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Scotland – Royal Residences and Retreats

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  • OVERVIEW
  • ITINERARY
  • HIGHLIGHTS


itinerary Map

Scotland – Royal Residences and Retreats

Eight Days

A land of castles and cashmere, Scotland has a long and proud relationship with monarchy. Having long been a favoured destination of kings and queens, its royal connections can be found all over the country.

Dream Escape’s tailor-made programme will take you to the finest castles and palaces in Scotland, as well as providing exclusive and private experiences in order to give you the full royal treatment. Beginning in the majestic capital city, you will travel to the most beautiful parts of the country, from Royal Deeside to ancient Perthshire.

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ITINERARY HIGHLIGHTS



Your bespoke programme could include any of the following experiences:

  • Go behind the scenes at the official residence of HM, The Queen in Scotland, with a private post-opening tour that allows you to explore the palace on your own and enter rooms not usually open to the public.

 

  • Enjoy a privately guided tour of a leading whisky distillery; its best-selling malt was first made for one of Queen Victoria’s royal banquets.

 

  • Tour a beloved medieval castle with a private specialist guide. This atmospheric, turreted fortress was the childhood home of the Queen Mother and also had a starring role in one of Shakespeare’s most famous plays.

 

  • Explore ‘the fairest portion of the northern Kingdom’ with your touring-chauffeur, and take in the serene glens, endless expanses of lush forests, heater-clad moors, rushing rivers and tumbling waterfalls.

 

  • Pause your journey at one of the most photographed views in the county, an inspiring sight of rolling hills and shimmering lochs. It is now named after the monarchs of old who previously enjoyed the same vista.

 

  • Enter the mighty fortress in Scotland’s capital which looms high over the city from atop an ancient volcano.
  • Visit the ancestral home of King Robert the Bruce and enjoy a private tour led by one of his descendants, who will bring his family’s extraordinary history to life.

 

  • Ride through the Royal Family’s treasured 20,000-acre Highland estate on a guided Landrover tour that takes you through manicured parkland and deep into the surrounding forest.

 

  • Walk down the most famous street in Edinburgh, characterised by narrow closes and cobbled paths, it is filled with shops selling fine crafts, whisky and cashmere.

 

  • Get up close to the oldest surviving crown jewels in the British Isles with a private viewing, the treasures include the Stone of Destiny, an ancient and powerful symbol of Scottish monarchy.

 

  • Take a trip to one of Scotland’s most important castles and the favoured residence of the Stuart kings and queens. Revel in its impressive buildings, superb sculptures, fine craftsmanship and beautiful gardens.

 

Stay in accommodation fit for a king throughout your trip. In Edinburgh check into a stunning Victorian luxury landmark with Scottish baronial influences, before travelling to a relaxed, intimate hotel whose past guests have included Prime Ministers and British royalty.

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HIGHLIGHTS

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HIGHLIGHTS

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THINGS TO DO

BLAIR CASTLE

A castle full of fascinating history due to visits from key figures like Mary Queen of Scots, Bonnie Prince Charlie & Queen Victoria.

GLAMIS CASTLE

Glamis Castle is famed for its connections to the British royal family and many myths and legends in British history and literature. It has been the family home of the Earls of Strathmore and Kinghorne since 1372.

THE PALACE OF HOLYROODHOUSE

The official residence in Scotland of HM, The Queen and The Royal Family. It is also home to the changing exhibitions from the Royal Collection, featuring old master paintings, rare furniture, decorative arts and images from the vast photograph collection.

GLENTURRET DISTILLERY

Nestled at the foothills of the Highlands, Glenturret is Scotland’s oldest working distillery.

EDINBURGH CASTLE

Edinburgh Castle, perched on ancient volcanic rock, has stood guard over the city for 900 years and is brimming with tales, from it near destruction on the order of King of Scots, Robert the Bruce to its role as a garrisoned fortress through the Glorious Revolution and the Jacobite Risings.

BROOMHALL HOUSE

For the first time since it was built more than 300 years ago, Broomhall House, the ancestral seat of the Earls of Elgin and the Fife home of the family of King Robert the Bruce has opened its doors.

A private guided tour conducted by Lord Bruce, the heir of the 11th Earl of Elgin will showcase this remarkable and fascinating property plus bring his extraordinary family history to life.

