Princess Cecily, late 1400s, from the Royal window at Canterbury Cathedral
Day 1: Tues. Sept. 24, 2024 -- Burrell Collection, Kelvingrove, Glasgow Cathedral, Willow Tea Room, Panoramic City Tour - After our arrival at the Glasgow Airport, we meet our guide and driver and head over to The Burrell Collection. The Burrell Collection is one of the greatest art collections ever amassed by one person and consists of more than 8,000 objects from around the world. Housed in an award-winning building in the heart of Pollok Country Park, the collection is named after its donor, the shipping magnate Sir William Burrell. The displays range from work by major artists including Rodin, Degas and Cézanne to important examples of late medieval art, Chinese and Islamic art, and ancient civilizations. These objects, including a vast textile collection, were the inspirational source for knitwear designer Jade Starmore's book 'A Collector's Item'. After this wonderful visit we head to the Willow Tea Rooms for a lovely afternoon tea!
Inside Glasgow Cathedral
After tea we visit Glasgow Cathedral which stands majestically in the heart of Scotland’s largest city. It is the only medieval cathedral on the Scottish mainland to have survived the Protestant Reformation of 1560 virtually intact. There used to be a canonry around it – a precinct where the bishops (and later archbishops) and clergy had their residences. To its south, a thriving burgh sprang up that has since expanded into the great city of Glasgow. Behind the Cathedral sits the amazing Necropolis, well worth a stroll.
Kelvingrove
To finish the day, we will explore Glasgow, Scotland's largest city, with a panoramic city tour. From the magnificent St. Mungo Cathedral to the People's Palace and Glasgow Green, we will explore Glasgow's rich past as a religious center and one of the most important industrial cities in Britain. The Victorian architecture offers a striking contrast to the extensive parks of the West End. Among those, Kelvingrove offers a haven of peace in the city, with amazing views on Glasgow University's striking buildings and the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, where we will stop for a quick visit if time allows. It is not hard to imagine why Glasgow is home to Scotland's most celebrated architect: Charles Rennie Mackintosh. After our busy day, we will check in to the Radisson Blu Hotel to relax and enjoy our welcome group dinner.
Sanquhar Gloves
Day 2: Wed., Sept. 25, 2024 -- Sanquhar, Robert Burns Birthplace - Our first stop today will be in Sanquhar at the Sanquhar Pattern Designs Visitor Experience. Sanquhar, surrounded by stunning countryside, is home to the beautiful Sanquhar gloves, finely knit with lace-weight yarn. While here we will learn about the history and heritage of the patterns. We will enjoy a demonstration of hand-knitting of Sanquhar gloves. We will also see how the patterns are crafted into other items and garments to the finished product on knitting machines. We will have a chance to speak to knitters and hear how the pattern is being kept alive. We will have a light lunch and then free time for shopping in the art centre’s shop.
Robert Burns Birthplace Museum
After lunch we will visit the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum that offers a truly unique encounter with Scotland’s favorite son. The museum comprises the famous Burns Cottage where the poet was born, the historic landmarks where he set his greatest work, the elegant monument and gardens created in his honor and a modern museum housing the world’s most important collection of his life and works. After our visit, we return to our hotel in Glasgow.
Loch Lomond
Day 3, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024 -- Loch Lomond Cruise, Glenturret Distillery, Scone Palace - Our first event of the day will be a Loch Lomond Cruise (from Balloch). This one-hour circular tour of Loch Lomond's South basin has wonderful views of the magnificent Ben Lomond and passes a number of Loch Lomond's stately homes and castles along the shoreline. We will venture out towards Inchmurrin Island- the largest of Loch Lomond's 33 islands and home to the ancient remains of Lennox Castle, which in the 14th century sheltered a fugitive Robert the Bruce before he was to become King of Scotland.
Glenturret Distillery
We then head over for a visit and tour of the Glenturret Distillery. Nestled at the foothills of the Highlands near the scenic town of Crieff, Glenturret is the spiritual home of The Famous Grouse whisky. After seeing the age-old process of milling, mashing, fermenting and distilling single malt whisky at Scotland's oldest distillery, visitors are introduced to The Taste Experience. The brand's new interactive zone will educate visitors about Scotland's favorite whisky, The Famous Grouse, and how this is blended to perfection. There are scent pods, sensory, touch & challenge games and DVDs. We'll finish the tour with a flight with The Grouse, giving you a bird's eye view tour of some of Scotland's best known landmarks. We will enjoy lunch on our own at the distillery cafe.
