Three Day Small Group Tour of Fife, The Grampians and Royal Aberdeenshire

Want to tour the back roads of Fife but don't want to join a large coach group? Looking for a little flexibility and spontaneity in your itinerary? Do you have a few days to really get deep into the Scottish countryside?

Fife, and immediate region north, was the ancestral home of the Stuart monarchs. In Celtic times it was a region populated by the strange Picttish folk. It's a small but intensely interesting corner of Scotland now most readily renowned for its world-beating golf courses and the granddaddy of them all at St Andrews.

Sightseeing in this compact area is fantastically varied, ranging across traditional east coast fishing harbors, royal palaces at Falkland and Balmoral, dark age fortresses and beautiful churches. Sites connected with famous names abound - Andrew Carnegie, Robinson Crusoe, Mary, Queen of Scots, Robert Falcon Scott and our much-loved Queen Mother, are just a few.

You'll see not only where golf originated but arguably tennis too! All this and some splendid scenic drives mark these three days as truly memorable.

With a maximum group size of 11 and a university educated guide/driver, you are sure to have a memorable and personal experience.

Schedule Details Departs: Seasonal - 2008 dates

• May 14 and 28
• June 11 and 25
• July 09 and 23
• August 06 and 20
• September 03 and 17
• October 01 and 15

Departure Point: Tour departs from centrally located Glasgow hotels Departure Time: 8:00am Return details: Tour returns to original point of departure at approximately 6:00pm (Day 3) Hotel Pickup: Tour departs from centrally located Glasgow hotels. Please include the details of your hotel at the time of booking. You MUST call the supplier at least 24 hours prior to tour commencement to reconfirm all tour and departure details. If the supplier does not pickup from your hotel, they will advise you of the meeting point when you call. Itinerary:

Day One:
Cross the Forth by the Kincardine Road bridge and drive to Culross. When you stroll through the narrow cobbled streets of the quiet old burgh of Culross, it is not difficult to imagine yourself back in the 16th or 17th century. Almost the entire village is a living museum, as all the pan-tiled houses with their crow-step gables have been carefully restored.

Next, to Dunfermline, one of the oldest settlements in Scotland. The abbey dates back over 900 years to the time of King Malcolm and Queen Margaret, later Saint Margaret. The town was the capital of Scotland for more than 500 years and the ruins of the ancient palace adjoin the abbey complex. "King Robert The Bruce" was buried beneath the abbey, and his final resting place is now marked with a spectacular brass plaque. In more recent times, the town was the birthplace to Andrew Carnegie who spent his early childhood in Dunfermline before emigrating to the "new world" of America with his family. He later made his millions in the Pittsburgh steel industry, then returned to gift many of the towns greatest treasures including the Carnegie Hall, Pittencrieff Park and the town's central library.

Next, take to the water where you are rowed to the small island in the center of Loch Leven to see where Mary, Queen of Scots, was imprisoned. Another place with both royal and historic Pictic connections is Abernethy. Here, beneath the towering 8th century peel tower, King Malcolm gave fealty to the English king, William the Conqueror. The bakery opposite sells the most delicious cakes!

Your base for the next two nights is at the traditional fishing village of Anstruther. This pretty and traditional harbor is not only noted for an excellent museum of fishing but for having one of the very best fish and chip shops in the whole of the UK! And yes, one of your dinners will be fish n chips!

Day Two:
Today's circular tour takes you through Dundee and into the magnificent Caingorm Mountains. In addition to some simply unbeatable back road scenic drives through places such as the Spittal Of Glenshee, Glen Dye, Lochnagar Forest and the Devil's Elbow, you'll also see castles, small towns and historic site aplenty. Manmade highlights will include the Queens Scottish residence village of Balmoral, Glamis Castle, the Meigle's collection of Pictish sculpted stones, the Tay Road Bridge and Robert Scott's Antarctic ship "Discovery".

Day Three:
Fife is perhaps best known for two major icons - the Royal and Ancient Golf Club at St Andrews, and the Royal Palace at Falkland. You will be seeing both today, as well as the picturesque villages of the East Neuk of Fife, whitewashed buildings with red tiled roofs overlook cobbled winding streets leading to secluded little fishing harbors, settings which seem to have changed little over the preceding 150 years.

Crail, for example, is home to one of the prettiest little harbors in the country. Crab and lobster can be bought in season down by the harbor. Crail is also home to Crail Pottery, a delightful pottery that is a pleasure to visit. Also see where the real Robinson Crusoe lived and, if time permits, visit a secret underground bunker built during the Cold War. Return to Glasgow via Edinburgh where those wishing to spend independent time may do so.

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