PLACES VISITED

ST ANDREWS

Ancient coastal town widely regarded as the spiritual home of golf boasting 8 magnificent courses and also where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge first met, whilst studying at the world-renowned university. The town is also home to several iconic historical sights, St Andrews Castle and St Andrew’s Cathedral.

EDINBURGH

Scotland’s historic capital city. Edinburgh, sometimes referred to as the “Athens of the North”, is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. It has two distinct areas: the Old Town, dominated by a medieval fortress; and the neo- classical New Town, dating from the 18th The harmonious connection of these two contrasting historic areas, each with many important buildings, is what gives the city its unique character and saw it awarded World Heritage Site status by UNESCO in 1995.

The Royal Mile, which lies at the heart of the Old Town is arguably one of the most famous streets in the world. Today, it is peppered with stores selling cashmere goods and hand crafted silver jewellery. However, in centuries gone by it was a different story: delving into the Old Town is like leafing through the pages of a dusty historical novel, as each era unfolds with its own legends and characters.

PERTHSHIRE

In the words of Sir Walter Scott, Perthshire is “the fairest portion of the northern kingdom“. Taking in the region’s beauty, from its serene glens and endless expanses of lush forest, to its bleakly beautiful moors, rushing rivers and tumbling waterfalls, it’s impossible to argue with him

ROYAL DEESIDE

Royal Deeside is an area that is characterised by a blend of moody mountains, lofty crags, tumbling rivers and moors and forests. Nearly 160 years ago, it was an area that captivated Queen Victoria; she surely spoke for future generations of visitors when she wrote: “Every year my heart becomes more fixed on this dear paradise.”

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    Clients of Jessica Thompson, Fairway Travel, Virtuoso

  • "....their time in the U.K. was PERFECT – loved everything you guys did for them, and sang praises for everyone! Thank you!! "

    Connie Hanes, Herff Travel

  • "Everyone, from the Tour Guides to our excellent driver, were amazing. All aspects of the trip were beyond expectations. Even changing our day schedule for outside reasons (like the airline sending my bag to a city 120miles away) they were always happy to help and move the schedule around so we could keep enjoying our trip. Everyone made us feel at home and like family."

    Client of Leah Molinari, Molinari Travel, Gifted Travel Network

  • "Dream Escape was the trip of a lifetime. Excellent choice of hotels, tour guide was awesome, the planned tours were wonderful and very informative."

    Client of Trisha Rathke, VIP Travel Designs, Gifted Travel Network

  • "Dreamscape designed an itinerary that combined an exploration of Scottish history and culture and a visit to some of the filming locations for the hit TV show Outlander. The tour guides provided were personable and knowledgeable and responsive to our interests. Our driver who was with us for the entire trip was professional and pleasant and again, flexible and sensitive to our interests. The hotels were magnificent and the pacing of the trip, spending at least two nights in each hotel was perfect. The itinerary was everything we wanted!"

    Client of Susan Morley, Journeys around the World, Cadence

  • "Sally Strange was wonderful so knowledgable, friendly and fun. 100% would use her services again. We feel like we have a friend for life! We LOVED our tours, where we ate lunch, and spending the days with Sally......Thanks (once again!) for looking after our clients so well. We so appreciate you. "

    Lauren Ainsley, Black Tomato

  • "Rosie...thank you for giving us such a world-class experience in Scotland. Everyone had such a wonderful time and your presence was a large part of that. Your warmth and generosity in taking care of us on our little excursion is so beyond appreciated and I can’t wait to work with you again soon."

    Alex Martinetti

  • "Thank you so very much for the amazing trip to Scotland that you planned for us!! It was truly a once in a lifetime fabulous family trip!! Not only were the accommodations perfect, the activities were above expectations, given the people involved with so much knowledge and compassion for what they do....Many, many heartfelt thanks for making this trip so very special for our family. "

    Clients of Kristen Meckem, Kristen Meckem Travel, An Affiliate of Brownell

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    Jennifer McCrea, Boutique Travel Advisors

  • "We cannot thank you enough for all you did for us during our stay in Scotland! We loved every minute of it....and we loved you teaching us the history of each town and visit. "

