YOUR HIGHLAND ANCESTRY TOUR

September 20-29, 2023

Arranged with Alison Balzer of Linens and Larder Travel

email: linensandlardertravel@gmail.com

Join our ancestry expert guide on this small group tour for a 9-day pilgrimage around Scotland for an insight into your ancestors’ lives – see how they lived and why they made the decision to cross the ocean. We will meet local historians, explore the landscape they called home, learn a “wee bit” of Gaelic, taste local food and drink and enjoy traditional music making this a truly authentic and immersive Scottish experience.

This is an exclusive group tour with a maximum of 20 people and will be especially focused on your ancestry and the local history.

The departure date for Scotland will follow the 250^th Anniversary of the Ship Hector celebrations in Pictou, Nova Scotia.

Accommodation will be 3* and 4* hotels (Inverness, Glasgow)

Price:To Be Confirmed (approximately $5500 CAD per person, based on double occupancy)

This price is land only, airfare is additional and will be available October 2022

DAY 1 – September 20, 2023 (Wednesday)

Glasgow

You will arrive at Glasgow Airport and be warmly welcomed by your coach and guide.After booking into your hotel, the day will be free for you to experience Glasgow.

DAY 2 – September 21, 2023 (Thursday)

Glasgow

Shake off the jet lag by spending the day in Glasgow city. Explore by yourself or join our walking tour with our local guide.Immerse yourself in Scottish culture as we have dinner in a traditional Scottish pub and learn some Gaelic from world-renown singer and Bard from Outlander.Dinner included

DAY 3 – September 22, 2023 (Friday)

Loch Lomond, Glencoe, Fort William, Loch Ness, Inverness

Depart the hotel after breakfast.Today we will head north to Inverness and on the way we will enjoy a photo stop at the beautiful Loch Lomond.We will continue on and drive through the breath-taking Glencoe with a break at the visitor centre and a visit to the local museum.

Travel via Fort William and through the Great Glen alongside Loch Ness passing Urquhart Castle on our way to Inverness, where we will check into our hotel.

DAY 4 – September 23, 2023 (Saturday)

Inverness and surrounding area

This morning we will visit Culloden Battlefield and the neighbouring Clava Cairns.This afternoon is free to spend in Inverness or to take a Loch Ness Cruise, visit Cawdor Castle or a distillery.Dinner included

DAY 5 – September 24, 2023 (Sunday)

Dedicated ancestry day in Inverness area

Today we will explore the local area on our coach with our experienced guide.This day will depend on our ancestry visitors and where their interests are.Some potential areas are Beauly, Muir of Ord or the Black Isle.Enjoy a free evening in Inverness.

DAY 6 – September 25, 2023 (Monday)

Ullapool

Visit Ullapool and travel along the side of Loch Broom where you begin to get an insight into the challenging journey that your ancestors undertook from the moment they left their home which could have been many miles before where they boarded the Hector.View the Clachan Church which was an important part of their leaving experience before they made their way to the shore.Our guide is passionate about ancestry and has researched the history of the Ship Hector and the Loch Broom area.Enjoy a day with your “feet on the ground” in Ullapool.Dinner included

DAY 7 – September 26, 2023 (Tuesday)

Exclusive Family Roots Day

We will provide transportation for a free day to explore family roots.This day will take us to different locations around the Scottish highlands and will depend on our visitors and where their family roots are.Get your seat early so we can include your family area!Dinner included

DAY 8 – September 27, 2023 (Wednesday)

Skye

Our day trip to Skye.Today is all about the stunning scenery and a day to experience your clan roots! Marvel at the towering Black Cuillin, The Kilt Rock, Quirang and Old Man of Storr and visit Flora MacDonald's grave in Kilmuir Cemetery and the Highland township.Return to Inverness for the evening.

**A visit to Skye is always dependent on the weather - your guide & driver will decide where is best to visit if we are blessed with some Scottish rain!

DAY 9 – September 28, 2023 (Thursday)

Pitlochry, Glasgow

Depart our Inverness Hotel.

Today we return to Glasgow stopping off at the Highland Folk Museum, a living history museum where you can visit a 1700's township and see how your ancestors would have lived.

There will be time to explore Pitlochry, a charming market town in scenic Perthshire.Pitlochry is a quaint Highland town in the heart of Scotland known for its fresh air, rich clan history and beautiful scenery.Check into our Glasgow hotel.Farewell Dinner

DAY 10 – September 29, 2023 (Friday)

Glasgow

Depart Hotel for Glasgow Airport.If you are travelling on to another destination, breakfast on this morning will be the end of the tour.If you need any assistance with getting to your new location, please feel free to ask.

Included:

All Transportation throughout tour

Airport Transfers

Ancestry tour guide

Guide pre-trip research on areas and clans of interest

10 Breakfasts

5 Dinners (including Farewell Dinner)

Entrance fees to attractions mentioned in itinerary

Gratuities (except for guide and driver)