A Long Weekend in Scotland

Ian’s Travel Experience

A London-based ACP Rail travel expert, Ian C. enjoys a long weekend in Scotland and shares his journey with us.  Get a first-hand feel for the joys of train travel with a BritRail Pass.

Friday Route: London to Edinburgh Waverly station

‘I arrive in Waverley station only 4 hours from London and appreciate being in the city centre, avoiding any transfers.

Ian’s Travel tip: You can book a Caledonian Sleeper and arrive in Edinburgh the following morning at 7:30 am.  Perfect timing for a full day of touring plus it saves the cost of a hotel night.

Or you can arrive in the afternoon as I did and arrange a comfortable accommodation; nice guest houses to be had from £35 a night single occupancy.

With an afternoon to fill, I take a City Sightseeing bus tour.  Commentary on board ensures you get the full flavour of Edinburgh’s history. See Palace of Holyrood House, Scottish Parliament, Arthur’s seat (hill overlooking Edinburgh), the castle and much more. The weather being a bit overcast its nice to be on board and let the bus do the hard work. You can get off the bus at any point and rejoin when you want. The ticket is valid 24 hours.

After this action packed 3 hours, I realise I missed out on The Royal Yacht Britannia which is a good half a day excursion. You can take the bus from the station to the Ocean Terminal and enjoy the excellent shopping in the modern centre before taking a tour of the Queen’s former preferred mode of transport. It’s well worth the visit.

At this point I decide to find a nice restaurant for dinner. If you move up from Princess Street you can find Rose Street. Cuisine is multinational and for good value try one of the pubs, where a beer and a meal is £5.  Last thing today before I go to bed, I walk the Royal mile. Edinburgh at its best, lit up at night where the castle is like a beacon in the dark.’

Saturday Route: Edinburgh – Leuchars – Dundee – Arbroath – Stonehaven – Aberdeen

‘It’s a 2 hour 20 minute journey from Edinburgh to Aberdeen…the oil capital of Europe.

The journey is very beautiful with some great scenery and 2 famous rail bridges are crossed along the way; the Forth Rail Crossing and Dundee Rail Bridge. The former a famous piece of metal work which is an iconic symbol of the region of Fife, Crossing the River Tay just north of Edinburgh.

So after my restful yet eye opening journey, what lies in store in Aberdeen?

For the traveller on foot, once in the city it’s easy to see it’s a cosmopolitan place with many cultures and a fast pace about it.  With an array of shopping and eating options it would be easy just to opt out and not look for anything more. However all within walking distance of the station are 3 excellent visitor attractions: Aberdeen Art gallery, The Maritime Museum and the Provost Skene’s house. The good news is that all 3 are free to enter…such choice!

I decided to visit the Maritime Museum which not only takes you through the search for oil and how the industry operates to the history of the Titanic and the Scottish Shipbuilding industry.  With interactive exhibits and dedicated film shows its easy to spend a good half day if not more here. It’s certainly a very popular attraction and should not be missed.

Having chatted with some of the local’s I then decided to head for the main tourist beach and also the harbour entrance. Rumour had it that due to calm weather conditions, dolphins and porpoises may be on view today, as they enjoy chasing the boats and riding on the waves created.

Well it was a good walk but well worth it. The main beach has a pleasure park along with major eating chains such as TGI Friday’s and in summer with being sandy and sheltered this location is very popular with locals and visitors alike.

A brisk stroll along the beach was very refreshing and then it was a u-turn to head for the harbour. With lots of shipping activity, unfortunately no sign of the dolphins.

So it’s been a good day, excellent train journey and a very full afternoon in Aberdeen and one that’s left me exhausted. Luckily my guesthouse is warm and cosy…nice enough to plan my adventure for tomorrow.’

Sunday Route: Dyce – Huntley – Elgin – Nairn – Inverness

It’s Sunday morning and I’m leaving Dyce, Aberdeen heading for Inverness.  The scene through my window is of the rolling countryside and river scenes.  Also, I must have counted dozens of new born lambs and plenty of calves during the journey and a sign of the cold weather that was had here is that there is still snow to be seen on the very top of the hills.

Arriving in the city of Inverness after a 2 hour and a bit journey, it certainly seems to be a more traditional setting with an older architecture which is cut in half by the River Ness. Perhaps that name rings a bell? Well it should because very near by is Loch Ness….home of the famous monster (well, so tales tell).

