Scotland - Beautiful Bute

ITINERARY

Saturday - Morning departure from Dorset via motorways to Blackburn for overnight stay at Dunkenhalgh Hotel with dinner and breakfast. Welcome cuppa and porterage included.

Sunday - Continue northwards over the border into Scotland. Drive to Wemyss Bay on the Firth of Clyde where we join a ferry to Rothesay (35 mins) and so to our hotel nearby. Welcome cuppa on arrival with porterage to rooms. After settling in enjoy dinner.

Monday - Touring Bute: Visit Mount Stewart House - a unique architectural masterpiece that will take your breath away. One of the most technically advanced houses of the Victorian era, elaborately decorated interiors and with 300 acres of gardens that extend right down to the sea. Later make a circular scenic tour around the island before arriving back in Rothesay with time to enjoy the town. Maybe visit the Discovery centre, Bute museum or restored castle - stroll the landscaped promenade gardens and appreciate the splendid Victorian frontages.

Tuesday - Cultural Glasgow: Take the ferry from Rothesay to Wemyss Bay and drive into Glasgow city centre - one of the most exciting cities in the UK. Striking architecture, contemporary art spaces and fascinating museums plus shopping and café culture. We have arranged a visit to the Kelvingrove museum and gallery which presents amazing collections of just about everything imaginable. Later we shall call at The National Piping Centre where you can learn about the bagpipes and have a go playing them yourself. Return to Bute via the ferry later that day.

Wednesday - This morning take the short (5 min) ferry from Rhubadoch to Colintrave across The Kyles of Bute. From here we tour alongside the tranquil Loch Fyne to Inverary Castle, ancestral home of the Duke of Argyll, Chief of the Clan Campbell. It is an iconic must-see attraction with a fairy-tale appearance - a guided tour of the castle is included with free time to explore the gardens and park. This afternoon tour through spectacular Scottish scenery via Rest and be Thankful viewpoint (highest point on the journey) and along the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond with a short stop in the picture-postcard village of Luss. Cross the Erskine Bridge over the River Clyde and join the Wemyss Bay ferry back to Rothesay.

Thursday - A day trip to Dunoon, principle resort on the Cowal Peninsula built around the castle mound. It has a lovely promenade, a grand Victorian pier, craft shops, galleries and a good museum of local history. Our coach will make a drop-off at the entrance to Puck's Glen on the way - a Victorian walking trail through a magical wooded gorge, full of cascading waterfalls and crossed by bridges (2 miles - uneven gravel paths, some steep sections and steps, some narrow and slippery when wet - but worth the effort!). The coach will collect walkers from here about 1 hour later to go on to Dunoon. Return to Rothesay that afternoon.

Friday - Reluctantly leaving this "bute-iful" region by ferry from Rothesay to Wemyss Bay and drive southwards. Stop at Gretna Green for lunch then continue to Dunkenhalgh Hotel for overnight stay. Porterage, welcome cuppa, dinner and breakfast.

Saturday - Homeward bound via motorways to arrive back in Dorset that evening.

B=Breakfast, D=Dinner