Experience Scotland away from the traditional tourist track.

Stay in an ancient castle, and a small country village.  Experience the empty beauty of the Highlands, and get an understanding of Scottish history, heritage and culture.

Our Scotland's Castles and Monsters tour will give you all of this, and much more.

This tour can be enjoyed by itself, or can be combined with more time in Scotland, Britain, or Europe.

You can add extra time in Scotland or elsewhere at the beginning and/or end of your tour.

And, if you prefer, you can travel by private car, joining the group only for accommodation, meals, and any other activities that you might wish.

Total flexibility.  And total enjoyment.
 

2005 Tour

Our 2004 tour has been completed.  Was it a success?  Read what travel writer and tour member Joe Brancatelli said about it in USA Today - http://www.usatoday.com/travel/columnist/brancatelli/2004-06-11-brancatelli_x.htm . 

My wife and I spent a week kicking around Scotland last month and every experience — skillfully arranged by Scotland fan David Rowell, The Travel Insider—was nearly perfect. If you care about flowers, you'll be wowed by the endless glens full of heather and bluebells. The lochs (lakes) and bens (mountain) do make breathtaking panoramas. There are plenty of castles and stately homes, lots of regal and commercial history, museums and culture — and, of course, all the single-malt whisky and salmon you can handle.

2005 dates are still being confirmed.  If you'd like to be advised when the tour is all arranged, we can put your name on a waiting list for advance information.

Tour Dates (2004)

The tour is guaranteed to operate.  It will not be cancelled because more than the minimum number of needed participants have already signed up.

The tour commences with a preliminary night of accommodation in London on Sunday, 9 May, 2004.

If you're starting your travels in the US, you'll probably take an overnight flight on Saturday 8 May (or sooner), to arrive into London on Sunday 9 May (or sooner).

The tour ends on Sunday 16 May when you return to London from Edinburgh by first class train.  You can either then join the Mysteries of Beautiful Britain tour or else add your own arrangements as it suits you.

If you're traveling immediately back to the US, you should arrange to take a late afternoon/early evening train on Sunday or else perhaps add a night in London and return on Monday 17 May.  You'll arrive back in the US at much the same time and on the same day as when you leave London.

Tour Inclusions

• One night accommodation in central London

• First Class train travel between London and Glasgow and Edinburgh and London

• Large luxury coach for best views while touring and complete with onboard restroom for best comfort

• Small group, to avoid the crowded impersonal feeling - maximum size 24 - lots of room and comfort for everyone on a large 36 seater coach

• Expert Scottish guide plus also David Rowell as dedicated tour leader

• Two nights accommodation in a genuine Scottish castle dating back to 1297 and complete with resident ghost

• Two nights accommodation in the small country town of Beauly at a family owned Inn

• Two nights accommodation in central Edinburgh

• Breakfasts every morning

• Feature dinners at Culcreuch Castle, Beauly and Edinburgh

• Area touring to Stirling, Braveheart and Rob Roy country in the Trossachs

• A Tasting and Tour of the award winning Glengoyne Single Malt Distillery

• Travel along the shores of Loch Ness, including a visit to ruined Urquhart Castle and the Loch Ness Visitors Center to learn about 'Nessie'.

• Day tour to the very top of Scotland, and the famed 'John O'Groats'

• Visits to stately Blair Atholl and Dunrobin Castles

• A full free day in Edinburgh

Itinerary
 

Day 1 (Saturday 8 May) :  Leave the US
	You should make your own arrangements to fly from the US to London, departing on Saturday 8 May - or earlier if you wish to spend extra time in Britain before the start of the main tour

Day 2 (Sunday 9 May)  :  Arrive London
Our tour starts in London	The tour starts today with a preliminary night at a central London four star hotel.

