Accompany Sir Ludo Shaw Stewart around his extraordinary country estate Ardgowan House and enjoy a stirring bagpipe performance and high tea. Once a solitary watch tower, the estate has evolved into an 18th-century private residence so extraordinary that it has been called “Scotland’s Downton Abbey.” Ludo, as he prefers to be called, will take you around his estate, showing you his favorite rooms and regaling you with stories of the property’s unparalleled history. He will then host a high tea for you in one of the estate’s 76 rooms, each one handsomely decorated with period furnishings. During tea, Ludo will describe the importance of bagpipes to the Scottish culture, although the musical instrument originated elsewhere. You will also be treated to an exclusive bagpipe workshop and performance. As the haunting melodies fill the room, you will feel as if you were transported into the distant past, a time when Ardgowan House first lorded over the countryside.

Greenock lies on the southern shore of the River Clyde, which has long been the lifeblood of the area, for over 200 years the famous Clyde-built ships began their voyages out to sea. Your excursion will follow the line of the river and then into the center of Glasgow. The skyline is a mixture of architectural gems, encompassing the magnificent 12th century cathedral, the stunning Victorian cityscape and revolutionary Art Nouveau. Upon arrival into the city center, your tour guide will point out the major attractions and principal buildings, including George Square and Cathedral Square, where a stop will be made to admire the cathedral from the outside.

Beyond the cathedral, you’ll see the Necropolis – a unique, graveyard, covered with the elaborate tombs of rich industrialists and merchants. You’ll continue your stroll to see Glasgow’s oldest house dating back to 1471. In contrast, stands the modern St. Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art - representing the world’s major religious faiths. The coach will stop for you to take photographs of the pinnacled Gothic buildings of the second oldest university in Scotland and then continue to Greenock.

Most of Ayrshire’s castles face the sea and there are few more romantic sights in the British Isles than a Scottish castle perched on the edge of a cliff. You’ll travel south along the coastal road and pass Dunure Castle, once one of the many strongholds of the powerful Kennedy family who ruled Ayrshire. A few miles south of Dunure, lies Culzean Castle and Country Park. You’ll pass through the castle’s imposing archway and into the quadrangle from where there are splendid views down to the waters of the Firth of Clyde.

You enter the castle by the porch and then you’ll pass through the original entrance to the castle, which still retains its delicate fanlight. The oval staircase will bring you to the saloon with its specially woven carpet. On the return drive, a stop in the town of Ayr will allow you to browse a selection of well-known stores to seek out the best of quality Scottish merchandise and to have lunch on your own.

OVERVIEW

Tour two futuristic buildings that epitomize Glasgow’s urban renewal with a Knowledgeable guide that will elaborate on their unusual designs and construction challenges. The zig-zagging, zinc-clad roof of the Riverside Museum resembles waves, which symbolize the city’s dynamic relationship with shipbuilding and the River Clyde. That innovative, z-shaped roof design enables the interior to be free of intrusive columns that would visually separate the transportation exhibits. Construction was no easy task, as the guide will explain in detail. The Glasgow Science Museum is another marvel of engineering on the River Clyde, especially its airfoil-shaped tower, which is the world’s only building capable of rotating 360°. You will discover how it was designed with shock absorbers and huge concentric bearings at the base and how the engineers overcame the unforeseen issues that arose after the tower’s construction. While browsing this remarkable building, the highly knowledgeable guide will describe how the site on reclaimed ground complicated the construction.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Gain insight into the designs of two ultra-modern buildings from a Knowledgeable guide.
• Marvel at the radically different design of the Riverside Museum, especially its z-shaped roof.
• Discover how architects resolved the design issues of the fully rotating Glasgow Tower.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

This excursion offers a wonderful introduction to the scenic beauty of Scotland’s west coast, with contrasting landscapes of rolling countryside, tranquil lochs, and charming villages. Departing Greenock, you’ll travel along the banks of the River Clyde, catching glimpses of glens, mountains, and lochs as you leave the port behind. Crossing the impressive Erskine Bridge, with views of the city of Glasgow in the distance, the journey continues through rural landscapes towards the beautiful Loch Lomond area, known as the “Queen of Scottish Lakes.” You’ll stop in the picturesque village of Luss, set on the shores of Loch Lomond, where there will be free time to stroll through the quaint village streets, browse the local shops, or simply enjoy the peaceful lochside setting. From here, the route continues through the villages of Tarbet and Arrochar, with your guide sharing stories of the surrounding landscape and local history. Your next stop is the famous viewpoint of “Rest and Be Thankful,” where you’ll have the opportunity for photos and to take in panoramic views over the surrounding glens and mountains. Descending from here, the drive follows the shores of Loch Fyne and through the Argyll Forest area before returning along the coast, passing through the port area and back to Greenock.

Glasgow is Scotland’s largest city, famous for its industrial past and for its resurrection as a modern cultural capital. It’s the home town of architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh, the site of some magnificent 19th century architecture and a city with some of the best museums and galleries in Britain. A private coach transfer service into Glasgow will enable you to spend the day at leisure, for individual sightseeing, shopping, or museum visits. Upon arrival into the city, a knowledgeable escort will greet your coach and point out the main areas of interest, and you are then free to enjoy Glasgow, returning to the same point to connect with your return transfer at the time indicated by your escort.

For lovers of fine Scotch whisky, a visit to Scotland would not be complete without visiting a distillery that produces fine malt whiskey.

Travel to the Glengoyne distillery (or equivalent), which has been working continuously for over 150 years. Its traditional methods have been handed down from generation to generation to produce a distinctive malt whisky, enjoyed by a growing number of connoisseurs. The essence of its flavor has been preserved for decades by using air dried barley, rather than barley dried. The result is a more subtle, complex whisky in which all of the delicate flavors, freely express themselves.

An expert guide will introduce you to the natural elements and the time-honored tradition. You’ll learn all stages of the whisky making process from mashing and fermenting, to distilling and maturing. See the gleaming copper stills, casks of American oak, operating equipment and methods used in the various stages of processing fine malt whisky. Following a tour of the distillery, you'll be treated to a sampling of a `wee dram`. You’ll also have some time to browse in the shop which sells a wide variety of whiskies and gifts.

Scotland is a land of castles, mighty fortresses on rocky heights. In the great halls, great men discussed affairs of state against backdrops of regal splendor. Noble men and tyrants, kings and queens, lords and commoners all made their entrances and exits and now only the stones remain to speak of centuries of drama. Stirling, situated on one of the many loops of the River Forth beckons to you from whichever way you approach. It rises abruptly from the flat plains; a fortress-crowned rock with a grey town clinging to its steep sides - a colorful but blood-stained history book. Because of its strategic position, guarding the route north, this was a fortress town since earliest times; bitterly fought over, bravely defended. The castle has appropriately been called the 'Key to Scotland'.

As a result its possession has been the focus of contention for many centuries, with battles like Bannockburn being fought in its shadow. You’ll drive through the old town to arrive at the castle where every inch seems drenched in history and interest. The present castle dates mainly from the 15th and 16th centuries when it was a principal royal residence. James III was born here in 1451, James V spent his childhood here, and the infant Mary Queen of Scots was crowned here on 9 September 1543. Work in the 16th century largely shaped the structure as it survives today. Discover the main features of the central turreted gatehouse with its flanking towers and curtain wall, the Great Hall, the Palace. This is one of the earliest Renaissance buildings in Scotland. Then enjoy the splendid panoramic views from the battlements.