tours of the scottish borders and lowlands

TENTATIVE ITINERARY	NIGHTSTOP

DAY ONE
You will land at Glasgow Airport where you will be met by your Back-Roads Representative and transferred to our local base. The afternoon and evening are free for you to explore this interesting city with its famed art galleries and parks.	Glasgow

DAY TWO
Following a morning city tour of Glasgow, we depart this former European city of culture. Our first port of call is at New Lanark, the best example in Scotland of an industrial village, the product of the Industrial Revolution in the late 18^th and early 19^th centuries, now the subject of a major conservation programme. We’ll have time to explore at leisure before making our way to the seaside resort of Troon, a name familiar to golfers.	Largs

DAY THREE
Today we take a ferry to the Isle of Arran. Dramatic and mountainous, Arran offers a variety of sightseeing opportunities including the 14^th century Brodick Castle, which has associations with Robert the Bruce, prehistoric stone circles and tombs, quaint fishing villages and, needless to say, breathtaking scenery of mountain forests and rugged coastline.	As above

DAY FOUR
Today is a full day in which the great poet Robbie Burns will play a major part. This morning we’ll follow the ‘Burns trail’ south. This will take us to his birthplace museum and if we have time, we’ll also visit Souter Johnnie’s cottage. The nearby Culzean Castle and Gardens are also included today. Here we’ll find the Eisenhower room, which traces the General’s career and his close association with Culzean. Further south again, we’ll discover one of Britain’s most important early Christian sites at Whithorn.	Nr Wigtown OR nearby Newton Stewart

DAY FIVE
As we journey east, our first port of call is at Kirkcudbright, on the Dee estuary. There’ll be time to wander around the old town before we continue, this time to the birthplace of John Paul Johns, father of the American Navy. A short distance to the north, we find Dumfries. Robbie Burns lived here from 1791 until his death in 1796. It was here that he wrote some of his most famous songs including ‘Auld Lang Syne.’ We take time to explore this ancient Royal Burgh before we head for Gretna Green (home of the famed blacksmith’s shop where traditionally, young elopers took their marriage vow). From here, it is a short drive to our farmhouse base on the Cumbrian border.	Nr Cumbrian border

DAY SIX
Our first port of call today is at Alston, England’s highest market town. We’ll enjoy the fabulous view across the Pennines and the South Tyne Valley before journeying through Richard III’s Penrith to the fabulous Lake District. This area has been an inspiration for poets, writers and artists throughout the generations. The more famous names associated with the area are Wordsworth and Beatrix Potter. We’ll visit Wordsworth’s birthplace at Cockermouth, see prehistoric stone circles and some unbelievable scenery.	As above

DAY SEVEN
The ruin of the 12th century Augustian Priory of Lanecost is where we make our first stop of the day. A short distance away is part of the remains of Hadrian’s wall, begun in AD122 by Emperor Hadrian to keep the barbarians from the North at bay. We’ll also visit one of the many Roman museums and display centres to see what life was like for the 2^nd century soldier stationed here. This is James Herriot country (although Yorkshire also has some claim to the title). We’ll explore the country lanes and villages as we take the long route to the market town of Hexham with its unique abbey. www.hadrians-wall.org	Hexham

DAY EIGHT
Today’s itinerary includes a visit to mediaeval Durham and an unusual award-winning museum. In Durham, the mighty cathedral will impress and astound and you may enjoy a rowing boat ride on the river surrounding this city. We’ll spend this afternoon at the Beamish Industrial museum, which has won many awards, and you’ll see why on our visit here. Not only do they display many fascinating reminders of our industrial past, including working steam-powered machines, but also they interpret our past with clever and inventive displays and role-plays.	As above

DAY NINE
We begin today with a visit to Newcastle-upon-Tyne where we’ll spend time at the Sunday market on the quayside before visiting George Washington’s ancestral home nearby. Our day’s explorations continue as we take in Whitley bay and Captain Cook country. We’ll drive up the Northumberland coastline visiting local fishing villages facing the North Sea.	Alnmouth

DAY TEN
Lying just off the coast, and reachable only at low tide, is the Holy Island of Lindisfarne. Here we’ll discover an ancient monastery, a seat of learning from the 7^th century onwards. We’ll also visit the stunning Bamburgh Castle, which sits inviolably on a cliff top. Our day also includes Berwick-on-Tweed; an old seaport that changed hands between England and Scotland no less than 13 times between 1127 and 1482 alone! Needless to say, it has splendid fortifications! If the weather allows, we’ll end our day with a boat trip around the Farne Islands.	As above

DAY ELEVEN
Our final day takes us back into Scotland. Amongst the highlights will be Melrose Abbey, burial place of Robert the Bruce’s heart, Traquair House, one of the oldest inhabited castles in the United Kingdom, a woollen mill and Flodden Field-scene in 1513 of the most emotive of all battles between Scot and Englishman. Our final call of the day is at the David Livingstone Centre on the outskirts of Glasgow.	Glasgow

DAY TWELVE
Airport transfers.