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Special Group Tours

Toll Free: 1 866 725 5250

kate@specialgrouptours.com

The Gathering, CLAN GROUP TOURS

CLAN MACLEOD

It is thought that the progenitor of the MacLeods is Leod who was Olaf the Black’s younger son, brother of Magnus and one of the last Norse Kings of Man and the North Isles. Olaf died c. 1237, and Leod inherited the Islands of Lewis and Harris with part of Skye. Through the marriage to the Norse seneschal the family acquired Dunvegan Castle, which remains in the family to this day.

The packages are available inclusive or exclusive of accommodation in Edinburgh during the Gathering Event, depending on your preferred choice.

Airport transfers on arrival or departure can be booked as an optional extra, for options and prices please contact us on kate@specialgrouptours.com

Book your Homecoming Scotland 2009 Attraction Passes here too!

Package Dates, The Gathering

With Edinburgh Hotel: 24 July 09 - 01 August 09

Without Edinburgh Hotel: 28 – 31 July 09

Additional Tour Dates throughout the Homecoming Year

Without Edinburgh Hotel: 23 - 26 Mar 09 and 21 - 24 Oct 09

Clan MacLeod Day to Day itinerary (9 day WITH Edinburgh Hotel package listed below. NOTE: the WITHOUT program will include just the 4 “touring” days only.)

Day 1 Arrive Edinburgh. Check into hotel

Day 2 The Gathering events

Day 3 The Gathering events

Day 4 Edinburgh city tour

Day 5 Depart on the Clan MacLeod Homelands tour. Touring DAY 1: Depart Edinburgh and travel west passing Linlithgow Palace and Stirling with its imposing castle and views of the Wallace Monument. We pass Doune Castle, set of Monty Python's "Holy Grail" before stopping in Callander for refreshments. Crossing into the Highlands we head north towards the glorious scenery surrounding Loch Luibnaig then through Breadalbane (meaning the 'high country of Scotland') and up to the wild desolation of Rannoch Moor. We continue through the spectacular mountain pass of Glencoe, scene of the great massacre of the Clan Macdonald in 1692.

Leaving Fort William after lunch we drive past Britain's highest mountain, Ben Nevis, and into the Great Glen. Travelling west on the "Road to the Isles" we head through the splendour of the Five Sisters of Kintail, the mountains guarding the pass on the way to the Isle of Skye. We stop to visit the famous Eilean Donan Castle, one of Scotland's most photographed castles, set at the junction of 3 lochs and completely surrounded by water.

Crossing over the bridge to Skye, we follow the dramatic coastline north towards the island's capital, Portree. You are then dropped off at your accommodation in the early evening where you are free to go out and explore the town.

Day 6 On tour. Touring DAY 2: Leaving Portree, we travel West across Skye towards Dunvegan and the ancestral seat of the MacLeods, Dunvegan Castle. The MacLeods have been living in Dunvegan Castle for nearly 800 years and the castle contains many priceless MacLeod heirlooms including the fabled Fairy Flag of the Macleods.

After visiting the castle we travel north to the ruins of Trumpan church, site of the battle of the Spoiled Dyke between the MacLeods and the MacDonalds.  From Trumpan we travel west to Boreraig to visit the MacCrimmon Cairn, a memorial to the hereditary pipers of the MacLeods. A stop for lunch in the town of Dunvegan is followed by a trip around the Trotternish peninsula, taking in the ruins of Duntulm Castle and the beautiful splendour of the Skye scenery before returning to Portree for the evening.

Day 7 On tour. Touring DAY 3: Departing Portree we make our way off the island, crossing the Skye Bridge, and head north through the stunning mountain scenery of Wester Ross. We will make a short stop to take in the splendour of Corrieshalloch Gorge before arriving for lunch in the picturesque harbour town of Ullapool.  After lunch we continue north to Ardvreck Castle. Built by the MacLeods in 1590, Ardvreck Castle sits on the shores of beautiful Loch Assynt and is steeped in MacLeod lore.  From Ardvreck Castle we turn eastwards and travel towards the spectacular Falls of Shin for a short break. From there it is a short drive south towards Inverness, the capital city of the highlands, where we will spend the night.

Day 8 On tour - arriving back in Edinburgh early evening. Touring DAY 4: Leaving Inverness in the morning, it is a short trip to Culloden Battlefield, scene of the last battle ever fought on British soil, a battle which marked the end of the clan system in Scotland and the end of the Highland way of life.  From Culloden we travel to the town of Dores to give you the opportunity to see the world’s most famous loch, Loch Ness.  After a spot of monster-hunting we travel south towards Aviemore and the Rothiemurchus estate where we will stop for lunch.

The tour then continues south to Dunkeld, the ancient capital of Scotland.

A short stop in Dunkeld town centre is followed by a trip to the Dunkeld Hermitage where you will see some of the UK’s tallest trees as well as Ossian’s Hall, a 19^th century victorian folly overlooking the spectacular falls of Braan.  From here we head directly to Edinburgh, passing through the ancient kingdom of Fife and across the River Forth, taking in the grandeur of the Forth Rail Bridge along the way. Return to Edinburgh by 6pm.

Day 9 Depart for home (or extend your stay independently)

CANCELLATION TERMS:

• Applicable to all scheduled departure coach tours/ language guided;
• Cancellation can be made free of charge up until 6 weeks before arrival.
• 6 weeks to 21 days before arrival we will charge a 10% cancellation fee.
• 20 days to 7 days before arrival there will be a 50% cancellation fee.
• 6 days to 0 days before arrival will carry a 100% cancellation fee.
• We recommend that all clients take out relevant travel insurance to be covered for all reasons of cancellation.
• Minimum 8 pax required for the tours to run.

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