ITINERARY FOR SHEILA AND CAROLINE

The Howard offers a truly unique experience, with private butler, beautiful surroundings and just minutes from Princess Street and Edinburgh Castle. The Howard is a firm favourite with our North American clients, many of whom refuse to stay anywhere else!

David Wardell will meet them at Edinburgh Airport and bring them straight to the hotel. Depending on time of arrival there may be an opportunity to tour the city, or just to look at some of the sites in the neighbourhood.

This is the official residence in Scotland of Her Majesty the Queen and was once home to Mary Queen of Scots. The Palace stands at the end of Edinburgh ’s Royal Mile. The Royal apartments are used by the Queen for state ceremonies and official entertaining. The new Queen’s Gallery was opened recently by Her Majesty. The Gallery provides a state-of-the-art facility to enable exhibitions of the most delicate works of art from the Royal Collection to be seen in Scotland for the first time. As the palace is a working royal palace, opening arrangements may change at short notice. The Scottish Parliament A striking addition to the Old Town Skyline, the building is architecturally stunning, set among beautiful public gardens. The Royal Mile The famous cobbled street linking the Castle with The Palace of Holyroodhouse and passing St. Giles High Kirk, John Knox House, The Scotch Whisky Heritage Centre, Camera Obscura and many other museums and historic buildings of interest. Divert via The Grassmarket which retains the feel of a medieval market square. Stroll round the cobbled streets with spectacular views of Edinburgh Castle . The Grassmarket was where public executions took place and the gallows site is marked by a plaque. The adjoining Victoria Street, West Bow, Candlemaker Row and West Port offer a great choice of eating places and unique shops, including traditional Scottish gifts and antiques.


The Grassmarket	Holyrood	Edinburgh Castle

Edinburgh Castle Scotland 's top visitor attraction, stands high upon an extinct volcano. See the Scottish Crown Jewels and Stone of Destiny in the Castle's Royal Apartments. Birthplace of James VI, son of Mary, Queen of Scots, he became the first Stuart King of England after the Union of the Crowns in 1603. Look for the tiny St. Margaret's Chapel, Edinburgh 's oldest building. Listen for the One O'clock Gun, fired daily from Mills Mount Battery. Princes Street - Edinburgh's main shopping throughfare contrasting with the tranquility of Princes Street Gardens.

New Town - Edinburgh 's elegant Georgian New Town designed over 200 years ago by James Craig. He was awarded a certificate, a medal and Freedom of The City for his winning design. Consider visiting the Royal Botanic Garden, and the Newhaven Heritage Museum on the waterfront, or go out to The Royal Yacht Britannia before returning to your hotel.

May 10th Visit Glamis Castle, the legendary setting of "Macbeth" and childhood home of the Queen Mother. Head through the scenic Grampian Mountains to visit 13th Century Blair Castle, home of the Earls and Dukes of Atholl. Blair Castle, where over 700 years of Scottish history awaits you in 32 rooms of infinite variety display beautiful furniture, fine paintings, arms and armour, china, costumes, lace and embroidery, masonic regalia, Jacobite relics and other unique treasures, and Eradour Distillery, the smallest distillery in the world. Visit a salmon ladder. Travel on to Inverness to overnight at Bunchrew House Hotel


Glamis	The world's smallest distillery	Blair Atrholl

	Bunchrew

This magnificent 17th. century Scottish mansion, is situated just outside Inverness on the shores of the Beauly Firth with breathtaking views of the Black Isle and Ben Wyvis to the north. It is surrounded by 20 acres of beautiful gardens and woodlands. This historic building attracts much interest and was originally built by the 8th. Lord Lovat in 1621. The extremely high standards I have come to know at Bunchrew House Hotel are maintained under the capable supervision of General Manager Gill Omand. Head chef Walter Walker (complete with own vegetable and herb garden) takes great pride in providing traditional Scottish food - his expectations are high and there is a dedicated approach here which I have sampled myself. Well balanced combinations with clear and defined flavours.

