National Trust for Scotland

Sunday 20th July 2008

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Scotland's Best

14-Day Tour

Day 1 (Edinburgh)

AM Arrival in Edinburgh.
14.30 Guided tour of Newhailes, which has recently achieved awards for its outstanding conservation work.
17.00 Exclusive tour and pre-dinner drinks reception at the elegant Georgian House in the city’s New Town.

Day 2 (Edinburgh and Fife)

10.00 Visit to Gladstone’s Land, the finest surviving example of a 17th-century high tenement house in Edinburgh’s fascinating Old Town.
13.00 Cream tea (1 Jun-31 Aug) and tour of Falkland Palace in the Royal Burgh of Falkland. This royal palace, with its wonderful Renaissance architecture, was the country residence of Stuart kings and queens, the most famous being Mary, Queen of Scots.
16.00 Guided tour of Kellie Castle, one of the most romantic houses in Lowland Scotland, the earliest part dating from the 14th century.
17.00 Return to Edinburgh.

Day 3 (Perth and Aberdeen)

10.30 The first stop today is the delightful Branklyn Garden in Perth, which has been described as the most intensively cultivated 2-acre garden in Scotland. It has an outstanding collection of rhododendrons, alpines and other plants, which attract enthusiasts from all over the world.
PM Visit to Scone Palace, Perth, before travelling north to Aberdeen.

Day 4 (Aberdeenshire)

10.00 Visit to Pitmedden Garden, with its beautiful parterres, based on designs used at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.
12.00 Lunch followed by guided tour of Haddo House, a fine Georgian mansion house with sumptuous Victorian interiors set amidst secluded glades and knolls.
15.00 Visit to Fyvie Castle, one of the finest examples of Scottish Baronial architecture – a dream of turrets, gables and towers to delight every visitor.
16.30 Return to Aberdeen.

Day 5 (Aberdeenshire)

10.00 Tour of Crathes Castle and Garden. Here you can enjoy the ‘complete Trust experience’, this wonderful château-style tower house, gardens and setting combining to produce a truly stunning effect. Enjoy an excellent lunch in the Horsemill Restaurant after your tour.
13.00 Depart for an afternoon at leisure in Aberdeen, Scotland’s lovely ‘Granite City’.

Day 6 (Inverness-shire)

14.00 Guided tour of Brodie Castle, an extremely handsome 16th-century structure with superb collections of paintings, porcelain and furniture.
16.00 Visit to Culloden battlefield and afternoon tea. Scene of the final Jacobite uprising and Bonnie Prince Charlie’s defeat, this famous battle was the last to be fought on mainland Britain. The Visitor Centre provides an informative exhibition and audio-visual presentation.
18.00 Travel to Inverness.

Day 7 (Inverewe and Inverness)

11.30 Visit to Inverewe Garden, with lunch at your leisure. Situated on the shores of Loch Ewe, this is perhaps the Trust’s most famous garden, with 20 acres of carefully tended exotic plants, shrubs and trees.
14.30 Depart for Inverness, enjoying the scenic drive via Loch Broom and Corrieshalloch Gorge.

Day 8 (Loch Ness and Fort William)

AM Cruise down Loch Ness, stopping at Urquhart Castle, recently bequeathed to the Trust.
15.00 Visit to Glenfinnan Monument, erected in 1815 as a tribute to the Jacobite cause. Situated at the head of Loch Shiel, it is set amidst the most beautiful Highland scenery.
16.00 Travel to Fort William.

Day 9 (Glencoe)

10.00 Guided walk and visit to Glencoe Visitor Centre, which offers a wonderful exhibition describing the history and landscape of this beautifully evocative location.
12.00 Lunch at leisure.
13.00 Return to Fort William for an afternoon of individual activities.

Day 10 (Stirling)

AM Travel to Stirling via Crianlarich, through a variety of stunning landscapes.
13.00 Lunch and tour of Bannockburn Heritage Centre, site of probably the most famous battle in Scottish history, a victory for the renowned Robert the Bruce.
15.30 Visit to nearby Stirling Castle.
17.00 Travel to Glasgow.

Day 11 (Helensburgh and Loch Lomond)

10.00 Private tour and morning coffee at The Hill House, Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s finest domestic creation. Savour the sheer elegance of Mackintosh’s interior designs and decorative schemes in this wonderful house set high above the River Clyde.
PM Afternoon visit to nearby Loch Lomond Shores.
16.00 Return to Glasgow.

Day 12 (Ayrshire)

11.00 Full day visit to Culzean Castle, set in a dramatic location high on the Ayrshire cliffs, with panoramic views over the Firth of Clyde. You will have a guided tour of this beautifully constructed castle with time to enjoy the superb gardens and country park.
15.00 Return to Glasgow.
18.00 Guided tour and dinner at Pollok House, one of the grandest Edwardian mansion houses in Scotland.

Day 13 (Dumfries & Galloway)

11.30 Visit to Threave House and Garden, near Castle Douglas, which is famous for its amazing displays of colour all year round.
16.00 Travel to Edinburgh.

Day 14 (Edinburgh)