DETAILS
The Scottish Borders are often overlooked in comparison with the Highlands and Islands, whose grandeur and drama have an obvious attraction. Yet the Borders have a quiet, understated beauty of their own, with softly rolling hills draped in early morning mist, peaceful valleys dotted with sheep farms and the sinuous, salmon-filled River Tweed, which runs like a silver thread from the Lowther Hills to the sea at Berwick.
- Pricing from
- $1,395
- Trip Type
- Group Travel Tour, International Land & Rail Voyages
- Departure Dates
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Sep 14, 2024 - Sep 18, 2024
Extra Night for September 14th or 18th
Includes breakfast from $149pp for 2 people sharing and $298 for a single occupancy room
Cancellation by You
If you or any member of your party wish to cancel your holiday, or if you fail to pay the full cost of the holiday within the specified time you will be liable, as a minimum, to pay the charges detailed below up to the point of cancellation, in addition to any non-refundable items*. Or in the case of failure to pay, at the date that we deem your booking to have been cancelled. Notification from the person who made the booking must be received at our offices. This can be by phone, or in writing, either by email or letter. The cancellation charge will be calculated according to the date this is received, or the date upon which your cancellation is treated as occurring because of non-payment.
*Non-refundable holiday costs charged including upgraded air tickets, hotel upgrades, extensions, extra nights, transfers etc., will be charged at 100% and the charges shown below will then apply to the remainder of the holiday cost and any amendment charges are not refundable. Additional accommodation costs for reduced occupancy or other components, may be payable in the event that one or more passengers cancels but where remaining passengers still wish to travel.
Group Bookings – cancellation charges will apply to any guests in the group who may wish to cancel in the unlikely event of cancellation by the lead passenger.
Note: If your cancellation falls within the provisions of your travel insurance policy you may be able to make a claim which must be made direct to your insurance company.
Cancellation Charges – if you cancel your holiday:
In order to compensate our expenditure, we charge a cancellation fee according to the following scale:
Up to 84 days: deposit and any invoiced flight or hotel costs
83-64 days:
35% and any invoiced flight or hotel costs
63-46 days: 55% and any invoiced flight or hotel costs
45-31 days: 75% and any invoiced flight or hotel costs
From 30 days to departure: 100% and any invoiced flight or hotel costs
Lord of the Glens: Up to 6 months: deposit and any invoiced flight or hotel costs | 6 months-0 days: 100% and any invoiced flight or hotel costs.
Emerald Isle Explorer:
Up to 5 months: deposit and any invoiced flight or hotel costs
5-3 months: 65% and any invoiced flight or hotel costs.
3 months – 0 days: 100% and any invoiced flight or hotel costs.
Maharajas’ Express:
Up to 140 days: deposit and any invoiced flight or hotel costs
139-84 days: 45% and any invoiced flight or hotel costs
83-46 days: 65% and any invoiced flight or hotel costs
From 45 days to departure: 100% and any invoiced flight or hotel costs.
Variation by You
Booking alterations: If, after our booking confirmation/invoice has been issued, you wish to change your travel arrangements in any way, for example your chosen departure date or accommodation, we will do our utmost to make these changes (subject to agreement by our suppliers) but it may not always be possible. Any request for changes to be made must be received at our offices, this can be by phone, or in writing, either by email or letter from the person who made the booking. You will be asked to pay an administration charge starting from £50 per person in addition to any associated costs of the changes imposed by our suppliers and any extra arrangements, these costs are non-refundable. Quotes normally have a 24-hour time frame before they expire, and the price is therefore subject to change. You should be aware that these costs could increase as the departure dates becomes closer and you should contact us as soon as possible. Additional fees may be charged, depending on the cost and work caused to us by the requested change.
Booking transfer to another person: You can transfer your existing booking to another person suggested by you (subject to agreement by our suppliers) *. Notice be made must be received at our offices, this can be by phone, or in writing, either by email or letter from the person who made the booking at least 25 days before departure. The replacement traveller must satisfy and fulfil any conditions that apply to the holiday, and all costs of the original booking. Both you and the new traveller are responsible for paying all costs we incur before the transfer can be made by us. The cost of the transfer will consist of both an administration charge of £50 and any costs which our suppliers impose*.
