We have been running our guided Outlander Tours for four years now and I have often thought how wonderful it would be to have Diana herself talk to our 'Outlander Tourists'.
Well, for 2010...
...we are delighted to announce that those on our August tour will not only meet Diana Gabaldon but will have dinner with her in a 17th century castle!
THE AUGUST TOUR SCHEDULE
Friday 6 August. Meet guide 1000 at Edinburgh Airport (or earlier in Edinburgh by arrangement). We travel up to Inverness with views of the Forth Bridge and Loch Leven Castle, diverting then to a scenic, back road route with good views and quirky places, learning a little about the countryside. Stay Inverness city centre hotel.
Saturday 7 August. A look round Inverness, see the tomb of 'The Old Fox', Beauly Priory, musings on Lally Broch, then attend the Strathpeffer Highland Gathering, including the March of Clan Mackenzie. Back to your hotel for dinner and a demonstration of Jacobite weaponry by Hugh Allison, author of 'Culloden Tales'.
Sunday 8 August. See the bronze age Clava Cairns and stone circles, Culloden Battlefield, Cawdor Castle and a quick look at Fort George (built after Culloden to contain future risings). Check in to Castle Stuart for the night. Dinner with Diana and Doug Gabaldon (we will move places after each course so that everyone has a chance to speak directly with Diana).
Monday 9 August. We head west by Loch Ness and Glenmoriston (where Prince Charles Edward hid for three weeks in 1746). We see Glenelg, the 18th century barracks and the best examples of brochs on the Scottish mainland, then lunch in the local inn. If the weather is fine, superb views across the sea to Skye can be arranged, if not then we head across that sea a little earlier (in a traditional turntable ferry) for an insight into Clan Donald. Stay at a small hotel by an old harbour.
Tuesday 10 August. We cross back to the mainland to see the lovely Eilean Donan Castle, then head for Dunvegan with dramatic views of the Cuillin Hills and a landscape that helps us understand how Highland people lived in the 18th century. Dunvegan Castle is not just the ancient seat of Clan Macleod but also the guardian of clothes and artefacts that belonged to Flora MacDonald and Prince Charles Edward. That afternoon, in a traditional 'black house' we hear from a local, (but internationally-known) storyteller. Back to hotel for pub or restaurant dinner.
Wednesday 11 August. The trip south is by Mallaig, Glenfinnan where Prince Charles Edward raised his standard in August 1745, the Prince's Cairn (from where he left in September 1746), Fort William and Glencoe. All have their stories. Further south we visit a castle that, in my view, is as close as you get to Castle Leoch. By early evening we are in the hustle and bustle of Edinburgh's Old Town.
Thursday 12 August. 15th Century Rosslyn Chapel has been described as a 'Bible in Stone'. In fact it is more, and full of theories about Knights Templar and the Holy Grail. After Rosslyn we lunch in the oldest pub in Edinburgh and in the afternoon take a walk down the Royal Mile, checking for Carrubbers Close and print shops. In the evening there is a farewell dinner in a local restaurant.
Friday 13 August. Depart
TRANSPORT, GUIDE, ACCOMMODATION AND SHOPPING
The tour will be for a maximum of fourteen people travelling in a 16 seater coach and I (Alastair Cunningham) will be your guide.
The tour is priced for people travelling on their own. If you are happy to share a room, then there is a reduction of GBP 200 per person.
In order to contain costs, we ask everyone if they will please share a twin bedded room for the one night at Castle Stuart. If you would prefer to have a room to yourself, the supplement is GBP 125.
Breakfast is included throughout; lunch is not included on any day.
Dinner is included for the two nights at the Inverness hotel, at Castle Stuart and on the last night. On the other three nights there will be formal and informal options available for dinner.
There will be plenty opportunity to buy souvenirs but this is not really a tour for serious shopping! If you want to stay on for a day to sample the delights of the Edinburgh shops (and see the castle) let us know and we will price this up for you.
WHAT OUTLANDER TOURISTS HAVE SAID
"Once again, let me say what a wonderful trip it was... for me it was something special. For one thing, you do exactly what you say you'll do and much more. Lastly, it answered so many questions for me. Thank you for everything"
Betty Jo Such, September 2008
"This tour is something that we will never forget.
Mark and Susan Hastings, September 2009
"Carol and I had a good time in London. However, it paled in comparison to the week we had in Scotland. We thank you for giving us a wonderful vacation. Your knowledge of Scottish history gave us a perspective that we would never have gotten if we were in a larger group or on our own. The whole week was unbelievable."
David and Carol Marck, July 2009
"The Diana Gabaldon Tour was everything I had hoped it would be. I got to see the places mentioned in the books and get a real feel for what life was like in the Highlands in the 18th century. I particularly enjoyed the weapons lecture by Hugh Allison and the stay at Castle Stuart. That was awesome! Alastair is a very knowledgeable guide and was quiet willing to deviate from the schedule to see something of particular interest to us. Even though I came on the tour alone, I never felt like I was alone. I highly recommend it to anyone wishing to visit Scotland."
Irina Shapiro, September 2006
HOLIDAY COST
The cost of the holiday is GBP 1580 (currently USD 2517).
This includes the following:
. Bed and Breakfast for seven nights in accommodation as above.
. Dinners on four nights
. Services of tour guide for seven days
. Entry to Culloden Battlefield and Strathpeffer Highland Gathering
. Storyteller on Skye
. Jacobite weapons presentation in Inverness
. Dinner with Diana Gabaldon
Not included:
. Air Fares
. Lunches, drinks and snacks
. Entry to castles (this is in case weather, the general will or other opportunities mean that we adjust our schedule).
. Dinners on 9, 10 and 11 August
. Trip insurance.
Exchange Rates
At the time of writing (20 October 2009) the exchange rate is 1.64 USD to one pound sterling (GBP). We use www.xe.com for our calculations and this means that:
The GBP 1580 holiday cost is currently $2,591
The GBP 200 reduction for sharing is currently $328
The GBP 125 supplement for a single at Castle Stuart is currently $205
The GBP 316 deposit is $518
NOW WHAT?
If you would like to know, more about the trip then send an email to me, Alastair Cunningham.
