May 5 - Depart for ScotlandDepart Toronto for your overnight flight to Glasgow.
May 6 - Arrive in GlasgowArrive Glasgow, meet your coach and transfer to Oban, our home for the next two nights. We will check-in and take a rest, and then have a practice before dinner.
Overnight Oban - hotel tba. (D) |
May 7 - Iona Abbey, Duart Castle & TobermoryThis morning, we sail with Cal Mac Ferries to Iona with a visit to Iona Abbey. Iona Abbey is one of Scotland’s most historic and sacred sites. It was founded by St. Columba and his Irish followers in 563 AD. As a celebrated focus for Christian pilgrimage, Iona retains its spiritual atmosphere and remains an enduring symbol of worship. The graveyard is a burial place for some of the ancient kings of Scotland. Macbeth is also buried here. We will play at the Abbey.
After visiting the Abbey, we will travel to Duart Castle, the ancestral home of the Clan MacLean. This beautiful 13th century castle proudly guards the sea cliffs of the Isle of Mull, while enjoying one of the most spectacular and unique positions on the West Coast of Scotland. You may recognize Duart Castle from the 1999 motion picture Entrapment starring Sean Connery and Catherine Zeta Jones. We will play at the Castle. We’ll stop for a short time in Tobermory, a picture-postcard of a place with the brightly painted buildings lining the main street to the pier, before heading back to Oban. Overnight Oban - hotel tba. (B) |
May 8 - Glencoe, Eilean Donan Castle & InvernessWe bid farewell to Oban and travel north. We will stop in Glencoe for a short parade, plaque & ceremony in remembrance of Beth Cleaton. Glencoe is the main settlement in Glencoe in the Lochaber area of the Scottish Highlands. We will play at the Glencoe town square.
We’ll have time for lunch in Glencoe before we arrive at Eilean Donan Castle. As one of the most iconic images of Scotland, Eilean Donan is recognized all around the world. Situated on an island at the point where three great sea lochs meet, it is surrounded by some majestic scenery including the forested mountains of Kintail. Film buffs will recognize the castle for being the filming site of Highlander starring Christopher Lambert, and the James Bond Film The World is Not Enough starring Pierce Bronson. Be sure to linger outside too, where you may catch sight of dolphins and porpoises. We end the day by checking into our hotel in Inverness. Overnight Inverness - hotel tba. (B,D) |
May 10 - Culloden, Blair Castle, Pitlochery & KinrossThis morning we visit Culloden where the 1745 Jacobite uprising lead by Bonnie Prince Charlie came to a tragic end resulting in up to 2000 Jacobite Highland soldiers to be killed in about an hour. The Culloden site has interactive displays, an enthralling collection of curios and artifacts, a 360-degree battle immersion theatre, and a bracing visit to the memorial cairn, where the fallen Jacobite soldiers are buried. We will play on the battlefield.
From Culloden we head south towards Kinross. We’ll visit Blair Castle to play. Blair Castle stands in its grounds near the village of Blair Athol in Perthshire. It is the ancestral home of the Clan Murray. We’ll make a short stop in Pitlochry for some shopping. Pitlochry is situated in the heart of the stunning scenery of Highland Perthshire. It is the tourist center for this area of Scotland. Be sure to shop for your Scottish souvenirs and attire at the Scottish Shop in Pitlochry and don’t miss the Christmas Shop with a special discount for the band. Dinner is included tonight at the hotel in Kinross. Overnight Kinross - hotel tba. (B,D) |
May 11 - Free Day in KinrossToday is a full free day at leisure in Kinross. Might we suggest a visit to Loch Leven Castle. The castle is a ruined castle on an island in Loch Leven. Steeped in history, Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned for a year in 1567 by Elizabeth I, until she made a dramatic escape. The castle was possibly built around 1300 and was the location of military action during the Wars of Scottish Independence.
Overnight Kinross - hotel tba. (B) |
May 13 - Stirling Castle, Callendar House & The KelpiesThis morning we head south to Stirling and will play in the Queen Anne Gardens at Stirling Castle. The castle is one of the largest and most important castles in Scotland and has withstood at least eight sieges. Most of the main buildings date from the 15th and 16th centuries. Several Scottish Kings and Queens have been crowned at Stirling, including Mary, Queen of Scots in 1542.
Leaving Stirling we will journey onwards to Callendar House, a 5-star stunning 14th century French chateau styled house complete with working Georgian kitchen and visitor tearoom. It is set in the nationally-important historic designed landscape of Callendar Park, which also contains a section of the Antonine Wall World Heritage Site. We will play here. We’ll make our final visit of the day to see the incredible Kelpies. The Kelpies are two 30-metre high stainless-steel horse-head sculptures depicting kelpies (shape-shifting water spirits). They are housed in ‘The Helix’, a parkland which provides cycling, walking and watersports among other activities. After our visit we will return to Kinross. Overnight Kinross - hotel tba. (B) |
May 15 - Falkland Palace & CulrossToday we set off to Falkland Palace where we will have a performance. Falkland Palace is steeped in Royal history and was once a home for Mary Queen of Scots and a favorite of the Stuart Royal Family. It is also home to the oldest tennis courts in the United Kingdom (built circa 1549). For Outlander fans, you may recognize Falkland Palace as one of the series set locations.
We’ll leave Falkland Palace and travel to Culross. Culross (pronounced Coo-riss) is a small village located on the Firth of Forth and was featured in a number of Outlander episodes. With the brightly colored homes that line the cobbled streets, you’ll think you've stepped back in time. It is also famous for its Witch Trials and burnings. We will play here. Overnight Kinross - hotel tba. (B) |
May 16 - Berwick Upon Tweed & Melrose AbbeyAn early start today to travel to Berwick-Upon-Tweed with a short visit to Melrose Abbey. Melrose Abbey was founded by David 1 and was Scotland’s first Cistercian monastery in 1136. Being so close to the border, Melrose Abbey suffered at English hands during the Middle Ages. Rebuilt in the 1380s, it was used as an abbey until the Protestant Reformation of 1560. Afterwards, the existing monks were allowed to stay on: the last died in 1590. The Abbey was so beloved by King Robert The Bruce he chose it for the final resting place of his heart. Additional arrangements for Berwick-upon-Tweed to be advised. We conclude the day with our arrival in Edinburgh.
Overnight Edinburgh - hotel tba. (B) |
May 17 - Free Day in EdinburghA free day in Edinburgh to enjoy at your leisure. A 24-hour Hop-On Hop-Off bus ticket is included. We suggest visits to Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood House Palace, The Scotch Whisky Experience, Royal Yacht Britannia, visit Greyfriars Bobby, walk the Royal Mile, hike up Arthur’s Seat, shop until you drop, and much more!
Overnight Edinburgh - hotel tba. (B) |
This itinerary is subject to minor alteration prior to the booking deadline. Clients should also dkeep in mind that minor variances are always possible during the actual tour based on the need to adapt to circumstances we encounter during our travels.
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