My immediate impression is that this place is a walker’s paradise.  Its one of the few cities where you can walk from the centre and within minutes feel you are miles from anywhere built up. If you follow the river for about 5 miles you end up at the Loch and it would certainly be a days adventure fitting this in with a picnic and exploration of the Loch itself. However for most it’s the 2 hour round trip by foot from city centre to Ness Island and back which is the most popular. I decided to do this and along with plenty of others had a fabulous stroll along by the river. I even caught a fleeting glance of some deer and some fabulous Osprey’s were surfing the wind looking for prey. These enormous birds have massive wing spans and can lift small animals with ease.

Once back in the City itself, its very easy to take a further walk hunting down the famous buildings that are here. Starting at the Castle which overlooks from a high point, you can then take in the cathedral, plenty of historic churches and some other famous architectural landmarks.

There are also other day tours which can be taken from the station including a boat ride on the Loch and trips to do some dolphin watching, or if you fancy some tradition, how about a whisky tour or the famous Culloden battlefield.’

Monday Route: Inverness – Aviemore – Perth – Stirling

Took a 4 hour 20 minute journey to Stirling.  Good news is we go through Aviemore which is the main stop off for the Cairngorm mountain range.  This would be an ideal stop for anyone with a BritRail Pass as there are great views and lots to do here including skiing and mountain walking.

However, I am on my way to Perth so I arrive in the late afternoon with the day still sunny so it’s straight off to explore.  It’s a beautiful place with many old buildings that wind their way up to the very top on the city. This is where Stirling Castle sits proudly overlooking the countryside for miles around.

I walk around the old city with various historic buildings to view, such as the Old Town Jail, Mar’s Wark which is an old ruin and the beautiful Church of the Holy Rude.

The main part of the city of course is a mixture of old and new and there is shopping, eating and other indulgencies to be found.

However, after my circular tour I head back to the famous Portcullis Tavern where the food is second to none and is always busy with local and international clientele.

An overview of the experience

I can honestly say that there are so many positives about touring with a BritRail Pass. If you take into account the cost of the pass per day and the option of guest houses rather than hotels, it’s certainly a great way to see Scotland on a budget.

The trains are modern, comfortable and regular and have catering facilities on board. The layout is excellent, all with toilet facilities, air conditioning and luggage storage.

Is there a better way to see Scotland itself?  I think the combination of the journey through beautiful countryside in the comfort of your seat followed by a stop at an amazing city is hard to beat. You get the best of both worlds and certainly more relaxing than driving.

It’s a great experience also meeting people on the train, including Australians, Canadians, Indians many Europeans and of course plenty of locals; it’s astonishing who you end up talking to over the day.

Ian’s tips

• If you travel over the weekend, plan carefully due to less trains and possible engineering works.
• Certain trains may need a reservation during peak season to ensure a seat. Chat with the local Travel Centre to find out before you head off.
• If you’re using a BritRail Pass, don’t forget the discounts that make it great value for families and groups. It certainly reduces the cost per person.

The Great British Heritage Pass offers free entry to more than 580 of Great Britain’s most popular heritage sights, including properties under the care of National Trust, English Heritage, National Trust for Scotland, Historic Scotland, and Cadw.  With so many properties to visit with this one pass, lets just highlight a few: Stonehenge, Edinburgh Castle, Palace of Holyrood House, Roman Baths, Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Warwick Castle, Leeds Castle, Dover Casle and St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Select a validity that best suits your itinerary from 4,7,15 days or 1 month. Visit just a handful of attractions included on the pass and you’re already saving money!

An Oyster Card and a London Visitor Travel Card are both great to have during your stay in London as using the underground and bus network is much more affordable and quick than getting around with taxis.  As both can be used on London Transport, a popular question has arisen…which offers better value?  This popular question has a popular answer…it depends!

It depends on how often you plan on using London’s underground and bus network, including the number of days you will be in London and how many times a day you plan on traveling.  The Oyster Card is a Pay-As-You-Go card so you start with £15 credit and can add more credit if you run out.  Whereas if you plan on using the tube and bus more often on select days then the London Visitor Travel Card provides unlimited travel for either 3 or 7 days.

If the saying ‘the best things in life are FREE’ then you’ll have a blast in London!  Find a list of beautiful galleries, museums and more to browse at your leisure and save any extra dollars for that Broadway show or extra pint at happy hour.

