August 15 - 27, 2012
12 nights

"Lords of the Isles" - rulers of an independent kingdom in the west of Scotland until the 15th Century. The first ruler known as Lord of the Isles was Somerled, a Viking who ruled all the way from the Isle of Man to the very top of the Outer Hebrides. His descendants, Clan Donald, remained in control of the lands until 1493 when Lord John Macdonald II forfeited the lands, and the title, to James IV of Scotland. The title is traditionally passed to the eldest male child of the reigning monarch, which places Prince Charles as the current Lord of the Isles.

Includes premium tickets to the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo!

Follow the footsteps of Celtic and Viking rulers known as the Lords of the Isles. Edinburgh is our gateway to this island adventure which begins with a performance of the world-famous Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. The journey then proceeds to the island of Mull and the mystical Isle of Iona, the legendary Isle of Skye and the remote and untouched Western Isles of Lewis and Harris. We island-hop until the journey returns to the mainland and the Northwest Coast of Scotland, Britain's Last Wilderness and, as we head south to Edinburgh, a private tour of a very private castle, a drive along Loch Ness, and a steam train journey through the Great Glen on the "Hogwart's Express."

We begin our journey in Scotland's capital city of Edinburgh with a day trip to Stirling Castle and Bannockburn. Stirling Castle was central to the defense of the main route into northern Scotland, and between 1296 and 1314 it changed hands five times. In 1314 Stirling Castle was held by a garrison of Edward II's troops. As Edward marched rapidly north to relieve the garrison, Robert the Bruce chose a site at the crossing of the Bannock Burn to stop the advance of Edward's army. This became one of the most important battles in Scottish history, with Bruce defeating Edward's army and recapturing Stirling Castle for Scotland.

The tour of Stirling Castle includes a visit to the newly-restored Palace for a look at the splendor of the Renaissance period and the astonishing richness of royal life in the 1500s.

The day concludes with a performance of the world-famous Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, a music and cultural extravaganza on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle. The "Tattoo" was conceived and first performed in 1950 as the Army in Scotland's contribution to Edinburgh's International Festivals. Today with its unique blend of music, ceremony, entertainment, and theater set against the magnificent backdrop of Edinburgh Castle, it is without question one of the world's greatest shows.

Departing Edinburgh for Oban, the Gateway to the Isles, we sail to the Isle of Mull. On Mull we visit the mighty stronghold of Duart Castle, home of the McLeans of Duart, for a private tour with Clan Chief Sir Lachlan MacLean. The castle was owned by the Macdonalds until it was given as a dowry for a marriage between the two clans. Accommodations in Tobermory overlook the colorful harbor with brightly-painted shops and houses and stunning sea views.

We have a day trip to Iona, the holy island where St Columba brought Christianity to Scotland, the beautiful abbey, and the graveyard in which 48 Scottish kings are buried, including Macbeth. See the famed medieval Iona Abbey and St Oran's Chapel, built by Somerled in the 12th Century for burial of the Lords of the Isles. Iona's High Crosses date from as far back as the 8th Century. And capping the day is the journey to the small island of Staffa and Fingal's Cave, which inspired Mendelsson to write his Hebrides Overture.

On the Isle of Skye, visit the Museum of the Isles on the traditional lands of Clan Donald, Armadale Castle and Gardens. Trace the history of the Lords of the Isles, the medieval rulers of this Scottish Kingdom. See the Quiraing, a spectacular landslip still in motion on the northern-most summit of the Trotternish Ridge.

View the ruins of Duntulm Castle, the seat of the chief of Clan Donald from the mid-1500's until 1730, and tour Dunvegan Castle, the mighty stronghold of Clan MacLeod for over 800 years. Visit the Museum of Island Life for a step back in time and a look at crofting on Skye in the early 20th Century.

On the isle of Harris we'll see the16th-century St Clement's Church at Rodel, the southern tip of the island, and the burial place for the MacLeods of Harris. We'll walk the lovely turquoise beaches at Seilebost. The unusual landscape in parts of Harris has been compared to the lunar surface -- barren and rock-strewn to the east, but with magnificent coastal scenery and beaches to the west.

A visit to Lewis is not complete without viewing Calanais Stone Circle. Constructed about 3000 BC, it predates Stonehenge and is a mark of a sophisticated culture, the centerpiece of one of the most remarkable megalithic complexes in the world.

