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Description

1: Sunday, September 29, 2024 Overnight Flight An overnight flight transports you to a country of stunning landscapes, lively cities and stirring history.

Day 2: Monday, September 30, 2024 Glasgow, Scotland - Tour Begins Your tour opens in Glasgow, Scotland’s Victorian city. Start your Scottish adventure with a visit to the National Piping Centre. After a demonstration and lesson with a renowned piper, it’s your chance to give it a go! Then, join your fellow travelers for a lively welcome dinner at the Centre’s farm-to-table restaurant. (D)

Day 3: Tuesday, October 1, 2024 Glasgow - Oban - Ballachulish This morning, bid Glasgow farewell as you travel to Oban, known as the ‘Gateway to the Isles’. After free time for lunch, it’s your choice! Take a walk up to McCaig’s Tower with your Tour Manager -OR- visit Dunollie Museum, Castle and Grounds. Admire the verdant green hills and mountainside waters as you arrive at your remote countryside hotel situated on lovely Loch Linnhe. (B, D)

Day 4: Wednesday, October 2, 2024 Ballachulish - Isle of Skye - Ballachulish This morning, take a ferry ride to the stunning Isle of Skye, also known in poetry and song as Eilean a' Cheò (The Misty Isle). Upon arrival in Armadale, a local guide from the island will join you to share the history of this magical place and what it is like to live there today. Visit the capital of Portree for some time to explore, then continue north for stunning views of the Storr. End your day by returning to Ballachulish via the Skye Bridge and a scenic drive along the “Road to the Isles”. (B, D)

Day 5: Thursday, October 3, 2024 Ballachulish - Loch Ness - Thurso Today, enjoy stunning and unspoiled landscapes as you journey further into the Highlands. Travel through the Great Glen, famous for its many lochs (lakes). Visit the striking ruins of Urquhart Castle before enjoying a cruise on Loch Ness, one of Britain’s most famous bodies of water. Keep your eyes open — you never know when Nessie will appear! Travel off the beaten path to Thurso, one of Scotland’s most remote towns on the North Coast. Embrace the rustic environment of the Scottish Highlands as you settle in for your 2-night stay.

(B, D)

Day 6: Friday, October 4, 2024 Thurso - Orkney Islands - Thurso Grab your windbreaker – it’s time for an adventure on the Orkney Islands.* Ferry to this former Viking stronghold off the northernmost coast of Scotland, where artists admire the ever-changing clouds rolling across the sky like a time-lapse at double speed. On the crossing, feel the wind in your hair as you view the abundant bird life and, if you are lucky, porpoises and seals. A local guide introduces this ethereal place that few visitors to Scotland get to experience. Visit Skara Brae and discover the remains of a Neolithic village built before the Great Pyramids in Egypt. Continue on toward the prehistoric Standing Stones of Stenness, reported to be older than Stonehenge. Make your way through the town of Viking Kirkwall before returning to the mainland. (B)

Day 7: Saturday, October 5, 2024 Thurso - Inverness As you make your way back from the northern coast, visit the majestic Dunrobin Castle** which dates back to the 1300s. The Castle is built in the style of a French château and is home to the Duke of Sutherland. Next, visit the powerfully emotive and atmospheric battlefield of Culloden, where the Jacobite Rising came to a tragic end. Enjoy an overnight stay in Inverness, capital of the Highlands. (B, D)

Day 8: Sunday, October 6, 2024 Inverness - Pitlochry - Edinburgh Begin your day with a visit to a family-run farm set in the heart of the Highlands. See sheepdogs at work while surrounded by the mountain wilderness of Cairngorms National Park. Continue on to the vibrant Victorian town of Pitlochry for some time at leisure to explore on your own. End your day in Scotland’s capital city of Edinburgh. (B)

Day 9: Monday, October 7, 2024 Edinburgh Today visit Edinburgh Castle, home to the Scottish Crown Jewels. Enjoy a panoramic tour of Edinburgh’s new town, before your local expert takes you on a walking tour up to the magnificent castle. Enjoy an afternoon of free time. This evening, give traditional Scottish ingredients a modern twist. Enjoy a lively and interactive cooking experience at one of Scotland’s premier culinary institutions. With a “wee dram” in hand, toast the end of a wonderful journey. (B, D)

Day 10: Tuesday, October 8, 2024 Edinburgh – Tour ends. Your tour of Scotland comes to a close.

 

For More Information on the tour --  

https://gateway.gocollette.com/link/1161683

Additional Notes

Travel presentation - Tuesday January 9th 4:00 pm at the New London Adult Education Center - Three Shaw's Cove, New London

 

Deposit $698 per person due before March 20, Final payment July 31. Deposits are refundable up until March 30, 2024.