ITINERARY
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day 1
Edinburgh, Scotland/Peebles Hydro Hotel
Arrive independently on September 15th. We depart by coach from our local pick-up points and drive into the Scottish Borders for our visit to Manderston House. Legend has it that Manderston House was “The swansong of the stately home”, and although most legends are unfounded, Manderston is all that the legend claims, and probably more besides. Built in the finest Georgian country house style in the 1790s for Dalhousie Weatherstone, the elaborate house became the home of the Miller Family in 1855, who made their initial fortune from trading hemp and herrings with the Russians. A large-scale remodeling of the mansion was undertaken in the early-20th Century, and when the Edinburgh architect, John Kinross, asked how much he could spend on the work, he was told that “it simply doesn’t matter . . .”. We continue to our comfortable three-star accommodation at the Peebles Hydro, an historic building in its own right, having been opened in 1881 by the Hydropathic Company to provide fashionable hydrotherapy remedies to guests. Rebuilt after a fire in 1905, the hotel continues to be a landmark in the town of Peebles and today offers a high standard of accommodation. Dinner is served in the evening.
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day 2
Tweeddale
Following breakfast we travel through Tweeddale to Abbotsford House, built by Sir Walter Scott following the success of his great novels. There are extensive grounds leading down to the River Tweed, a fine walled garden and a woodland walk, however it is the house that steals the show. Scott was a passionate collector of armour and weapons – Rob Roy’s gun and Montrose’s sword along with over 9,000 rare volumes are in his library. Scott died in the dining room overlooking the Tweed in September 1832 and it is poignant to stand there and reflect on his life and work.
In the afternoon we follow the River Tweed back towards Peebles and visit Traquair House, which is said to be the oldest continuously inhabited house in Scotland. Twenty-seven Scottish and English monarchs have visited Traquair including Mary Queen of Scots, and William the Lion held court here in 1209. The well-known Bear Gates were closed in 1745, not to be reopened until the Stuarts should ascend to the throne. Everywhere in the house are portraits, old prints and maps, which refer to its history. There is also a micro-brewery producing a tasty Traquair Ale.
We then return to our hotel where dinner is served in the evening. -
day 3
Mellerstain House/Kelso
After breakfast we will travel to Mellerstain House, the home of the Earl and Countess of Haddington, and one of Scotland’s great Georgian houses. Begun in 1725 by William Adam and completed by his famous son, Robert, between 1770 and 1778, the interior decoration is outstanding. The ceilings are especially magnificent having been preserved in their original eighteenth century colours. The Library is a masterpiece of classical decoration and colour with fine detailed plasterwork incorporating marble busts by Roubiliac. Mellerstain houses a superb collection of paintings including works by Van Dyck, Gainsborough, Ramsay, Aikman and Nasmyth, many of which depict members of the family who have owned the house. There are also lovely period furniture and embroidery. The house stands in 200 acres of magnificent parkland with an Italianate style terraced garden laid out by Sir Reginald Blomfield in 1909.
We move on to Kelso to visit Floors Castle – home of the Duke & Duchess of Roxburghe, situated on a natural terrace overlooking the River Tweed and facing the Cheviot Hills. In 1721, William Adam was commissioned by the 1st Duke to make additions to the eastern end of an existing tower-house to create a plain, but symmetrical, Georgian country house. The 6th Duke invited the leading architect in Edinburgh, William Playfair, to remodel the castle between 1837 and 1847. He drew his inspiration for Floors from the highly ornamented picturesque style of Heriot’s Hospital in Edinburgh. The result is a romantic fairytale castle with its roofscape of turrets, pinnacles and cupolas. In the park can be seen a holly tree marking the spot where King James II of Scotland was killed in 1460, when his own cannon exploded while laying siege to Roxburghe Castle.
Dinner will be served back at our hotel in the evening. -
day 4
Tweeddale/Lauderdale
Following breakfast we check out of the hotel and travel from Tweeddale over into Lauderdale, where we visit Thirlstane Castle, a magnificent 16th Century castle set in a quiet meadow landscape. The family home of the Duke of Lauderdale, Thirlestane Castle is one of the oldest and finest castles in Scotland and dates back to at least the 12th Century. The central part of the present castle was completed in 1590, remodelled in the 1670s and then enlarged in the 1840s. Throughout its long history, Thirlestane has belonged to the Maitland family, one of the most famous in Scotland. The Maitlands came to Britain in 1066 with William the Conqueror and settled in Northumberland. In about 1260, Sir Richard Maitland married Avicia, daughter and sole heiress to Thomas du Thirlestane. It was this marriage that bought the lands of Thirlestane and others into the ownership of the Maitland family. Lunch is provided in the Victorian Kitchen here, a chance to discuss and compare the wonderful houses and castles we have seen here in the bonny Borders. Following this, our final visit, we return to our original pick-up points.
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