Tate Britain
The home of British art from 1500 to the present day.
Millbank
London SW1P 4RG
Entry is free except for major exhibitions.  Also visit Tate Modern where entry is free except for major exhibitions.
http://www.tate.org.uk/britain/

Museum of London
One of the world’s largest urban history museums and cares for over two million objects in its collection, telling the story of modern London from 1666 to the present day.
London Wall
London EC2Y 5HN
Museum open daily and is free!
http://www.museumoflondon.org.uk/English/VisitUs/

National Portrait Gallery
The Gallery was founded in 1856 to collect portraits of famous British men and women. Explore over 160,000 portraits from the 16th Century to the present day.
St Martin’s Place
London WC2H 0HE
Entrance to the Gallery is free for the collection as well as some smaller exhibitions and displays.
http://www.npg.org.uk/

The British Museum
The British Museum’s collection of seven million objects representing the rich history of human cultures mirrors the city of London’s global variety.
Great Russell Street
London, WC1B 3DG
The Museum is free to all visitors and is open daily.
http://www.britishmuseum.org/default.aspx

The Photographers’ Gallery
The Photographers’ Gallery is the largest public gallery in London dedicated to photography. From the latest emerging talent, to historical archives and established artists.
16-18 Ramillies St
London W1F 7LW
Open Tuesday-Sunday.  Admission is free.
http://www.photonet.org.uk/

Victoria and Albert Museum
The V&A holds over 3000 years worth of artifacts from many of the world’s richest cultures. The V&A’s collections consists of over 1,000,000 works including ceramics, fashion, furniture, glass, metalwork, paintings, photographs, prints, sculpture and textiles.
Cromwell Road
London SW7 2RL
Admission to the V&A is free. Some exhibitions and events carry a separate charge.
http://www.vam.ac.uk/collections/index.html

Imperial War Museum London
Permanent galleries include First World War and Second World War weapons and vehicles and more.
Lambeth Road
London SE1 6HZ
Entry is Free.  Special exhibitions may charge an admission fee. Open 7 days a week.
http://london.iwm.org.uk/

The Woman’s Library
The Women’s Library is a cultural centre housing the most extensive collection of women’s history in the UK.
London Metropolitan University
25 Old Castle Street
London E1 7NT
Access is free and open to everyone.
http://www.londonmet.ac.uk/thewomenslibrary/

The Wallace Collection
The Wallace Collection is a national museum in an historic London town house. Enjoy displays of French 18th century paintings, furniture, porcelain and a world class armory.
Hertford House
Manchester Square
London W1U 3BN
Admission Free. Open 7 days a week.
http://www.wallacecollection.org/

Sir John Soane’s Museum
The architect Sir John Soane’s house, museum and library has been a public museum since the early 19th century.
13 Lincoln’s Inn Fields
London WC2A 3BP
Open from Tuesday to Saturday, 10-5pm when admission is free.
http://www.soane.org/

If you plan on staying in London, the BritRail London Plus Pass is the perfect accessory for day trips to neighboring towns, such as Bath, Portsmouth, Brighton, Canterbury, Cambridge, Oxford, Stratford-Upon-Avon and more.

BritRail’s London Plus Pass is perfect for shorter get-aways, where pass validity begins at 2 days of rail travel within 8 days.  An extended weekend in London is more feasible these days and with BritRail’s London Plus Pass you can even fit in a day trip or two to great destinations just outside the hustle and bustle of downtown London.

- London Waterloo to Salisbury takes approximately an hour and twenty minutes.  Salisbury is centered around its stunning gothic style cathedral featuring the highest spire in Britain at 123 meters.  Other attractions include St. Thomas’s church and its doom painting, and a market square to explore on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

- London Kings Cross to Cambridge takes approximately forty-five minutes. Cambridge, famous for its University, has a beautiful river and narrow streets packed with gothic architecture, historic pubs and coffee houses.  The main sights include King’s College Chapel, Great St. Mary’s Church, Christ’s College and Trinity College.

- London Paddington to Bath takes approximately an hour and twenty-five minutes.  Bath houses one of the world’s finest preserved Roman Spas.  Plus you’ll enjoy a number of Georgian masterpieces including Circus, inspired by the Roman Coliseum, and the Georgian Garden.

- London Victoria to Brighton takes approximately fifty minutes.  Brighton boasts the best seaside city in Britain, pebble beach and all.  The Brighton Pier, along with the rest of the city is packed with great restaurants and bars.  Visitors also love the extravagant Royal Pavillion, the royal palace of King George IV.

London is known for its vast array of sights so BritRail can make your trip planning easy with a one-stop shop where you can buy tickets to these top attractions.

The Merlin Entertainments London Eye – Located on the banks of the river Thames, the London Eye is the world’s tallest observation wheel which stands 135m high and offers a uniquely spectacular view of everything from the Houses of Parliament to Tower Bridge and more!

Kew Gardens – Designated a World Heritage Site, the Kew Gardens is home to over 40,000 species, making it the world’s largest and most diverse collection of living plants.
London Dungeon – From the Victorian stomping ground of Jack the Ripper to Sweeney Todd’s hair-raising barber shop, a hanging inspired drop ride and with plenty of twisted humour, blood, gore and more.

