Your tour today begins with a panoramic tour of the city of Edinburgh. See the Georgian Architecture of the New Town, Princes Street and drive down parts of the famous medieval Royal Mile with the imposing Edinburgh Castle at one end and the 17th century Palace of Holyroodhouse at the other. The Palace was the home of Mary Queen of Scots and is now the King’s official residence in Edinburgh.  Drive up to one of the city’s high vantage points for some spectacular views over the city before visiting the castle. This majestic landmark which dominates the capital city’s skyline just as it has dominated Scotland’s long and colorful history, is the best known and most visited of Scotland’s historic buildings. Perched on an extinct volcano and offering stunning views, this instantly recognizable fortress is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Once inside, you will have the opportunity to see the castle’s many different architectural styles, reflecting its importance throughout the history of Scotland, with the oldest section dating back to the 12th century. Also take the opportunity to view the Crown Jewels of Scotland and the Stone of Destiny. You will be transferred to the airport.

Please note:  Bring local currency, a light jacket or cardigan as it can be windy at Edinburgh Castle. Any guests with limited mobility wishing to see the Crown Jewels can ask for a guide to take them up in the lift instead of the stairs.  Airport drop off for guests with flights no later than 3:00PM.       

 

 

Your tour today begins with a panoramic tour of the city of Edinburgh. See the Georgian Architecture of the New Town, Princes Street and drive down parts of the famous medieval Royal Mile with the imposing Edinburgh Castle at one end and the 17th century Palace of Holyroodhouse at the other. The Palace was the home of Mary Queen of Scots and is now the King’s official residence in Edinburgh.  Drive up to one of the city’s high vantage points for some spectacular views over the city before visiting the castle. This majestic landmark which dominates the capital city’s skyline just as it has dominated Scotland’s long and colorful history, is the best known and most visited of Scotland’s historic buildings. Perched on an extinct volcano and offering stunning views, this instantly recognizable fortress is part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Once inside, you will have the opportunity to see the castle’s many different architectural styles, reflecting its importance throughout the history of Scotland, with the oldest section dating back to the 12th century. Also take the opportunity to view the Crown Jewels of Scotland and the Stone of Destiny. You will be transferred to the Windstar-appointed hotel.

 

Please note:  Bring local currency,  a light jacket or cardigan as it can be windy at Edinburgh Castle. Any guests with limited mobility wishing to see the Crown Jewels can ask for a guide to take them up in the lift instead of the stairs.  

 

 

 

Gain exclusive access to Castle Leod with an expert historian guide and enjoy a private tour on a day when the castle is closed to the public. Castle Leod is the home of the Chief of the Clan Mackenzie, the Earl of Cromarty, whose family has lived there for 500 years. It is one of the few castles in Scotland still to be occupied by the original family and remains very much a family home today. Occupying a magnificent setting below Ben Wyvis and just outside the Victorian spa town of Strathpeffer, Castle Leod's parkland boasts some of the finest trees in Scotland, the star attractions being the largest tree in the UK, a Wellingtonia, and a Spanish chestnut which was planted for a visit by Mary of Guise in 1550, the earliest known planting date of any tree in Britain. Occasionally the Earl of Cromarty himself may even personally welcome you to his ancestral home and conduct your private tour today. Enjoy the lived-in atmosphere and the fascinating history of the castle as well as the collection of fine portraits, maps and furniture and the Mackenzie Room situated in the old kitchen. A dram of fine malt or a soft drink will be included in this tour.

 

Please note: Wear comfortable walking shoes. This tour is not wheelchair accessible.

 

 

 

Head north with your knowledgeable guide into the wilds of Scotland for a fascinating opportunity to learn more about the geology of this dramatic and beautiful area.  At Knockan Crag you will have the opportunity to see the geological feature first identified right here – the ‘Thrust’ (in which enormous forces move rocks sideways) has since been recognized in rocks around the world, including the Himalayas and Alps. At Knockan Crag, the Moine thrust has resulted in an unusual situation where older Moine rocks have come to rest over much younger rocks.  The rocks at and around Knockan Crag also record the last 3,000 million years of history for the landmass we now know as Scotland. Accompanied by an expert in the area’s geology, you will learn about this fascinating natural feature, spend some time in the excellent visitor center and walk along the Thrust Trail where you can bridge 500 million years with your bare hands. For the less energetic, the ‘Quarry Trail’ allows a return before the short climb that rises to the thrust.  There will be plenty of time for independent exploration on any of the trails. 

Please note: Wear comfortable walking shoes and layered clothing.

