ITINERARY

Day 1: Friday 7th April
We depart from BISC at 10.00am and travel by coach to the north of England. En-route we stop for late lunch at the seaside resort of Blackpool before heading to Cumbria’s beautiful Lake District. We spend the night in Troutbeck Valley in Windermere Youth Hostel, which is situated on the hillside offering panoramic views of the Lakeland mountains, as well as Lake Windermere.

Day 2: Saturday 8th April
We travel north to Glasgow, Scotland’s second city, known for its famous architecture, museums and art galleries. Here we take a guided sightseeing tour with a professional Scottish guide. Then there’s plenty of free time to soak up the atmosphere and explore this cosmopolitan city for yourself. We spend the night at Glasgow’s Youth Hostel.

Day 3: Sunday 9th April
Today, whilst travelling from Glasgow to Oban, we pass through some of the most scenic parts of Scotland, including the Trossachs National Park along the banks of Loch Lomond, and the dramatic landscape of Glencoe. In the morning we visit Inveraray Courthouse & Jail, dating back to 1820. Then we continue through stunning scenery and find the award winning eco-friendly Glencoe Visitors Centre nestled into the landscape at the foot of the glen, where we make a stop and learn about the Glencoe massacre of 1962. We travel onto the port town of Oban on the west coast where we spend our third night.

Day 4: Monday 10th April
A ferry ride across the the Isle of Mull, takes us to the secluded monastic island of Iona. With its stunning landscape of white sandy beaches and dramatic changing light, Iona is one of the most sacred sites in Britain. It was here in AD 563 that St Columba and his followers arrived from Ireland to spread the Christian message throughout Scotland. Our visit includes a guided tour of the recently restored Abbey. We spend the night in Glen Nevis Youth Hostel, in Fort William, at the foot of the Ben Nevis mountain range.

Day 5: Tuesday 11th April
Loch Ness, possibly Scotland’s most famous stretch of water, is home to the Loch Ness Monster, or is it? We find out the real story at the Loch Ness Visitors situated in the small stone village of Drumnadrochit. After lunch we visit Urquhart Castle, once one of Scotland’s largest castles, magnificently situated on the banks of Loch Ness. Urquhart’s remains include a tower house that commands splendid views of the famous loch and Great Glen. We return to Fort William where we spend a second night at Glen Nevis Youth Hostel.

Day 6: Wednesday 12th April
The Scots are well known for their love of whisky –the national drink, so no trip to Scotland would be complete without a visit to a whisky distillery. In the morning we enjoy a conducted tour of the distillery’s production areas by a trained guide concluding with a complementary tasting session! In the afternoon we visit the beautiful Glamis Castle –a royal residence since 1372, and childhood home of the late Queen Mother. It was also the legendary setting for Shakespeare's famous play 'Macbeth' and is now family home to the Earls of Strathmore and Kinghome. We stay the night in Edinburgh at Eglinton Youth Hostel.

Day 7: Thursday 13th April
Perched on an extinct volcano and offering stunning views, Edinburgh Castle is a majestic landmark which dominates the capital city's skyline just as it has dominated Scotland's long and colourful history. Take your time to explore the castle, whose rich mix of architectural styles reflects the castle's complex history. Visit the tiny St Margaret's Chapel (Edinburgh's oldest building), Crown Square, the Great Hall and Scottish National War Memorial all within the castle walls. Don’t miss the one o’ clock cannon! We provide you with a ticket to an open top bus tour, valid for 24hours to allow you to get around the city with ease. We stay in Edinburgh for a second night at Eglinton Youth Hostel.

Day 8: Friday 14th April
Enjoy more free time in Edinburgh before returning to the Lake District, via Gretna Green - the worlds number one marriage venue, also famous for its Old Blacksmiths Shop. We spend our last night at Ambleside Youth Hostel on the shores of the beautiful Lake Windermere in Cumbria.

Day 9: Saturday 15th April
We leave the Lake District and travel south for Bristol, arriving home at approximately 3pm.

Download Scotland Holiday programme (pdf) to print out.

NB: This programme may change slightly depending on weather conditions and other unforseen circumstances.

The BISC Scotland Holiday 2006 includes return luxury coach travel, accommodation, breakfast, evening meals, AND admission costs to the many places we visit. The cost is £399. To book your place on what promises to be a memorable holiday, simply fill in the attached form and return it to BISC with a non-returnable deposit of £100. The balance must be paid in full by 7th February 2006.
Arrangements can be made to pay by instalments. Speak to the BISC Coordinator for details.