Libre
Soutien
Depart Edinburgh 09.15 and travel northwest through the historic area of Linlithgowshire, close to the historic palace. The tragic Mary Queen of Scots was born at Linlithgow palace, and became Queen when she was only 6 days old. According to legend her father James V died of a broken heart when he discovered his wife had given birth to a daughter and not the son he was hoping for! Your route along the Forth Valley is one which has been used for thousands of years by invading armies, it was the northernmost frontier of the Roman empire and was later used by the English King Edward I as he marched proudly towards Stirling (only to be sent homewards to think again!). Nowadays it’s at the centre of one of Scotland’s most important industries with huge oil refineries dominating the area. As you approach Stirling the magnificent castle dominates your view and you make your way up towards the high volcanic rock where it imposes itself upon the surrounding land. Known as the ‘Key to Scotland’, for centuries this was the most important castle in Scotland and the views from the top make it easy to see why. To the north is the 220ft high tower of the National Wallace Monument commemorating Scotland’s great hero William Wallace, played by Mel Gibson in the Oscar-winning movie Braveheart. From the castle you can look down over the scene of Wallace’s greatest triumph, the battle of Stirling Bridge, where he defeated the English army in 1297. To the south is Bannockburn where, in 1314, the great Scottish warrior-king Robert the Bruce defeated the English army of Edward II. The battle was fought for possession of Stirling Castle but eventually led to a far greater prize for Scotland – the restoration of independence. It’s an area alive with history and you stop at the castle to give you time to soak up the history and heritage of this great site. From Stirling you head into the Highlands and an area known as the Trossachs. Known as ‘The Highlands in Miniature’, it marks the point where the Lowlands meet the Highlands and entering this beautifully picturesque area feels like going into a different country. With its shimmering lochs, rugged mountain tops and forest-filled glens it’s easy to forget that this was once thought of as a dangerous frontier fought over by the fiercely territorial Highland clans. You stop here for lunch in the village of Aberfoyle, made popular in Victorian times due to its great location. After lunch you ‘take the high road’ or back-road to Loch Lomond, Scotland’s largest lochs at over 22 miles long, passing Lochs Ard, Chon and Arklet along the way as you travel through the protected lands of Scotland’s first National Park. The route you take was described by the famous Scots comedian Billy Connolly as his favourite road in Scotland, and you can discover why – it’s stunning!! You stop at Inversnaid on the secluded north-east of the loch, making it the perfect place to enjoy a walk along the ‘bonny banks’, up to a viewpoint for a fantastic view of the loch and the mountain it’s named after, Ben Lomond. This tranquil setting was once the home of Scotland’s famous highland folk hero, Rob Roy MacGregor. Made popular by many books and films Rob Roy lived an incredible life as a soldier, businessman, cattle-rustler and outlaw. By spending time on the trails by the loch you will undoubtedly be walking in the footsteps of one of Scotland’s great legends. There is also an alternative option to take a boat cruise around the north of the loch (Summer only) or merely enjoy a drink at the local hotel and sample the views. Leaving Loch Lomond you return to Edinburgh passing Scotland’s only lake – the Lake of Mentieth (although we have around 3000 freshwater lochs!). The legend states that after William Wallace was betrayed by his great friend the Earl of Mentieth and executed in London the name was changed from the Loch of Mentieth to the Lake of Mentieth so that nobody would ever forget the traitorous part the Earl played in his death.
Leaving Glasgow you travel north-east to Stirling, where your first stop is the WallaceMonument*; a towering stone testimonial to the Scottish legend William Wallace. Inside you will find fascinating exhibits leading you through the life of the real Braveheart and most impressive of all, Wallace’s legendary 5ft 6in(1.7m) tall broadsword. You then travel further north to Gleneagles Hotel Estate - one of Scotland’s world class golf resorts and site of the 2014 Ryder Cup. Enjoy a photo opportunity here and see where the international legends of golf play. You will continuey your journey through the pretty countryside of Perthshire to your next stop in Crieff, where we visit The Famous Grouse Experience* at Glenturret Distillery. Learn about the traditional whisky-making process, see how you measure up to the world’s largest bottle of whisky and sample some of ‘The Water of Life’ itself at the fantastic Taste Experience bar. Timberbush Tours customers can also enjoy an exclusive tasting of the Black Grouse Alpha Edition; a rich, smoky blend available only at Glenturret Distillery. Enjoy a range of tasty lunch options in the Glenturret Cafe or take a stroll in the distillery grounds. In the afternoon you will travel west past beautiful Loch Earn and down through Strathyre to Kilmahog Woollen Mill for the chance to meet Hamish the Highland cow† continue on through the Trossachs - Scotland’s first national park, known as ‘the Highlands in miniature’ for its abundance of lochs, mountains and forests, where you'll discover the lands of legendary outlaw, Rob Roy MacGregor. You will then make a brief refreshment stop in the pretty town of Aberfoyle, before returning to Glasgow. *OPTIONAL EXTRA. †Hamish the Highland cow is moved to another location during winter months. Wed & Sat | ALL YEAR Departs: 09:30 Returns: 18:00