May 11th Culloden Battlefield - The story begins on the outskirts of Inverness with a visit to the eerily quiet Culloden Moor Here you will find an excellent visitor centre, which tells the story of the doomed Jacobite Rising of 1745 that came to its bloody conclusion on this windswept moor. Cawdor Castle is regarded by many as one of Scotland's finest Castles, and is famous for its rich furnishings and interiors, as well as its beautifully laid out gardens. Linked with 'MacBeath' by Shakespeare, this

fairy tales castle remains the home of the Cawdor family. For a comfortable day explore the the world of Speyside with famous names such as Balvenie, Glenlivet and Glenfiddich. For an extended day continue South to Deeside. In the heart of Scotland lies the magnificent valley of the River Dee. Rising high in the Cairngorm Mountains and running east to its mouth at Aberdeen the river flows through some of Scotland's finest scenery. Midway, in the shadow of Lochnagar mountain, lies royal Balmoral Castle, summer home of the Royal Family. Hence the name Royal Deeside. Return to Bunchrew House. We may have a very special treat today - but good surprises are best kept to the last minute.

May 12th Take a cruise on Lough Ness and see if you can spot the monster, Visit Urquarht Castle, and overnight at Inverlochy Castle. Arrive early enough to enjoy some of the facilities there. Nestling in the foothills of the mighty Ben Nevis, Inverlochy Castle sits amidst some of Scotland's finest scenery. Inverlochy was built in 1863 by the first Lord Abinger, near the site of the original 13th century fortress. In September 1873 during a trip to Balmoral, Queen Victoria spent a week at Inverlochy sketching and painting where she wrote in her diaries 'I never saw a lovelier or more romantic spot'. Inverlochy had been a private residence for over a hundred years until 1969 when it was converted from a family home to Scotland's finest country house hotel. There are various activities and attractions both at the hotel and close by.

May 13th Over the Sea to Skye - At 132 miles this is a fairly long day which, because it entails a ferry crossing, requires a little planning: but it is do-able within a day. Despite the attractions of Glenfinnan and its Monument, you'll probably want to get within easy reach of Mallaig before thinking about doing much exploring. That's no hardship because the stretch of coast north from Arisaig to Mallaig - "The Silver Sands of Morar" - is one of the most attractive in the country. The main road linking the two now travels well inland, but if you have time in hand you really should travel along the old single track coast road north of Arisaig. The ferry from Mallaig lands you at Armadale, on Skye's Sleat Peninsula. This is a fascinating area, which comes complete with the Clan Donald Centre. Parts of the A851 from Armadale north to the A87 near Broadford remain single track. Broadford itself lies only a mile or two west of the point at which you meet the A87, but the direct route lies the other way, back towards the mainland. Kyle is well worth exploring in its own right, but it also serves as the start of our suggested excursion to Plockton, a beautiful village which, apart from its magnificent and distinctly highland scenery, might feel as much at home around a bay in Cornwall. East of Kyle of Lochalsh the A87 follows the north shore of Loch Alsh before crossing the arm of Loch Long and following the shore of Loch Duich. On the shore of Loch Long you find the tiny settlement of Dornie with, nearby, Eilean Donan Castle: one of Scotland's three most photographed castles (with Stirling Castle and Edinburgh Castle). It comes as a surprise to discover that today's castle was largely build in the early 1900s on the ruins that had been left after bombardment by the Royal Navy to dislodge Spanish troops in a little known engagement in 1719. West of the head of Loch Duich the road climbs steadily up Glen Shiel and the scenery includes some of the most magnificent mountains in the western highlands. On your left are the Five Sisters of Kintail, while to your right is the South Glen Shiel Ridge. Further on you pass the Cluanie Inn then travel along the north shore of Loch Cluanie. Not far beyond the east end of Loch Cluanie is more wonderful scenery to Invergarry. Then around the base of Aonach Mor and Ben Nevis back to Inverlochy.

May 14th Tour to Gleneagles - Pass the atmospheric and brooding Glencoe, scene of the notorious 1692 Massacre. A possible visit to Dunblane as you tour to Stirling, where you should investigate Stirling Castle, a fortress that seems to grow from volcanic rock and the Wallace Monument (Braveheart).

