TRAVEL - TOURS - Vacations
For Singles in their 30's 40's and 50's
Scotland is a land where history, legends and magical tales blend together against a backdrop of spectacular scenery, fairytale castles and wild open places. From great castles to humble crofts, high mountains to tranquil sealochs, battlefields echoing to their cries of long ago to the peace of exotic gardens - Journey with our singles travel group and discover all Scotland has to offer.
Scotland Highlands - Glasgow and Edinburgh
11 Days - 9 Nights - July 17th - July 27th 2008
$2490.00
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Itinerary
Day One - Thursday - July 17
Depart from your home city - airfare not included but help is gladly given
Day Two - Friday - July 18
Glasgow
Arrive in Glasgow Scotland in the morning and meet the other singles and solo travelers.
Our singles tour begins with an afternoon tour of Glasgow.
Glasgow is an architectural dream: Victorian red & honey sandstone, Italianate steeples and medieval spires sit harmoniously with neo-Gothic towers, art nouveau of and the titanium, glass and steel of the contemporary city
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Glasgow Cathedral is the oldest building in Glasgow. Structurally, it dates largely from the end of the 13th century. It also incorporates features, some of them visible, others beneath the surface, from earlier cathedrals of the 12th century. There are also two additions dating from the 15th century
Dinner at Hotel
Day Three - Saturday - July 19
Loch Lommond - Fort William - Portree
Loch Lomond has the largest surface area of fresh water in the UK. The Loch is 24 miles long and five miles wide and at its deepest point is some 600 feet deep. Loch Lomond must be the worlds most famous Loch and has been much written about, both in song and verse. The area is renowned for its beauty and tranquility and offers picture postcard views around every corner.
Fort William has everything you could possibly need while in the Highlands. The High Street has a reasonable range of shops and a wide range of eating establishments (Lunch on own)
Portree is the main town on Skye, one of the largest and best known Scottish islands. The singles tour continues with an afternoon excursion on Skye, a magical land of mountains and museums, lochs and legends. Experience the wonders of the natural world seeing otters, eagles and unique rock formations.
Day Four - Sunday - July 20
Poolewe - Ullapool
Poolewe was at one time one of the most significant ports in north west Scotland. Now it is famous for the Inverewe Gardens.
The garden was begun in the 19th century by Osgood Mackenzie a member of the Mackenzie of Gairloch family.
Ullapool is a picturesque fishing village, that has restaurants, shops, cafes, bars, Live entertainment, Museum & Library, sea fishing and loch fishing. Your afternoon is free to take a boat trip on Loch Broom, a hike up Ullapool Hill or just relax in one of the friendly pubs.
Day Five - Monday - July 21
Durness - Betty Hill - Thurso
Durness is the most north westerly village on mainland Scotland. There will be an orientation tour of the village and then we will visit Smoo Cave, a sea cave where evidence has been found of human occupation dating back 5000 years.
As we continue touring on the best scenic route Scotland has to offer, we will have a village tour of Bettyhill with it's magnificent views.
Thurso is the most northerly town on the British mainland and by far the largest settlement on the north coast. Near the harbor are the 17th-century ruins of Old St Peter's Church which dates back to 1220 and the Thurso Heritage Museum which exhibits the intricately carved Pictish Skinnet Stone.
Day 6 - Tuesday - July 22
Stromness - Orkney Island
Our singles tour begins early today with a ferry to Stromness where we have all day to discover this mysterious place. When in Orkney you’ll feel touched by the power of the sea and by the power of the past. With 5,000 years of culture, there is history around every corner. Wherever you are, you can literally touch the past as you run your hand across rock hewn thousands of years ago.
Twenty-seven stones remain of an original sixty in the impressive stone circle, known as Ring of Brodgar. The Stones of Stenness are just a part of a ring of 12 tall stones and a surrounding ditch placed here some time between 3000BC and 2500BC. Maes Howes, the Stone Age burial chamber provides insight into the Orkneys' prehistoric past, dating from 2500 B.C. The interior of this grass-covered grave is vast, wait to you see the entrance!
Ferry to Scrabster where our bus awaits to take us back to Thurso.
