GARDENS & CASTLES OF SCOTLAND FROM EDINBURGH TO THE HIGHLANDS JULY 2-16, 2018 TOUR LEADER: MICHAEL TURNER

Overview Scotland is one of the oldest and best-loved countries in the world. Defined by its geological past, it is a country of dramatic landscapes, sublime beauty and haunting history. From the sophistication of Edinburgh, to the great lochs, the wild and magnificent Highlands, and on to the mystical isles of the West Coast, this new 15-day tour visits some of the most beautiful gardens and castles in this enchanted land. Scotland uses the word castle as the French use chateau to often mean a large, sometimes fortified country house. It is a land therefore of many castles, and we shall be visiting the very best of them. It is the individual men and women (like Sir Walter Scott), the clans, and families associated with these castles that give us the all-important background colour and context for many of the gardens we will be visiting. Not all of the gardens we visit are associated with castles, however, as our travels take us to farmsteads, small loch-side houses, and even a house referred to by its owner as a Garden Temple. And of course, as well as the gardens, we shall be exploring the landscape in which they’re set and enjoying Scotland’s rich heritage and culture to the full. Your tour leader Michael Turner, who lives in Sussex, will provide detailed background information on the estates and accompany all the excursions. Nights will be spent in the vibrant city of Edinburgh, into the Highlands to lake-side Loch Lomond, on the picturesque Isle of Skye – the largest of the Inner Hebrides – and the tour ends in beautiful Pitlochry.

Your tour leader Michael Turner Turner is a garden and art historian. The former Senior Curator of the Nicholson Museum at the University of Sydney (2005-2016), he now lives in Sussex from where he writes and lectures on garden history as well as creating garden tours. He is a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in London and a member of The English Gardens Trust.

When in Australia, Michael appeared regularly on television, radio, and in the press. He has been a featured guest on the ABC’s In Conversation with Richard Fidler and on Classic FM’s Midday with Margaret Throsby talking about the 18th century English landscape architect Capability Brown. Michael can also proudly claim Scottish ancestry through both the clans Buchanan and Russell, and has been known to wear the kilt. “Michael Turner was just great, his enthusiasm about all he showed us was infectious, we were excited every day!” Feedback from Academy Travel’s ‘Gardens of Southern England: Gardens of a Passionate Mind’, June 2016.

GARDENS AND CASTLES OF SCOTLAND

Tour dates: July 2-16, 2018

Tour leader: Michael Turner

Tour Price: $9,950 per person, twin share

Single Supplement: $2,700 for sole use of double room

Booking deposit: $500 per person

Recommended airline: Etihad Airways

Maximum places: 20

Itinerary: Edinburgh (5 nights), Loch Lomond (3 nights), Isle of Skye (3 nights), Pitlochry (3 nights)

Date published: September 13, 2017

Enquiries and bookings

For further information and to secure a place on this tour please contact Kathy Wardrop at Academy Travel on 9235 0023 or 1800 639 699 (outside Sydney) or email kathy@academytravel.com.au

Tour Highlights

LANDSCAPE OF SCOTLAND Scotland packs spectacular landscapes, as well as rich history and tradition, into a small country. From the rich countryside and great rivers of the Lowlands to the dramatic glens and mountains of the Highlands, from deep lowering lochs to islands washed by the Gulf Stream, from great cities to abandoned crofts, Scotland is a land of remarkable contrasts at every turn.

GARDENS AT THEIR SUMMER BEST July is the perfect month to visit Scottish gardens as they are glorious in their summer best. Scotland, warmed by the Gulf Stream, is home to some of the finest gardens in Britain: Drummond Castle with its Renaissance parterres, Inverewe with its superb plantsmanship, and Broadwoodside, a garden of delight and whimsy. We can expect to see the gardens at their absolute peak!

GREAT CASTLES OF SCOTLAND Whether in ruins or pristine condition, castles dating from the medieval period to Victorian times are among Scotland’s glories. Like France, Scotland has a habit of calling a large country house a castle. As a result, there are many castles throughout Scotland, some large (Floors Castle), some small (Eilean Donan Castle), some ancient in parts (Cawdor Castle), and some Royal (Balmoral).

