Outlander Tours
We have been running our guided Outlander Tours for seven years now and are delighted at their growing popularity.
Each tour is for a maximum of seven people, travelling in a nine seater minibus.
TOUR SCHEDULE
Arrival Dates in 2013 are: Thursdays 2 May, 4 July and 5 September
The tour starts the next morning when your driver/guide will meet you at the hotel.
Arrival Date. We have booked a four star city centre hotel with views across to Edinburgh Castle and ask you to make your own way there. A taxi from the airport will cost about GBP 20. (If you would like to arrive in Edinburgh one or more days earlier for some personal sightseeing, then let us know and we will extend your stay).
Day One. Meet driver/guide and travel up to Inverness, pausing for views of the Forth Bridges and to see the historic town of Dunkeld. We then divert to a scenic, back road route with good views and lots of stops including a look round Castle Menzies near Aberfeldy. Stay at a Bed and Breakfast in Nairn, sixteen miles along the coast from Inverness.
- A back road route with good views -
Day Two. See the bronze age Clava Cairns and stone circles, Culloden Battlefield, Cawdor Castle and a quick look at Fort George (built after Culloden to contain future risings). Back to your B&B for dinner and a demonstration of Jacobite weaponry by Hugh Allison, author of 'Culloden Tales'.
Day Three. A look round Inverness, see the tomb of the 11th Lord Lovat ('The Old Fox'), Beauly Priory, musings on Lally Broch and a tour of Castle Leod by its owner, the Earl of Cromartie. Return to the Nairn B&B.
- With the Chief of Clan Mackenzie at Castle Leod -
Day Four. We head west by Loch Ness and Glenmoriston (where Prince Charles Edward hid for three weeks in 1746). We visit Eilean Donan Castle then over the dramatic Mam Rattigan Pass to Glenelg, the best examples of brochs on the Scottish mainland and a look at the 1720 barrack block, designed to keep Highlandders under control. We stay that night at the Glenelg Inn. A previous Outlander tourist took this shot from just outside the bar.
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Storyteller on Skye |
Day Five. We cross to the Isle of Skye on a traditional turntable ferry and head north with dramatic views of the Cuillin Hills and a landscape that helps us understand how Highland people lived in the 18th century. Dunvegan Castle is not just the ancient seat of Clan Macleod but also the guardian of clothes and artefacts that belonged to Flora MacDonald and Prince Charles Edward. That afternoon, in a traditional 'black house' we hear from a local, (but internationally-known) storyteller (left). Down to a small hotel in the south of the island for dinner and the night.
Day Six. The trip south is by Mallaig, Loch nan Uamh (from where Prince Charles Edward left in September 1746) and Glenfinnan (where he raised his standard in August 1745), Fort William and Glencoe. All have their stories. Further south we visit a castle that, in my view, is as close as you get to Castle Leoch. That night you stay at a dramatic castle just south of Edinburgh and dine in the Great Hall with its high vaulted ceiling, enormous fireplace and the minstrel gallery at one end. |
Day Seven. 15th Century Rosslyn Chapel has been described as a 'Bible in Stone'. In fact it is more than that, and full of carvings recalling tales of Knights Templar, Freemasons and the Holy Grail. After Rosslyn we visit the impressive castle of Craigmillar and lunch in the oldest pub in Edinburgh.
The experience of several years has taught me that there are always individual things (like shopping!) that people absolutely have to do on the last afternoon and so the group is always depleted or subject to people diving off into shops. I have therefore decided to end the tour after lunch but give everyone a little illustrated guide to those places on the Royal Mile that are of particular interest to Outlander fans so that these can be explored in what time you have left. I am also happy to transport anyone to any part of the city that they may want to explore. Guide departs when everyone is happily occupied at whatever they need to do.
Stay that night in a four star hotel in Edinburgh's 'Old Town'.
Day Eight. Depart
PRICE, TRANSPORT, GUIDE, ACCOMMODATION AND SHOPPING
The cost of the tours in 2013 is GBP 1750 (USD 2825 in December 2012).
The tour is priced for people travelling on their own. If you are happy to share a room, there is a reduction of GBP 150 per person.
The tour will be for a maximum of seven people travelling in a nine seater minibus.
I plan to be guiding each one of the tours myself.
The accommodation includes a four star city centre hotel, a friendly B&B, two traditional inns and, most memorably, a castle.
Breakfast is included throughout; lunch is not included. Dinner is included for the three nights at the B&B. At the other overnight stops there is a range of bar meals and more formal options.
There will be plenty opportunity to buy souvenirs but this is not really a tour for serious shopping! If you want to stay on for a day to sample the delights of the Edinburgh shops (and to see the castle) let us know and we will price this up for you.
WHAT'S INCLUDED?
Price includes the following:
- Bed and Breakfast for eight nights in accommodation as above.
- Dinners on three nights
- Services of tour guide for seven days
- Entry to Culloden Battlefield
- Storyteller on Skye
- Jacobite weapons presentation
- Tour of Castle Leod by the Earl of Cromartie.
Not included:
- Air Fares
- Lunches, drinks and snacks
- Entry to castles (in case weather, the general will or other opportunities mean that we adjust our schedule).
- Dinners except at the B&B
- Trip insurance.
We ask for a deposit of GBP 350.
Exchange Rates
At the time of writing (December 2012) the exchange rate is 1.61 USD to one pound sterling (GBP). We use www.xe.com for our calculations and this means that:
The GBP 1750 holiday cost is currently USD 28250
The GBP 150 reduction for sharing is currently USD 242
The GBP 350 deposit is USD 565.
NOW WHAT?
If you would like to know, more about the trip then send an email to me, Alastair Cunningham.
OR - If you would like to go ahead and book a place, you can make your deposit of GBP 350 here ...
- Broch at Glenelg -
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