Coos & Castles

Sunday 14 May - 5 days away from £619pp
Single supplement - £100
Door-to-door pick-ups available

Our incredible tour of the majestic lowlands and lochs of the southwest takes in mulls, beautiful gardens, castles and forests. Discover the stunning landscapes of the area, as well as ‘Brig ‘o Doon’ at the Robert Burns Museum and a cream tea at a working farm.

Price includes:

Four nights’ dinner, bed and breakfast.
Excursions as detailed.
Entrance to Logan Botanic Garden, Castle Kennedy Gardens, Robert Burns Museum, Culzean Castle and Country Park.
Kitchen Coos and Ewes tour, with sheep shearing demonstration and cream tea.

Itinerary:

Day one:
We make our way to the hotel with a couple of comfort stops on the journey.

Day two:
We start the day sightseeing in Portpatrick, a picture-postcard harbour on the Mull of Galloway. After a short stop, we head to Logan Botanic Gardens, Scotland’s most exotic garden. Explore fascinating plant treasures from South/Central America, Southern Africa, and Australasia. In the afternoon, we visit the Castle Kennedy Gardens, one of Scotland’s hidden treasures, and home to a historical collection of Rhododendrons, Championship Trees, and rare species. Set in 75 acres around the ruins of Castle Kennedy surrounded by the White and Black Lochs, the lily pond is a remarkable sight!

Day three:
This morning, we enjoy a scenic sightseeing drive hugging Loch Ryan’s eastern shore then up the Firth of Clyde coast with views of Ailsa Craig offshore, finally cutting inland to Ayr. While there we visit the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum dedicated to Scotland’s favourite son and his unique writing. In the afternoon we visit magnificent Culzean Castle, former seat of the Kennedy Clan and cared for by the National Trust for Scotland. Gardens, beaches, and a stunning cliff top setting are sure to impress even before we set foot inside where we will find a magnificent oval staircase and a fine collection of paintings.

Day four:
This morning we journey inland to Galloway Forest Park for a short stop at the Red Deer Range – look out for the Red and Roe deer and the birds of prey patrolling the skies. We continue to Clatteringshaws Visitor Centre, overlooking the loch of the same name, the perfect spot for refreshments during some free time for lunch. As we stroll and take in the lovely views, keep an eye out for the waterfowl who live here. In the afternoon, we head to Kitchen Coos and Ewes at High Airyolland Farm for a guided experience of Highland Cows (coos) in their natural environment. After our tour of the farm in our passenger trailer, we return for a sheep shearing demonstration and enjoy a cream tea in the farmhouse kitchen before departing back to the hotel.

Day five:
On our final day, we enjoy a leisurely breakfast before heading home, arriving late afternoon.

Your Hotel:

North West Castle Hotel (***)
The 19th-century North West Castle Hotel is a fine country house hotel, located across the road from the shores of Loch Ryan, just a 10-minute walk to the centre of Stranraer. The hotel makes an excellent base for exploring the beautiful local area. All 72 spacious, homely bedrooms are comfortable and equipped with a TV, hairdryer and tea/coffee making facilities. The large, incredibly grand dining room offers views across the loch and the relaxing, wood panelled bar has plenty of comfortable seating. There are also three luxurious lounge areas. Leisure facilities include a good-sized indoor swimming pool, a sauna, spa bath and gym, as well as its own indoor curling rink, which frequently hosts curling events throughout the year. The hotel has a lift.

Book today:

We’re currently working behind the scenes to make your experience online as smooth as possible. Whilst we do this, online booking will be unavailable. Don’t worry, you’ll still be able to book your next holiday with us – we’ve got a few quick and easy ways to get booked in: