Greetings to everyone and here’s hoping you and yours had a Merry Christmas! I just wanted to touch base with everyone and start my emails where I highlight an aspect of our trip. I’m choosing to start with our hotel stays in Scotland. Our hotel accommodations in Ireland and Scotland are part of what makes our tour unique and many of them are experiences themselves. Our first overnight stop in Scotland is Glencoe House built in 1896 by Lord Strathcona. This magnificent mansion house is situated in the famous Glencoe Glen in the Highlands of Scotland. Glencoe House offers elegant accommodation located in 10 acres of private gardens in the heart of Scotland’s Highlands. This historic mansion is the former home of Lord Strathcona which offers luxury, 5 star suite accommodation. The size and charm of the suites at Glencoe House are unprecedented in Scotland and indeed the UK. One of the unique features of their suites is your large private sitting room, which boasts numerous original features such as marble fireplaces and ornate ceilings. The charming bedroom and bathroom continues the boutique hotel ambiance making you feel as though you are resident in your own historic mansion house albeit with the convenience of 21st century technology such as free wifi. A review of tripadvisor shows 146 reviews of Glencoe House. 145 gave the mansion hotel its possible highest score of Excellent and only one person gave it one step down of very good. The best way to describe Glencoe House may be to simply copy the last post on tripadvisor of someone who stayed there: “Stunning views, with snow capped mountains, amazing hospitality and wonderful suite 5. Only bad thing was that we had only booked to stay one night. We did not want to leave just wanted to snuggle into the comfiest bed ever complete with hot water bottle. . We were made to feel so welcome from the meeting in the car park to the fond farewell by our kilted Innes. From the two bathtubs which we just had to try to the fantastic accommodation which felt more like a detached house to a suite. No detail forgotten with an iPod full of music and a mobile phone just in case. Dinner was amazing as was breakfast and was served with a minimum of fuss. Breakfast was fit for a Lord and we set off determined to be back. Leaving Glencoe House behind we’ll have a wonderful day of exploring the Highlands the next day including a cruise on Loch Ness and exploring Urquhart Castle. Our day will end as we have dinner and overnight at Ballathie House Hotel. Located on lands owned by the Earl of Perth this mansion was built in 1886 and has operated as a country house hotel since 1972. Extensive renovations in the last ten years has brought modern convenience while maintaining the image of the stately home of yesteryear. At Ballathie every bedroom is unique. Classic standard bedrooms with spectacular views, Four-Posters, grandiosley regal king sized beds and Suites with ample space as period features are kept lovingly intact. Spacious bathrooms boast sumptuous baths with luxury toiletires ensuring you have everything you need for some serious pampering. The original Hotel has all the grandeur and fine touches youd expect from a traditional Scottish country house hotel. Gently chiming clocks, sporting prints, roaring log fires, gilt-framed portraits and statues bring character and charm throughout the house. Ballathie House Hotel is also the #1 rated hotel in its area on TripAdvisor and has been given their reward for certificate of excellence. The most recent Tripadvisor poster had this to say about Ballathie House: “Stayed for one night in main house , bedroom had the wow factor as soon as you opened the door , huge bed and very luxurious room. Had dinner at the hotel which can only be described as outstanding , the starter of scallops superb , the smoked salmon and langoustine perfect and the main course of venison best I have ever tasted , the venison croquettes with main so so good ! Deserts topped of top quality food . Waiting staff very helpful and nice as were all staff we met from reception to the barman all make you very welcome and go out their way to help, nothings a problem.... Very relaxing and a fantastic hotel, will defiantly be back soon with friends!!” After our night at Ballathie we will explore the Scottish Highlands and travel south ending our touring day at mysterious Rosslyn Chapel. From there we will cross the border and spend that night and the next in England. Marshall Meadows Country House Hotel is Englands most northerly accommodation. The original Georgian features set in 15 acres of gardens and pastures provide the perfect setting to relax and enjoy great cuisine and a beautiful setting. In the 1780s a rich merchant built his country retreat in about 15 acres of ground which slopes gently towards the rugged sandstone cliffs between Berwick upon Tweed and the Scottish border. With little regard to expense, he imported huge blocks of beautifully rendered sandstone, and, bearing in mind the enormous cost of glass at the time, furnished the resulting building with lavishly tall 12-pane sash windows in the true Georgian style. Thus, Marshall Meadows became the most northerly permanent building in England, standing a mere quarter of a mile or so from the border itself. Marshall Meadows House also received TripAdvisors Certificate of Excellence and here is the most recent comment from someone on their site who has stayed there: “I stayed at this beautiful Hotel last night and arrived late when dark, pulling up in front of the hotel and looking into the lounge looked lovely. Upon entering I was met by the owner who was a true gentleman. My room number 7 was so nice with a very comfy bed, excellent bathroom with ( the hottest shower I have ever had) amazing. I spent some time in the bar area with the open fire roaring away and had an amazing meal served to me there whilst working. The owner and barman could not do enough for all the people who were staying and dining. From the comments coming back from the people who had eaten in the restaurant and come back to the bar area, the food and service were excellent. This is a truly brilliant hotel / country house hotel and I will 100% be visiting again as soon as I can. Excellent stay.” I hope those of you who have already booked the Scotland extension enjoyed this email and it gives you something to look forward to. I hope this encourages those of you who intend to travel with us to go ahead and book your trip if you are going to Scotland. If you are in the crowd that wishes to travel with us but have not booked yet I feel I should share with you some information. The deadline to ensure your stay at the listed hotels in Scotland has already passed. Those hotels will no longer hold the remainder of their rooms just for our group. If you are planning on traveling with us to Scotland I would suggest you register soon while there is still room available in these accommodations. We have already booked a portion of their rooms and cannot guarantee they will hold their remaining rooms for our group alone. Simply put those rooms are now only available on a first come first serve basis. It is not my intention to pressure anyone into going ahead and booking, but I just wanted you to know that these are not large chain hotels and they have limited room. If you chose to wait we cannot guarantee your accommodations in these hotels. If you book after their available rooms have been filled the tour company will find you alternative accommodations. Obviously the alternative accommodations will be nice but honestly they will be hard pressed to place you in locations as unique as these original choices. All it takes to ensure you are booked in these accommodations is your initial deposit. Therefore, if you plan on traveling with us to Scotland I encourage you to go ahead and register with your deposit so you are confirmed for these wonderful accommodations on our extension. I will attach below the web pages for these three hotels. Check them out and see what you think. I hope you are considering being part of our journey next summer to Scotland and Ireland. I am happy to assist anyone ready to place their deposit with contacting our tour company so you ensure your spot is reserved! Tommy Chamberlin
Posted on: Sat, 27 Dec 2014 02:02:14 +0000
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