The Beth Cleaton Memorial Tour
August 8-23, 2025
Hosted & Escorted by
John O'Hara & Don Piper
August 8 - Depart for ScotlandDepart Toronto for your overnight flight to Glasgow, with Air Transat (Economy Class).
August 9 - 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) |
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August 10 - 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) |
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August 11 - Glencoe, Eilean Donan Castle & InvernessWe bid farewell to Oban and travel north, toward the picturesque Kyle of Lochalsh. We will stop in Glencoe for a short parade, plaque & ceremony in remembrance of Beth Cleaton. Glencoe is the main settlement in Glen Coe in the Lochaber area of the Scottish Highlands. We will play in 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 the Inverness area. Overnight Inverness - hotel tba. (B) |
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August 12 - Culloden & Fort George
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This 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 being 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.
We then travel to Fort George. It was built in the wake of the Battle of Culloden (1746) as a secure base for King George II’s army. Fort George took twenty-two years to complete, by which time the Jacobite threat had subsided. But it has served the British Army for the almost 250 years since. The main rampart encloses an area the size of five football pitches. Be sure to visit the Highlanders Museum at the fort; the grand magazine which was designed to hold 2672 gunpowder barrels, now home to a amazing collection of weapons, and the historic barrack rooms. Don’t miss the dog cemetery – the resting place of regimental mascots and officers’ dogs. (Possible short parade with Inverness Pipe Band and Civic reception with full performance.) Overnight Inverness - hotel tba. (B) |
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August 13 - Blair Castle, Pitlochery & KinrossFrom Inverness we head south towards Kinross. We’ll visit Blair Castle to play. Blair Castle stands near the village of Blair Athol in Perthshire. It is the ancestral home of the Clan Murray. We will play at the castle, before heading to 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. Dinner is included tonight at the hotel in Kinross.
Overnight Kinross - hotel tba. (B,D) |
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August 14 - Falkland & St. AndrewsToday we will have a short trip to Falkland to see Falkland Palace & Gardens, home to the oldest Royal tennis court built for King James V. Many scenes for Outlander were filmed in Falkland, which was doubling for Inverness.
We depart Falkland for St. Andrews, where we will perform for veterans with PTSD. The rest of the day is free for sightseeing and shopping, or perhaps a trip to see the Old Course. Overnight Kinross - hotel tba. (B) |
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August 15 - Glasgow World Pipe Band ChampionshipsWe leave Kinross and travel to Glasgow to attend The World Pipe Band Championships. This prestigious event is held every year at Glasgow Green. Every year several hundred bands from around the world will attend.
Overnight Glasgow - hotel tba. (B) |
August 16 - Glasgow World Pipe Band ChampionshipsWe’ll attend The World Pipe Band Championships again today. For those who will not be attending, might we suggest shopping, sightseeing in Glasgow or just a day of leisure.
Overnight Glasgow - hotel tba. (B) |
August 17 - Stirling Castle, Callendar House & The KelpiesThis morning, after breakfast, we head up 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 travel onward to Edinburgh. Overnight Edinburgh - hotel tba. (B) |
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August 18 - DunfermlineWe travel today to Dunfermline – the “auld grey toun” of Dunfermline is at the heart of Scotland’s history and the royal and monastic past dominates the town. There are a wide number of historical venues such at the Royal Palace, a 12th century abbey (which is the final resting place of Robert the Bruce and the burial site of eleven other Scottish kings and queens) and the restored 15th century Abbot House. Founded as a priory, Dunfermline was made an abbey by David 1st, and later became a Royal Mausoleum. We will play at the Carnegie Gates and take a possible wee parade through Pittencrieff Park. We will also stop at a local cemetery to play for some our fallen soldiers and a special friend to the band.
Overnight Edinburgh - hotel tba. (B) |
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August 19 - Edinburgh at LeisureEnjoy a free day in Edinburgh at your leisure. A 24-hour Hop-On Hop-Off bus ticket will be included. We suggest visits to Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood House Palace, the Scotch Whisky Experience, Royal Yacht Brittania, visit Greyfriars Bobby, walk the Royal Miles, hike up Arthur’s Seat, shop until you drop and much more!
Overnight Edinburgh - hotel tba. (B) |
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August 20 - Royal Edinburgh Military TattooWe’ll have the option to get tickets to see the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo today. This venue sells out quickly and we will need your commitment as soon as possible.
Overnight Edinburgh - hotel tba. (B) |
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August 21 - Edinburgh at LeisureToday is also at leisure – to complete everything you missed yesterday!
Overnight Edinburgh - hotel tba. (B) |
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August 22 - Edinburgh at LeisureOur final day in Edinburgh today. Time to finish up your shopping and packing. We will gather this evening for our Farewell Dinner.
Overnight Edinburgh - hotel tba. (B,D) |
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August 23 - Depart for HomeThis morning we will leave Edinburgh and travel to the Glasgow Airport to check in for our flight back to Canada. (B)
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This itinerary is subject to minor alteration prior to the booking deadline. Clients should also keep 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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