Royal Scotsman
"The train flies past lush-green
hills and valleys, sparkling blue glens, grazing sheep and small
villages, stopping to visit romantic castles and special places."
- Patricia M. Lee, The International Railway Traveler, Issue
128, Feb. 2002
ISLE
OF BUTE Optional Pre-Tour for
INTRAV cruise, June 9-11, 2002:
(For other Royal Scotsman itineraries and departures, click
here).
Day 1-June 9, 2002
The Royal Scotsman departs Edinburgh Waverley at 14.07 and heads
west, skirting the northern bank of the Clyde to Craigendoran,
which is the starting point for the majestic West Highland Line.
The train then travels north, along the edge of Gare Loch and
on to Dalmally, where we disembark to visit Inverawe Smokehouse.
Here we watch the locally caught fish being cured and smoked,
and afterwards join the Campbell-Prestons in their home to sample
some of the delicacies over a glass of wine.
We rejoin the train at Taynuilt and retrace the route south during our informal dinner, following the narrow shelf carved from the hillside between the slopes of Ben Cruachan and the River Awe. We stable overnight at Arrochar and Tarbet, situated between Loch Long and Loch Lomond.
Day 2-June 10, 2002
We leave Arrochar and Tarbet early this morning,
and head south to Gourock. We travel by coach to Wemyss Bay where
we take the ferry to the Isle of Bute. The island embraces a
variety of landscapes; seashore, moorland, farmland and forest,
and the natural history, geography, geology and ancient history
of the island are revealed at every turn. From St Blane's Chapel
at the south of the island to the abandoned townships in Glen
More at the north end, it seems like every stone has its tale
to tell.
Today we visit Mount Stuart, Britain's most spectacular Victorian Gothic house. This was the architectural fantasy of the 3rd Marquess of Bute and his architect Sir Robert Rowand Anderson. The stunning, mysterious interiors reflect the romantic and scholarly Marquess's passion for art, heraldry, astrology, mythology and religion. There is arguably the finest privately held collection of family portraits in Scotland. After lunch in the private Dining Room, we have time to explore the tranquil Rock Garden, the Wee Garden containing rare plants from the southern hemisphere, the Kitchen Garden, and the Victorian Pinetum. The Limetree Avenue leads visitors to a secluded stretch of coastline, and one of the most beautiful beaches in Scotland.
We return to the mainland and rejoin the train
at Gourock, before making our way to the ancient town of Stirling
where its magnificent castle dominates the surrounding countryside.
Dinner this evening is formal and we stable overnight in Stirling.
After dinner we enjoy entertainment in the Observation Car.
Day 3-June 11, 2002
We leave Stirling during breakfast this morning and return through
Larbert and Linlithgow to arrive in Edinburgh at 09.30 where
our tour ends.
Price:
Train-only program: $2,550 per person, double or single occupancy
Please note that with the combined
train/cruise program, several costs are not included:
· a $35 per person international air deviation fee
· Transfers
· Two required hotel nights (June 11 & 12)
You may choose to spend the two nights between the end of the train trip and the start of the cruise program in Edinburgh or elsewhere. We will be happy to book you in the same Edinburgh hotel which will be used by the INTRAV program, the Balmoral, for these two nights. We are also happy to book you for any desired pre-train nights. The cost is $405 per night, per room. This includes taxes and breakfast. This price is subject to change.
IRT can also arrange any transfers before the train trip you wish. The cost is roughly $90 per private car transfer. A taxi transfer from the airport would be roughly $25 USD.
Schedule for the combined train/cruise program:
June 8:
Departure from New York
June 9: Arrive Edinburgh. Spend the day and night on board
the Royal Scotsman. See detailed itinerary above (Day 1).
June 10: Spend the day and night on board the Royal Scotsman
(Day 2 above)
June 11: Disembark the Royal Scotsman
June 11 & 12: On your own. Overnight in Balmoral or
other hotel.
June 13 & 14: INTRAV cruise program begins - Edinburgh
tours and 2 nights at the Balmoral
June 15: Embark the Lord of the Glens
June 21: Disembark, overnight Cameron House
June 22: Stay for optional post-tour add-on OR fly home
to US from Glasgow
The Royal Scotsman Isle of Bute tour can be done independently of the cruise. In addition, the train offers several other itineraries ranging from one to four nights.
Rates and dates of departure for 2002:
Wee Dram (1 night): $960 per person
Monday, July 22; Saturday, August 24
Isle of Bute (2 nights): $2,550 per
person
Thursday, May 30; Sunday, June 9; Friday, June 28; Friday, August
2; Friday, September 6
Highland Fling (2 nights): $2,450
per person
If you enjoy the great outdoors and prefer a more active adventure,
then what better way to relax and unwind than a weekend with
us enjoying country pursuits in the magnificent Scottish Highlands?
Tuesday, April 23; Friday, May 3; Friday, June 7; Friday, July 12; Tuesday, July 23; Friday, August 16; Friday, September 20; Friday, October 11; Friday, October 25
Caledonian Retreat (2 nights): $2,450
per person
Get away from it all for a few days on this relaxing tour combining
history, culture and fun through spectacular "Braveheart"
country Argyll with its great glens and waterfalls, and
Perthshire with its prodigious green and varied landscape of
rolling hills and lush forests.
Sunday, April 21; Sunday, May 5; Friday, May 24; Saturday, June 1; Sunday, August 18; Sunday, September 22; Sunday, October 27
Classic Tour (4 nights): $4,350 per
person
From the spectacular Southern Highlands with its varied landscape
of great glens, lochs and waterfalls; to the wild grandeur and
romance of the West Highlands and the Isle of Skye; to the rich
arable farmlands of the North East, this popular tour provides
an exclusive insight into the Scottish way of life, from centuries
past to present.
| Thursday, April
25 Thursday, May 16 Tuesday, June 11 Sunday, June 30 Thursday, July 18 Thursday, August 8 Thursday, August 29 Monday, Sept. 16 Monday, Oct. 7 Tuesday, Oct. 29 |
Monday, April
29 Monday, May 20 Sunday, June 16 Thursday, July 4 Thursday, July 25 Monday, August 12 Monday, Sept. 2 Tuesday, Sept. 24 Sunday, Oct. 13 |
Tuesday, May
7 Sunday, May 26 Thursday, June 20 Monday, July 8 Monday, July 29 Tuesday, August 20 Sunday, Sept. 8 Sunday, Sept. 29 Thursday, Oct. 17 |
Sunday, May
12 Monday, June 3 Monday, June 24 Sunday, July 14 Sunday, August 4 Sunday, August 25 Thursday, Sept. 12 Thursday, Oct. 3 Monday, Oct. 21 |
Please call us with questions, bookings:
800-IRT-4881
www.irtsociety.com
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