Castles & Romantic Manor Houses .

A short,

Day 1
Arrive Edinburgh Airport and pick-up self-drive car and visit Edinburgh. See elegant Charlotte Square and the tree-lined crescents of the 18th century Georgian New Town which is a fine architectural example of the period. Also Princes Street, the city's main thoroughfare, with its many shops and peaceful gardens. Drive through the 16th century Old Town, steeped in history and the cobbled High Street, which was the centre of all activity in centuries gone by. Pass St Giles Cathedral, the City Chambers and John Knox House as you drive along the Royal Mile, which extends from Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyrood House. Overnight in Edinburgh area at Houstoun House Hotel, Bruntsfield Hotel or similar.

Day 2
Leave Edinburgh and cross the Forth Estuary via the impressive suspension bridge on the A9 to Perth, former capital of Scotland situated at the head of the River Tay, which is famous for its Salmon. Nearby is Scone Palace, the private home of the Earl and Countess of Mansfield (has been a private home for over 400 years). The former crowning place of Scottish Kings, the Palace boasts a magnificent collection of antiques - in particular of ivories, porcelain, clocks and tapestries. Continue on the A93 north via Blairgowrie, the Devil's Elbow and Spittal of Glenshee to Braemar. See Crathie Church where the Royal Family attend Sunday service when holidaying at nearby Balmoral Castle. Overnight in the Royal Deeside area at Thainstone House or similar.

Day 3
Leaving the area this morning, travelling through the Cairngorm Mountains on the A941 to Dufftown, and the Spey Valley, centre of the whisky industry in Scotland. Many of the famous Malt whiskies are produced in this region - Cardhu, Glenlivet, Glenfiddich, Tamdhu and Tomatin, to name only a few. Later in the day reach Elgin, an elegant city with ruins of a magnificent medieval cathedral. Also in Elgin are the cashmere centre and the restored old mills.
Continuing along the Moray Firth to Nairn, an attractive family resorts, well known for its beautiful sandy beaches and golf courses. The A96 will take you to Inverness. First, passing Cawdor Castle with a visit if possible: a family home for over 600 years, it is surrounded by beautiful gardens. Shakespeare's Macbeth was Thane of Cawdor, and the castle is one of the traditional settings for Duncan's murder. From here drive Nairn or further north past Inverness to the hotel. Overnight in the wider Inverness area at Newton Hotel/ Nairn or Mansfield House Hotel/ Tain.

Day 4
Spend your day today at leisure to spend in the area. Do some sightseeing in Inverness, the capital city of the Highlands. Alternatively your day can take you further into the northern Highlands. Either to the West Coast with is turquoise waters and sandy beaches which can be best enjoyed in Gairloch. Or along the eastern coast to stunning Dunrobin Castle. Overnight again at Newton Hotel/ Nairn or Mansfield House Hotel/ Tain.

Day 5
Drive first to Inverness, the capital of the Highlands. Spend some there - the town combines a rich and romantic history with the present. After Inverness,
follow the A82, south along Loch Ness, the most famous of all Scottish Lochs - 24 miles long in the Great Glen and forming part of the Caledonian Canal.
The loch is 700 feet deep and is famous for its mysterious monster. Continue via Invermoriston along the Caledonian Canal and Loch Lochy to Fort William, beautifully situated at the foot of Ben Nevis, Britain's highest mountain at 1344 metres. Continue the route through Glen Coe and on to Loch
Fyne for overnight in Argyll at Stonefield Castle or similar.

Day 6
Today is free to discover this beautiful area. We recommend visit to Campbeltown, set on a deep bay sheltered by Davaar Island and the surrounding hills. Enjoy a guided tour and find out the secrets of whisky making in Kintyre at the Springbank Distillery, founded in 1828 by the Mitchell family - and still in their hands today. It retains the old distilling methods to make Longrow whisky, and welcomes visitors, provided you phone beforehand. Close by, Glenbarr Abbey is an 18th century Gothic mansion and visitor centre, offering a fascinating glimpse of family life in years gone by. The Heritage Centre is a treasure-trove of interesting information, artefacts and exhibits, with a comfortable tea room too. At the mouth of Campbeltown Loch is Davaar Island, reached by foot at low tide, with its cave paintings depicting the crucifixion. Far from ancient, they were painted in 1887 by Archibald MacKinnon, inspired by a dream. Overnight again in the area.

Day 7
Continue your trip through the impressive glens on the A82 to Tyndrum and Crianlarich where you take the A85 road to Lochearnhead. Before reaching Lochearnhead, maybe make a small detour to Killin to see the Falls of Dochart, the dramatic waterfalls rushing through the centre of the picturesque village. Drive through the beautiful Strathyre Forest. Possibility to stop at Callander, a charming market town. Stirling is also worth a stop for a visit. This
historic Royal Burgh stands on a bend on the River Forth and is known as the 'Gateway to the Highlands' due to its strategic position. The imposing castle towers above the town on a 250 feet rock overlooking the nearby battlefield of Bannockburn. Around the town are various monuments commemorating famous Scottish patriots such as Robert the Bruce and William Wallace who won battles in the continuous local struggles between the Scots and the English in the 13th and 14th centuries. Last overnight in Edinburgh area at Houstoun House Hotel, Bruntsfield Hotel or similar

Day 8
Breakfast at the hotel and return to Edinburgh or Glasgow Airport, drop-off of car before departure flight.

We offer accommodation in 1 categori , "Castles & Romantic Manor Houses"

Castles & Romantic Manor Houses is based on 4 star luxurious Castle Hotels and Manor House Hotels.

Prces are pr. person and based on 2 persons sharing one car and one room and include:

• A rental car of chosen group for the tour with unlimited milage, insurance, CDW and VAT.
• Accommodation for 7 nights in shared dblb room with breakfast in the chosen category.
• VAT & service charge at accomodations.
• Castles & Romantic Manor Houses tourbook and detailed route description with suggestions for visiting atractions.

Not Included :

• Admission to various attractions

if you wish to extend your tour with additional nights in Edinburgh, contact us and we will arrange for this. If you have an another number af passengers, please contact us and we will amke you an offer for the tour.

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