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.

OVERVIEW

If you would like to explore Edinburgh on your own, this transfer by train is ideal. You’ll be dropped off in the very heart of New Edinburgh and just a 10 min walk from old town. You’ll have approximately 4 hours to enjoy the city as you desire. Your return transfer to the ship departs from the same place as your drop-off. A tour escort will be traveling with you to and from the ship to answer any questions you may have about sightseeing, dining or shopping. At the designated time, rejoin your train for the return to the port.

HELPFUL HINTS

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

OVERVIEW

Tour two futuristic buildings that epitomize Glasgow’s urban renewal with an architectural historian 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 an architectural historian 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 is an excursion with contrasting scenery as you travel from the banks of the River Clyde to catch glimpses of glens, mountains, and lochs. Cross the impressive Erskine Bridge, with views of the city of Glasgow in the distance and travel through rural areas that make up the outer districts of the metropolis. Soon Loch Lomond, known as the ‘Queen of Scottish Lakes’, comes into view. You’ll stop at the pretty village of Luss, and stroll through the village to the water’s edge, or browse in the well-stocked gift shops. From Luss, the magical loch is your constant companion as you journey further northwards passing through the villages of Tarbet and Arrochar.

Your route then takes you to the summit viewpoint of ‘Rest and Be Thankful’, a name which speaks for itself. Here there will be a photo stop and a chance for you to enjoy the panoramic views. Descending now, you’ll see more contrasting views as you now journey along the upper reaches of Loch Fyne and through the Argyll Park to travel alongside the relatively small Loch Eck. You’ll then travel around the head of Holy Loch and into Hunter’s Quay and the terminal of Western Ferries. The 20-minute crossing of the Firth of Clyde will bring you to the Clyde-side town of Gourock. From here you’ll follow the coastal road returning 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.