7-day trip to Scotland
Within these seven days you will get a fascinating inside view in Scotland´s dramatic military history, which will even surprise Scotland connoisseurs. The definite highlight will be the Edinburgh Military Tattoo which is going to celebrate its 50th anniversary.| Day 1 |
Depart with German Wings from Airport Cologen at 10.50 to Edinburgh. In Edinburgh the Highland Coach will be expecting you at 11.35 and take you to the first stage of the trip, the Black Watch Regimental Museum in Balhousie Castle near Perth. The museum is laid out chronologically in seven rooms within the castle. These display an amazing variety of artefacts illustrating the history of the regiment. We then continue to Dunkeld to check into the Atholl Arms Hotel. Dunkeld, the fort of the Celts played a vital role in the early history of Scotland, both as a Royal and Religious centre. It was the original seat of the chief bishop of the mysterious kingdom of the Picts; Scotland's first king, Kenneth MacAlpin, built a stone church here early in the 9th century to house the relics of St Columba; and under King David I it was the centre of Christianity in all of Scotland. Resting on the opposite bank of the river Tay is the Victorian village of Birnam and Castle Balmoral is in not too far distance. A highlight of the day will certainly be Killiecrankie, location of the Battle of Killiecrankie. On 27 July 1689 Killiecrankie echoed with the sound of gunfire when a Jacobite army led by ‘Bonnie Dundee’ defeated Government forces. One soldier escaped by making a spectacular jump across the River Garry at the spot now known as Soldier’s Leap. The Visitor Centre exhibition features seasonally changing interactive wildlife displays, and tells the story of the battle, showing examples of the weapons used. The day ends with a dinner and the odd drink at the bar of the Atholl Arms Hotel. |
| Day 2 |
First you travel on General Wade´s tracks, whose military engineering work made the English conquest of Scotland possible. A magnificent example of his genius is the bridge of Aberfeldy. Then you continue through a picturesque landscape, passing the beautiful Blair Atholl and Blair Castle until you reach the Ruthvan Barracks in Kingussie. The first recorded castle to be built here appeared in 1229. By 1371 it formed the centre of activity of Alexander Stewart, Lord of Badenoch, and younger son of Robert II. He was one of the darkest, most evil character in Scotland's history. More popularly knows as the Wolf of Badenoch, Stewart is mainly remembered for falling out with the Bishop of Elgin and being excommunicated by him for marital infidelity. In retaliation he destroyed Elgin Cathedral and much of Elgin in 1390. After the 1715 Jacobite uprising, the Government decided to tighten its grip on the Highlands by building four fortified barracks in strategic locations. Ruthven Barracks was one of them, and all remains of the earlier castle were removed to make way for the structure you see today. The barracks took much longer to build than planned, and was finally completed in 1721. After this visit you carry on in a northerly direction and just before reaching Inverness, you will come to one of Europe´s most famous battlefields: Culloden. The Battle of Culloden (April 16, 1746), was the final clash between the Jacobites and the Hanoverians in the 1745 Jacobite Rising. It was the last battle to be fought on mainland Britain, and brought the Jacobite cause—to restore the House of Stuart to the throne of Great Britain—to a decisive defeat from which it never recovered. After this impressive battle tour you continue for a short while to your next stage: Fort George. Fort George in Ardersier is a large 18th century fortress with perhaps the mightiest artillery fortifications in Europe. It was built to pacify the Scottish Highlands in the aftermath of the Jacobite rising of 1745, replacing an earlier Fort George built with the same aim after the 1715 Jacobite rising. The fortress has never been attacked, and has remained in continuous use as a garrison. It remains virtually unaltered, and nowadays is open to visitors with exhibits and recreations showing use at different periods, while still serving as army barracks, currently home to the 1st Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment. Following the visit to Fort George you will have a glance on Castle Brodie. The earliest records of Brodies at Brodie date from over 800 years ago. The Thanes of Brodie inhabited the area and may have obtained their lands from King Malcolm IV in about 1160. The tenth laird living in the 16th century is the first of whom much is recorded. It was his grandson Alexander who began the building of the present house. Afterwards you travel along Loch Ness to Fort Augusts to your next hotel, the Inchnacardoch Lodge. Inchnacardoch Lodge was built in 1878 as a Hunting Lodge by Lord Lovat of Lovat the Clan Fraser Chieftain, after donating the use of his previous residence, the then Fort of Augustus and latterly the Fort Augustus Benedictine Abbey, to the Benedictine Abbot. Over the years the Lodge has served different purposes including RAF Headquarters in World War II and itself becoming a part of the Fort Augustus Benedictine Abbey when the lodge was made part of the Abbey Boys School. A perfect dinner and some spirits at the fireplace will finish a perfect day. |
| Day 3 |
