Plus private visit to the Jim Clark Museum 

Our special repeat to the beauty and history of Northern England & Scotland. Following our previous two visits, we have added some highlights while still staying within much of the earlier programs. Most exciting are our added visits to the new Bluebird wing of the Ruskin Museum in the Lake District. Sir Donald Campbell’s Bluebird K7 is now fully restored. In the Highlands, we are incorporating the Isle of Skye with a fabulous two days at its top hotel allowing us an expanded schedule in the heart of the island. Again, we have a private reception at the Jim Clark Museum arranged by the Trust. To make the tour even more significant, we split our traveling through England & Scotland by luxury coach and train. We then journey into the heart of Scotland with stays at Glencoe, Skye, Braemar and Dalhousie (Edinburgh). This section includes an impressive outing on the `Jacobite’ Steam Train, the glorious scenery of Glencoe, Loch Ness and Speyside, plus visits to some famous whiskey distilleries. Included is a visit to Braemar and Balmoral Castle, the Scottish home to the Royal Family. At Dalhousie we take a day to visit the farmlands around Jim Clark’s home town of Duns. A reception at the Museum is arranged by the Trust. An inspiring day, tinged with sadness, but also with wonderful memories. With all of our programs, we try to emphasize the quality of our accommodations. This program is no exception with stays at 4 and 5 star hotels. Throughout the trip, we’ll enjoy restaurants that will certainly dispel any fears of ‘English cooking’!

May 05 DAY 1 Meet at Kings Cross Railway Station for a 10 a.m. high speed train to York. On arrival in York, check in to the York Milnerl Hotel. This afternoon a visit to the National Railway Museum. You can also walk the famous lanes of ‘The Shambles’.

May 06 DAY 2 Our private coach journeys across Yorkshire to Skipton and the Yorkshire Dales. Here, we change to a commuter train and journey on the Settle to Carlisle historic railway. The route journeys through Yorkshire Dales and moors, and into Cumbria, one of the most beautiful sections of railroad in the country. We then head for Bowness-on-Windermere, the gem of the Lake District. The next three nights in Bowness. Dinner at our hotel.

May 07 DAY 3 This morning we drive the southern section of Windermere, then over to Coniston Water to visit the Museum in honor of Sir Donald Campbell, the outright land speed and water speed record holder. The museum houses the restored boat and a number of vehicles and artifacts attributed to Sir Donald. Following a lunch stop in the village of Coniston, we travel the short distance to Hill Top, the home of Beatrix Potter. At first a seemingly surprising visit that turned out to be one of our most popular. Dinner tonight at a local restaurant.

May 08 DAY 4 This morning we cruise from Bowness to Ambleside, a seventy-five minute calm lake relaxing journey. At Ambleside, we are met by our coach and travel the short distance to Grassmere. Plenty of time to enjoy this lovely village before an afternoon visit to Dove Cottage, the home of Willian Wordsworth, the great poet laureate. His home is as he left it, in 1850. Our timing should be perfect to see ‘Dorothy’s field’ with daffodils ‘dancing in the
breeze’. Dinner this evening at our hotel.

May 09 DAY 5 Departing the Lake District, our journey into Scotland takes us on a beautiful coach drive through the Scottish Lowlands to Glasgow, then following Loch Lomond into the magnificent Highlands. Our destination for the next two nights is on the banks of Kinlochleven at Glencoe. Our journey today has taken us through the cultivated lands of Southern Scotland and onto the grandeur and wildness of the Highlands, an impressive day of beauty and history. The next two nights at our Glencoe Hotel. Dinner this evening at our hotel.

May 10 DAY 6 This morning we journey the short distance to Oban (pronounced Obin) for a relaxing day enjoying one of the most popular small harbor towns on the Western Isles. The main street is a center for shopping and close by is one of the oldest whisky makers, the Oban Distillery started in 1794 and predated the town. It will be one of our first Distillery visits while in Scotland. This evening we travel the short distance to Kinlochleven for a ‘real’ Scottish fish and chip dinner.

May 11 DAY 7 Today, a special treat riding the ‘Jacobite’steam train. Described as one of the great rail journeys of the world, this 42 mile trip takes us from Fort William to Mallaig. Once considered as an impossible feat of engineering, it has endured a fitting history. From Mallaig, we take a short ferry across to the Isle of Skye. Skye seems to have its own character. The scenery is beautiful and the history immense. We journey to the northern point of Loch Dunvegan and our classic hotel at Skeabost. Dinner at our hotel.

May 12 DAY 8  We start with a morning visit to Dunvegan Castle & Gardens. This has been the seat of the MacLeod Clan since 1200. We allow plenty of time to visit both the Castle and the classic Garden. This afternoon, we explore the remote countryside.  Here life was hard and our visit to the ‘Skye Museum of Island Life’ offers a glimpse into a real Skye village existing between the seventeenth and  mid twentieth century.  En route we pass the ‘Old Man of Stohr’ a rock formation formed before the dawn of time.  You can opt to miss on the museum and enjoy one of the great highland walks. A popular two hour trek to the top of the ‘Old Man’ and back.  This evening dinner is back at our hotel.

May 13 DAY 9  We leave the Western Isles for the central Grampian and Cairngorm Mountains, the Scottish Highlands at their wildest and grandest. As we journey east, then south, the terrain changes and the mountain views become stunning. We pass through the gentler slopes of Strathearn and on into Speyside. Here the great herds of deer roam the higher hillsides. Photo opportunities abound before we reach our central Highland hotel at Ballater. This evening dinner is in the ‘great room’.

May 14  DAY 10  This morning, a very special visit, to Balmoral Castle. We have the opportunity to visit both inside the Castle, the gardens and surrounding walks. Just a mile away is the exclusive Royal Lochnagar Distillery. Its maintained association with the Royal Family has kept their product in great demand throughout the World. Our visit, will of course give you the opportunity to try a ‘wee dram’. After a relaxing lunch in Braemar we start our journey south and head for Edinburgh.  The route takes us off the Highlands toward the popular artist town of Pitlochry and on to the major bustling city of Perth before driving the famous bridge over the Firth of Forth.  Our hotel is just south of Edinburgh.  Dalhousie Castle is the perfect setting for our final two nights in Scotland.  This evening’s dinner in the Great Hall, surrounded by walls covered with swords, axes and military equipment of battles fought between the Highlanders and the British. Certainly a meal with character!

May 15 DAY 11 Our final day of touring is to the small town of Duns, the family home of Jim Clark. We are welcomed at the Jim Clark Motorsport Museum with a private viewing and then drive the short distance to the family grave and site of his Farm at Edington Mains. We are joined by the museum director and curator for lunch in Duns. Our return to Dalhousie for our final dinner together. First a toast to Scotland with a wee dram or two, then great
food, good wine and good company. A perfect farewell evening.

May 16 DAY 12 This morning our tour concludes. You can return to England by plane or train, or if you are returning to the States, there are flights out of Scotland. We are happy to help you with your ongoing travels, wherever they might take you.

Plus private visit to the Jim Clark Museum 

TOUR DATE: May 5 – May 16, 2027 12 day program

TOUR PRICE: $6,950 per person based on two to a room $2,225 Double room for Single use

DEPOSIT: $2,500 per person

TOUR SIZE: Maximum 25 persons