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Sample Itinerary 17.00 Boarding from King St or Circular Quay 17.30 Enjoy an on-board starter 18.00 Cruise around Middle Head and into Middle Harbour 18.15 Arrive Balmoral for Dinner at The Public Dining Room 20.00 Depart Balmoral and cruise past the Spit Bridge whilst indulging on your dessert and wines to match before returning to the main harbour where guests can sightsee or stop and have a swim 21.30 Return to pick up location
Your Journey: Take off from Queenstown, and fly above the rugged backcountry of Central Otago, before heading westward to where the glacial fed rivers empty into Lake Wakatipu. Witness what the power of nature has created over the years, as you journey over two remarkable National Parks; Mt Aspiring and the world heritage listed Fiordland National Park. On arrival in Milford Sound, join your purpose-built small boat for a comfortable two hour cruise through one of the world’s natural wonders. Make your way out past the iconic Mitre Peak and cruise the length of the fiord while our skipper highlights points of interest along the way, including the mighty Bowen Falls, Lion Mountain, Copper Point, Seal Rock and Stirling Falls. Keep an eye out for wildlife that can be found in the region including seals, pods of dolphins and the rare Fiordland Crested Penguin (seasonal). Complete your journey with a birds-eye view of the largely untouched region as you fly back over the Southern Alps and are welcomed to the incredibly blue Lake Wakatipu upon landing in Queenstown.
Schedule: Summer (Apr - Oct) Daily 14.00 Winter (Nov - Mar) Tue, Thu, Sat, Sun 12.00 Distance: 9 miles Duration: 3 hours 30 mins Ability: Easy Sight List: Tate Modern Gallery Shakespeare’s Globe Borough Market London Bridge Greater London Authority Buildings Tower Bridge St Katherine’s Dock Wapping London Docks Tobacco Dock Shadwell Basin The Capt’n Kidd Riverside pub (for a drink) Cable Street The City of London Jack the Ripper The Gherkin skyscraper Lloyds of London Building Leadenhall Market The Royal Exchange Bank of England Mansion House St Paul’s Cathedral The Wobbly bridge
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.
From your starting point by Edinburgh Castle, you head out of the city to the charming village of Roslin, making your first stop at one of Scotland’s most extraordinary buildings - Rosslyn Chapel*. The Chapel’s worldwide fame increased thanks to Dan Brown’s bestselling novel ‘The Da Vinci Code’. Described as the “Library in Stone”, the inside walls of Rosslyn Chapel are adorned with thousands of ancient carvings, each with a story of its own. You can also learn of the myths and legends surrounding the chapel, including tales of the Knights Templar. Leaving Rosslyn you will continue into the heart of the Scottish Borders, an area rich in hills, valleys, rivers and moorland, as well as being the traditional home to Scottish rugby. Next travel to the historic town of Melrose, birthplace of the game of Rugby Sevens and location of Melrose Abbey, founded in 660 AD, and said to be the burial place of the casket containing the heart of Robert the Bruce. Here you stop for lunch and have free time to explore Melrose and its Abbey*. On your return journey, you will travel via the village of St. Boswells and pause for a photo stop at Scott’s View, where you can enjoy glorious scenic views overlooking the valley of the River Tweed, reputed to be one of the favourite beauty spots of the famous Scottish author, Sir Walter Scott. The journey north takes you to Pencaitland, where you will visit the charming Glenkinchie Distillery*, one of the few Lowland whisky distilleries in Scotland. Here you can enjoy “a tour and a taste”, learn more about “the water of life” and sample some of Glenkinchie’s finest malts. You will then return to Edinburgh. *OPTIONAL EXTRA. Mon, Thu & Sat | ALL YEAR Departs: 09:30 Returns: 17:15
This tour of Stamford Bridge is not to be missed, home of the incredible Chelsea Football Club It's a fun, informative and unforgettable experience, enjoyed by sports fans of all ages, from all over the world. The fully guided tour will take you behind the scenes at one of the world's greatest football clubs, giving you access to areas normally reserved for players and officials. Imagine meeting the press as you sit behind the desk in the press room. Soak up the atmosphere in the spectacular home dressing room where John Terry and Frank Lampard prepare to represent the Blues. Feel the excitement as you walk down the tunnel to the pitch side with the roar of a capacity crowd ringing in your ears. We pride ourselves on having guides who are both knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the club and we believe it's their passion that makes our tours a truly memorable experience. All stadium tours include entry to the Museum, giving you the chance to see how Chelsea has evolved on and off the pitch to become one of the greatest football clubs in the world. It will offer a highly interactive experience, bringing the club's past alive through audio visual shows as well as a fascinating collection of Chelsea related memorabilia. See some of the most iconic images from the club's history making it a must see attraction in London.