CLAN HUNTER AND MUIRHEAD TOUR OF SCOTLAND 2004

Thursday, August 5th - depart the US for overnight flight to Scotland

Friday, August 6th - Arrive at Glasgow airport to be met by our guide who will be with us throughout our visit to Scotland. We then take a panoramic tour of Glasgow once the second city of the British empire, founded on shipbuilding and the tobacco trade in Victorian times this was an extremely wealthy city and this shows in the spectacular architecture to seen in the centre. We pass by the Cathedral of Glasgow situated on the site of the church of St Mungo. Bishop Andrew Muirhead, a son of Sir William Muirhead of Lauchope, served as the Bishop of the cathedral until his death in 1473. His house the oldest in Glasgow is called Provands Lordship which we will also see. We then continue to the Hunterian Museum, founded by William Hunter, who was Born at Long Calderwood, East Kilbride, in 1718, the seventh of a family of 10 children, William Hunter became a student at Glasgow University at the age of 13, intended for the Church. Finding himself unsuited, he went as medical apprentice to Dr William Cullen, at that time in general practice at Hamilton, and next to Edinburgh University where he attended medical classes, In 1741 William Hunter moved to London where he rapidly attained fame as an anatomist and medical teacher. Hunter was one of the first 'male midwives' and attended Queen Charlotte, wife of George III, at the birth of her children. On his death he bequeathed his large collection to the founding of the oldest museums in Scotland. After time to look at the many exhibits and the Art collection we travel south either to the Thistle hotel in Irvine or on to Blairquhan Castle near Straiton. Blairquhan is one of the finest Georgian castles in Scotland, Blairquhan Castle was built for Sir David Hunter Blair 3rd Baronet in 1821 - 1824 on the site of a previous castle dating back to 1346. It has an extensive collection of Scottish art and a small museum dedicated to the Hunter Blair family. We are greeted by the present owner James Hunter Blair.

Saturday August 7th - Clan Hunter events Our coach and guide will transport us to and from Hunterston for the days events.

Sunday August 8th - Clan Hunter events Our coach and guide will transport us to and from Hunterston for the days events

Monday August 9th - This morning we depart from Ayrshire and travel through the Border country to Abbottsford House, home of Sir Walter Scott the writer, Sir Walter wrote many famous books including Ivanhoe and Rob Roy. When he became a successful novelist he started the building of Abbottsford and worked himself to death trying to pay for it. It is full of interesting historical curios including Rob Roys sword. We then travel the few miles to Melrose for a lunch stop, anyone interested can have a wander around the ruins of the Abbey which is very picturesque.

In the afternoon we travel to Je dburgh One of the four great Border Abbeys, founded by David I. The visitor centre contains the priceless Jedburgh Comb and other artefacts found during the excavation of the Abbey site. We then travel north to Edinburgh Scotlands capital. Dinner and overnight in Edinburgh.

Tuesday August 10th - In the morning we visit Edinburgh Castle, one of the most famous castles in the world. The oldest part, St. Margaret's Chapel, dates From the Norman period. The castle houses the Crown Jewels of Scotland, the Stone of Destiny and the famous 15th-century gun Mons Meg. From there we will walk to Geoffrey's Tartan Mill to learn about the making of tartan material. Just a short walk down the Royal Mile, we will visit St. Giles Cathedral, founded in the 1100's. This was the church of John Knox during the Reformation. It contains memorials to many great Scots, including the great Covenanting leaders Montrose and Argyll. The Thistle Chapel was designed by Lorimer and is a jewel of Scottish craftsmanship In the afternoon we visit the Palace of Holyroodhouse, home of Mary Queen of Scots and scene of the murder of Rizzio her Italian favorite. It is still the official residence in Edinburgh of the Royal family. Dinner and overnight in Edinburgh.

Wednesday August 11th - In the morning travel north for an hour to St Andrews for where we stop to allow time to visit the Castle and ruined Cathedral go shopping or visit the Golf Museum. St Andrews as well as being a beautiful historic town was also the place where the game of golf was invented and is a mecca for golfers from all over the world. We return to Edinburgh in the early afternoon giving you time for shopping. In the evening, dinner will be at the hotel before attending the late performance of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, a celebration of music and dance set against the impressive backcloth of the Castle.

Thursday August 12th - This morning we depart from Edinburgh and travel north over the Forth Road bridge and through the Kingdom of Fife to Perth on the river Tay. We then continue to Blair Castle for a visit. Blair is one of the most scenic castles in Scotland and is home to the Duke of Atholl one of Britains wealthiest men. We then travel through the highlands and into the pretty Spey Valley. Near Inverness we visit we visit Culloden Moor, site of the last battle on British soil where Bonnie Prince Charlies Highland army was defeated by government troops. A few miles further on we stop for a visit to Clava Cairns, pre historic burial mounds in excellent condition. Dinner and overnight in Inverness.

Friday August 13th - This morning we depart from Inverness and travel down the great glen to Urquhart Castle, one of the most impressive castles in Scotland and where most of the sightings of the monster are made most recently in May 2003. We then pass through Fort William and on to Glencoe, a beautiful valley where the Clan Macdonald was massacred by the government in the 17th century. From there we continue through the country of Appin and on to the beautiful town of Oban, the gateway to the Hebrides, for dinner and overnight. In the evening stroll along the harbour and watch the fishermen unload fish and see seals in the bay. Dinner and overnight in Oban.

Saturday August 14th -This morning we take the ferry to the island of Mull, the second largest in the Hebrides. The crossing takes 45 minutes and passes lots of small islands on the way. You can see Duart Castle, home of the Clan Chief of the Macleans. The Castle was used in the Sean Connery film "entrapment". Once on Mull we travel across the island. Mull is a beautiful island and home to many birds of prey including Sea Eagles with 2 metre wingspan so keep a good lookout. We arrive at the little port of Fionnphort to catch the ferry to Iona, the birthplace of Christianity in Scotland and a place of pilgrimage. We will visit the beautiful Abbey founded by St Columba in the sixth century. We then return to Oban for dinner and overnight

Sunday August 15th -This morning we drive to Stirling for a visit to Bannockburn to see the site of the battle where Edward II was defeated by Robert the Bruce's army. We continue to Stirling Castle one of the most powerful and important castles in Scotland for a visit. It dates back to the 1100's and was a Royal Palace for much of its history. James II lured the 8th Earl of Douglas here, murdered him and had his body tossed out of one of the windows, Mary Queen of Scots was crowned in the Old chapel. From the ramparts you can see the site of William Wallace of "Braveheart" fame great victory at Stirling Bridge. We then continue to Glasgow for dinner and overnight

Monday August 16 - Departure transfer