Tours
Rabbie's Trail Burners Whisky Coast Tours:
Why not see much more of the Whisky Coast, whilst taking in this fantastic festival as part of your holiday?
Rabbie's have put together two dedicated guided tours, a whisky and hospitality experience - in style.
Book early to avoid disappointment as spaces are limited!
Northern Whisky Coast Explorer
An exclusive 8-day island hopping, small group tour of the Whisky Coast including Oban, Mull, Skye and the “Spirit of the West” Festival. With distillery visits, special whisky tastings, great food, friendly comfortable accommodation and a knowledgeable local guide this is a trip of a lifetime for any whisky enthusiast.
Tour Dates: 15th –22nd May 2009 (including 2 days at the Spirit of the West Festival)
Group Size: Maximum of 16
Transport: Luxury minicoach with driver/guide
Accommodation: Hotels and guesthouses– minimum 3 star standard
Friday 15th May: Transfer from Edinburgh and Glasgow via Loch Lomond to your base in the pretty West Coast village of Inveraray - home to the Spirit of the West Festival
Overnight stay at The Loch Fyne Hotel in Inveraray, home of the Whisky Festival and your base for the next 3 nights. Dinner in hotel (1st night only)
Saturday 16th: May A full day at the Spirit of the West Festival
Sunday 17th May: Another full day of events at the Spirit of the West Festival
Monday 18th May: Today sees the start of your Whisky Coast island hopping adventure. From Inveraray you will travel first to the Inverawe Smokehouse to sample some local smoked salmon then continue on to Oban – the Gateway to the Isles. Here you will have a tour and tasting at the Oban Distillery, followed by an optional seafood lunch before we catch the ferry to the island of Mull. As the ferry approaches Mull you will see the dramatic outline of Duart Castle sitting high on the cliff top. This is the family home of the Macleans where you will have a private tour followed by a whisky in front of the fire in the living room of a real clan chief!
Overnight stay and dinner at the Isle of Mull hotel
Tuesday 19th May: Mull is an Island of incredible diversity. There are 1,000 foot sea cliffs, powder white sand beaches and mountains rising 3,000 feet from crystal clear sea. The coastline alone covers 300 miles creating a beautiful and wonderfully varied area. Today you will have the chance to explore and experience the wonderful variety on offer.
At the far south-western tip of the island a small passenger ferry crosses to the Island of Iona with its ancient abbey, fascinating history and beautiful scenery. There will be time to explore and have lunch in this special place. The Isle of Mull is Britain's premier destination for visitors wishing to see white-tailed sea eagles, the largest UK bird of prey. Look out for these majestic birds as you travel across the island.
And if all this wasn’t enough we will finish off the day with a tour and tasting at Tobermory Distillery and/or a drink in the famous Mishnish Hotel – known by yachtsmen and women worldwide.
Overnight stay and dinner at Isle of Mull hotel
Wednesday 20th May: Travels across the remote Ardnamurchan peninsula. It is one of the least populated areas of Great Britain. Today less than 2000 people live on the 50 sq mile peninsula, there is however an abundance of wildlife, including Red Deer, Otters, Seals, Eagles and Pine Martins. You will have the morning to explore this magnificent area including Moidart and Castle Tioram. You then travel along a spectacularly scenic coast of sheltered inlets, stunning white beaches and beautiful views to the islands of Rum, Eigg, Muck and Skye before arriving in the harbour town of Mallaig for lunch. As a fishing port you should be guaranteed some fresh seafood! After lunch the short ferry ride takes you to the Isle of Skye and a scenic drive past the Cuillin Mountains to the island capital Portree and your hotel.
Overnight stay and dinner at the Rosedale Hotel (or similar)
Thursday 21st May: A full day to explore the island of Skye and sample some of its finest produce. In the morning the tour will take you round the dramatic north tip of the island and the scenic highlights of the Quiraing, Old Man of Storr and the Kilt Rock. Lunch will be at the Three Chimney’s Restaurant – one of the finest places to eat in the whole country and situated in a beautiful remote location.
And of course a trip to Skye would not be complete without a visit to the Talisker Distillery where you will have the chance to sample some of their more unusual whiskies in a special tasting. The tour then returns to Portree where you can try one of the local pubs or restaurants for dinner
Overnight stay at the Rosedale Hotel (or similar)
Friday 22nd May: The final day of this unique tour returns you to the mainland traveling through the dramatic mountain scenery of the West Highlands to Fort William.
Here the real whisky enthusiasts will want to visit the Ben Nevis distillery, situated in the shadow of Britains’s highest mountain– alternatively nearby Glen Nevis has some beautiful waterfalls and short walks. There will be time to explore an shop in the town – we recommend the Crannog smokehouse and restaurant for lunch. In the afternoon we will explore spectacular Glencoe, scene of the infamous massacre of the Clan Macdonald in 1692, before returning to Glasgow and Edinburgh with unique memories to last you a lifetime.
Departure Points
207 High St. Edinburgh and George Square, Glasgow
Price
£990.00 pp Twin/double share
£1290.00 Single
Inclusions
7 nights accommodation with breakfast
Lunch at the Three Chimneys Restaurant on Day 6
Dinners on days 1, 4 and 5
Transportation by top of the range Mercedes minicoach
Services of a professional Rabbie's driver/guide
All ferry crossings.
A weekend ticket to the Spirit of the West Festival
All distillery tour and tasting fees as specified in the itinerary
A private tour and fireside dram at Duart Castle.
