Loch Tummel Hotel 5 Day Castles and Gardens Holiday
First Day
Arrive at the Loch Tummel Hotel in time for dinner.
Falkland Palace & Gardens
Falkland Palace, the favourite retreat of the Stuart dynasty, has a rich history. The Royal Palace of Falkland was used as a country residence by Stuart Kings and Queens who hunted deer and wild boar in the Fife forests. Mary Queen of Scots was a frequent visitor and spend some of her happier times at Falkland. The Palace fell into ruin from the late 17th to early 18th centuries from disuse and it was badly burnt by Cromwellian troops. In the early 19th century Falkland was restored by the 3rd Marquess of Bute and his descendants still live in the Palace today. The original rooms were sympathetically restored with portraits of the Stuart monarchs, 17th century Flemish tapestries, elaborate painted ceilings and antique furnishings. The Palace sits in nine acres of maintained formal gardens, whilst the woods and parks the Stuarts hunted remain remarkably unchanged. The Pleasure Garden was built between 1947 and 1952 with herbaceous borders and a wide lawn of shrubs and trees. Explore the 150 year old orchard, the beautiful willow sculptures and the Labyrinth. The garden also features a newly planted Physic Garden containing medicinal herbs that would have been grown in Mary Queen of Scots time. The Palace is also home to the oldest Royal Tennis Court in Britain, originally built for King James V in 1539.
Blair Castle & Hercules Gardens
Discover Blair Castle's 700 year history through the fascinating past of the Dukes and Earls of Atholl. Dating back to 1269, the castle has been central to much of Scottish history. From Mary Queen of Scots to the Civil War, and from Jacobite rebellions to the disaster of Culloden following Bonnie Prince Charlie's own stay at the Castle. Visit the ruins of St. Bride's Kirk, the final resting place of the notorious Jacobite leader, Bonnie Dundee, whilst soaking up some of Highland Perthshire's most spectacular scenery.
Perth & Branklyn Gardens
Sitting on the banks of the River Tay, Perth is the cosmopolitan centre and bustling city of rural Perthshire offering a range of entertainment, shops, cafes and restaurants. With a rich history as the former Scottish capital Perth is an extremely interesting place to visit and many of the Scottish Kings were crowned on the Stone of Destiny at Scone Palace. Two acres of magnificent garden sit on Kinnoul Hill, just a short distance from Perth but offering an amazing escape, full of colourful delights. Branklyn gardens contain an extensive collection of many rare and unusual plants, including the vivid blue Himilayan poppy, Mecnopsis. The garden also holds the National Collection of Cassiope and Mylnefield lillies. The garden is predominantly a collection from China, Tibet, Bhutan and the Himalays. There is also a collection of original plants gathered by the famous plant collecting team Ludlow and Sheriff.
Last Day
Return home.
- Departure: Sunday, May 25, 2025
- Excursions Included
- Half Board
- Nightly Entertainment
- Luxury Coach Travel
- £441.00 Per Person
| Pickup Point | Address | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Darlington | The Dolphin Centre, Opposite the Town Hall, DL1 5RP | 9.00AM |
| Newton Aycliffe | Bus Stop opposite St Clares Church, Central Avenue, DL5 5NT | 9.20AM |
| Bishop Auckland | Bus Station, Stand A, DL14 7QA | 9.40AM |
| Spennymoor | M&Co, High Street, DL16 6AG | 10.00AM |
| Ferryhill Village | Bus Stop opposite Nat West, Main Street, DL17 8JW | 10.10AM |
| West Cornforth | Community Centre, DL17 9LA | 10.15AM |
| Coxhoe | Bus Stop outside Methodist Church, Church Street, (Flowers by Michell, formerly Hazels), DH6 4DD | 10.20AM |
| Durham | Bus Stop outside student accommodation, Sutton Street, junction on North Road, DH1 4RX | 10.30AM |
| Chester le Street | Front Street, Bus Stop F, outside Poundland, (where the co-op used to be), DH3 3AW | 10.45AM |
| Consett | Barclays Bank, Front Street, DH8 5AH | 11.15AM |