Overview
Day 1
Edinburgh, Traquair. Meet at the Principal Hotel in Edinburgh for lunch before departure by coach. One of the most romantic houses in the Borders, Traquair is an almost untouched 16th- and 17th-century Scottish castle house, a high Catholic stronghold still lived in by a royal Stuart descendant. First of three nights in Roxburghe.
Day 2
Manderston, Paxton. Built in the late 18th century, Manderston was completely rebuilt in the early 1900s with breathtaking ‘Adam Revival’ interiors; a private visit before opening hours. Paxton House, designed by John Adam in grand 18th-century Palladian style and almost untouched, houses paintings from the National Galleries of Scotland and a remarkable collection of Chippendale furniture original to the house.
Day 3
Mellerstain, Floors. Unique in being built by both William Adam and his son Robert, Mellerstain House has some of the finest Adam interiors, with a classic enfilade of rooms, exquisite plasterwork and a magnificent Great Gallery; private guided tour. Floors Castle, the largest inhabited house in Scotland, is on a grand scale. Started by William Adam and built for the first Duke of Roxburghe in the 1720s, it was given the fairytale touch in the 19th century and houses tapestries, art and antiques, collected through three centuries. A private guided tour followed by drinks and canapés.
Day 4
Abbotsford. Built on the banks of the River Tweed by the novelist, poet and man of letters Sir Walter Scott, Abbotsford has become an atmospheric shrine full of Scott’s memorabilia. His interpretations of Scottish history earned him a worldwide reputation still intact today. Return to Edinburgh, first of two nights here.
Day 5
Edinburgh. Edinburgh Castle is Scotland’s premier ancient monument, though the army still has a presence there. It incorporates building from the 12th century to the 20th and has a range of displays including the Crown Jewels (‘the Honours of Scotland’). Continue on foot down the Royal Mile to see the exterior of the Scottish Parliament. The National Museum of Scotland displays a wide range of international and Scottish artefacts. Meet David Forsyth, Principal Curator of Renaissance and Early Modern History. A private evening visit to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, still a royal residence, dating largely to the reign of Charles II with fine interiors and works of art.
Day 6
Edinburgh. Begun in 1766, the New Town is a magnificent expanse of wide streets, squares, circuses, crescents and parks and terraces, and is one of the finest areas of Georgian architecture in Britain. Finish the day with a visit to the Georgian House, furnished as a typical New Town home belonging to a wealthy family might have been in 1790–1810, the time of the first owner, John Lamont of Lamont. The tour ends at the hotel by 3.30pm.
Price, per person
Two sharing: £2,970. Single occupancy: £3,450.
There is a 10% non-refundable deposit upon booking the tour. Full terms are available at www.martinrandall.com/terms.
Payment in Canadian dollars
We take payment in pounds Sterling (we will convert the amount you give from Canadian dollars using the rate exchange on the day of payment).
Included
Travel by private coach; hotel accommodation as described below; breakfasts; 2 lunches and 5 dinners with wine, water, coffee; all admissions; all tips; all taxes; the services of the lecturer and tour manager.
International flights are not included.
Accommodation
The Roxburghe Country House Hotel: a 4-star hotel in an 18th-century manor house set in the grounds of the 50,000 acre Roxburghe Estate. The Principal Hotel, Edinburgh: recently renovated, this well-situated 4-star hotel occupies 5 Georgian town houses and the former offices of the Caledonian Insurance Company. Period and modern touches nod to the literary associations of the buildings’ former occupants.
How strenuous?
A fair amount of walking is unavoidable. Coaches can rarely park near the entrance to houses and grounds are often extensive. Most of the houses visited do not have lifts.
Are you fit enough to join the tour?
Anticipated group size
10 to 20 participants.
Booking information
This tour is in collaboration with the Royal BC Museum. It is administered and operated by Martin Randall Travel Ltd.