Day 3 (Monday 10 May) :  Traveling to Scotland

Our deluxe 36 seater coach has lots of space, restroom, hot and cold refreshments, even a video system   Culcreuch Castle - our home for two nights

We'll travel by first class train from London's Euston Station up to Glasgow today. The train gives us a lovely panoramic view of the English and Scottish countryside as it travels for five hours up the West Coast Main Line. We're met at the station by our luxury coach and personal guide.  They give us a quick tour around Glasgow, and then we drive the short distance north to Culcreuch Castle, central Scotland's oldest inhabited castle, in the tiny village of Fintry. This evening we'll have a welcome dinner by candlelight in the Great Hall at Culcreuch Castle and get to better know our traveling companions. To break the ice, and for some fun, we'll be holding a 'Travel Insider' competition, with a suitable prize for the winner awarded at dinner. Option :  If you prefer, you can collect a rental car in Glasgow and follow the group itinerary at your own pace.

Day 4 (Tuesday 11 May) :  Stirling, Braveheart and Rob Roy

Stirling Castle   Glengoyne, described as the most beautiful distillery in Scotland

Today we tour through the beautiful Trossachs, and visit Stirling and its impressive castle, known variously as the 'Key to the Kingdom' and 'The Gateway to the Highlands'. You'll see the Wallace Monument that commemorates William Wallace, made famous in the movie Braveheart, and visit the Rob Roy exhibition in Callander that features the controversial character known as 'the Scottish Robin Hood'. There'll be time also for a visit to Doune Castle, featured in Monty Python and the Holy Grail, in a beautifully evocative quiet setting, before ending the day with a Tasting and Tour at the Glengoyne Single Malt Whisky Distillery.

Day 5 (Wednesday 12 May) :  Castles and Monsters

Urquhart Castle on the shores of Loch Ness   The Lovat Arms in Beauly

We leave Culcreuch this morning and travel via Crianlarich and Glencoe before continuing on to Fort William and up through the 'Great Glen', alongside the Caledonian Canal.  Soon Loch Ness appears and we follow the loch up to Urquhart Castle, where we stop for lunch and some monster spotting. We then continue a short way further north to Drumnadrochit where we visit the Loch Ness Visitor Center and have a chance to learn about Nessie, the famous (some would say fabled) Loch Ness Monster. Our day of touring ends in the lovely small town of Beauly, where we'll enjoy two nights at a family owned Inn.

Day 6 (Thursday 13 May) :  John O'Groats

David at John O'Groats   Dunrobin Castle.  The oldest part dates back to 1401

Today we travel to the official northern most part of Scotland - John O'Groats.  Get your photo taken next to the famous sign to prove you've visited. Then we visit the less well known true northern most point of Dunnet Head, a lovely lighthouse on a peaceful promontory. If you also join the Mysteries of Beautiful Britain Tour, you'll have a chance, a week later, to visit the official and true Southern most points of Britain as well, where you can get a similar souvenir photo and become a member of the exclusive group of people that have traveled Britain 'from Land's End to John O'Groats'. Our tour takes us through plenty of Scotland's highlands, and for a while we drive along the North Sea.  We include stops in a couple of the small towns we pass through, and at Dunrobin Castle. We return back to Beauly for the evening.

Day 7 (Friday 14 May) :  To Edinburgh
Blair Atholl   Pitlochry	We leave Beauly this morning and travel through the center of Scotland. We enjoy a visit to Blair Atholl Castle, and then have lunch in the lovely town of Pitlochry, before continuing on to Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland. We will commemorate the end of our group touring with a group dinner this evening in Edinburgh in our lovely centrally located hotel.

Day 8 (Saturday 15 May) :  Edinburgh As You Like

Edinburgh Castle, overlooking the city   There's lots to see and do in Scotland's historic capital city

Spend today seeing as much, or as little, of Edinburgh as you wish to. Maybe you'd like to tour the Royal Yacht Britannia, now moored in the harbor.  Or perhaps you'd like to tour Holyrood Palace. And maybe you'll choose to go up to Edinburgh Castle and walk the 'Royal Mile'.  There is a fascinating Whisky Tour, and lots of whisky shops.  Or maybe the ladies - and the men, too - would like to buy a kilt. There's a lot to see and do in and around Edinburgh.  And you're free to go where you wish.

