Thirteen Days
Beginning at a beautiful hotel located on 500 acres of English parkland in the Cotswolds near Bath, the first part of your journey sees you discover the beauty and culture of Bath and the charming Cotswolds which are without doubt one of the most picturesque parts of England.
A short flight north takes you to Scotland: a land of castles and cashmere renowned for its rugged landscapes and enduring traditions. Beginning in the heart of Perthshire at a luxury resort, the journey then concludes in the heart of Edinburgh with a stay in an iconic 5* hotel.
This programme is specially designed to combine stays at impeccable hotels with visits and exclusive experiences to provide an immersive insight to local culture.
GET IN TOUCHDay One: Arrival at England
Day Two: Lucknam Park
Day Three: Beautiful Bath
Day Four & Five: The Cotswolds
Day Six: Country to Country
Day Seven: An Adventure Playground
Day Eight: Picturesque Perthshire
Day Nine: Scotland in Miniature
Day Ten: The Capital City
Day Eleven: Edinburgh’s Old Town
Day Twelve: Edinburgh at Leisure
Day Thirteen: Onward Travel
Day One: Arrival in England
A chauffeur will provide a transfer from London Heathrow to your first accommodation. It is an elegant Cotswold country house dating from the 17th century and set in 500 acres of listed parklands and gardens. Re-fronted in the 1820s and with its interiors much altered in the 1920s, today it is comprised of just over 40 bedrooms and suites, all individually and luxuriously decorated.
Day Two: Leisure at Lucknam Park
Spend the morning at the Cookery School located on the estate. A private half-day cookery class is the perfect way to test your skills or master a new technique. Your class could focus on how to make pasta from scratch, create imaginative canapes, or craft handmade chocolates.
The afternoon is then yours to spend at leisure. Perhaps visit the property’s award-winning Spa or explore the surrounding countryside on horseback; with routes through beautiful Wiltshire and the Southern Cotswolds, it is an equestrian’s dream.
Day Three: Beautiful Bath
Accompanied by a qualified driver-guide, spend the day in Bath. Considered one of Britain’s most beautiful cities, Bath is home to some of the nation’s grandest and most graceful Georgian architecture alongside ancient cobbled alleys and grand Roman Bathhouses.
Your accommodation for the next three evenings is situated on Bath’s famous Royal Crescent. The buildings were first occupied in 1775 and today this 5* star property has wonderful 18th century-style décor, complete with paintings from period artists such as Gainsborough.
Day Four & Five: The Cotswolds
Glorious all year round, the Cotswolds are the largest of all the 38 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty in England and Wales. Complete with rolling hillsides, country lanes and some of the prettiest stone villages, it has become best known for representing what many consider to be “quintessential England”.
Spend two days exploring with your driver-guide.
• Burford – This medieval hamlet sits on the banks of the River Windrush and was once famed for its wool trade. Today, its uneven stone-flagged streets are lined with antique shops and quaint tearooms.
• Bourton-on-the-Water – Affectionately called “Little Venice” due to the series of graceful low bridges that straddle the river.
• Castle Combe –Barely altered since King Henry VI granted villagers the right to hold a weekly market here in 1440, this charismatic village has been the setting for countless Hollywood blockbusters including Steven Spielberg’s adaptation of War Horse.
• Bibury – Originally two villages on either side of the ‘Rack Isle’ in the River Coln, it has some charming vernacular architecture including the iconic Arlington Row.
• Owlpen – Described by HRH Prince Charles as the “epitome of the English village”.
Day Six: Country to Country
Travel to Bristol Airport where you will board a flight north to Edinburgh. On arrival, you will be met at Edinburgh Airport by a chauffeur who will provide a transfer north into Perthshire.
Your accommodation here first opened its doors in 1924, when it was quickly dubbed the Playground of the Gods. Today, its claim to that title is undiminished: experience for yourself the divine setting, dining and facilities of the hotel.
Once settled, enjoy a private falconry experience. Known as the “sport of kings”, your falconry lesson provides the chance to handle and fly a Harris hawk. In full flight, these creatures are magnificent.
Day Seven: An Adventure Playground
Spend the day on-site at the resort.
Perhaps play a round on one of the three Championship golf courses, take aim at the shooting school, retreat to the trout loch for a spot of fishing, or enjoy the thrill of off-road driving in the Perthshire hills.
An introductory lesson to learn how to handle the gorgeous gun dogs is a great way to experience a taste of Scotland’s country pursuits, and there can be no better way to explore the surrounding countryside than on horseback.
