It was a case of out of the frying pan and into the fire,
as her cousin, Elizabeth I, worried that Mary would be
a Catholic threat to her protestant crown and immediately
imprisoned her. After 19 years of captivity, Elizabeth
eventually ordered Mary's execution. The two women never
met.
We will continue past Perth, the medieval capital of Scotland,
stopping for a coffee a few miles farther on. After coffee
the tour will cross the Highland boundary faultline and
the scenery changes from the rolling farmland of the Lowlands
to the forested hills and mountains of the Scottish Highlands.
This thick forest is the very same mentioned in Shakespear's
Macbeth as 'Birnam Wood' "Macbeth will never vanquished
be, until great Birnam wood to High Dunsinane comes against
him". Dunsinane lies 12 miles to the southeast. One
part of the wood is especially beautiful - the Hermitage,
and this is where we will take you for a walk. Surrounded
by thick forest (including Britain's tallest tree), the
River Braan crashes over several spectacular waterfalls.
This is a migratory route for Salmon, and they can often
be seen trying hard to leap the falls. The Hermitage is
named for Ossian, a Celtic Warrior poet of the dark ages,
and you can even see inside his cave.
Depart approx 12.30 We will follow the wide valley
of the River Tay. At 117 miles, the Tay is the longest
river in Scotland, and has the greatest flow of water
of any river in Britain. We will stop in the Victorian
resort town of Pitlochry for an hour for lunch and a
wander around. After lunch we continue north to Killiecrankie.
This a famous name from Scotland's bloody past, for
it was here in July 1690 that the Government troops
were defeated by John Graham of Claverhouse (Bonnie
Dundee) in his attempt to restore the Stuart King James
VII in the first of the Jacobite risings. At the very
moment of victory Bonnie Dundee was killed by a rogue
bullet, and with death of their Maverick leader the
rising was effectively ended. From Killiecrankie it
is a short hop to the Queen's View. Named in honour
of Robert the Bruce's wife, Queen Isabella, on a clear
day the view along Loch Tummel to Schiehallion and beyond
to the hills of Glencoe is spectacular. We will drive
along the lochside and over the hills to Fortingal.
The Fortingal Yew tree is the oldest living organism
is Europe, and the village is the legendary birthplace
of Pontius Pilate.
From Fortingal we head along the shores of dark Loch
Tay in the shadow of Ben Lawers. This area retains much
of its rural charm, and little has changed in a hundred
years. At the head of the loch is Killin, with the wonderful
falls of Dochart in the heart of the town. After a short
stop, we continue over the Braes of Balquhidder, the
final resting place of Highland outlaw Rob Roy MacGregor.
Rob Roy lived 300 years ago as a cattle rancher, but
ended up on the wrong side of the law after a dispute
with local landlord, The Marquis of Montrose. Like a
Scottish Robin Hood, Rob Roy hid in the hills and led
raids against Montrose and other nobles. He believed
that he had been wronged and his pride wouldn't let
him back down despite his predicament. Eventually he
was captured and taken to the Tower of London. His case
was taken up by the Duke of Argyll, and at length he
was released. He died aged 70.
We will make a short stop at Callander at the edge
of the Trossachs, before retuning to Edinburgh passing
the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots - Linlithgow Palace.
Return time - approx. 18.30
This full day tour departs
every Wednesday and Saturdayfrom Central Edinburgh.
9.30am - 6.30pm.
Adult Price:
£27
Child Price:
£24 (3 - 16 yrs)
Inclusions:
Transportation by top of the range 16 seat Mercedes
minicoaches for a more personal service.
Forced air ventilation as standard.
Services of a professional driver/guide
Exclusions:
Lunch and refreshments.
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