Guests often debate whether staying at the Gleneagles Hotel is more relaxing than vigorous or the other way round. There are walks, horse riding, shooting, fishing, falconry, off-road driving, tennis, croquet, mountain biking - all with expert help and tuition. The national falconry centre is also here. Nearby are some more of Scotland’s finest distilleries

Wednesday May 16th Explore Glasgow this morning - Head to the centre of Glasgow City centre and start your tour at George Square, a spacious piazza dotted with trees and flower-beds and surrounded by wide streets, which was also the heart of Victorian Glasgow. At its centre is the 80ft (24m) high column and statue to Sir Walter Scott who, in truth, had little to do with the town. The column had been intended for a statue of George III but his failure to preserve the American Colonies along with Glasgow's lucrative tobacco trade, saw this favoured plinth given to someone else. Statues of Queen Victoria, Robert Burns and, the famous Scottish inventor, James Watt, surround Sir Walter, besides hundreds of pigeons. The influence of the great architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh is everywhere. Sir William Burrell was a wealthy Glasgow shipping magnate who, using the fortune amassed from the astute timing of the sale of his fleet, spent his life travelling the world in search of works of art and antiquities that he liked. The Burrell is now one of the most popular galleries in Britain . Chinese ceramics, Persian carpets, medieval European furniture and stained glass along with modern painting and sculpture make it one of the most diverse collections of artefacts found anywhere in the world. Ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt are also well represented. Pollock House is in the same grounds as the Burrell, built in 1750 and housing one of the finest collections of Spanish paintings in this country. There are woodland areas and a pleasant river in front of the house. Transfer to Glaggow Airport/. Fly to Dublin.

Thursday May 17th A day touring Dublin city centre, visiting its ancient highlights. Dublin has long been a centre of art and culture. Stroll through the elegant Georgian streets of Merrion and Fitzwilliam Squares, shop in the elegant emporiums of Grafton Street and Powerscourt Townhouse, and explore the collections of the National Museum and National Gallery, the Irish Museum of Modern Art, and many fine small private collections. The range of art and artefacts is enormous, and you will have no problem spending many hours enthralled. The city is over a thousand years old, and many of the towns and settlements that surround it are equally ancient. Successive centuries have left their distinctive overlays of character and architecture which means that Dublin has a wealth of historically significant and fascinating sights to explore such as Dublin Castle, where the Normans ruled from the 12th Century, St Patrick's Cathedral, of which Jonathan Swift was Dean, and Trinity College, famous for The Book of Kells and for its alumni who include Oscar Wilde and Oliver Goldsmith. And no visit to Dublin could be complete without visiting either the Old Whiskey Distillery or the Guinness Storehouse!

Trinity College Founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth. Among many famous students to attend the college were playwrights Oliver Goldsmith and Samuel Beckett. Trinity's lawns and cobbled quads provide a pleasant haven in the hearth of the city. The major attractions are the Old Library and the Book of Kells, housed in the Treasury.

Dublin Castle Built between 1208 and 1220, this complex is the oldest surviving architecture in the city, and has been the centre of power in Ireland for over 8 centuries.

St. Patrick's Cathedral Ireland 's largest church was founded beside a sacred well where St. Patrick is said to have baptised converts around 450A.D. A stone slab bearing a Celtic cross and covering the well was un-earthed in the 1900s. It is now preserved in the west end of the cathedral's nave.

Powerscourt Town House Centre The townhouse of a famous Georgian family. Today the building houses one of the cities nicest shopping centres. Explore the Great Georgian Squares and Doorways.; Visit the famous Phoenix Park, Home of our President Mary McAllesse; See the delights of the city of Roddy Doyle, James Joyce, Brendan Behan, Sean O' Casey, Oscar Wilde and Nobel Prize winners W.B Yeats, George B. Shaw and Samuel Beckett.; See Guinness Brewery, O' Connell Street; The U2 Wall, The National Museum & Gallery. And of course Molly Malone herself

"In Dublins fair city, where the girls are so pretty, I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone As she wheeled her wheel-barrow, through streets broad & narrow, Crying cockles & mussels, alive, alive o!"

Friday May 18th A special VIP tour of Waterford Crystal. Visit the Dunbrody, a replica of the type sailing ship that brought immigrants from Europe to America in the mid 19th Century. The Kennedy homestead is just south of New Ross. Further down the peninsula are the gardens of Kilmokea at Campile, Dunbrody Castle, & Tintern Abbey.