Exclusions
Meals not specified above.
Drinks with meals
Other items of personal expenditure
Optional gratuities to your driver/guide
Places Limited - book now by emailing [email protected] or by phoning 0131 2263133, more information available at: www.rabbies.com
Southern Whisky Coast Explorer
An exclusive 7-day small group tour of the Whisky Coast including Arran Kintyre, Islay and the “Spirit of the West” Festival. With distillery visits, special whisky tastings, great food, friendly comfortable accommodation and a knowledgeable local guide this is a trip of a lifetime for any whisky enthusiast
Tour Dates: 12th –18th May 2009 (including 2 days at the Spirit of the West Festival)
Group Size: Maximum of 16
Transport: Luxury minicoach with driver/guide
Accommodation: Hotels, guesthouses and self catering – minimum 3 star standard
Tuesday 12th May
Depart Edinburgh and travel west through Scotland’s largest city, Glasgow towards the ferry terminal at Ardrossan. Here you catch boat to the Island of Arran – known as "Scotland in Miniature". Arran is Scotland’s most southerly island. It contains examples of all of the scenery of Scotland, with the mountains, glens, lochs and castles, and has some great local produce to inspire your taste buds.
You arrive on Arran in Brodick - the largest village on the island. After lunch you have the afternoon to visit the Isle of Arran Distillery and some of Arran’s other great local producers: Arran Brewery, Arran Cheeses & Creelers' Smokehouse. These local businesses all thrive on their natural products that reflect the uniqueness of the island. The day will finish with a special local menu for dinner.
Overnight Stay at the Auchrannie Resort
Wednesday 13th May
Takes you to the peninsula of Kintyre, traveling south to Campbeltown where you will take a tour of Springbank, one of the few family owned distilleries left, followed by lunch and the chance to sample some unusual whiskies in their exclusive private tasting room. Then travel back north to catch the ferry to the second island of the tour.
Clean air, unpolluted seas and a mild climate combine to give Islay a unique environment that produces world-class whiskies and food. Around the middle of the 19th century, Islay boasted no less than a dozen distilleries. The tradition continues today with eight distilleries (Lagavulin, Laphroaig, Bowmore, Bunnahabhain, Bruichladdich, Ardbeg, Caol Ila and Kilchoman), still producing some of the most popular and, certainly, most flavoursome malt whiskies in the world. The local whiskies are renowned for their strong peaty flavours and are nurtured by the salty sea air.
Overnight at either: Bowmore Cottages (in the grounds of the distillery!) or a local inn. Dinner can be taken on the ferry or on arrival on Islay but is NOT included.
Thursday 14th May
Explores the delights of “The Queen of the Isles” with its magnificent beaches and fertile lands. You will visit three of the island’s distilleries as well as seeing some great scenery.
Starting the day with a “vertical tasting” at Laphroaig you will follow this up with lunch and a tasting at Ardbeg. After a photo stop at Lagavulin and a visit to the ancient celtic stone cross at Kildalton the tour travels back to Bowmore for the Distillery Manager’s tour and tasting. This should set you up nicely for dinner at the renowned Harbour Inn – famous for its seafood and other island produce.
Overnight in Bowmore again
Friday 15th May
In the morning you will cross the island to visit the beautiful Saligo Bay for a short walk – just to build up a thirst for a visit to the newest distillery on the island – Kilchoman. Despite being the smallest and least known of the Islay distilleries you are sure of a great welcome and some fine whisky. After a quick lunch here there will just be time for a stop of at Caol Ila distillery before boarding the ferry back to the mainland.
Having left Islay behind you travel through Argyll and the coastal villages of Tarbet and Lochgilphead before arriving in the historic town of Inveraray.
Overnight stay at The Loch Fyne Hotel in Inveraray, home of the Whisky Festival and your base for the next 3 nights. Dinner in hotel
Saturday 16th May
A full day at the Spirit of the West Festival
Sunday 17th May
Another full day of events at the Spirit of the West Festival
Monday 18th May
Either transfer back to Glasgow or Edinburgh or join the Whisky Coast Northern Explorer to continue your adventure….
Departure Points
207 High St. Edinburgh and George Square, Glasgow
Price
£970.00 pp Twin/double share
£1240.00 Single
Inclusions
6 nights accommodation with breakfast
Lunch on days 2 and 3.
Dinners on days 1, 3 and 4
Transportation by top of the range Mercedes minicoach
Services of a professional Rabbie's driver/guide
All ferry crossings.
A weekend ticket to the Spirit of the West Festival
All distillery tour and tasting fees as specified in the itinerary
Exclusions
Meals not specified above. Drinks with meals Other items of personal expenditure Optional gratuities to your driver/guide
Places Limited - book now by emailing [email protected] or by phoning 0131 2263133, more information available at: www.rabbies.com
Tours of Inveraray Castle - Festival Goers receive a 20% discount!
Inveraray Castle will be open throughout the weekend of the event and those wishing to take a tour will receive a 20% discount when presenting their Spirit of the West Festival ticket.
The Castle, home to the Duke of Argyll, also has a lovely gift shop and café and is open from 10am – 5.45pm.
Kathleen Cameron Scottish Tour Guide
Kathleen offers tours to groups of independent travellers wanting a private, personalised tour in a choice of modern vehicles, to larger coach parties. Although Kathleen can recommend places to stay, accommodation is not included in tours, for more information please click here: http://www.scotlandtourguide.co.uk/
