BESPOKE & PERSONAL TOURS

DAY TRIPS IN THE WEST HIGHLANDS AND EXTENDED ITINERARIES THROUGHOUT SCOTLAND.

A HIGHLAND MINI-BREAK

If you are contemplating a visit to Scotland but hesitate if you think about all the driving;if you would rather avoid the crowds and the queues at the airport then Tailored Tours has an alternative. Travelling from London to the Highlands of Scotland with the Caledonian Sleeper recalls something of the romance of travel from a past era; it is a great way to make the journey and more like an extra part of your break than the hassles of the airport experience.

The Sleeper runs nightly (excepting Saturdays ) between London's Euston Station and Scotland with routes up to both Fort William, Inverness and Aberdeen. Departure time is at a civilised hour (just after 9.00 pm with facility to board half an hour before that), which gives you the option of eating before arrival at the station with time to have a nightcap in the saloon car or indeed after checking into your cabin before taking yourself to the saloon car for a late supper. The new generation of trains offers en suite accommodation options and all you need to do is book your wake-up call from the attendant early if you want breakfast on board.

Our proposal for your mini-break :

DAY 1 Leave from Euston on the Thursday night to be met at Upper Tyndrum, one of those unique stations seemingly in the middle of nowhere. Lord Gray will be there at 8.00 the next morning to meet you and you will travel during your visit in a comfortable, spacious Mercedes Vito Tourer. Our plan is to give you just a short bit of touring en route to a top recommended hotel; the road we follow climbs to the bleak expanse of Rannoch Moor. Then as craggy peaks appear ahead, we drop down into Glen Coe. This is a unique place, forever associated with a bloody episode in Scotland's history. We make a short stop to take it all in.

Emerging at the edge of Loch Leven, we take the coast road along the shores of Loch Linnhe. This ribbon of tidal water leads us all the way south via Appin and so to your hotel.

DAY 2 You can opt for a gentle day of touring for just a few hours so that you can also make the most of relaxing at your hotel. There is a chance to visit the port town of Oban with its own distillery and a busy ferry terminal linking Hebridean islands to the mainland. We drive up to McCaigs Tower for a great panoramic harbour view.

Later we travel through the tranquil surroundings of Glen Lonan to the village of Taynuilt where we discover an unexpected monument to our nation's industrial past. Finally we offer a unique private visit to the studios of two local artists.

The Plan B is a full-day trip by ferry to the Isle of Mull

DAY 3 An opportunity to see some of the legacy of the powerful Campbell family in this part of Scotland. Travelling to the shores of Loch Awe, we visit the architectural gem of St Conan's Kirk, followed by a short hike out to the ruins of Kilchurn Castle at the northern end of the loch. A short onward drive brings us to Inveraray for a tour of the stately 18th Century castle, home to the Duke of Argyll, chief of the Campbell Clan. On display is an impressive armoury, portraits, porcelain and significant historical artefacts.

DAY 4 Dependent on your plans, this final day offers you a full day to relax at your hotel before the drive to Tyndrum for the return journey on the Caledonian Sleeper to London. For an alternative Plan B, enjoy a day of touring north via the Great Glen, travelling alongside the Caledonian Canal and the shores of Loch Ness to catch the train from Inverness.

Note : price & availability for sleeper / accommodation confirmed at time of booking enquiry. Touring costs @ £320.00 per day