 - Friday
Falkland Palace, St. Andrews, House of Dun & Dunnottar Castle
Depart Edinburgh: 9:00. We depart from 207 High Street and head north, crossing the Forth Road Bridge into the ancient Kingdom of Fife. Our first visit of the day will be Falkland Palace, where during a private, guided tour we will be able to discover more of this pretty Royal Palace. Built between 1502 and 1541, it is set in the heart of the unique medieval village of Falkland and has been residence and hunting lodge of eight Stuart monarchs. Highlight of the visit will be to see the Real Tennis court, built in 1539! We continue to St Andrews and during a town walk the guide will tell you more about its past and more recent history. Its connection to the patron Saint of Scotland, birthplace of Golf, ancient University town and matchmaker to a Royal couple – there is a lot to see! Our afternoon visit will be at House of Dun near Montrose. This beautiful Georgian house, overlooking Montrose Basin, was built in 1730. It features superb plasterwork and now houses the Hutchison collection of Scottish colourists and the Stirling collection of furniture, ranging from the 18th century to the 1960s was added. On route to Aberdeen we will make a photo stop at Dunnottar Castle, a dramatic and evocative ruined cliff top fortress in a truly stunning setting. From here we continue to Ardoe House Hotel, a lovely 19th century mansion house, where we will stay for 2 nights.
Overnight - Ardoe House, Aberdeen

Day 2 - Saturday
Royal Deeside Area
Today will be spent in the Royal Deeside area, famous for its many castles. Our first visit will be Castle Fraser, one of the grandest of the Scottish baronial tower houses. Begun in 1575, the present castle contains an evocative Great Hall, fine furniture and many Fraser family portraits. Round the visit off with a walk through the beautiful 18th century walled garden. We continue to Braemar where we can visit the Salmon Ladder and take short nature walk in Glen Tanar or the Glen of Vat. For lunch we stop at Ballater before we continue with our afternoon programme. Crathes Castle provides the highlight for the afternoon. Turrets, gargoyles and the ancient Horn of Leys given in 1323 by Robert the Bruce are just a few of the features of this historic castle. You will be free to explore the house and the stunning gardens in at your own pace. The gardens stay green irrespective of the time of year, as with the ancient yew hedges that frame the upper parts of the gardens, particularly the fountain and rose gardens. Wandering through the outstanding, worldrenowned June Borders, beautiful vistas of the castle can be seen through the fusion of colourful flowers. We return back to Ardoe House later for another overnight.
Overnight - Ardoe House, Aberdeen

Day 3 - Sunday
Leith Hall, Brodie Castle & Culloden
Our tour heads further north today and start the day with an exclusive visit at Leith Hall Garden & Estate, at Kennethmont near Huntley. Our party will be taken on a tour of the grounds by the head gardener, before the senior property assistant will provide a historic tour of the house from the outside. Leith Hall was built over three centuries, starting in 1650, and remained the home of the Leith-Hay family until the mid-20th century. We then continue, travelling through beautiful scenery and on to Nairn where lunch will be taken at nearby Brodie Castle. Then we have time to explore the castle further. Dating from the 16th century, this imposing castle stands in rich Morayshire parkland. It has very unusual plasterwork and a major art collection and tells the fascinating story of the Brodie family. On route to our hotel in Tain we make a stop at Culloden, to take the Culloden Walk. The Clan Stone Walkway is designed to commemorate the Scottish Clans and their clansmen who fought at the battle of Culloden with a special INSIGNIA Stone. The Clans are represented with their individual Crest and preferred personal inscription. After our visit here we continue to Mansfield Castle Hotel. A private dinner for our group will be held tonight in one of the castle’s private rooms.
Dinner/Overnight - Mansfield Castle, Tain

Day 4 - Monday
Inverness, Dalwhinnie Distillery & Pitlochry
Today sees us travelling south again through some of the most stunning scenery Scotland has to offer. We are passing through Inverness and travel to Kingussie where we make a photo stop at the Ruthven Barracks. From here we continue to Dalwhinnie Distillery. Dalwhinnie is the highest Distillery in Scotland and takes its waters right from the source of the River Spey. A tour of the distillery is included in the tour; you will also have the chance to taste the ‘Water of Life’. After a lunch stop at Pitlochry we head to Loch Leven by Kinross. In the middle of the Loch you find Loch Leven Castle, a late 14th century tower, which was the setting for the most traumatic year in the life of Mary Queen of Scots. It was in 1567 that she was imprisoned and forced to abdicate before her dramatic escape a year later. We will make the boat ride over to the castle, following in the footsteps of Mary Queen of Scots. Then explore at your leisure the island and tower house. Finally it is time to return back to Edinburgh, arriving around 18.30.