OVER THE SEA TO SKYE Skye is an island of mystery and legend known for its rugged landscapes, picturesque fishing villages and medieval castles. The largest island in the Inner Hebrides archipelago, it has a coastline of peninsulas and narrow lochs radiating out from a mountainous centre dominated by the Cuillins, the rocky slopes of which provide some of the most dramatic mountain scenery in Scotland.

EDINBURGH Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, is justly seen as one of the most beautiful and cultured cities in Europe. It has been shaped neither by the heavy industry of Glasgow nor the oil wealth of Aberdeen, but by its long-held position as a centre of business, the arts, learning and entertainment.

Detailed itinerary Included meals are shown with the symbols B, L and D.

Monday July 2 Arrival

If you have booked your air travel through Academy Travel we will organise a transfer from Edinburgh airport to our hotel. Please note that hotel rooms may not be available until early afternoon. In the early evening we gather in the hotel for welcome drinks and dinner. Overnight Edinburgh (D)

Tuesday July 3 Edinburgh and the Royal Botanic Garden

Today we begin to explore Scotland’s historic capital. Following a talk, we take a guided tour of the Royal Botanic Garden. Relocated in the 1820s at the time of the creation of the city’s New Town, ‘The Botanics’ was originally founded in 1670 as a physic garden. As such, it is, after Oxford, the second oldest botanic garden in Britain. Its Palm House, built in 1858, is the tallest in Britain. The afternoon is free to relax and explore the sites and shops of Edinburgh. In the evening, we gather at a local restaurant for dinner. Overnight Edinburgh (B, D)

Wednesday July 4 Floors Castle and Abbotsford

Today we head south into the rich countryside of the Scottish Borders and to the banks of the beautiful River Tweed. First stop is Floors Castle, the largest inhabited ‘castle’ in Scotland and home since the 1720s to the Dukes of Roxburgh. After a tour of the Castle, we walk through the grounds to the large and colourful Victorian walled garden – part potager, part herbaceous borders – beautifully complimented by the new Millennium Garden with its intricate parterre and architectural fruit trees. In the afternoon we travel to Abbotsford, the iconic Scottish Baronial-style house created by Sir Walter Scott in the 1820s. Together with his near contemporary Robert Burns, Scott is the most famous of all Scottish writers, and Abbotsford, still furnished exactly as he left it, is a testament to his creation of our romantic notion of Scottish identity. We take a guided tour of the house, before exploring the formal garden designed by Scott as a series of three interlocking ‘rooms’. Overnight Edinburgh (B)

Thursday July 5 Holyrood Palace and Edinburgh

This morning we continue our exploration of Edinburgh, beginning with a walking tour of the Royal Mile before arriving at Holyrood Palace, the official residence of the British monarch in Scotland. Rebuilt following the restoration of Charles II in 1660, the Palace incorporates a 16th century tower associated with Mary Queen of Scots. We will discover the fascinating history of the gardens from the 14th century to the

Above: Edinburgh Castle perched on Castle Rock, towering over the city Below: Scotland’s largest inhabited castle, Floors Castle; and Abbotsford, the ancestral home of novelist and poet Sir Walter Scott

Above: the garden at Broadwoodside; and Inveraray Castle, the ancestral home of Clan Campbell Below: the shore of Loch Fyne, Scotland’s largest sea loch

present day including the site of the ancient menagerie, the rare Wentworth elm trees, the 17th century sundial and the Jubilee Border. We will also see how the grounds are used today for the Queen’s annual Garden Party. Following refreshments in the café, we will be free to explore the Historic and State Apartments at leisure with an audio tour. The afternoon will be free to further explore the sites of Edinburgh; the Castle and the many museums and galleries for example. Overnight Edinburgh (B)

