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IBNS 2020 Pre-Conference Tours

Castles, Scenery, Experiences...What's on your bucket list?

The IBNS tours are an opportunity for great experiences and networking! There's something for everyone!

These tours were specifically designed for IBNS participants and accompanying guests and are not open to the general public.

RESERVE YOUR SPOT NOW!  Click here for reservation form.

 

 

 

Day Tours

1.  Loch Lomond, Trossachs, Stirling Castle and Whisky tour.  Visit the banks of Loch Lomond at the beautiful village of Balmaha, continue on to the Trossachs and see the "Highlands in Minature" before visiting the Highland cows - 45 minute drive through the central highlands Duke's Pass, Aberfoil north, Calendar lochs. Continue onto Doune Castle and see the real Winterfel from Game of Thrones then contrast this with a visit to Stirling Castle. We will then continue to a working Whisky Distillery (either Deanston or Glenyoyne) for a tour and a tasting before returning. 

Location Pickup/Return:  Radisson Blu Hotel Lobby - Glasgow
Dates:  May 31 or June 1
Time:  8:40 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. 

Cost:  Without entry fees =   £103    ($135 USD)   

Please note that the return time is approximate and dependent on traffic.  These are customized tours for the IBNS and the itineraries may change slightly due to weather or traffic conditions.  Capacity:  Minimum 10 and maximum 15 people.  Each tour will have a driver and specialized tour guide (in English but with a lovely Scottish accent).
2.  Rosslyn Chapel, Dalkeith Country Park and Palace grounds, Glenkinchie Distillery Tour.  Explore the mysterious Rosslyn Chapel and learn of its legends, myths and unbelievable truths that inspire Dan Drown to use this as a setting for his hit book and film "The DaVinci Code" then we visit the award wining Restoration Yard at Dalkeith Country Park and Palace where you can explore grounds of the unofficial palace of royalty and Lunch at the Cafe or Restaurant. We will the continue the picturesque distillery of Glenkinchie before returning. 
 

Location Pickup/Return:  Radisson Blu Hotel Lobby - Glasgow
Dates:  May 31 or June 1
Time:  8:40 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. 

Cost:  Without entry fees =   £103    ($135 USD)   

Please note that the return time is approximate and dependent on traffic.  These are customized tours for the IBNS and the itineraries may change slightly due to weather or traffic conditions.  Capacity:  Minimum 10 and maximum 15 people.  Each tour will have a driver and specialized tour guide (in English but with a lovely Scottish accent).
3. A Taste of Edinburgh...Castle and Pub Crawl...
Take the train from Glasgow to Edinburgh, approximately 45 minutes.  Train station is less than 5 minute walk from Radisson Blu hotel.  Guide will meet us at the train station in Edinburgh at 4:30 p.m.  Spend 1 - 1.5 hour in the castle, followed by between 3-4 hours going from good pub to good pub (drinks not included) taking in the sites of the old town, Royal Mile, down to the Cowgate (oldest street in Edinburgh) and the Grassmarket at foot of castle.  Grassmarket was originally a marketplace for horse and cattle from the 14th century now this area is a popular visitor destination with family friendly hotels and restaurants and an eclectic mix of boutiques and gift shops. 
 

Location Pickup/Return:  Train Station

Dates:  June 1
Time:  Guide will meet group at 4:30 p.m. at the Edinburgh Train Station

Cost:  With Castle entry fees =   £65  ($85 USD)  

If you want to spend more time in Edinburgh on your own, take an early train and meet the guide at 4:30 p.m. for this educational tour of Edinburgh.
4.  Whisky Distilleries Tour

For the whiskey connoisseurs, this tour is for you.  Scenic tour to 3 or 4 unique distilleries and taste some of Scotland's finest single malt whiskies.  Approximately 1.5 hour at each distillery.  

Clydebank Distillery in Glasgow on the river Clyde (Lowland)
Deanston Distillery (Highland)  food avail for lunch
Glengoyne Distillery (Highland)
Auchentoshan edge of Glasgow (Lowland) 
 

Location Pickup/Return:  Radisson Blu Hotel Lobby - Glasgow
Dates:  May 31 or June 1
Time:  8:40 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. 

Cost:  Without entry fees =   £103    ($135 USD)   

Please note that the return time is approximate and dependent on traffic.  These are customized tours for the IBNS and the itineraries may change slightly due to weather or traffic conditions.  Capacity:  Minimum 10 and maximum 15 people.  Each tour will have a driver and specialized tour guide (in English but with a lovely Scottish accent).
 
FOUR-day Castle and Scenic Tour

Loch Lomond - Glencoe - Skye - Loch Ness - Return

Location Pickup/Return:  Radisson Blu Hotel Lobby - Glasgow
Dates:  Depart May 29, Return June 1
Time:  TBA 

Cost:  £2160 for up to 4 people with luggage - (prices do not include accommodation, lunch and entry to attractions).  Price includes transportation, driver and knowledgeable guide. Accommodations will be moderately priced 3*.  NOTE:  This is £540 (approx. $695 USD) per person if four people are on the tour.

Day 1

  • Pick up at Radisson Blu Hotel in Glasgow
  • Loch Lomond - Stop on the banks of Loch Lomond at the picturesque village of Luss where you will have that chance to explore and even dip your feet in the water. Loch Lomonad is the largest Lake (in Scotland we call it a Loch) in the United kingdom by surface area.
  • Inverarary Castle - Heading along the picturesque Rest and Be Thankful Road we drive to the Ancestral home of the of the Duke of Argyll, chief of the clan Campbell. Option to visit and tour the castle.
  • Kilchurn Castle - A short drive north we drive to the ruinous Kilchurn Castle, a fort hold of the Campbell family - abandoned in the 1700’s.
  • Glencoe - Drive through the stunning and dramatic scenery of Glencoe and learn of the bloody history between the Campbells and McDonalds and find out why it is called the weeping glen.
  • Fort William - An old town but mostly modern now - Option to stop if time permits - overnight stay or continue further to the Glenfinnan House Hotel for the night.

Day 2

  • Later start as a morning walk to the world renowned Glenfinnan Viaduct in time to see the Jacobite Steam (Harry Potter train) train puff its way through the glen. There is also the Jacobite memorial where Bonnie Prince Charlie landed in Scotland and mustered the highland clans together for the last uprising against the British.
  • Continue to Malaig and the ferry to Skye
  • Armadale Castle gardens and museum - A short drive as we arrive at the seat of the Donald Clan, explore the castle and gardens or visit the museum to learn of the the islands history.
  • Dunvegan Castle - Visit the fortress. Dunvegan is the seat of the Mcleod’s.
  • Continue to accommodation, overnight in town of Portree or the Sligachan Hotel.

Day 3

  • The Quairang - Head to the north of the village and see the sites of Kilt Rock and the falls, Staffin beach and the Jurassic coast before the Quairang, which offers stunning views. The Quairang is the land slip, the road can shift by up to 1 meter a year.
  • The Fairy Glen and Castle Ewen - Feel like a giant while exploring the Fairy Glen, a mythical landscape and kingdom. Overlooking this landscape is Castle Ewen, a natural rock formations that takes on the shape of a fortress.
  • Eilean Donan Castle - We then head south off the island and over the Skye bridge to Eilean Donan Castle. Continue to accommodation possibly near Fort Augustus or Invermorriston.

Day 4

  • Urquhart Castle - Explore the ruins castle overlooking Loch Ness, learn of its history and its subsequent explosion.
  • We then make the journey to return to Glasgow, with a stop off at house of Bruar - the Harrods of the north.
  • Stirling Castle - Before returning to Glasgow we explore Stirling Castle.