During the evening ballooning over Co Wicklow, which allow you to discover the beauty of the “Garden of Ireland”

Saturday May 19th County Wicklow , known as the Garden of Ireland , is 750 square miles of rolling hills, mountains, and waterfalls. Visit Powerscourt House and Gardens, located in a stunning natural setting at Enniskerry, Co. Wicklow, approximately 45 minutes from Dublin city centre. A magnificent period home dating from mid 18th century, overlooking wonderful terraced gardens and an ornamental lake, Powerscourt House was partially destroyed by fire in 1974. A long restoration project ensued during which the ballroom and the garden rooms were rebuilt. On site at Powerscourt is also Ireland 's premier shopping emporium "Avoca Hand Weavers". Explore Glendalough, follow in the footsteps of Saint Kevin, who established this spectacular 6th century monastic settlement, deep within the Wicklow Mountains , surrounded on all sides by steep mountain passes. Glendalough the valley of two lakes is one of the most spectacular & mystical locations to visit in Ireland . Explore the round towers, cathedrals, high crosses, Overnight Rathsallagh

Tour to the borders of Counties Cavan and Fermanagh, to stay at Farnham House, a stately home on a huge country estate now run as a very good 4* hotel. This route brings you through some of the richest farmlands of Ireland and you will pass many great houses and country seats. On the way visit the gardens of Ballinlough Castle, the home of the Nugent family since the Norman period, have a pub lunch at the Wattle Bridge, and in the afternoon explore Crom Castle as the private guests of The Earl of Erne. Dinner and overnight at Farnham House.


Ballinlough Castle	Farnham House	Crom Castle

Explore some of the delights around Enniskillen – There are two wonderful stately homes now in the care of the National Trust – Lord Belmores’s Castle Coole and Lord Eniskillen’s Florence Court. In the mountains above Lough Erne is some lovely scenery where the River Shannon rises. And at the end of lough Erne is the village of Belleek with its famous porcelain fastory. Return to Farnham

Wednesday May 23rd Travel through the lakelands of Ireland, stopping to visit the gardens of Strokestown House and maybe the very emotional famine museum. Strokestown in County Roscommon is situated in a beautiful part of the county, and is noted for its wide streets. It is said that they were made this way because the second Lord Hartland wanted to make his village thoroughfare even wider than the Ringstrasse in Vienna. The town was built up around Strokestown Park House, which was built in the 1730s. The garden boasts the longest herbaceous border in the world! On to Knock.The word Knock comes from the Irish 'Cnoc' meaning hill. Knock village is one of the world's major marian shrines. Over one million pilgrims come here annually to worship at the place where, on August 21st 1879, fifteen people claimed to have seen a vision of the Blessed Virgin, St Joseph , and St John. This took place at the gable end of the church. to one side was a simple altar on which stood a haoled lamb and a cross. The vision was declared genuine following a commission of enquiry organised by the local Archbishop. A recent addition to the church is the Chapel of Reconciliation where pilgrims can find a peaceful haven. Lunch here. Then carry on to Ashford Castle for the night.

Thursday May 24th More falconry at Ashford and maybe a visit to Ballintubber Abbey, known as the abbey that refused to die, or a cruise of Killary Fjord. Return to Ashford for the night.

Friday May 25th From Galway travel across the Burren . Visit Bunratty Castle and folk park on the way.. Limerick is a busy city and has several major attractions - the Hunt Museum in the 18th century customs house, King John's Castle, St Mary's Cathedral and the Georgian House on Pery Square. After Limerick head out towards Adare. There are three abbeys here as well as the Desmond Castle Stay at Glin Castle, The home of The 27th Knight of Glin and run by his as a very luxurious 15 bedroomed hotels. The Harvarvard educated Knight, known as Desmond, is Irelands greatest expert on Art and Antiques and used to run the furniture galleries in London's Victoria and Albert Museum. There is too much to see today, so treat the itinerary as more of a menu than a what to do!!


The Burren	Bunratty	Bunratty

Adare	Yeat's Tower	Limerick Castle

Glin Castle		Glin Castle

Make an expedition to Lough Gur and maybe as far as Cashel in Tipperary Cashel is a limestone outcrop rising from the plain and crowned by the cathedral and round tower. Sheltering at its foot is Bru Boru, a entertainment of Irish music and dance. The back road to Cahir, through Golden, will bring you past the riverside ruins of Athassel Abbey and the legendary Motte of Knockgraffon. Cahir has a huge castle in a fine state of repair and a wonderful "Swiss Cottage" built as a folly in the Regency period. It is also a centre of antique shopping.

Alternatively visit Listowel, an Irish literary centre, where there are several delightful linch spots. Then to Killarney to enjoy the gardens of Muckross which will be a blaze of Rododendron.


	Muckross


Dunblane	Glencoe	Stirling Castle


The Giant's Causeway	Armagh	Bushmills