THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS ~ 08

August 7th & August 21st ~ 7 nights

Come and join David Leitch as he welcomes and guides you on a tour of the majestic Highlands of Scotland. Centred within the heart of the Highlands, your tour will experience some of the grandest mountain vistas to be seen anywhere and take you on adventures through the Spey Valley, beautiful Royal Deeside and the tranquil Moray Coast.
Your tour begins with your arrival at Edinburgh where David will gather the tour party together before heading North towards the gateway to the highlands. The first evening comprises a short drive to your transit night's accommodation where you will enjoy Dinner, Bed and Breakfast at Perth before the first full day of the tour. Having rested, the following morning sees the tour continue on its journey North as it meanders through the Cairngorm and Grampian mountain ranges with some of the most remote and magnificent scenery in the UK. Then at the end of the day, we arrive at the village of Aberlour on the banks of the Spey River where you will spend the next 6 nights enjoying the warm welcome, elegant accommodation and first-class dining of the Dowans Hotel. Originally built over 100 years ago as a private residence, this beautiful baronial style 19 bedroom hotel is set high on the picturesque Spey Valley and overlooks the village and the river below. Complete with its own a la carte restaurant, gardens and pond, The Dowans Hotel provides a wonderful setting for you to relax and enjoy the elegance of a fine Scottish Highland hotel. Over the next 5 days you will marvel at the outstanding scenery and byways throughout the highlands. You will visit several beautiful castles and gardens including Ballindalloch, Crathes and Cawdor (Shakespeare's setting for MacBeth). You will enjoy the peaceful setting of the working Pluscarden monastery and witness first hand the making of whisky at one of Scotland's finest malt whisky distilleries. Midweek we will have the Cairngorm Mountain funicular tramway transport you into the very heart and summit of the highest peaks in the UK, whilst the nostalgic Spey Valley Steam Railway is the perfect setting for a Byways picnic lunch. On the final evening, David and his wife Heather will welcome you to their own home overlooking the sea at Burghead where you will be treated to some authentic, home-made Scottish cuisine, hospitality and entertainment. Thereafter, following a good night's rest back at The Dowans Hotel, the following day will see us deliver you back to Edinburgh to catch your train or plane home.

Your Hosts.

David is now an assistant lecturer at Moray Technical College. He recently retired after 33 years from his appointment as a Wing Commander in the Royal Air Force during which he served all over the world. Heather meantime, works in administration in a local care home. Whilst David's absolute passion is fly fishing and Heather's line-dancing, they both enjoy fine dining as well as a full and active life with golfing, skiing and visiting their now grown children who live in London and in Ohio, USA

Based at Perth (1 night) & Aberlour in the Spey Valley (6 nights).

Hotel : The Parklands in Perth (1 night) & The Dowans in Aberlour (6 nights).

Meeting in Edinburgh.

All prices are in GB pounds (GBP), per person, per holiday, and are pretty much all-inclusive - see holiday information page for full details.
Double or twin en-suite 1,395.00