Experience the magic of St. James’ Park Located in the heart of the city, St. James’ Park rises proudly from Newcastle’s iconic skyline. Our brand new Stadium Tour captures the rich history of our magnificent stadium, home of Newcastle United since1892. Opening with an introduction from one of the club’s greatest living legends, the tour packs in plenty of visual and audio effects to enhance your St. James’ Park experience. Our virtual assistant, specially designed location boards and amazing squad of knowledgeable tour guides, all combine to give you deeper understanding of the club and its proud legacy. Enjoy a Magpie’s view of St. James’ Park and beyond, from one the stadium’s highest vantage points Glimpse behind the scenes at the club with a tour of our Media Suite See where the manager delivers his post-match views and player interviews are filmed and beamed all around the worldExperience a walk down the tunnel to the sound of Local Hero Sit in your favourite player’s seat in the Home Dressing Room. **Please Note: In the occasion of a game and match day with an evening kick off prior any tours, the areas restricted will be away team dressing room, match control and TV Studio.**
There are recreations of the past wooden, stone and medieval bridges, all of which include live characters in full regalia of the time. Join in the fun, have a laugh and learn some of London's gruesome history at the same time. Of course there are a few surprises along the way! It's a thrilling experience with marvellous real life characters guide you through the ages on the bridge. Get ready to be entertained and amazed at what you will see. Feel the ground shake as you march in Queen Boudicca’s army, discover the gruesome fate of Tudor traitors, sneak through the dark streets of Victorian London and follow in the footsteps of Jack the Ripper. Then travel through the Terror Time Tunnel to emerge in the present and if you're feeling brave you can choose to face your fears and descend into in the former plague pit; the London Tombs where a few more surprises will chill your bones. To enhance the visitor experience, the attraction has introduced Multilingual Audio Guides in 6 languages (English, Spanish, French, Polish, German & Italian) to cater for its growing number of international visitors. The London Bridge Experience is an interactive experience for all with live actors entertaining its visitors, and the addition of the multi-lingual audio guides mean all guests will leave having engaged in the 2000 years of the history at the world’s most famous, and most haunted bridge.
Make your own way to the castle in the village of Aldea Blanca, just before San Miguel. Once at the castle you will be given a coloured bib to show where you will be seated and which knight you will be supporting during the show. Your meal will be served in your area but don't expect cutlery after all you are in Mediaeval times! So you can slurp your soup and eat your food with your fingers, but it fits in with your environment and you get quite used to it. You cheer on your knight as they joust and take part in battles. The well trained horses are the stars of the show and while this is going on the red and white wine and water flow freely. The show, food and drinks are all included in your ticket price and with children half price it is good value. Let yourself go and be part of a fun filled evening. A fantastic KNIGHT to remember! When the show is finished you are moved into another room where you can dance to the sound of a band. There is a bar in this room where you can buy drinks if you are still thirsty after all that wine. The castle closes around midnight after a great night's entertainment. After your own dancing you are treated to a Flamenco Show which finishes the night off perfectly, then make your way home after a great knight out!
Arcelormittal Orbit Zoom high into the clouds and explore London’s famous skyline from the top of the ArcelorMittal Orbit – UK’s tallest sculpture. Enjoy a breath-taking panorama of up to 20 miles across London through stunning floor to ceiling windows before experiencing the city’s landmarks from the outside observation walkway suspended 262ft above the ground. Discover sights including Wembley Stadium, St Paul’s Cathedral and Canary Wharf and get a bird’s eye view of the iconic venues of London 2012. The Slide Are you brave enough to ride the twists, turns and drops of the world’s tallest and longest tunnel slide? Relax and enjoy stunning views of up to 20 miles across London before challenging your friends and family to a 40 second descent in the 584ft long slide. Travel through light and dark sections at speeds of up to 15mph as The Slide loops its way around the ArcelorMittal Orbit 12 times taking visitors through gentle curves, thrilling drops and a tight corkscrew! Thames River Red Rover Hopper Pass With the River Red Rover ticket you travel in luxury on a fleet of river liners and may hop on or off at any of the piers as often as you like throughout the day. As the River Thames weaves its way through the heart of London there is history around every bend and there is no better way to see and experience the sights and splendour of this great city than from one of City Cruises modern, wheelchair-friendly RiverLiners™. Enjoy unsurpassed views of some of London's most famous landmarks from the vantage point of our open upper decks and spacious lower saloons with panoramic windows. Take advantage of two bars providing light refreshments and snacks . Cruises depart frequently from Westminster Pier, Waterloo (London Eye) Pier, Tower Pier and Greenwich Pier every day of the year except Christmas Day (25th December). Our shortest trips between piers last about 20-30 minutes while the full round trip takes about two-and-a-half leisurely hours.