If instead of outdoor adventure you are looking for relaxation and indulgence, the hotel is home to Scotland’s top destination spa.
Day Eight: Picturesque Perthshire
Visit Glamis Castle which has been the family home of the Earls of Strathmore and Kinghorne since 1372. Since then Glamis has been visited and lived in by many members of the Scottish and British royal families. Enjoy refreshments in the atmospheric 16th century chambers before your private guide takes you on a tour of the castle.
Next, visit an organic farm for a privately guided tour with the owners. Meet some of the organically reared animals on the farm, often including the Aberdeen Angus cows, rare-breed pigs and slow growing poultry. Your visit concludes with a casual dinner in the farmhouse with your hosts, giving you the chance to sample steak served with seasonal salad and homemade bread and butter.
Day Nine: Scotland in Miniature
Travel into the Trossachs, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It straddles the meeting of the Highlands and Lowlands and is often referred to as Scotland in Miniature – within a few miles find towering peaks and deep wooded glens, as well as babbling streams and rivers which run into magnificent lochs.
Explore famous Loch Lomond with a private cruise on board a 46ft luxury motor cruiser. The north is dominated by mountainous peaks and a scattering of islands can be found at the southern shores.
The crew will entertain you with the history of the loch and can point out places of interest along the way including Inchmurrin Island which in the 14th century sheltered fugitive Robert the Bruce before he was to become King of Scotland.
Day Ten: The Capital City
Travel south to Edinburgh. The city has two distinct areas: The Old Town, dominated by a medieval fortress, and the Georgian New Town which dates from the 18th century. The harmonious connection of these two contrasting historic areas, each with many important buildings, is what gives the city its unique character and what saw it be awarded UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1995.
Your final accommodation is a luxury hotel in the true sense of the word. Complete with a Michelin starred restaurant, tranquil spa and kilted doormen, the hotel is the city’s premier property. While many Edinburgh hotels claim to have Edinburgh’s landmarks on their doorstep, few can say their own doorstep is a landmark.
Day Eleven: Edinburgh's Old Town
A local guide will take you on a walking tour of Edinburgh’s Old Town. The Old Town is brimming with cobbled streets, tightly-packed buildings, narrow closes and hidden courtyards, all steeped in history and many astonishingly well-preserved.
Explore Edinburgh Castle this afternoon. Step inside the ancient walls and learn of the royalty who lived and died here, the battles fought over it and the struggles for control of the nation; it is rumoured to be the most besieged place in Britain
Day Twelve: Edinburgh at Leisure
Discover the city on your own. Your guide from the previous day will ensure you set off in the right direction, with advice for visits that might interest you and helpful hints for off-the-beaten-track experiences.
Day Thirteen: Onward Travel
A chauffeur will provide a transfer to Edinburgh Airport for your departure flight.
Meet the Highland Cattle. With their fluffy hair and long horns, the cows are a true icon of Scotland and make for a great photo opportunity! Perhaps also take the time to meet some of the farm’s smaller residents – chickens, turkeys, pigs, and sheep. Lambing takes place at the end of April, and you will be welcome to feed any pet lambs that may be around.
Set off from the marina and relax on the upper deck with a glass of champagne in hand.
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.
Known as the “Jewel in Scotland’s Crown”.
Considered one of Britain’s most beautiful cities, Bath is home to some of nation’s grandest and most graceful architecture. Sweeping crescents of gorgeous Georgian architecture co-exist harmoniously with ancient cobbled alleys and grand Roman Bathhouses, ensuring that almost every corner of the city boasts classical beauty that will stop you in your tracks.
Glorious all year round, the Cotswolds are the largest of all the 38 Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty in England and Wales. It is best known for representing “quintessential England”: rolling hillsides, country lanes and pretty stone villages. Perhaps the key to the Cotswolds’ irresistible and characteristic pull lies in the limestone bedrock from which so many of its towns and villages are built. It is this golden stone attributed from medieval wealth from wool merchants that makes the area equally as beautiful on an overcast afternoon or a sunny morning.
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
The ‘Trossachs’, are an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Straddling the border between the Highlands and Lowlands, the Trossachs is often referred to as Scotland in Miniature – within a few miles, you can find towering peaks and deep wooded glens, as well as babbling streams and rivers which run into magnificent lochs.
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.
Described as “a Riviera of the Highlands” when it first opened its doors in 1924. Today, its reputation for luxury is undiminished and offers sumptuous accommodation, impeccable service, Michelin-starred dining, and Championship parkland courses. Handicap not required on the King’s and Queen’s Courses.