Friday July 6 Broadwoodside and Little Sparta

An exciting day of contemporary, and very idiosyncratic, private gardens awaits us. First port of call, an hour east of Edinburgh, is Broadwoodside. This elegant garden has been created, from scratch in 2000, in and around a once derelict 17th century farmhouse by its owners Robert and Anna Dalrymple, who will welcome us. Broadwoodside is an eye-catching, heady mix of classic herbaceous and landscape planting intermixed with the most whimsical of contemporary and classical art. After lunch at a local pub, we drive to the intriguingly named Little Sparta. This Arcadian landscape garden in the Pentland Hills near Edinburgh was created by the artist and poet Ian Hamilton Finlay between 1966 and his death in 2006. Spread throughout the 5-acre garden are over 275 artworks: concrete poetry in sculptural form, polemic, and philosophical aphorisms, together with sculptures and two temples. Overnight Edinburgh (B, L)

Saturday July 7 Drummond Castle

Today we bid farewell to Edinburgh and head to Drummond Castle, home to one of the finest formal gardens in Europe. Parts of the castle, which was sacked by Oliver Cromwell in 1653, date back to the 15th century. Today however is not about a castle, but about its garden. First laid out in the 1630s, the gardens, of which we will have a private guided tour, were redesigned and terraced in the 1830s, before being given their final shape in the 1950s by Nancy Astor, Britain’s first female MP. The result we see today is a courtly 17th century Scottish Renaissance garden. Leaving Drummond, we drive east to our next stop, Loch Lomond. In the evening, we will celebrate our trip so far with a meal together in the hotel. Overnight Loch Lomond (B, D)

Sunday July 8 Inveraray Castle via Glencoe

Today we drive along the shores of Loch Lomond, up and over the awe-inspiring pass of Glencoe, to Loch Fyne, Scotland’s largest sea loch, and to the small village of Inveraray. After lunch in one of its historic pubs, we walk the short distance along the loch shore to the castle. Built in the 18th century in the Gothic Revival style, Inveraray Castle is the family home of Torquhil Campbell, the 13th Duke of Argyll and chief of Clan Campbell. The unusual grey-green stone of the exterior, the

iconic, fairy-tale, witches’ hat towers, and the extraordinary ironwork entrance hardly prepare you for the exquisite 18th century interiors that survive intact. During our private guided tour of the castle, we will learn much about the family’s dramatic histories, including their part in the infamous 1692 Massacre of Glencoe. Following this, we wander at will through the delightful and perfectly formed garden complete with its 18th century sculptures of Perseus and Orpheus. Overnight Loch Lomond (B, L)

Monday July 9 The Hill House and Mount Stuart

Nothing can prepare you for the dramatic contrast in the style of today’s two destinations. We begin at The Hill House overlooking the Forth of Clyde. This family home was designed for Glasgow publisher Walter Blackie by the great Charles Rennie Mackintosh in the early 1900s, and is considered his domestic masterpiece. Next we follow the famous Clyde past the once industrial Port of Glasgow to Wemyss where we board a ferry to cross to the Isle of Bute and to the astonishing Mount Stuart, described in 1900 as ‘one of the most magnificent specimens of domestic architecture in existence’. Built in the 1870s for the Marques of Bute, a direct descendent of the Stuart kings of Scotland and England, it is an unforgettable monument to the Victorian Gothic, a style that unfortunately fell dramatically out of favour following WWI. Overnight Loch Lomond (B)

Tuesday July 10 Of trains and boats

We farewell Loch Lomond and head to Skye. Our coach first drops us at Fort William to board The Jacobite Steam Train for the 41 mile, 2-hour trip to Mallaig. Described as one of the greatest railway journeys in the world, it runs through an area of natural and dramatic beauty along the route immortalised in the Harry Potter films as the journey to Hogwarts. It’s a journey of extremes, starting near the highest mountain in Britain, Ben Nevis, and finishing by the deepest seawater loch in Europe, Loch Nevis. From Mallaig we take the ferry across the sea to Skye and our hotel for the next three nights. Overnight Skye (B, D)

Wednesday July 11 Dunvegan Castle, Armadale Castle

Heading north past the sublimely stunning Black Cuillin, the mountain range that defines the island, our first stop is Dunvegan Castle, seat of the chief of Clan MacLeod whose family have occupied the castle for over 800 years. Its 5 acres of formal gardens, first created in the 18th century, are, in stark contrast to the barren moors and mountains of Skye, a hidden oasis of eclectic plants, woodland glades, waterfalls and streams flowing out into the sea. We stop for lunch in the picture postcard village of Portree, before driving south to Armadale Castle and the Museum of the Isles, the spiritual home of Clan Donald. Following a tour of the gardens, a floral paradise made