Take a scenic drive north from Ullapool through the dramatic and beautiful mountain scenery of the Northwest of Scotland Geopark.  On reaching Loch Assynt you will pass the atmospheric ruins of Calda House and Ardvreck Castle where you’ll have a photo stop, before continuing along the banks of the Loch towards Lochinver. Lochinver is a busy little fishing port and boasts a truly stunning setting on Loch Inver with a backdrop of the dramatic mountains of Suilven and Canisp.   Some free time here will give you the opportunity to explore at your leisure.  Return through the beautiful countryside to Ullapool, stopping briefly at Knockan Crag for a photo opportunity.

Please note: Wear comfortable walking shoes and bring your camera.

Departing Oban, your coach will take you through the picturesque scenery of the Pass of Brander and around the tip of Loch Awe with views of Kilchurn Castle before continuing to Tyndrum where a short stop will be made. The route climbs to Rannoch Moor, one of the last remaining wildernesses in Europe.  Your coach will take you into the majestic Glencoe – scene of the infamous 1692 massacre and now a center for serious mountaineering providing some of the finest climbing and walking in Scotland.  A stop will be made at the award-winning Glencoe Visitor Centre to learn more about the history, geology and nature of this region.  Leaving the visitor centre the route will continue along Loch Linnhe.  You will see the islands of Lismore and Mull as you follow the shoreline of this sea loch.  You will pass Castle Stalker, a tower house situated on its own islet set against a dramatic backdrop of mountains before arriving back in the coastal town of Oban.  

Please note: Wear comfortable walking shoes, warm clothing and bring currency/credit cards and your camera.

The area surrounding the village of Kilmartin in Argyll is incredibly rich in ancient monuments and can justifiably be called Scotland’s Stonehenge.  The area is home to hundreds of monuments including cairns, megaliths, inscribed stones and hill-top forts.  Their origins and meanings remain uncertain although in many cases their orientation and alignment seem to link people with the cycle of the seasons and the movements of the sun, moon and stars. Your journey will take you south along the beautiful coast before heading inland where you will travel back over 5,000 years to discover the mystery of Kilmartin Glen.   On foot, accompanied by your expert guide, visit three of these prehistoric monuments in Kilmartin Glen taking in the Nether Largie Stones, Temple Wood with its stone circles and the Nether Largie South Cairn.  You will hear of the history and theories of these remarkable monuments and their place in this unique landscape.

Please note: Wear comfortable walking shoes, warm clothing and bring currency/credit cards and your camera.

 

Explore at your leisure with a private vehicle, driver, and English-speaking guide. This exclusive tour will allow you to customize your time ashore and explore the most interesting sites in the comfort and privacy of your own car. With your private vehicle, and the personalized attention of your driver and English-speaking guide, you will have the flexibility and independence to design your itinerary ashore. See the iconic sites of the city, or create your own personal stops to make the experience your own. Sites to see include  the Giants Causeway, Titanic Belfast, Crumlin Road Gaol, Bushmills Distillery and Georges Market.

Please note:  Capacity: 1-2 guests. Private cars are ordered per vehicle (not per person). This tour includes transport in a private car, driver and English Speaking Guide. Itinerary can be adjusted with tour guide as long as it’s in the area and does not exceed the duration of 4 hours.  Recommended for physically challenged guests.

Explore at your leisure with a private vehicle, driver, and English-speaking guide. This exclusive tour will allow you to customize your time ashore and explore the most interesting sites in the comfort and privacy of your own van. With your private vehicle, and the personalized attention of your driver and English-speaking guide, you will have the flexibility and independence to design your itinerary ashore. See the iconic sites of the city, or create your own personal stops to make the experience your own. Sites to see include  the Giants Causeway, Titanic Belfast, Crumlin Road Gaol, Bushmills Distillery and Georges Market.

Please note:  Capacity: 3-6 guests. Private vans are ordered per vehicle (not per person). This tour includes transport in a private van, driver and English Speaking Guide. Itinerary can be adjusted with tour guide as long as it’s in the area and does not exceed the duration of 4 hours.  Recommended for physically challenged guests.

Explore at your leisure with a private vehicle, driver, and English-speaking guide. This exclusive tour will allow you to customize your time ashore and explore the most interesting sites in the comfort and privacy of your own van. With your private vehicle, and the personalized attention of your driver and English-speaking guide, you will have the flexibility and independence to design your itinerary ashore. See the iconic sites of the city, or create your own personal stops to make the experience your own. Sites to see include  the Giants Causeway, Titanic Belfast, Crumlin Road Gaol, Bushmills Distillery and Georges Market.

Please note:  Capacity: 3-6 guests. Private vans are ordered per vehicle (not per person). This tour includes transport in a private van, driver and English Speaking Guide. Itinerary can be adjusted with tour guide as long as it’s in the area and does not exceed the duration of 8 hours.  Recommended for physically challenged guests.