    The Pogue Family - Clients of Amy Spence, Strong Travel

  • "We are so grateful for professionalism, expertise, and purely fun personality to entertain and educate our clients in all things royal! I do believe it was a smashing success. 😊"

    Pat Bowden, Red Letter Travel, an independent affiliate of Brownell

  • "Michael does such an outstanding job with making sure every itinerary he works on with me is well thought out. He is attentive to detail and always allows for the clients interest to be reflected in their tours. He makes sure that the perfect tour operator and chauffeur is paired with each client. I wanted you to know what a pleasure it is working with Michael and knowing my clients will always be well cared for when traveling with Dream Escape! "

    Jennifer McCrea, Boutique Travel Advisors

  • "Without a doubt, what made all of it so special and unforgettable was having the true pleasure of having Sally Strange as our guide. She was truly incredible..so full of life, energy, amazing historical knowledge anywhere we visited was extraordinary. Her sense of humor and fun personality made her extra special. Sally was a winner in every way."

    Clients of Betsy Talbot, Travel by Talbot (Brownell)

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    Cathy Major, Cerulean World Travel

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    Krista Boyles, Unique Romance Travel

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    Marieta Carrrero, Boost Journeys

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    Jennifer McCrea, Boutique Travel Advisors

  • "Activities & Tours - All the events and guides were outstanding.- Guides - Simply the best. All of them. All outstanding! "

    Black Tomato Clients

  • "Thank you for everything you did to make the entire trip, special presentations and events so special. It has added a sparkle in my life!"

    Gretchen Ashworth Stewart, Client

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    Nancy Ebel, Virtuoso Travel Advisor

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    Shannon Marie Long - Reed and Mackay

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    Josh Whitaker - Owner, Rudi Steele Travel

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    Rob Arrow, Al Tayyar Group

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    William A Heim, Client

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    Jean Newman-Glock, Signature Travel Network

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    Sharon Delano, Frosch

  • "We want to thank you and the team from Dream Escape.  All six of us in our group had a wonderful time, and we all agreed we owed that in large measure to the work of Dream Escape. From the onset of working with you, you demonstrated a tremendous knowledge about all the activities we wished to pursue —from playing golf to dining at excellent restaurants to seeing historical sites and the Tattoo and Fringe Festival.  And, then you executed "

    Thomas Cohen, Client

  • "THANK YOU a zillion times over for choosing/assigning Rosie to be with this family.  She MADE the trip for them – there’s no other way to put it! "

    Jill Jergel, Frontiers International Travel

  • "Our holiday in Scotland now tops their lists of best trips…… To their growing list of amazing and memorable first-time experiences, our sons may add fishing for trout and salmon on the River Tay; steering a motor boat on Loch Ness; and taking private guided tours on Culloden Moor Of the eight full days we were in Scotland, Alex and Mattie thought each and every day was the best"

    Michael Guadarrama & Trammi Nguyen, clients of Peter Carideo. CRC Travel

  • "All six of us were deeply moved by the whole experience. Bravo Dream Escape "

    Max Levy, Direct client

  • "Thank you Karen and all of the staff and guides affiliated with Dream Escape…..the Flemings are having an awesome tour of Scotland. You all have made me look like a star! "

    Joni Gerace, The Travel Society, LLC

  • "Thanks for all your help and we can chalk this one up as a big success!   Our anniversary celebration was all we could have hoped for "

    Clients of Courtney Regan, Affiliate of Brownell Travel

  • "Rosie was MORE than outstanding – she went out of her way to help us in every regard...She was so knowledgeable – we all loved her"

    Jill A. Jergel, Frontiers International Travel

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    Cindy Evans, Travel Consultant

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    Carole McFarland, Universal Travel

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    Donald M. Davis, President, Luxury Travel, Inc.

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    Peter Carideo, CRC Travel

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    Ann Lipschitz, Worldview Travel

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    Financial Times, How to Spend it

  • "It was, without doubt, one of the most spectacular weekends I have ever had"

    Country Life

  • "David Tobin’s an ace at getting inside private castles and estates and he’s well connected.... "

    Conde Nast Traveller Magazine

  • "The level of service they provide is outstanding. They truly care about every aspect of the trip to ensure you have a fantastic stay. Rosie is a hidden gem of a tour guide. Just fabulous."

    Yvonne Malka, Signature Travel Network, April 2018

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