Above: the ornate interiors of the Victorian gothic mansion Mount Stuart on the Isle of Bute; and the Jacobite Steam Train Below: perhaps Scotland’s most recognisable castle, Eilean Donan, located on its own island where three great sea lochs meet

possible by their sheltered aspect and the mild climate of the Gulf Stream sea-current, we take time to explore the museum. Overnight Skye (B)

Thursday July 12 Inverewe and 2 Durnamuck

Today, we drive off Skye over the bridge at Kyle of Lochalsh, and head north into the dramatic landscape of Wester Ross and the Highlands. Our first stop is the garden of Inverewe, created in the 1860s by the hunting, shooting and fishing Osgood MacKenzie. The gardens and their setting on the shores of Loch Ewe are magnificent, from the exquisitely planted vegetable and herbaceous garden to the new South African garden. This latter was created by Will Soos and Sue Pomeroy, owners of our second garden of the day, some 20 miles north, 2 Durnamuck. This wonderful new garden, in part inspired by the plants of South Africa, smoulders with the bold colour of plants rarely seen this far north let alone with a breath-taking backdrop of loch and mountain scenery. Overnight Skye (B)

Friday July 13 Eilean Donan and Cawdor Castle

Leaving the island of Skye our first stop is one of the most stunning locations in Scotland, the tiny castle of Eilean Donan perched on its rocky island outcrop. Rich in history, it can even boast a Spanish garrison (of forty) during the Jacobite uprising of 1719. After touring the castle, we drive up the Great Glen along the shores of Loch Ness towards Inverness and on to Cawdor Castle. This is the most whimsical of castles and gardens, a reflection of its chatelaine, the Dowager Countess of Cawdor. From her delightfully quirky room details to the modern sculpture throughout the beautifully planted and kept gardens, there is a surprise around every corner. We then drive south through the majestic Cairngorms to Pitlochry and our hotel. Overnight Pitlochry (B, D)

Saturday July 14 Glamis Castle and Edzell Castle

Following a talk, we take our coach to Glamis, a striking architectural treasure, home to the Earls of Strathmore and Kinghorne, setting for Shakespeare's Macbeth and beloved childhood home of the Queen Mother. After a tour of the castle, we explore the gardens, especially the Walled and Italian Gardens, the latter laid out in 1910 by Countess Cecilia, the Queen Mother’s mother. Afterwards we drive to the nearby ruined 16th century Edzell Castle to see its petite and extraordinary early 17th century Renaissance walled garden, the walls of which incorporate intricate relief carvings, unique in Scotland, depicting the Planetary deities, the liberal arts and the cardinal virtues. The garden was replanted in the 1930s, and is considered to have links to esoteric traditions, including Rosicrucianism and Freemasonry. Overnight Pitlochry (B)

Above: Cawdor Castle set amid formal gardens Below: Glamis Castle and part of the garden in Summer bloom; and the formal garden with walls decorated with sculptured stone panels at Edzell Castle

Sunday July 15 Blair Castle and Balmoral Castle

And so to our final day. We begin at Blair Castle, seat of the Atholl family for over seven centuries. Home to politicians, soldiers, agriculturalists and entrepreneurs, the family history is brought to life against a backdrop of fine 18th century interiors and Scottish baronial architecture. Following a private tour, we head outside to explore the gardens and woods which include some of Scotland’s finest specimen trees. The highlight is the now fully restored 18th century Hercules Walled Garden, so called for the copy of the Farnese Hercules that stands naked guard over it. We then drive into the Cairngorms for a fitting finale to our tour of Scotland. Balmoral Castle, on the banks of the River Dee, has been the Scottish home of the Royal Family since it was purchased for Queen Victoria by Prince Albert in 1852. The castle as you see it today was rebuilt from new in the 1850s, and while it remains largely the same as it was in Queen Victoria's reign, The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh and The Prince of Wales have followed the initiative of Prince Albert in making improvements to the estate. We shall tour the grounds and gardens and access the Castle’s largest room, the ballroom. In the evening, we will gather for our farewell dinner. Overnight Pitlochry (B, D)

