August 20 to August 30, 2010
10 nights
Ten nights of following the footsteps of Celtic and Viking rulers, to the dramatic and legendary Isle of Skye and the remote and untouched Western Isles of Lewis and Harris. The adventure begins in Edinburgh with a performance of the world-famous Edinburgh Military Tattoo,
a music and cultural extravaganza on the esplanade of the Castle.
Island-hop until the journey comes back to the mainland and Inverness, the Capital of the Highlands, and ending with a day trip to the mystical island of Iona.
On the Isle of Skye, visit the Museum of the Isles on the traditional lands of Clan Donald. Trace the history of the Lords of the Isles, the medieval rulers of this Scottish Kingdom. See the magnificence of the Quiraing, a spectacular landslip still in motion on the northernmost summit of the Trotternish Ridge. View the spectacular ruins of Duntulm Castle, the seat of the chief of Clan Donald from the mid-1500's until 1730, and move along to tour Dunvegan Castle, the mighty stronghold of Clan MacLeod for over 800 years. We'll visit the Museum of Island Life for a step back in time to the story of crofting on Skye.
On the isle of Harris we'll visit a weaver's cottage for a look at the making of the authentic Harris Tweed. 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 we'll spend two nights near the Capital of the Highlands with accommodations in a castle. Nothing can bring you more of Scotland's history than a private tour of Culloden Battlefield with a local, and now famous, historian. Our guide is co-writer of a mini-series being aired on Scottish Television and the History Channel. Having lived near Culloden all of his life, he will take you back in time to the events that led to the Battle and the devastation brought on the Highland clans in the aftermath.
And capping the tour is 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 the burials of the Lords of the Isles. Iona's High Crosses date from as far back as the 8th century.
Highlights in a Nutshell: Edinburgh Military Tattoo / Glencoe / Glenfinnan / Isle of Skye: Clan Donald Centre and Museum of the Isles, Trotternish Peninsula, Kilt Rock, Old Man of Storr, Mealt Falls, Duntulm Castle, Museum of Island Life, Flora Macdonald's grave, the Fairy Glen, Uig Bay, Dunvegan Castle / Isle of Harris: St Clement's Church at Rodel, Harris Tweed Weaver / Isle of Lewis: Calanais Stone Circle, Carloway Broch, Gearrannan Village, Arnol Blackhouse, Butt of Lewis and lighthouse / Inverness: Private tour of Culloden Battlefield and the new Visitor Centre, Balnuaran of Clava - a complex Neolithic cemetery / Iona: The Abbey, St Oran's Chapel, and the Isle of Mull.
Includes:
- Ensuite accommodations in 4-star properties, including a castle
- Full Scottish breakfast daily
- Four three-course dinners
- Tickets to the Edinburgh Military Tattoo
- "Lords of the Isles" presentation by Ray Owens of Highland Voices, renowned Scottish historian and author
- Deluxe motorcoach transportation
- Ferry transportation
- Cruise on Loch Ness
- Private guides on Lewis, Harris, Skye, and at Culloden
- Entrance fees into all sites listed
- Taxes of 17.5%
- Limited to 16 Guests
More information: E-mail Judy@CelticJourneys.us or phone (703) 941-6455