In nearby Carloway we find the best preserved broch in the Hebrides. The broch towers of Iron-Age Scotland are a unique architectural invention, circular drystone fortifications which housed families, livestock, sometimes an entire village population against harsh weather and attacking invaders. The famous Arnol Blackhouse, a restored thatched-roof dwelling, was home to crofters and their animals for protection against strong Atlantic gales.

Returning to the mainland, spend two nights in Scourie and explore the northwest coast, the dramatic mountain peaks of Assynt, the legendary practice grounds for the mountain-building Norse gods. Mountains with Norse names of Suilven (The Pillar), Cul Mor (The Big Backoff, or Back Drop), Stac Pollaidh (Steep Rock at the Pool), Canisp (White Mountain) -- stand like sentinels on rocky landscape.

North of Scourie, Durness is home to the spectacular Smoo Cave -- a sea cave which you can explore by foot path from the car park on the cliffs above. Evidence of human occupation has been found which dates back 5000 years. Elsewhere in the area, archaeology suggests Pictish farming settlements more than 2000 years old.

Ardvreck Castle was built by the MacLeods in 1597. In 1672 it was besieged and captured by the Mackenzies chasing a debt. The Mackenzies built Calda House which, in 1737, was burned down when the Earl of Sutherland was trying to collect a debt from them. These two ruins sit almost side-by-side in remote mystery.

Visit Castle Leod, seat of Clan Mackenzie and the oldest intact castle in all of Britain, and have a private tour with the 28th Ancestral Clan Chief, Lord John Cromartie. Hear the story of the Mackenzie ownership, the loss of the castle during the Jacobite Rising, and the intriguing history of how it was reclaimed. Drive along Loch Ness to Urquhart Castle, once the largest castle in Scotland.

Nothing can bring you more of Scotland's history than our private tour of Culloden Battlefield with a local historian who's been an integral part of the new Visitor Center and the accuracy of the history. And nothing can bring you closer to Scotland's fantasy than a ride through the Great Glen on the Jacobite Steam Train, which made a famed appearance in the Harry Potter films as Hogwart's Express.

We pass through the magnificent and eerie Glencoe, well-known for both its inspiring scenery as well as one of the most famous and ill-fated events in Scotland's history. This was the site of the famed Massacre of Glencoe, a stunning breach of Highland hospitality which took place in 1692 against the MacDonalds, the Lords of the Isles.

Bordering on the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, the conservation village of Luss is a lovely setting in which to end our Highland touring. Located on the Bonnie Banks o' Loch Lomond in view of Ben Lomond, the crown jewel of the National Park. See the tiny church which dates back hundreds of years, and the graveyard with Viking burial stones.

Tour begins and ends in Edinburgh. It is suggested that you arrive one day early (August 14) to avoid flight delays and cancellations.

Includes:

• Deluxe motorcoach transportation
• Ensuite accommodations in 4-star properties
• Premium tickets to the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
• Full Scottish breakfast daily (Continental breakfast in Edinburgh)
• Six three-course dinners
• Private tour of Culloden Battlefield
• Private tour of Duart Castle
• Private tour of Castle Leod
• Ferry transportation throughout (eight sailings)
• Professional Blue Badge Guide throughout
• Entrance fees into all sites listed
• Tax of 20%

Price:

• $5,195.00 per person, double occupancy (two sharing one room).
• Single supplement is $850.00 - Single travelers have the option of sharing a room with other singles (if available) to offset this supplement, but this is solely at the discretion of the travelers and not the responsibility of Celtic Journeys.

More information:

• Reservations require a non-refundable deposit of $500.00 per person. Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, PayPal, and checks are accepted forms of payment. Balance is due 60 days prior to departure.
• Airfare is not included; Celtic Journeys can make your arrangements for you with no booking fees.
• Tour begins and ends in Edinburgh; additional hotel nights in Edinburgh are available at reduced rates; booking service is complimentary.
• To book your space or for additional information, contact Judy Lowstuter at judy@celticjourneys.us or call (703) 941-6455. Tour is limited to 16 guests. All tours operate unless there is a natural disaster, airline strike, or travel warning of imminent danger.

Cancellation Policy:

Cancellation insurance is available to protect against cancellation penalties:

• 60 days or more prior to tour date full refund less deposit
• 59-30 days prior to tour date 50% refund less deposit
• 29-15 days prior to tour date 25% refund less deposit
• Cancellations of 14 days or less, no refund