Monday July 16 Departure

This morning there is a group transfer to Edinburgh Airport. Depending on group members’ travel plans, there may also be transfers to the centre of Edinburgh. (B)

Hotels Hotels have been selected principally for their central location. All hotels are a comfortable four-star standard, with the exception of the Cameron House in Loch Lomond which is a five- star luxury hotel. Edinburgh, The Principal (5 nights)

www.phcompany.com/principal/edinburgh-george-street

Loch Lomond, Cameron House (3 nights) www.cameronhouse.co.uk

Island of Skye, Cuillin Hills Hotel (3 nights) www.cuillinhills-hotel-skye.co.uk

Pitlochry, Atholl Palace Hotel (3 nights) www.athollpalace.com

Above: The statue of Diana the huntress on the grounds of Blair Castle Below: Balmoral Castle, the Scottish home of the Royal Family since it was purchased for Queen Victoria by Prince Albert in 1852

Tour Price The tour price is $9,950 per person, twin share (land content only). The supplement for a single room is $2,700 per person. A non-refundable deposit of $500 per person is required to secure a place on the tour.

Tour Inclusions

Included in the tour price All accommodation in selected four and five-star hotels All breakfasts, and meals as indicated in itinerary Land travel by air-conditioned coach Extensive background notes Background talks Services of a tour leader and a tour manager throughout

tour All entrance fees to sites mentioned on itinerary Qualified local guides Porterage of one piece of luggage at all hotels

Not included International airfares (competitive quotes available) Travel insurance Meals and activities not stated as included in itinerary Personal expenses

Air travel OPTIONS The tour price quoted is for land content only. Etihad Airways fly into and out of Edinburgh at times that coincide with the tour. Please contact us for further information on competitive Economy, Business and First Class airfares. Transfers between airport and hotel are included for all passengers booking their flights through Academy Travel. These may be group or individual transfers.

Enquiries & bookings For further information and to secure a place on this tour please contact Kathy Wardrop at Academy Travel on 9235 0023 or 1800 639 699 (outside Sydney) or email kathy@academytravel.com.au

Weather on Tour July is a great time to visit Scotland. The days are long, rainfall is low and temperatures are mild to warm. Nevertheless, you should bring a light jacket and jumpers for the evenings. As we all know, summers in Britain can sometimes be a bit damp, so bring an umbrella!

Fitness Requirements of THIS tour

GRADE TWO

It is important both for you and for your fellow travellers that you are fit enough to be able to enjoy all the activities on this tour. To give you an indication of the level of physical fitness required to participate on our tours, we have given them a star grading. Academy Travel’s tours tend to feature extended walking tours and site visits, which require greater fitness than coach touring. We ask you to carefully consider your ability to meet the physical demands of the tour.

Participation criteria for this tour

This Grade Two tour is designed for people who lead active lives and can comfortably participate in up to five hours of physical activity per day on most days, including longer walking tours, challenging archaeological sites, climbing stairs, embarking and disembarking trains and/or boats, and a more demanding tour schedule with one night stops or several internal flights. You should be able to: keep up with the group at all times walk for 4-5 kilometres at a moderate pace with only

short breaks stand for a reasonable length of time in galleries and

museums tolerate uncomfortable climatic conditions such as cold,

humidity and heat walk up and down slopes negotiate steps and slopes on archaeological sites,

which are often uneven and unstable get on and off a large coach with steep stairs, train or

boat unassisted, possibly with luggage move your luggage a short distance if required

A note for older travellers

If you are more than 80 years old, or have restricted mobility, it is highly likely that you will find this itinerary challenging. You will have to miss several activities and will not get the full value of the tour. Your booking will not be accepted until after you have contacted Academy Travel to discuss your situation and the exact physical requirements of this tour. While we will do our best to reasonably accommodate the physical needs of all group members, we reserve the right to refuse bookings if we feel that the requirements of the tour are too demanding for you and/or if local conditions mean we cannot reasonably accommodate your condition.