Today is fully dedicated to the lochs and castles of Scotland. Destination is Loch Ness and everything that comes along with it: Nessie, Urquhart Castle, or the Cobb Memorial. John Cobb was a London fur broker who already held the land speed record timed at more than 390 miles per hour and had decided to take on the double. The world water speed record. On the 29th September 1952 the weather seemed to calm and conditions approached the ideal. A little before noon, Cobb drove his speedboat "Crusader" over the measured mile at 206 miles per hour. The tragedy occurred following the completion of the record as the boat decelerated, seemed to bounce twice and disintegrated. Cobb was still alive when he was recovered from the wreckage and was carried up the hill to Achnahannet where he died. This is a few metres from where the monument now stands. Then we drive along Loch Cluanie to Loch Duich and visit Eilean Donan Castle. The last drive of the day will take you to the most enchanting island of Scotland, the Isle of Skye. Our objective is the Flodigarry Country House Hotel at the northern end of the island near Staffin. Famous Scottish heroine Flora MacDonald made Flodigarry her home – five of her children were raised in a cottage in the grounds of Flodigarry Hotel – come along and stay in Flora MacDonald's cottage and soak up the history. This hotel was awarded “Country House Hotel of the Year” , as well as the “Taste of Scotland/Macallan” Award. The restaurant was honoured with the “Talisker”. |
| Day 4 |
Our first destination today is Dunvegan Castle. Dunvegan Castle has been the stronghold of the Chiefs of MacLeod for nearly 800 years and it remains their home. Built on a Rock once surrounded entirely by salt water, it is unique in Scotland as the only house of such antiquity to have retained its family and its roof throughout the centuries, surviving the extremes of feast and famine, the intermittent periods of warring with neighbouring clans, and the immense changes of social, political and economic life through which the Western Highlands and Islands have passed. After the visit to the castle we will make it to a highly important location of the entire trip: Talisker Scotch Whisky Distillery in Carbost, the one and only whisky distillery on the island. The distillery became famous when it was mentioned in a Robert Louis Stevenson poem written in 1880, 'The Scotsman's Return from Abroad: “The king o' drinks, as I conceive it, Talisker, Islay or Glenlivit”.You then continue heading south along Loch Lochy to Glencoe. It was here when early in the morning of 13 February 1692, during the era of the Glorious Revolution and Jacobitism, the massacre of Glencoe began. The Killing began simultaneously in three settlements along the glen - Invercoe, Inverrigan, and Achacon - although the killing took place all over the glen as fleeing MacDonalds were pursued. Thirty-eight MacDonalds from the Clan MacDonald of Glencoe were killed by the guests who had accepted their hospitality, on the grounds that the MacDonalds had not been prompt in pledging allegiance to the new king, William of Orange. Another forty women and children died of exposure after their homes were burned. We then continue along Loch Linnhe and Loch Creran to Oban. During World War II, Oban was a busy port used by merchant and Royal Navy ships. Near Ganavan was an anti-submarine indicator loop station which detected any surface or submarine vessels between Oban, Mull and Lismore. There was a controlled minefield in the Sound of Kerrera which was controlled from a building near the caravan site at Gallanach. There was also a Royal Air Force flying boat base at Ganavan and on Kerrera. The airfield at Connel was originally built by the Royal Air Force during World War II. A Sector Operations Room was built near the airfield and after the war this was extended to become the Royal Observer Corps Group HQ. We then continue to the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs Nationalpark and the Macdonald Forest Hills Hotel near Kinlochard. |
| Day 5 |
Today you will visit Sterling Castle, the stronghold of the Stuart dynasty. A visit to Stirling Castle is an essential part of any visit to central Scotland. Its location rivals even Edinburgh Castle's for sheer magnificence as it sits on its high volcanic rock, visible for many miles in every direction. During a long and bloody history Stirling Castle has been attacked or besieged at least 16 times. Three battles have been fought in its immediate vicinity, two of which were turning points in Scottish history: and a fourth equally important battle took place just a few miles to the north. A number of Scottish Kings and Queens have been baptised, or crowned, or died within or near Stirling Castle. At least one King was murdered nearby: while another committed murder within its walls. Subsequently we will carry on to the battlefield of Sterling Bridge where William “Braveheart” Wallace annihilated the English army. After that we will have a look at the Wallace Memorial before we continue to the battlefield of Bannockburn. The battle was a significant Scottish victory in the Wars of Scottish Independence. Bannockburn was the decisive blow in establishing the independence of Scotland from England. Although the English refused to recognise the fact until the treaty of Northampton 14 years later, Bannockburn set the seal on Scotland's bid for freedom. Robert the Bruce is rightly remembered as a national hero for his role in ridding Scotland of the English yoke, at least for a time. We will have a look at the monument of battle, the statue of King Robert and the visitor centre. Then we continue to our next and last hotel, the Edinburgh Capital Hotel, where an indoor pool and gym is waiting for you. |
| Day 6 |
Today means heavy work for body and mind. After a rich Scottish breakfast we will head for Edinburgh Castle where you will see the Scottish Crown Jewels, the monster gun Mons Meg and the Great Hall with its terrific armoury. You will then continue with a national shrine, then National War Museum. In order to get a royal glimpse and the “poor” life circumstances of the royal family we will explore the Royal Yacht Britannia. Then we will return to the hotel to recover and to get prepared for the big night out. But before we head for the Edinburgh Military Tattoo we will have dinner in order to survive the world´s greatest military music festival in style. |
| 7.Tag | Return flight to Cologen. Departure time to the airport will be 10.30, the actual take off time is 12.05, arrival time in Cologne will be 14.55. |