Scone Palace
Our next visit is Scone Palace. Once the crowning place of the Kings of Scots, Scone Palace occupies a unique position in the history of Scotland. A breathtakingly beautiful seat of power and mystery and the rightful home of the celebrated Stone of Scone - also known as the Stone of Destiny. Scone Palace is regarded as a national treasure and is revered as the historic jewel in the crown of Scotland. Today, Scone Palace is the home of the Earls of Mansfield. There is so much to see and enjoy at Scone Palace, the history, an outstanding collection of antiques, paintings and rare art-facts. Even its grounds, as splendid as the Palace itself, are renowned throughout the world. Right above the River Tay, Scone Palace overlooks the routes north to the Highlands and east through Strathmore to the coast. The Grampian mountains form a distant backdrop, and across the river stands the city of Perth. From here we head to our overnight hotel in Dundee, the Hotel Indigo Dundee, where we will enjoy lovely group dinner.
V&A Dundee
Day 4, Sept. 27, 2024 -- V&A Dundee, Glamis Castle, Dunnottar Castle - This morning before we leave Dundee, we will make a quick stop at the V&A Dundee, the first ever dedicated design museum in Scotland and the only other V&A museum anywhere in the world outside London. V&A Dundee provides a place of inspiration, discovery and learning through its mission to enrich lives through design. V&A Dundee advocates for the power of design – as both extraordinary and brilliantly ordinary, shaping our daily lives. It brings design from all over the world to Scotland and gives a new platform to Scottish designers.
Our next visit is Glamis Castle, a living, breathing monument to Scottish heritage. The family home of the Earls of Strathmore and Kinghorne, Glamis Castle is the legendary setting for Shakespeare's Macbeth, the childhood home of HM Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother and the birthplace of Princess Margaret. Steeped in history, Glamis Castle has evolved over the years to create a stunning architectural treasure that is full of vitality to this day. You will not fail to be touched by every painting, every piece of furniture, every little detail along the way, as they are sharp reminders that this is not a museum but an incredible family home. Many famous visitors have stayed here, among them Mary Queen of Scots and James V.
Dunnottar Castle
And our last stop, the amazing Dunnottar Castle. This dramatic and atmospheric clifftop fortress ruin was the home of the Earls Marischal, once one of the most powerful families in Scotland. Steeped in history, this romantic and captivating ruin is a photographer's paradise, a history lover's dream and an iconic destination for visitors from around the world .
Arrival in Lerwick, Bressay Island
After our full day, we arrive in Aberdeen late in the afternoon where we will board the ferry for our overnight journey to Lerwick and the next part of our tour-adventure in the Shetland Islands.
Day 5: Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024 -- Arrival in Lerwick
We spend today getting settled in our housing and exploring Lerwick at your leisure.
Day 6 - Day 12: Sunday, Sept. 29 - Sat. Oct. 5, 2024
Follow your personal pre-planned Wool Week Schedule and explore the Islands -- or follow along with Marci and Amy as they explore the islands (check previous travelogues for some of their adventures). On Saturday afternoon, we say farewell to Shetland and board the overnight ferry for our return to Aberdeen.
We spend today getting settled in our housing and exploring Lerwick at your leisure.
Day 6 - Day 12: Sunday, Sept. 29 - Sat. Oct. 5, 2024
Follow your personal pre-planned Wool Week Schedule and explore the Islands -- or follow along with Marci and Amy as they explore the islands (check previous travelogues for some of their adventures). On Saturday afternoon, we say farewell to Shetland and board the overnight ferry for our return to Aberdeen.
Queen's Hotel, Lerwick, Shetland
Day 13: Sunday, October 6, 2024
We arrive in Aberdeen early in the morning and are transported via coach to Aberdeen Airport for our return flights back home.
We arrive in Aberdeen early in the morning and are transported via coach to Aberdeen Airport for our return flights back home.
While we make every effort to follow our itinerary as set forth here in the website, occasionally due to matters beyond our control, we may have to substitute destinations, lodging or attractions other than those set forth.