Depart the port of Belfast and drive 75 minutes inland through the Northern Counties of Down and Antrim. Stop to photograph Dunluce Castle, a dramatic and picturesque ruin on a rocky headland. Next,you will arrive at the UNESCO World Heritage Giant’s Causeway Site. The Interpretative Centre  there will allow you to decide for yourself which explanation of how the causeway’s 40,000 basalt stones were formed is most likely (or simply most interesting!). To stroll the Giants Causeway is to voyage back in time. Your imagination will travel along stepping-stones that lead to either the creative turbulence of a bygone volcanic age or into the myths and legends of the past. You can board the “Causeway Coaster” minibus to bring you to the causeway itself.  Enjoy lunch at a nearby hotel.  Your return journey will take you along Northern Ireland’s Antrim Coast  Some of the worlds most spectacular and unspoiled scenery is to be found in the county of Antrim. A stop will be made for you to view Carrick A Rede Rope Bridge. Spanning a chasm some 80 feet deep, its construction once consisted of a single rope handrail and widely spaced slats. The single handrail was subsequently replaced by a two-hand railed bridge, the current cage bridge was installed during Easter 2000.  Travel via the Coast Road to reveal an unrivaled seascape, towering cliffs, white sandy beaches, tranquil glens and lush forest parks. From the magnificent vantage point at Fair Head and Murlough Bay, on a clear day you can enjoy uninterrupted views of Scotland’s Mull of Kintyre, as well as the wild and mysterious island of Rathlin just seven miles off the coast. 

Please note:  Wear flat, comfortable shoes preferably with non-slip soles. Order of sights visited may vary. Bring your camera, local currency and a  waterproof jacket.

 

 

 

 

Please note: It is recommended that guests dress in warm, layered clothing and wear flat, comfortable shoes.

This panoramic tour of Belfast will introduce you to the many varied features of Northern Ireland’s largest city. Built with 19th century industrial money, many fine buildings from this era grace the city still and are reminders of its prosperous past.  Your guide will provide insights as you see the Grand Opera House and the Albert Memorial before passing Queen’s University, home to the Botanic Gardens.  Located in these gardens is the Palm House – a superb structure of cast iron and curved glass panels. You will drive past Belfast City Hall – an impressive building with a 300-ft.-long façade of Portland stone. A stop here will allow you to photograph what is perhaps the most noteworthy of the statues here - the marble figure of "Thane,” commemorating the sinking of the R.M.S. Titanic. Visit the Titanic Belfast, the signature building telling the story of Titanic  that contains nine galleries with a variety of interpretative materials and media. Take a ride though the visual gantries where the Titanic was under construction. The adventure begins the moment you walk through the door and into the building's giant atrium surrounded by the four high impact ‘hull’ shaped sections which house the experience.  You will experience a thrilling ride through the re-construction of the shipyards and the Titanic under construction. The stories of passengers, crew and the heroes of the day will be told in an exciting and modern way. At the conclusion, you can visit the wreck at her resting place on the floor of the North Atlantic. Rejoin your motor coach and guide for your return drive to the port and your awaiting ship.

Please note:  Wear flat, comfortable shoes preferably with non-slip soles. Order of sights visited may vary. Bring your camera, local currency and a  waterproof jacket.

The Isle of Man is the home of motorcycle racing and as such draws fans of the sport from all over the world.  If you have been nervous about riding motorbikes but have always wanted to  just have a go, at least once, this tour will let you fulfill this dream as passengers on a specially designed 3-seater Trike. The emphasis of this tour is on enjoyment rather than high speed; though when you are traveling at 30 mph it will feel more like 60 mph on the Trike when the wind is blowing through your hair!  You will experience the course that the world’s most daring riders have experienced, though you will not reach the 200 mph+ that they do. You will travel through some very pretty towns and villages, around tight twisty roads, over the renowned Ballaugh Bridge before riding over the spectacular Mountain area. You will have a short stop at the Creg-ny-Baa, before returning to Douglas.

 

Please note: This tour is sold per vehicle with 2 passenger seats available per trike. The route may be altered due to traffic or weather conditions.  This tour cannot operate in heavy rain/high winds. Helmets, jackets, and gloves will be provided.

