Enjoy the massed
Pipes and Drums
of the Scottish
regiments at the
last night of the
Edinburgh Tattoo
as they recreate
something of the
pageantry and ceremonial
associated with
Scottish history.
Edinburgh is Scotland's
capital and a World
Heritage City. You
will also visit
the former Royal
Yacht Britannia,
one of the most
famous ships of
the 20th century,
125 metres of streamlined
elegance and where
Kings and Queens,
Prime Ministers
and Presidents were
entertained, men
were knighted and
a ship that was,
above all, home
to the Royal Family.
Friday 22 August
The weekend will
commence with a
welcome reception
and introduction
to the tour by your
Scottish Blue Badge
Guide prior to dinner.
Saturday 23 August
Enjoy your Scottish
breakfast before
departure for Melrose,
via Galashiels.
For four hundred
years, from it's
foundation in 1136
to it's 'desolation'
in about 1556, the
Cistercian Abbey
of St Mary at Melrose
served the Christian
Church, the monarchs,
the state and the
people of Scotland.
The town of Melrose,
clustered at the
great southern gate
of the Abbey precinct,
existed only to
serve the Abbey.
There will be time
for coffee here
before continuing
to Kelso and Floors
Castle.
Floors Castle is
the largest inhabited
castle in Scotland
and home of the
Duke and Duchess
of Roxburghe and
their family. You
will be free to
wander through the
spectacular state
rooms filled with
priceless European
paintings, tapestries
and furnishings,
enhanced with family
photographs and
beautiful plants
grown by the estate
gardeners.. Admire
the colours in the
herbaceous borders
and enjoy the Victorian
kitchen garden.
Lunch can be found
either in the restaurant
or the terrace cafe
and shop.
Depart for the return
to your hotel early
afternoon to have
time to relax before
preparing for the
evening and departure
at 1700 when you
will drive to 'The
Hub' restaurant,
very close to Edinburgh
Castle and the entrance
to the Tattoo, where
we have booked an
early dinner for
you so as to be
on the spot ready
for the 1930 final
performance.
“Tattoo”
is the traditional
signal, given originally
by drumbeat and
latterly by bugle
or trumpet call;
which warned British
soldiers to return
to their quarters
for the night. The
innkeepers turned
off the liquor taps
- “Tap-Toe”-
and the drums continued
to beat for half
an hour, the period
of grace during
which the soldiers
were allowed to
make their way home.
The custom eventually
developed into a
ceremonial performance
of military music
by massed bands
a few hours after
sunset. At
the end of the performance
you will return
to the hotel.
Sunday 24 August
You will return
to Edinburgh to
visit Britannia.
Britannia is berthed
alongside her Visitors'
Centre, which is
where the experience
starts and you can
discover Britannia's
story. Within the
Visitors' Centre
you can step inside
Britannia's Wheelhouse,
view the Royal Family
Picture Gallery
and The Royal Barge.
With the aid of
an audio guide,
you can tour four
decks. The tour
includes the Bridge,
State Dining Room
and Drawing Room,
Queen's and Duke
of Edinburgh's bedrooms,
the gleaming Engine
Room, the Captain's
Cabin and the galleys.
A short journey
to the centre of
Edinburgh will provide
an opportunity to
shop in Princes
Street and find
lunch before returning
to your hotel for
departure. Those
who do not wish
to return to the
hotel can have their
luggage on the coach
and be dropped in
Edinburgh.
Price per person
£415 Single supplement
£50 Non refundable
deposit £120
Includes:
• Two nights
accommodation with
Scottish breakfast
• Dinner in
the hotel on Friday
and in Edinburgh
on Saturday
• Welcome reception
and an introduction
to the tour
• The services
of a Scottish Blue
Badge Guide and
executive coaching
• Top-priced
ticket for the last
night of the Edinburgh
Tatto
•
(19.30 hrs
performance)
• Entries into
Floors Castle, Melrose
Abbey and Britannia
The final approach
to the Edinburgh
Tattoo is on foot
up a steep incline
and, regrettably,
no special arrangements
can be made.
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