August 11 - August 27, 2022
16 Nights
Skye, Lewis, Harris, Northwest Coast, Orkney
Sixteen nights of following the footsteps of Celtic and Viking rulers, to the dramatic and legendary Isle of Skye, the remote and untouched Western Isles of Lewis and Harris, and the rugged Northwest Coast of Mainland Scotland, known as Britain's Last Wilderness, and Orkney, of which has been said that if you scratch Orkney, it bleeds archaeology. Join us for this journey to Scotland's most remote, mysterious, well-preserved wonders of the past.
Includes premium tickets to the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo!
Departing Glasgow for Fort William, making stops along the way at Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park and the conservation village of Luss, located on the Bonnie Banks o' Loch Lomond in view of Ben Lomond, the crown jewel of the National Park. See the church which dates back hundreds of years and the graveyard with Viking burial stones. We pass through the magnificent and eerie Glencoe, well-known for both its inspiring scenery as well as one of the most famous and ill-fated events in Scotland's history – the famed Massacre of Glencoe – a stunning breach of Highland hospitality which took place in 1692.
The town of Fort Augustus along the Caledonian Canal is the departure point for a cruise on Loch Ness, Scotland's largest loch by volume, the watery result of a melting glacier. Loch Ness runs for 23 miles along the Great Glen Fault which is over 400 million years old.
At the northern end of the loch is Urquhart Castle, one of the largest ruined castles in Scotland with a history that dates back to the 6th Century. It is said that the Loch Ness Monster dwells in a cave under the castle, at the deepest part of the loch! Attadale Gardens, 20 acres of woodland delight in the Highlands, and Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland's most photographed castle, pave the way to the Isle of Skye.
On the Isle of Skye visit the Museum of the Isles on the traditional lands of Clan Donald, Armadale Castle and Gardens. Trace the history of the Lords of the Isles, the medieval rulers of this Scottish Kingdom. See the Quiraing, a spectacular landslip still in motion on the northernmost summit of the Trotternish Ridge.
Sail across the Minch to the isle of Harris; see the 16th-century St Clement's Church at Rodel, the southern tip of the island, and the burial place for the MacLeods of Harris. Visit a weaver's cottage for a look at the making of the authentic Harris Tweed. Walk the lovely white sand beaches at Horgabost and Luskentyre. The unusual landscape in parts of Harris is compared to the lunar surface – barren and rock-strewn to the east, but with magnificent coastal scenery and beaches to the west.
Just to the north of Harris, joined on the same land mass, is the Isle of Lewis. A visit to Lewis is not complete without seeing Calanais Stone Circle. Constructed around 3000 BC, it predates Stonehenge and is a mark of a sophisticated culture, the centerpiece of one of the most remarkable megalithic complexes in the world. In nearby Carloway we find the best-preserved broch in the Hebrides. The broch towers of Iron-Age Scotland are a unique architectural invention, circular drystone fortifications which housed families and livestock against harsh weather and attacking invaders.
Returning to the mainland, spend two nights in Scourie and explore the northwest coast, the dramatic mountain peaks of Assynt, the legendary practice grounds for the mountain-building Norse gods. Mountains with Norse names of Suilven (The Pillar), Cul Mor (The Big Backoff, or Back Drop), Stac Pollaidh (Steep Rock at the Pool), Canisp (White Mountain) – stand like sentinels on rocky landscape.
See the UNESCO Geopark of the Northwest Highlands, where Earth's most spectacular and interesting landscape contains small, remote communities having a very special connection with the land. Containing Lewisian gneiss, some of the oldest rock in the world, these distinct landscapes are formed by underlying geology that is specific to the area and of major international importance.
A ferry across Pentland Firth, where the North Sea and Atlantic tides meet, takes you to Orkney, a UNESCO World Heritage Site collectively for many archaeological wonders.
ORKNEY
Skara Brae, a Stone-Age settlement hit by a massive storm that buried it in sand for about 4,000 years;
Ring of Brodgar - Stone circle with 36 of the original 60 standing, some etched with Viking Runes
Maeshowe - mysterious and solemn, this is the finest chambered tomb in Western Europe. The entry is aligned so that a shaft of sunlight pierces its 36-foot length into the chamber on Winter Solstice; built before 2700 BC, it was raided by Vikings in the 12th Century. It holds the largest collection of Runic inscriptions in the world.
Standing Stones of Stenness - a small circle dating from the third millennium BC
Ness of Brodgar, an archaeological site covering over six acres which is currently undergoing extensive research.
St Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall, built in 1064 in the oldest part of the town
Earl's Palace - 16th-century ruin built for Earl Robert Stewart, one of Orkney's true villains
Bishop's Palace where King Haakon of Norway died after his defeat by Alexander III at Largs
The Italian Chapel - built from scrap by Italian prisoners of war during World War II
Scapa Flow and the Churchill Barriers – a series of four causeways built in the 1940s as naval defenses to protect the ships in Scapa Flow during World War II.
Back on the mainland, the journey continues through the lovely villages and on to Culloden, near Inverness, the Capital of the Highlands, for two nights in the historic 18th-century Culloden House Hotel.
Nothing can bring you closer to Scotland's history than our private tour of Culloden Battlefield with a local historian. Listen as he recounts the events of April 16, 1746, a date that was to be the end of the Highland way of life. Cawdor Castle, built around the 15th Century as a tower house, was the property of the Calder family and eventually passed to the Campbells. The castle was featured in Shakespeare's Macbeth, however, it wasn't built until 300 years later!
The tour concludes with a performance of the world-famous Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, a music and cultural extravaganza on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle. The "Tattoo" was conceived and first performed in 1950 as the Army in Scotland's contribution to Edinburgh's International Festivals. Today with its unique blend of music, ceremony, entertainment, and theater set against the magnificent backdrop of Edinburgh Castle, it is without question one of the world's greatest shows.
Tour begins in Glasgow and ends in Edinburgh. The first night of the tour, (Thursday) August 11, is in Glasgow at the Carlton George Hotel and it included in the tour cost. Additional nights can be added to your booking at current rates, which include full breakfast, 20% tax, and access to the executive lounge. At the end of the tour, the night of August 14 is in Edinburgh at the Knights Residence and is included in the tour cost. Additional nights can be added at the current rates and include breakfast basket and 20% tax.
The itinerary is subject to change based on new guidelines for group travel post-COVID-19.
Price:
$5,995 per person, double occupancy. Single supplement is $1,050.
Deposit due at time of booking: $500 per person, non-refundable. Balance is due June 11, 2022.
| Included: Meet and Greet service at Glasgow Airport upon arrival Transfer from Glasgow Airport to The Carlton George Hotel En suite accommodations for 16 nights in unique Scottish properties and 4-star hotels Full Scottish breakfast daily (Continental breakfast in Edinburgh) Seven three-course dinners Premium seating at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo Private tour of Culloden Battlefield Private tour at the Ring of Brodgar and the Ness of Brodgar with Historic Scotland ranger Deluxe motor coach transportation Professional Blue Badge Guide Ferry transportation (five sailings) Entry fees to all sites listed Tax of 20% Airfare is not included but can be arranged for no additional fee. Forms of Payment:
Contact:
Cancellation insurance is available to protect against cancellation penalties. |
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