Day 9 (Sunday 16 May) :  Return to London (or extend on your own)

Return back to London by comfortable fast first class train

You can choose whichever train you prefer to return to London today.  You have an open first class ticket that is valid on all trains. Trains generally leave every 30 minutes, and the journey down Britain's premier rail line is just under 5 hours. Options :  If you prefer, you can stay longer in Edinburgh or travel on elsewhere as it suits you.  Your train ticket is actually a Britrail Pass good for three more days of first class travel anywhere in Britain, anytime in the next seven weeks.

Tour Cost (Spring 2004)

$1795 per person, share twin.

A single supplement of $445 is available.  We will also help to match together singles if you'd like to share with a compatible fellow single traveler.

These prices reflect a 3% discount for cash/check.

A $200 per person non-refundable deposit is required to confirm your places on this tour.

You are responsible for arranging your travel between the US and London.

What about the Air Fare?

You will save money and gain flexible convenience if you arrange your own air travel.  These days airlines seldom give discounts to groups, and sometimes even charge more, while also adding extra restrictions to the tickets!

You can choose whichever carrier has the best fare and the best schedules for you, and you can also choose a carrier that you wish to earn miles with.  You can even cash in miles and fly on frequent flier awards.

We'll be pleased to answer any questions you might have about arranging your air transportation, of course.

How to Extend or Vary this Tour

There are many ways you can extend or vary this tour.

You are encouraged to add the Mysteries of Beautiful Britain Tour to this tour.

You can also spend more time in London before the start of this tour, and/or, if you wish, you can travel up to either Edinburgh or Glasgow before the main group and spend time in and around these areas, too.

During the tour, all of the day touring is of course optional and you can substitute your own activities if you prefer.  And, indeed, if you wish, you can even rent a car and follow the group's itinerary in your own car, rather than in the coach with the rest of the group.

After the tour, you can spend more time in Edinburgh, or travel on anywhere else in Britain by train, making use of the other two days of train travel on your first class Britrail pass.

Truly, this tour gives you a great number of ways to add extra time and sightseeing.  And, if you have more questions, please don't hesitate to ask.  We're here to help ensure your experience is as good as possible.

Suggested Tour Extensions

We suggest you arrive in London a day or two before Sunday 9 May, so that you are well rested when the tour starts.

If you arrive on Friday 7 May, or earlier, you might be interested in experiencing a day excursion by steam train on 8 May.  This goes to Oxford and Worcester, and would make a fascinating contrast to the modern train journey we'll be taking on Monday, 10 May.  I (David) will probably be doing this day tour myself.  Ask me for more information if it is of interest.

Tour Terms and Conditions

Our standard terms and conditions apply to this tour.

In addition, please note these extra terms :

1.   The 45 day payment due date is considered to be Friday, 26 March.

2.   US citizens require a current passport that will not expire for at least six months after the date of their planned return back to the US in order to be admitted to Britain.  They do not require a British visa.  Citizens of other countries should check with the airline that will transport them to Britain to determine what passport and visa requirements may apply.

3.   UK residents will not qualify for the Britrail pass which is used to provide train travel between London and Scotland.  We will quote an adjusted price for such people.

4.   Tour price is based on a UK/US exchange rate in the wholesale range between 1.77 and 1.87.  If the exchange rate varies outside of this rate prior to final payment being received, the tour price will be adjusted (either up or down) to reflect the change in the cost of tour components.  If the price of the tour increases by more than 5%, participants will be offered a no cost, no penalty opportunity to cancel and receive a full refund of all monies paid.

5.   A $50 discount is available to seniors aged over 60 at the start of the tour (due to a discount on the Britrail pass).

6.   Triple share rates may be available.  Ask for a quote if this is required.

7.   There's plenty of room in the coach's luggage bays for as much luggage as you choose to bring.  But you'll find it easier on the train journeys, and in the hotel rooms, if you try and limit yourself to one main suitcase and one smaller item per person.

The Travel Insider is licensed by the State of Washington as a seller of travel - registration number 602 036 247.
 

Originally published 12 Jan 2004, last update 08 Jan 2013