Bateaux London –The enchanting Bateaux London cruise provides a unique sightseeing opportunity across the river Thames, all while pampering you with a luxurious lunch or dinner accompanied with 5-star service!

Historic Royal Palaces – Visit the famous palaces of London including Hampton Court Palace, Tower of London, Kensington Palace, and the Banqueting Hall.

City Cruises – Travel through the heart of London on the river Thames in one of City Cruises modern, all-weather River Liners, while experiencing the rich history of this great city.
City Sightseeing London – City Sightseeing’s Double Decker buses are the best way to become familiar with London’s sights, attractions, history, culture and layout, allowing you to hop on and off as you please!

Madame Tussauds – A star-studded cast of celebrities is brought to life with wax replicas so realistic, you would swear it’s the real person!
Plus if you plan on seeing a number of attractions then a sightseeing pass will help you save!

London Sightseeing Pass – This all-inclusive “smartcard” provides free entrance to over 55 of the city’s most popular attractions including the Tower of London, museums, famous art galleries and much more.

Great British Heritage Pass – Providing free entry to nearly 600 castles, gardens and historic homes throughout the UK, this amazing all-access pass saves you money the more you use it!

Climb Aboard an Open-top Bus for the Ultimate Tour

City Sightseeing bus tours are a great way for visitors to become familiar with a city as they are guided from one stop to the next.  Live commentary brings life to a list of attractions that are filled with stories, history and culture that you would surely miss if you tried to see them all on foot.  The real beauty of the City Sightseeing tour is that you can choose the stops you want to get off at and hop on the next bus that passes, often only 15 minutes apart.

If any of the following cities* are on your itinerary then let City Sightseeing show you around: Bath, Belfast, Blackpool, Brighton, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Chester, Colchester, Eastbourne, Edinburgh, Felixstowe, Glasgow, Great Yarmouth, Inverness, Ipswich, Liverpool, Llandudno, London, Manchester, Newcastle, Newport, Norwich, Oxford, Stirling, Stratford, Windsor or York.

This month our focus falls on City Sightseeing Edinburgh, capital of Scotland.  12 stops bring visitors through Edinburgh’s Old Town, to the elegant Georgian New Town, to the Royal Mile which joins Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyrood House and much more as seen on the following list of City Sightseeing Edinburgh’s stops and nearby attractions:

*With low season upon us, please note that some tours have seasonal operations.  These tours have year round operations: Bath, Belfast, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London, Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon, and York

Your Passport to UK Heritage Properties

The Great British Heritage Pass truly is the pass to see it all, where pass holders get free entrance to over 580 attractions throughout the UK.  That’s right, 580!  Imagine the crowds that these popular attractions face – Hampton Court Palace, Blenheim Palace, Roman Baths & Pump Room, Stonehenge, Palace of Holyroodhouse, Shakespeare’s Birthplace, and many more – and now imagine skipping the queues and enjoying a completely cashless entry.

With attractions throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the Great British Heritage Pass offers free entry to properties covered by the National Trust, English Heritage, The National Trust for Scotland, Historic Scotland, and Cadw, plus many more.

Here is a short list of the 3 most popular properties by category, but don’t forget there are hundreds more:

• Castles: Warwick Castle, Leeds Castle, Cardiff Castle
• Gardens: Inverewe Garden, Torriden Deer Museum & Countryside Centre, Balmacara Estate & Lochalsh Woodland Garden
• Historic Homes: Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, Mary Arden’s House & the Shakespeare Countryside Museum
• Places of Worship: Elgin Cathedral, Arbroath Abbey, St. Andrew’s Cathedral
• Royal Residences: Palace of Holyroodhouse, Blenheim Palace, Scone Palace
• Monuments: Stonehenge, Glenfinnan and Clifford’s Tower
• Special Interests: Beaulieu, Royal Albert Hall and Culloden
• Ancient Roman Sites: Roman Baths & Pump Room, Chedworth Roman Villa, Lullingstone Roman Villa

Select from 4, 7, 15 or 30 day passes and benefit from great savings and convenience, in addition to access to so many places of interest.

UNESCO World Heritage properties are part of the cultural and natural heritage and considered as having outstanding universal value and therefore need to be preserved as part of the world heritage.  Cultural heritage properties include monuments, groups of buildings and sites.  For the complete list please visit http://whc.unesco.org/en/list

Cultural Heritage Properties:

Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, England

Blenheim Palace is a unique example of English Baroque architecture, set on 2100 acres with a romantic park landscaped by ‘Capability’ Brown, formal gardens and a lake.  This is the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill, and the perfect example of a princely palace, with hand-painted ceilings, porcelain collections, tapestries and paintings.