 

 

 

Depart your yacht this morning and travel via the “Plains of Heaven,” the magnificently scenic elevated highway that bisects the island running east to west, and the Southern Hills which offer panoramic views of the south of the island down to Cregnaesh where you will pause for photographs.  Cregnaesh is the oldest settlement on the Isle of Man, a hamlet of white-washed, stone-walled thatched cottages, just as they were in 1900. Travel to The Sound, the most southerly point of the Island and one of the most scenic places in the British Isles. With excellent views of The Sound and the Calf of Man Nature Reserve, enjoy the sights and sounds of the flourishing Manx ecosystem with its abundance of wildlife and natural wonders. Often seals can be spotted basking on the rocky Kitterland (islet in The Sound) and sometimes dolphins and basking sharks can be seen. Look across to the Calf of Man, a renowned bird sanctuary where many migrating birds stop off for a rest on their journey to or from warmer climates. The visitor centre at The Sound Café provides a wide range of information about the local wildlife and the many wrecks of sunken ships that lie off the shore. Afterwards return to your yacht via the legendary “Fairy Bridge.”  Don’t forget to say Laa Mie (good day) to the fairies!                                    
 
Please note:  This tour is not recommended for wheelchair users as the ground at Cregneash is uneven and sometimes muddy. Any wheelchair guests must be accompanied as the guide cannot undertake responsibility for them during the tour.

 

 

This is one of the most beautiful walks on the island, renowned for its stunning coastal scenery, bird life and archaeological remains.  Your tour will begin with a 30-minute drive by coach via the famous Fairy Bridge, where according to legend, you should greet ‘the little people’ to ensure a good journey. You will arrive at Castletown, the former capital of the Isle of Man. After a short stop and comfort break at Castletown, your walk will begin following part of the ‘Raad ny Foillan’ (the Way of the Gull). This is the Isle of Man’s long distance coastal footpath around Scarlett Head and here you will have the opportunity to see sea birds, plants, limestone outcrops and volcanic rocks against a backdrop of stunning scenery. This part of the exposed southern coast has an abundance of historic sites. There are traces of ancient forts, chapels, old farms, a WWII radar station and a now disused, flooded quarry which once supplied stone for the steps of St Paul’s Cathedral in London. The historic highlights of the walk are at Chapel Hill, Balladoole. Here you will see a Bronze Age burial site, an Iron Age hillfort, a Viking ship burial site and Keeill Vael (St Michael’s Chapel) which has extensive views over the south of the Island and the Iron Age and Norse promontory fort at Close ny Chollagh.  At the conclusion of your walk, rejoin the coach and return to Castletown and then on to Douglas via a route with views over ‘the Plains of Heaven’ across the central valley and to the northern hills.

Please note: The route involves crossing several stiles with up to 9 steep wooden steps on both sides and walking on a mix of coastal grassland and farm tracks. This is a coastal location exposed to the weather. Uneven surfaces with occasional rabbit holes which can be slippery when wet and some areas can be muddy. Guests MUST bring warm, waterproof clothing appropriate to the weather on the day, carry water and wear sturdy footwear (boots or trainers / sneakers) with thick tread and ankle support. Walking poles may be helpful, but this route is not suitable for users of wheelchairs, walking sticks or other walking aids.This is a walking tour and is not suitable for guests with limited walking or walking aids.

Departing from the pier, take a scenic drive to Castletown and enjoy a visit to the magnificent Castle Rushen which stands alongside the harbor. Castle Rushen is one of the best examples of a medieval castle in Europe and was the former seat of the Kings and Lords of Mann, with the Castle’s oldest part dating back to the time of Magnus, the last Norse King of Mann, who died here in 1266. The exact date when the Castle was built is unknown, though it is believed to be around 1200. Today, spectacular displays illustrate the Castle at various times in history, with figures in period costume, historical furnishings, wall hangings and medieval speech bringing the Castle's medieval and 17th century periods to life. Following your visit of the Castle, time permitting, you will enjoy some free time before re-joining your coach for the short transfer to Castletown station. Board the vintage steam train for a delightful and traditional journey to Douglas.  Dating from 1874, the Isle of Man Steam Railway is the Island’s oldest Victorian rail impressive Victorian terminus in Douglas and re-join your coach for the short transfer back to the pier.

Please note: This tour is not recommended for wheelchair users as the rooms of the castle can only be accessed by stairs, some of which are narrow and spiral.Order of the tour may be reversed i.e. train first then Castle Rushen.

Explore at your leisure with a private vehicle, and English-speaking driver/guide. This exclusive tour will allow you to customize your time ashore and explore the most interesting sites in the comfort and privacy of your own car. With your private vehicle, and the personalized attention of your driver/guide, you will have the flexibility and independence to design your itinerary ashore. See the iconic sites of the city, or create your own personal stops to make the experience your own.
 
Please note:  Capacity: 1-3 guests. Private cars are ordered per vehicle (not per person). This tour includes transport in a private car, and English-speaking driver/guide. Itinerary can be adjusted with driver/guide as long as it does not exceed the duration of 4 hours. Recommended for physically challenged guests.