Travel to Victoria's Scotland

Once again, and after listening carefully to our travelling friends, we have come up with a brand new tour, and this time, it's in the Spring. At this time of the year, Perthshire and the Cairngorms National Park are a delight to visit. Over five days, we will be visiting places that became firm favourites of Queen Victoria and subsequent Royal Families since then, along with millions of people from all over the world.

We will be spending four nights at Scotland's Hotel in Pitlochry, where, in addition to having an excellent reputation for food and hospitality, there is a swimming pool, solarium, mini-gym, and beauty salon.

As you will see from our itinerary, all this will be done at an appropriate pace, so please join us for our very own "Royal Progress" to Scotland. She would have been most amused!!!

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Day 1: Sunday

Sunday morning and we set off up the North Tyne Valley en route to Abbotsford House, home to Sir Walter Scott whose books first attracted Queen Victoria to the delights of Scotland. After a tour of this fabulous house and it's magnificent grounds, we have a soup and sandwich lunch, on us, in Sir Walter's bedroom! We then board our luxury coach and head for Loch Leven in Perthshire for a nice cup of tea. Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned on the Loch's island, and Victoria, while not of the Stuart line, liked to identify herself with this dynasty because of its love of Scotland and for the romantic elements of its past. We then make the short journey to Pitlochry, our home base for the next four nights. Pitlochry came into being for three reasons; Sir Walter Scott's novels, the coming of the railways, and the firm endorsement of Queen Victoria. It is a typical Victorian spa resort, but, because of its location, has become an extremely popular stopping point for people traveling further North. With the Hydro Station's fish ladder and loads of shops, there is much to see in Pitlochry and we will make sure that you have plenty of time to do some exploring.

Day 2: Monday

After a hearty breakfast, we head west, stopping at Aberfeldy for coffee and a quick look round. Then we take the "Road to the Isles". As the song goes "Sure by Tummel and Loch Rannoch and Lochaber I will go", and while we may not quite reach Lochaber, we will be going to the end of the road at Rannoch Station. Situated at the edge of Rannoch Moor, this has to be one of the most remote places in the UK. After lunch, we will journey back along the North shore of the lochs to the Queens View Visitor Centre. Victoria loved this place with its stunning view up Loch Tummel to one of Scotland's most beautiful mountains, Schiehallion (3547ft). On a clear day you can see all the way to the Glencoe mountains. After a nice wee cup of tea, we travel for a few miles up the road to the Killiecrankie Visitor Centre where we can admire the magnificent gorge and waterfalls. Then it's back to our hotel with plenty of time left before another excellent dinner. Part of today's adventure follows a route first taken in 1866 by Queen Victoria. It is clear from her journals that she thought it was wonderful. We are convinced you will enjoy it as much as she did.

Day 3: Tuesday

We head North to Royal Deeside for the highlight of our tour. We will be visiting Balmoral Castle, the private home of successive Royal families since Queen Victoria, and the very much loved holiday home of our present Queen. The Castle was restored and extended by Victoria and Albert, and it is known that they spent their happiest times there. Following Albert's premature death in 1861, the distraught Queen directed that the house become a place of mourning, and so it remained until her own death in 1901. Since then, of course, Balmoral has cheered up and, during your visit, you will have ample opportunity to explore the fabulous grounds and take in the various exhibitions, in and around the Castle, which give an interesting insight into the history and present day working of this huge Royal estate (65,000 acres). After all this activity, you'll probably feel a bit peckish, so why not visit the Coffee Shop where they serve an excellent lunch. Two miles up the road to Crathie and here we find the Royal Lochnagar Distillery. Victoria and Albert paid a visit in 1848 and were pleased to award the distillery her Royal Warrant. We are going to pay our own visit and, in addition to hearing more about history and processes of this most important piece of heaven, we will sample some of the "nectar of the gods"!!! We then leave Royal Deeside and return to Pitlochry for another pleasant evening.

Day 4: Wednesday

A nice easy day. We're off to another famous castle, but not before we drop in on the House of Bruar, sometimes known as the Harrods of the North!! After a short stay, we move on to Blair Castle where, in 1845, Victoria spent three weeks on holiday. It is widely believed that this is when Victoria's passion for Scotland really developed to the point that she decided to buy somewhere nearby. That, of course, was Balmoral Castle. We will stay at Blair Castle long enough for you to enjoy both the magnificent house and the grounds, and perhaps have a bite of lunch. We will then head back to Pitlochry, arriving about 1.45pm. The afternoon is then yours. So, what's to do? There are the shops, the Hydro Dam and Fish Ladder, riverside walks, or you may prefer to make use of the Hotel's excellent recreational facilities. It's entirely up to you. Our last night dinner will be an opportunity for us to remember, and chat about our Victorian adventure. Then, after a dram or two to spice up our dreams, we retire in preparation for our journey home tomorrow.

Day 5: Thursday

Our last day, but there's still much to see that Victoria loved. We travel down the shoreline of Loch Tay, Perthshire's largest loch, to the beautiful village of Killin, where we will have time for coffee and a little look round. Then it's back on board our coach as we head South via Glen Bogle. Victoria described this glen as Scotland's 'Khyber Pass'! Our next port of call will be a lunch stop in Aberfoyle which is located at the heart of the Trossachs National Park. This is a lovely part of Scotland, often thought of as being a mini Switzerland. Then, it's over the Border, and after a final stop in Moffat, we should arrive home at about 6.15pm.

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This cost of this very special four day adventure includes, Luxury Coach Travel, Dinner Bed and Breakfast for four nights at the 3 star Scotland's Hotel, Lunch at Abbotsford, and admissions to the listed visitor attractions.

At £350.00 per person, based on two people sharing a room, or with a total single supplement of only £70.00pp, this unique tour has to be great value. For a deposit of only £90.00pp, the balance is not due until 28th March 2010.

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