Canterbury Cathedral, County of Kent, England

Canterbury, in Kent, has been the seat of the spiritual head of the Church of England for nearly five centuries. The Canterbury Cathedral has stunning stained glass windows and an extensive library. Canterbury’s other important monuments are the modest Church of St Martin, the oldest church in England; the ruins of the Abbey of St Augustine; and Christ Church Cathedral, a breathtaking mixture of Romanesque and Perpendicular Gothic architecture.

City of Bath, Avon, England

Founded by the Romans as a thermal spa, Bath became an important centre of the wool industry in the Middle Ages. You can visit well-preserved Roman Baths, set on Britain’s only hot springs.  It’s the whole city that’s a designated world heritage site, with some of the finest architectural and historic treasures in Europe, including the 15th-century Abbey, stunning Royal Crescent and Pulteney Bridge.

Durham Castle and Cathedral, County of Durham, England

Durham Cathedral was built in the late 11th and early 12th centuries to house the relics of St Cuthbert. It is the largest and finest example of Norman architecture in England. Behind the cathedral stands the castle, and the most beautiful feature is said to be the tiny Norman chapel, with pillars depicting some of the most interesting Norman sculpture in existence.

Ironbridge Gorge, Shropshire, England

The Ironbridge is known throughout the world as the symbol of our industrial past. It contains all the elements of progress that contributed to the rapid development of this industrial region in the 18th century, from the mines to the railway lines. The bridge at Ironbridge, the world’s first cast iron bridge, had a considerable influence on developments in the fields of technology and architecture.

Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Southwest Greater London

This historic landscape garden features elements that illustrate significant periods of the art of gardens and is currently celebrating its 250^th anniversary. Thanks to avid collectors, visionary scientists, inspired landscape architects and gardeners, the gardens collections have been developed and enriched.  Since their creation in 1759, the gardens have made a significant and uninterrupted contribution to the study of plant diversity and economic botany.

Studley Royal Park including the Ruins of Fountains Abbey, North Yorkshire, England

The Abbey, Britain’s largest monastic ruin, was founded in 1132 by 13 Benedictine monks seeking a simpler life.  A striking landscape was created around the ruins of Abbey and Fountains, covering this 822-acre estate. The 18th-century landscaping, gardens and canal, the 19th-century plantations and vistas, and the neo-Gothic castle of Studley Royal Park, make this an outstanding site.

Tower of London, London Borough of Tower Hamlets, England

The massive White Tower looking over the river Thames, is the most impressive and best-preserved medieval castle in any European capital, representing outstanding architectural and artistic significance. The Tower of London has also had a role in many events in world and British history and, since its foundation in the 11th century, has stood as a vital symbol of national identity.

Westminster Palace, City of Westminster, London, England

Westminster Palace, was once the home of the royal family, and is still officially a royal palace. The site – which also comprises the small medieval Church of Saint Margaret, built in Perpendicular Gothic style, and Westminster Abbey- is of great historic and symbolic significance.  A centre of authority for over a thousand years, where the modern Houses of Parliament now stands, was once used as a court of law, held several notable trials, including that of Sir William Wallace (1305).

Stonehenge, Wiltshire, England

Stonehenge is among the most famous groups of megaliths in the world. The circles of stones were arranged in a pattern whose astronomical significance is still being explored. While many questions about its construction remain unanswered, it was an impressive engineering feat, where only something very important would have been worth the effort and investment. The Stonehenge Summer Solstice Celebration is a popular and magical annual event.

The Great British Heritage Pass

The Great British Heritage Pass offers free entry to more than 580 of Great Britain’s most popular heritage sites.  http://www.britrail.com/attractions

Full of frightening fun now available on www.BritRail.comThe London dungeon is full of frightening fun!  From the Victorian stomping ground of Jack the Ripper to Sweeney Todd’s hair-raising barber shop, a hanging inspired drop ride and with plenty of twisted humour, blood, gore and more.  Don’t miss the new addition, Surgery: Blood and Guts – Tooley Street’s blundering 18th century butcher-surgeon’s filthy make-shift operating room.

With many exhibits, shows and displays, The Edinburgh Dungeon is a wealth of gruesome discovery!  Attractions include the Anatomy Theatre, Extremis Drop ride to Doom, Mary King’s Ghost, Judgment of Sinners, William Wallace, the cannibal Sawney Bean, and the Haunted Labyrinth beneath the castle and the Royal Mile.