Detailed Itinerary
Arrive Glasgow or Edinburgh Airport. Met on arrival where you will be transferred to relax at your hotel, Gleneagles.
Since opening its doors in 1924, this magnificent countryside estate in the heart of Scotland has been known as a “Riviera in the Highlands”. Today its’ unrivalled cuisine and luxury accommodation combine with the outdoor facilities and stunning views over Perthshire to ensure Gleneagles continues its’ reputation as one of the greatest establishments of its kind in the world.
This evening Welcome Cocktails & Dinner.
OVERNIGHT: Gleneagles – Estate Room
GOLF: Today play the PGA Centenary Course at Gleneagles Hotel. This highly acclaimed modern classic of Jack Nicklaus design was host venue to the 2014 Ryder Cup. The course is set in a most spectacular location in the rolling Perthshire hills and affords wonderful views of the Grampian Mountains and the surrounding countryside. Note: Golf cart venue.
SIGHTSEEING: Non-Golfers enjoy a morning visit to Stirling Castle & the Wallace Monument; both great symbols of Scotland and a source of national pride. The Castle's long, turbulent history is associated with great figures from Scotland’s past such as William Wallace & Mary Queen of Scots. The Monument is a 220 feet sandstone tower build between 1861 and 1869 and the climb to the top is not for the faint-hearted.
In the afternoon a chance to relax and enjoy the resort facilities of Gleneagles Hotel.
OVERNIGHT: Gleneagles – Estate Room
GOLF: Today play the King’s Course at Gleneagles Hotel which opened in 1919 and is a shot maker’s paradise. Renowned architect and five-time Open champion James Braid intended to test every facet of a golfer’s skill set. With springy moorland turf underfoot in an idyllic setting featuring rock faced mountains to the north, lush green hills to the south and the peaks of the Trossachs and Ben Vorlich on the western horizon, the scenery is incomparable. The 5th hole, Het Girdle (Hot Pan) is a fantastic par-3 loaded with trouble until your shot safely reaches the green.
SIGHTSEEING: Non-Golfers enjoy a visit to Drummond Gardens near Crieff. Pass into the inner courtyard and reach the top of the terracing and the full extent and majesty of this garden is suddenly revealed. The dominant feature of the parterre design is a St Andrew´s Cross with the multiplex 17th century sundial at its centre. A strong north-south axis runs through the garden, down the impressive flight of steps to the sundial, through the classical archway and kitchen garden beyond, cutting a swathe through woodland before rising to the top of the opposing hillside. This idea of drawing the countryside into the garden is essentially French, however Drummond is an eclectic garden and also rooted firmly in the Italian style with its fountains, terracing, urns and statuary.
This afternoon we make the journey to Inverness (3hrs) by luxury motor coach. Travel north past The Cairngorms National Park to our hotel in Inverness, your home for the next three nights.
OVERNIGHT: Ness Walk – Cedar Room
Today Golfers and Non-Golfers alike will enjoy a tour to Speyside and visit to The Glenlivet Distillery. This morning make the journey to the heartland of Scottish Whisky production. Speyside plays host to over half the distilleries in Scotland and has the greatest concentration of malt whisky producers than any of the other regions in Scotland. Enjoy of tour of the Glenlivet Distillery where you will learn about the origins of whisky production in the area as well as the history of the distillery before a learning about the production process and viewing the casks as they mature in a traditional warehouse. The tour will conclude with a special dram drawn straight from the cask.
After lunch we travel to Ballindalloch Castle. Ballindalloch is one of the most beautiful and romantic castles in Scotland. It is first and foremost a much loved family home and has been lived in continuously by its original family, the Macpherson-Grants since 1546. Known as the 'Pearl of the North' it is a warm and welcoming castle set in the magnificent surroundings of the Spey Valley. The Castle is filled with family memorabilia and houses a fine collection of 17th century Spanish paintings built up by Sir John Macpherson-Grant in 1850.
This evening enjoy dinner with your group in a local restaurant (included).
OVERNIGHT: Ness Walk – Cedar Room
GOLF: Today play Royal Dornoch. The curving bay of the Dornoch Firth and its magnificent white broad beaches are backed by a narrow strip of softly contoured dune land rising in two distinctive levels, providing just enough room for parallel fairways. The ridges, hillocks, dunes and undulating links land have all the characteristics of the best of links courses, and most of the difficulties. Old Tom Morris was the architect responsible for extending the original 9 holes layout to 18 holes in 1886. He introduced the plateau greens which are the soul of the course, their uniqueness lies in their size and their inverted saucer shapes.
SIGHTSEEING: Non-Golfers enjoy a visit to Dunrobin Castle and the Falls of Shin. Dunrobin Castle, seat of the Earls and Dukes of Sutherland, this beautiful castle with a French influence sits looking out across the North Sea. With 189 rooms, it is the largest house in the Northern Highlands. Parts of it date back to the 1300s. There are many collections of furniture, pictures, objects d'art, uniforms, china and family memorabilia on display in the Drawing Room, Library, study, bedrooms, nurseries, etc. While Falls of Shin is perfect for those who enjoy the outdoors and wildlife. There are extensive forest walks, dramatic waterfalls and the famous salmon leap, where you can watch salmon hurl themselves up the falls. The visitor centre shop has a range of exclusive luxury gifts from Harrods Knightsbridge in London and superb quality local quality crafts, plus fresh local produce.
OVERNIGHT: Ness Walk – Cedar Room
GOLF: Today play Castle Stuart Golf Links. One of the newest additions to Scotland’s collection of the links courses, Castle Stuart runs along the shores of the Moray Firth to the east of Inverness with wonderful views over to the Black Isle. Six holes hug the shoreline while the remaining holes are played over a terraced slope so views out to sea are ever present. It is already included among the World's Top 100.
SIGHTSEEING: Non-Golfers will visit Culloden Moor, site where the Jacobite uprising ended in 1746 and one of the most harrowing battles in British history. Take a tour of the battlefield where a guide will lead you around the key areas as well as visiting the memorial cairn and the restored 18th-century Leanach Cottage with its beautiful thatched roof.
This afternoon journey to Scotland's capital city of Edinburgh (3hrs 30 mins) by luxury motor coach.
OVERNIGHT: The Caledonian Waldorf Astoria – Premium Room
Today travel by motor coach from Edinburgh to St Andrews (1hr 40mins) to attend the third round of The 150th Open at St Andrews. The Old Course remains essentially unchanged from the days of Old Tom Morris in the mid-to-late 19th century. The double fairways, double greens and natural bunkering combine to produce a set of strategic demands on the golfer which are unmatched and completely unique. In the course of its 29 Opens, St Andrews has had a habit of throwing up winners who are the best of their generation. Tiger Woods, Nick Faldo, Seve Ballesteros, Jack Nicklaus, Peter Thomson and Bobby Locke. Bobby Jones created such an impression on St Andrews during his 1927 win that it proved to be the beginning of a lifelong connection with the town.
OVERNIGHT: The Caledonian Waldorf Astoria – Premium Room
Today travel by motor coach from Edinburgh to St Andrews (1hr 40mins) to attend the final round of The 150th Open at St Andrews.
This evening enjoy Farewell drinks and dinner (included).
OVERNIGHT: The Caledonian Waldorf Astoria – Premium Room
After breakfast transfer to Edinburgh Airport for homeward flights.