Details
Day One – Edinburgh
Your first hotel is situated just a stone’s throw away from the main attractions, surrounded by the stunning backdrop of this magnificent Scottish capital city.
Your Hotel
Conveniently located in Edinburgh’s fashionable and leafy West End, just four minutes’ walk from Princes Street, your hotel exudes contemporary urban chic, despite being housed in a traditional Victorian town house. This fusion of styles works beautifully however, with classic original features providing the perfect backdrop for collages and abstract works of art by talented Scottish artists – it’s almost like staying in a stylish modern art gallery!
The hotel has created an environment that is fun, upbeat, welcoming, with the unmistakable buzz of being part of a great Scottish city. The striking design is carried through to the bedrooms, which are lavishly decorated in warm, bold colours and boast huge inviting beds covered in fabulously luxuriant fabrics.
The restaurant is renowned throughout the city and offers a tempting menu of French style cooking using the finest seasonal Scottish produce.
What to see and do
The open top bus tour offers the perfect way to gain a quick overview of this great city. After that, we recommend exploring on foot, whether that’s in the cobbled backstreets of the New Town, doing a bit of shopping along elegant George Street, joining the throngs on the Royal Mile or escaping them by ducking off into the Old Town’s medieval closes. Take a hand-in-hand walk up Carlton Hill or Arthur’s Seat for panoramic views over the city and surrounding countryside. Or learn about our Scottish water of life at the Scotch Whisky Experience. We are ideally placed to give you plenty of suggestions, including the more unusual, off-the-beaten-track hidden gems that only a local would know. We can also arrange a private walking guide if you really want to get under the skin of the city’s history, myths and legends.
Day Three – The Scottish Lakeland
Today you will head north to the Trossachs (the Scottish lakeland) and your second hotel – a wonderfully romantic retreat framed by magnificent Trossachs scenery.
Your Hotel
One of our favourite destinations for nearly twenty years: it still gets better every time we visit. Look out for red squirrels darting amind the gnarled trees as you drive the last few miles along a dead-end single-track road right by the side of the loch. The pink-washed farmhouse and courtyard steading will surprise and delight you at every turn, with its fascinating, yet subtle, mix of old and new, rustic and chic. The restaurant, under the guidance of owner Tom, has gained an excellent reputation both locally and further afield, with an ever-changing menu based on locally-sourced produce and Tom’s imagination. The hotel’s organic garden provides a regular supply of herbs and vegetables, whilst the breakfast scrambled eggs come courtesy of the chickens in the yard – hence their deep orange colour. Nestled between mountains and lochs, this is the perfect place to soak up the peace and tranquillity of a sprawling highland estate, where red deer and grouse roam through dramatic walking country.
What to see and do
The area is famous for its connections with Rob Roy MacGregor, the outlaw, whose grave is in nearby Balquhidder churchyard. On your first morning, you will be collected from the hotel in a 4×4 and driven through beautiful Balquidder glen, stopping to explore the rich history and of course hear about the Rob Roy legend. Your skilled driver will then turn off road into a wild mountainous landscape with gushing rivers, hardy livestock and the occasional farmer! Keep your eyes peeled for red deer and golden eagles. We return back down the glen where you can visit Rob Roy’s grave and hear about his final duel. You can choose to bring your chamapgne picnic with you on the trip, or enjoy it on your return to the hotel.
A little further afield, you can explore Stirling and its imposing castle and old centre. Perhaps take a boat trip on the beautiful Lake of Menteith (the only “lake” in Scotland!) and visit the island of Inchmahome Priory, once a hiding place for the young Mary Queen of Scots. Or simply soak up the rural atmosphere on romantic walks into the surrounding hills.
Day Six – Over the sea to Skye
Today’s route takes you first through the dramatic and imposing Glencoe valley, then past the glorious sandy beaches of Arisaig and by ferry to Skye.
Your Hotel
Sheltered by a gently curving bay, your charming whitewashed hotel sits right on the seashore enjoying expansive views over the Sound of Sleat to the wilderness of Knoydart. This, the most southerly part of Skye, is an area of great natural beauty, often referred to as the Garden of Skye thanks to its abundant bird life and profusion of wild flowers. The hotel is very much the heart of a Gaelic-speaking community and the bar is a convivial meeting place for the locals, who mix happily with hotel guests – often to the accompaniment of traditional music and Gaelic song in front of the roaring log fire. Bedrooms are decorated with pretty cotton and linen chintzes and there are four new suites in the recently restored stables, each enjoying superb views across the water to the lighthouse of Isle Ornsay.
Candlelit meals in the wood-panelled dining room reflect the estate’s culinary riches, with wonderful shellfish and game featuring prominently on the menu.
What to see and do
On the little harbour right beside the hotel is the headquarters of ‘The Gaelic Whiskies’, where you can sample an excellent range of connoisseur brands before browsing in the nearby craft shop. The surrounding area of hills, moorland, woodland and seashore offers endless opportunities for walking and drinking in the magnificent sea views. Don’t miss the enchanting walk to the Point of Sleat, from where you can gaze across to the small isles of Rum and Eigg and dream of future visits! On the way down to the Point of Sleat, it’s worth stopping off at the Clan Donald Centre at Armadale Castle, with its fine arboretum and lovely garden. Further afield, in the north of the island, you’ll find historic Dunvegan Castle, and Portree, the bustling island capital. A day trip by boat to the beautifully unspoilt neighbouring island of Raasay is well worth considering for those who enjoy walking in the wilds!
Day Eight – Return home
Today you will return home, back over the Skye Bridge.
Pricing
£1005 per person for March & November, £1050 per person for April & October and £1085 per person from May to September based on two people sharing a double room for seven nights on a bed & breakfast basis.
Your holiday also includes:
- 4WD safari with expert local guide, and champagne picnic.
- Single ferry crossing to Skye for a car and two adult passengers.
Various room upgrades are possible on this holiday – ask us for a quotation. This combination can easily be tailor-made to suit.
Before your departure, you will receive personalised holiday information including full directions, recommended routes, and suggestions on places to visit depending on your interests and our local knowledge to ensure you get the most from your honeymoon.
All itineraries and room types are presented subject to availability at specific hotels.