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If you are planning on visiting Scotland on your own, this is a great resource for Scotland Hotels
Seat of the Earls and Dukes of Sutherland, Though there are many villages and towns in the Highlands, but only one city - Inverness. Then we have free time to visit the indoor Victorian Market which has shops selling Belgian chocolates, jewellery, needlework, toys, clothes, Scottish souvenirs, and Heraldic Art & Design which offers coats of arms, family crests, etc. The small town of Nairn, situated on the coast of the Moray Firth, has a rich history as a fishing port and as a holiday resort dating back to Victorian times. It is where we will spend the next two nights. No holiday in Scotland is complete without a visit to Loch Ness. Over 20 miles long, a mile wide and 700 feet at its deepest, Loch Ness is the largest body of water in Scotland by volume, a great place for a monster to hide. The magnificently situated Urquhart Castle, remains an impressive stronghold despite its ruinous state. Once one of Scotland’s largest castles, Urquhart’s remains include a tower house that commands splendid views of Loch Ness and Great Glen. Next we tour the Culloden battlefield and visitor centre. On the April 16 1746, this bleak moor saw the end of the Jacobite Rising of 1745 when the army of Prince Charles Edward Stuart was defeated by a government army. Clava Cairns is one of the best preserved Bronze Age burial sites in Scotland. A cemetery complex of passage graves, ring cairns, kerb cairn and standing stones remain. There is a chapel of unknown date. Stirling Castle is the grandest of Scotland's castles. 250 feet above on an extinct volcano, Stirling became the strategic military key during the Wars of Independence and was the favourite royal residence of many of the Stuart Monarchs. Many events from Scotland's past took place at Stirling Castle, including the violent murder of the eighth Earl of Douglas. Mary Queen of Scots spent her childhood in the castle and Mary's coronation took place in the Chapel Royal in 1543. Argyll’s Lodging is Scotland’s most splendid and complete example of a 17th century townhouse. Situated on the upper approaches to Stirling Castle, its fine architecture marks it out as a property intended for a great nobleman serving the royal court. One of the city's most distinctive landmarks, Edinburgh castle is perched high up in the city centre on the craggy remains of an extinct volcano. It was believed to have been the site of an Iron Age fort. Among its attractions are the Great Hall, a great siege gun Mons Meg, and the tiny room where Mary Queen of Scots gave birth to James VI of Scotland and I of England. It is still used by the British army
Price Singles Tour of Scotland Includes
Deposit For More Information or Book Trip
Day 7 - Wednesday - July 23
Golspie -Inverness - Inverness-Nairn
Today our singles travel group visit castles...
Dunrobin castle sits looking out across the North Sea. With 189 rooms, it is the largest house in the Northern Highlands. Parts of it date back to the 1300s and the garden was designed in 1850. On the grounds is a Museum, originally built as a Summer House, housing a collection of Hunting Trophies, Pictish Stones and items from all over the world.
Falconry displays are held daily. During the half hour display majestic Birds of Prey fly over and close to your heads. You will learn about the sport of falconry and the birds of prey flown.
Inverness Castle was built on the site of an earlier fortress in 1835 and sits on a low cliff overlooking the river. At the Castle Garrison Encounter we can journey back to 1745, enlist in the Regiment and meet some of its other characters live. St Andrew's Cathedral situated on the banks of river Ness provides a scenic setting. The oldest church in the area is Old High Church on St Michael's Mount.
Day 8 - Thursday - July 24
Loch Ness (Urquhart) - Culloden
Today our singles travel group has 2 tours:
A game of golf, a walk along the beach, visit the nature preserve or just relax are some of your options for your free time tonight in Nairn.
Day 9 - Friday - July 25
Stirling - Edinburgh 
As we enter Edinburgh we will have an orientantion tour of the city and then have the evening free to explore Edinburgh at night
Day 10 - Saturday - July 26
Edinburgh
The Hop on-Hop off bus is a great way to see the city of Edinburgh. You can stay with the group or explore on your own. Tour highlights include Edinburgh Castle, St Gile’s Cathedral, Burns Monument, National Gallery and the Palace of Holyrood House.
Optional Dinner - Scottish Dinner & Show
Day 11 - Sunday - July 27
United States
Say goodbye to all your single and solo friends, depart for the airport and the end of another great singles travel tour.
$2,490 per person*
• 9 Nights in Deluxe Class hotels
• 11 Breakfasts - 1 Dinner
• Round trip airport transfers
• Motorcoach and driver
• Sightseeing, cultural activities listed above
• Baggage handling, hotel taxes and service charges
*Double Occupany - Best Single Travel provides Roommate Matching Service so there is never a need to pay a single supplement. If you decide to room solo it is $850 extra.
Deposit - $400 holds space - due now
Balance - $1890 due May 15th
Call
877 -84-TRIPS
877 848-7477
or email
sheryl@bestsingletravel.com
