Arran & Bute - Scotland in Miniature

DAY 1

Customers booking our rail package meet the Tour Manager en route. Those joining at the hotel will meet the Tour Manager and the rest of the group in the early evening at the Riverside Lodge Hotel in Irvine for dinner.

DAY 2

We transfer to Wemyss Bay for our ferry crossing to Rothesay on the Isle of Bute. We take a scenic coach tour of the island with a stop at Mount Stuart, an outstanding and flamboyant Victorian mansion with beautiful gardens within a 300 acre estate. We continue around the island with photo stops at the stunning bays of Scalpsie and Ettrick.

DAY 3

We sail to Arran, affectionately known as 'Scotland in Miniature', touring the south of the island including the wonderful coastal views of Holy Island from the shorelines of Lamlash Bay. We make a stop at the Isle of Arran Heritage Museum, which documents Arran's history within old croft and smiddy buildings. We check into our hotel, the Auchrannie Resort for two nights.

DAY 4

We tour the north of the island today, including a visit to Brodick Castle Gardens. Dramatically set against the backdrop of Goatfell, the grand baronial style castle has stunning views across Brodick Bay and lovely gardens. In the far north of the isle we enjoy a tour and wee dram at the Isle of Arran Distillery in Lochranza.

DAY 5

Returning to the mainland, we have an afternoon's leisure in Irvine on the Ayrshire Coast. We have also included entrance to the Scottish Maritime Museum, Scotland's 'Cathedral of Engineering' with a great collection of historic vessels. We check into the Riverside Lodge in Irvine for dinner and a final night together.

DAY 6

We bid farewell and head home from 'Bonnie Scotland'.

B=Breakfast, D=Dinner