Outlander Tours
We have been running our guided Outlander Tours for six 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 2012 are: Fridays 18 May, 13 July and Thursday 13 September
The tour starts the next morning and 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. Check in to Castle Stuart for the night.
- Dinner at Castle Stuart -
Day Four. We head west by Loch Ness and Glenmoriston (where Prince Charles Edward hid for three weeks in 1746). We visit Glenelg and the best examples of brochs on the Scottish mainland, have lunch at the inn there and then cross to the Isle of Skye on a traditional turntable ferry. Returning to the mainland over the Skye Bridge, we then visit the lovely Eilean Donan Castle. Stay at a small hotel by an old harbour.
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Storyteller on Skye |
Day Five. We 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). Back to hotel restaurant or pub for dinner.
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. By early evening we are in the hustle and bustle of Edinburgh's Old Town. That evening we all have dinner overlooking Edinburgh Castle. |
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.
Day Eight. Depart
PRICE, TRANSPORT, GUIDE, ACCOMMODATION AND SHOPPING
The cost of the tours in 2012 is GBP 1750 (USD 2818 on 28 Oct 2011).
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.
In order to contain costs, we ask everyone if they will please share a twin bedded room for the one night at Castle Stuart. If you would prefer to have a room to yourself, the supplement is GBP 175.
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, a restored Victorian inn by an old harbour and, most memorably, a castle.
Breakfast is included throughout; lunch is not included. Dinner is included for the two nights at the B&B, at Castle Stuart and on the night when we get back to Edinburgh. On the other three nights there will be formal and informal options available for dinner.
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 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 four 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 on Days four, five and seven
- Trip insurance.
We ask for a deposit of GBP 350.
Exchange Rates
At the time of writing (28 October 2011) 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 $2,818.37
The GBP 150 reduction for sharing is currently $241.52
The GBP 175 supplement for a single at Castle Stuart is currently $281.77
The GBP 350 deposit is $563.59
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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