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Day 1: Arrival Edinburgh: Check into 3-star hotel accommodation
July 24,2009: Individual arrival in Edinburgh and check into your hotel. Your welcome pack will be waiting at the reception area.
Overnight Edinburgh
Day 2: The Gathering Events: The Clan Gathering is a 2 day event celebrating the history and culture of the Scottish Clans. The main events of the gathering are the World Highland Games in Holyrood Park, the Clan Parade and Clan Pageant.
July 25, 2009: Enjoy participating in the Highland Games, which takes place on both days in Holyrood Park. Competitions include Highland Dancing, Piping, Heavy Events such as tossing the stone, the hammer, the caber etc, a hill race up and down Arthur's Seat, a Food and Drink Festival, an Aristan village feature traditional Scottish products, a genealogy tent where attendees can find out how to trace their Scottish roots, live music (Capercaillie, Red Hot Chilli Pipers etc).
Join in the Clan Parade taking place this first evening, which will feature approx 8000 clansmen and pipers marching up the Royal Mile from Holyrood Palace to the Esplanade of Edinburgh Castle taking their seats on the castle esplanade for a spectacular Clan Pageant, which is a theatrical extravaganza training the history of the clans.
Overnight Edinburgh.
Day 3: The Gathering Events
July 26, 2009: Continue enjoying the Highland Games including Highland Dancing, Piping, Heavy Events, a hill race up and down Arthur's Seat, a Food and Drink Festival, an Artisian village feature traditional Scottish products, a genealogy tent and live music.
Overnight Edinburgh.
Day 4: Edinburgh City Tour
July 27, 2009: Enjoy free time before your 4 Day Homelands Tour. Take a hop-on hop-off city tour of Edinburgh which is included in your package.
Overnight Edinburgh.
Day 5: Depart on your 4-Day Clan MacLeod Homelands Tour:
Clan tours departs from 207 High Street (Royal Mile), Edinburgh at 09:00. Please be at the departure point no less than 10 minutes prior to departure.
July 28, 2009: CALLANDER-GLENCOE-EILEAN DONAN:
Depart Edinburgh and travel west passing Linlithgow Palace and Stirling with its imposing castle and views of the Wallace Monument. We pass Doune Castle, set of Monty Python's "Holy Grail", before stopping in Callander for refreshments. Crossing into the Highlands, we head north towards the glorious scenery surrounding Loch Luibnaig, then through Breadalbane (meaning the 'high country of Scotland') and up to the wild desolation of Rannoch Moor. We continue through the spectacular mountain pass of Glencoe, scene of the great massacre of the Clan Macdonald in 1692.
Leaving Fort William, after lunch, we drive past Britain's highest mountain, Ben Nevis, and into the Great Glen. Travelling west on the "Road to the Isles", we head through the splendour of the Five Sisters of Kintail, the mountains guarding the pass on the way to the Isle of Skye. We stop to visit the famous Eilean Donan Castle, one of Scotland's most photographed castles, set at the junction of three lochs and completely surrounded by water. Crossing over the bridge to Skye, we follow the dramatic coastline north towards the island's capital, Portree. You are then dropped off at your accommodation in the early evening, where you are free to go out and explore the town.
Overnight Portree
Day 6: Continuing Tour
July 29, 2009: ISLE OF SKYE:
Leaving Portree, we travel West across Skye towards Dunvegan and the ancestral seat of the MacLeods, Dunvegan Castle. The MacLeods have been living in Dunvegan Castle for nearly 800 years and the castle contains many priceless MacLeod heirlooms, including the fabled Fairy Flag of the Macleods. After visiting the castle, we travel north to the ruins of Trumpan church, site of the battle of the Spoiled Dyke between the MacLeods and the MacDonalds. From Trumpan, we travel west to Boreraig to visit the MacCrimmon Cairn, a memorial to the hereditary pipers of the MacLeods. A stop for lunch in the town of Dunvegan is followed by a trip around the Trotternish peninsula, taking in the ruins of Duntulm Castle and the beautiful splendour of the Skye scenery before returning to Portree for the evening.
Overnight Portree
Day 7: Continuing Tour
July 30, 2009: WEST ROSS-ULLAPOOL-INVERNESS:
Departing Portree we make our way off the island, crossing the Skye Bridge, and head north through the stunning mountain scenery of Wester Ross. We will make a short stop to take in the splendour of Corrieshalloch Gorge, before arriving for lunch in the picturesque harbour town of Ullapool. After lunch, we continue north to Ardvreck Castle. Built by the MacLeods in 1590, Ardvreck Castle sits on the shores of beautiful Loch Assynt and is steeped in MacLeod lore. From Ardvreck Castle we turn eastwards and travel towards the spectacular Falls of Shin for a short break. From there it is a short drive south towards Inverness, the capital city of the highlands, where we will spend the night.
Overnight Inverness
Day 8: Continuing Tour – arrive back in Edinburgh early evening
July 31, 2009: CULLODEN-LOCH NESS-DUNKELD:
Leaving Inverness in the morning, it is a short trip to Culloden Battlefield, scene of the last battle ever fought on British soil, a battle which marked the end of the clan system in Scotland and the end of the Highland way of life. From Culloden we travel to the town of Dores, to give you the opportunity to see the world’s most famous loch, Loch Ness. After a spot of monster-hunting, we travel south towards Aviemore and the Rothiemurchus estate, where we will stop for lunch.
The tour then continues south to Dunkeld, the ancient capital of Scotland. A short stop in Dunkeld town centre is followed by a trip to the Dunkeld Hermitage, where you will see some of the UK’s tallest trees as well as Ossian’s Hall, a 19th century victorian folly, overlooking the spectacular falls of Braan. From here we head directly to Edinburgh, passing through the ancient kingdom of Fife and across the River Forth, taking in the grandeur of the Forth Rail Bridge along the way. Return to Edinburgh by 6pm.
Overnight Edinburgh
Day 9: Depart for home
August 1, 2009: Check out of your hotel and depart on your own to the airport.
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Package Includes
8-night accommodations in central 3-Star hotels
Daily Scottish breakfast
2-day Silver Gathering Passport
Edinburgh Hop-on Hop-off City Tour
4-day Clan Homelands mini-coach tour with driver/guide
Welcome Pack
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Notes
Your clan tour departs from 207 High Street (Royal Mile) in Edinburgh at 9:00am. Please be at the departure point at least 10 minutes prior to departure.
You will be advised of your specific hotels upon confirmation.
Restrictions
The following entrance fees are not included in the package price: Eilean Donan Castle, Dunvegan Castle, Ardvrech Castle, Culloden, Dunkeld Hermtigae (approx. £20.)
Maximum group size for mini-coach Clan tours is 16
Lunches, dinners and drinks are not included unless otherwise noted.
Airfare is not included but can be easily added for an additional charge.
Transfers to and from the airport are not included but can be easily added at an additional charge.
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Join your fellow Clan MacLeod's to learn more about your illustrious history and culture. Travel to the ancestral seat of the MacLeods, Dunvegan Castle, where the MacLeods have lived for nearly 800 years. Visit Ardvreck Castle on the shores of beautiful Loch Assynt, which was built by the MacLeods in 1590. Travel to Culloden Battlefield, scene of the last battle ever fought on British soil marking the end of the clan system in Scotland. An unforgettable history lesson that will remind you what it means to "Hold Fast".
