TOUR PROGRAMME FOR 2005

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Pink rhododendrons at Inverewe Gardens, Wester Ross.

Click on Tour Number for more details.

TOUR 251
Castles and Gardens Tour.
21^st May to 1^st June 2005 - 12 days.   US$3,750.
Gather in Glasgow and cross to Arran, to visit Brodick Castle and gardens; then cross to Kintyre. Visit the Isle of Gigha, now owned by the islanders themselves, with a fine garden. Drive north to Kilmartin Glen and visit the gardens at Arduaine, south of Oban. Visit Dunstaffnage Castle, Achnacloich gardens and Kilchuirn Castle on Loch Awe. Cross to the Isle of Mull and visit Torosay House and gardens, before heading west to Arisaig. Cross to the Isle of Skye and visit Armadale gardens and then drive to Dunvegan to visit the MacLeod Castle. Cross back to the mainland by Applecross to Loch Maree. Visit Inverewe gardens, before heading south to Inverness, Cawdor Castle and Balmoral Castle, HM the Queen's Scottish residence. Drive south by Perth to Scone Palace and return to Glasgow.

TOUR 252
Arran, Kintyre, Islay, Colonsay, Jura, Mull, Iona and Bute.
4^th to 15^th June 2005 - 12 days.   US$3,750.
Gather in Glasgow and cross to Arran, to visit Brodick Castle and gardens; then cross to Kintyre. Visit the Mull of Kintyre and the Isle of Gigha, now owned by the islanders themselves. Cross to the Isle of Islay for four days. There will be a day visit the Isle of Colonsay, with a trip across the strand to Oronsay to see the ruined priory; and a day visit to the Isle of Jura with its red deer, as well as a day to explore Islay and its distilleries. Return to Kintyre and visit Crinan, Knapdale and massive Castle Sween. Drive to Oban and cross to the Isle of Mull. Visit Duart Castle, before driving west to cross to the sacred Isle of Iona. Visit the restored abbey and cruise out to the Isle of Staffa. Return to Oban and cross to the Isle of Bute, visiting Mount Stuart, glorious home of the Marquess of Bute. Return to Glasgow.

White breakers on the sands of Kiloran Bay on the Isle of Colonsay.

TOUR 253
Threads of Scotland Tour.
16^th to 26^th July 2005 - 11 days.   US$3,500.
An outstanding chance to tour Scotland with Marge Warren and Barbara Miller, both from North Carolina. Start in Glasgow and visit the Weaver's Cottage at Kilbarchan and Paisley Shawl Museum. Visit New Lanark, established as a model weaving community in the 1790s. Drive by Loch Lomond and Glencoe to Fort William to visit the West highland Museum with a fine collection of tartans. Drive by Eilean Donan Castle to Portree, on the Isle of Skye. Visit Dunvegan Castle, home of the MacLeod chiefs for 70 years; see sheep dogs working and join a wool dyeing workshop. Cross by ferry to the Isle of Harris to see Harris tweed being woven. Visit Rodel Church and drive to the ancient stones at Callanish. Cross from Stornoway to Ullapool and drive to Inverness. Visit Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness and Johnsons of Elgin, Cashmere weavers and the Scottish Tartans Museum at Keith. From Ballater, on Royal Deeside, drive to Montrose and the House of Dun. Visit this Georgian mansion and see linen being woven. Drive by Perth and Stirling back to Glasgow, where the tour ends.

TOUR 254
Edinburgh, the Highlands and Iona.
31^st July to 10^th August - 11 days.   US$3,500.
Gather in Edinburgh to visit the Castle and Holyrood palace; visit Roslyn Chapel and Newhailes House. Then drive to St Andrews and cross the River Tay to Edzell in the Angus Glens. Visit Edzell Castle and Glamis Castle, home of the late Queen Mother. Drive to Pitlochry and visit Blair Castle and take in a performance at the Festival Theatre. Drive by Loch Tay to Oban and then cross to the Isle of Mull. Visit Duart Castle and then cross to the sacred Isle of Iona. Visit the restored Abbey and cruise out to the Isle of Staffa. Return to Mull and drive to Kilmartin Glen. Visit Inveraray Castle and return by Loch Lomond to Glasgow.

TOUR 255
A Highland Jaunt with Dr Samuel Johnson and Mr James Boswell.
12^th to 23^rd August - 12 days.   US$3,750.
Gather in Edinburgh to retrace the steps that Dr Samuel Johnson, the English writer and wit, and his Scottish companion James Boswell, made through the Highlands in 1773. Walk through the Old Town and visit Newhailes House, before setting off for St Andrews, Arbroath and Aberdeen. Then drive to Elgin, Cawdor Castle and Fort George, on the way to Inverness. Drive down Loch Ness and west to Glenelg. Cross to the Isle of Skye and then to the Isle of Raasay, where the two travellers stayed for several days. Climb Dun Can. Cross back to Skye and visit Portree and Kingsburgh, where Flora MacDonald lived, and drive to Dunvegan, where the travellers made their longest stay. Visit Dunvegan Castle, Ullinish House and Talisker House. Cross to Mallaig and then by Ardnamurchan to Tobermory on the Isle of Mull. Visit the Isle of Ulva before driving to cross to the sacred Isle of Iona. Visit the restored Abbey and cruise out to the Isle of Staffa. Return to Mull and cross to Oban, before driving by Loch Awe to Inveraray. Visit Inveraray Castle. Drive by Loch Lomond back to Glasgow.

Dr Samuel Johnson and James Boswell walking up the High Street, Edinburgh, from a print by Thomas Rowlandson, 1786.
"Mr Johnson and I walked Arm in Arm up the High Street to my House in James Court; it was a dusky night;
I could not prevent his being assailed by the Evening effluvia of Edinburgh." As we marched along he grumbled in my ear "I smell you in the dark."

For further information please contact:
    Ruari Halford-MacLeod
    President
    Scotland's Island Experience
    13 High Street
    Auchtermuchty
    Fife
    KY14 7AP   
    Voice and fax: 01337-82-81-81. From N.America 01144-1337-82-81-81.
    e-mail: scotislex@zetnet.com.uk.
    home page: http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/scotislex