Discover History, Romance and Escapism in Scotland and Northern England

Chester Rows
Lake Windermere
Younger Botanic Gardens
Inverary Castle
Isle of Skye
Kyleakin
Glen Torridon
Loch Maree
Glamis Castle
Edinburgh Castle
York Minster

Day 1

An early morning departure from London and lunch in Chester. Settled since Roman times, Chester has the most spectacular city centre in England. The picturesque timber-framed shops, arcades, and houses known as the Chester Rows mostly date from the Middle Ages, although some were reconstructed in the Victorian era. The elaborate Tudor carvings on the front of Bishop Lloyd's House in Watergate Street are worth a look. Chester Cathedral has fine 14th-century misericords in the choir and a chapel with a rich 17th-century stucco ceiling. Parts of the high Roman city wall are still intact: at the south-east corner are the remains of a Roman tower and a huge amphitheatre dating from AD 100.

We journey on to the Lake District, a region of high peaks and picturesque lakes carved out by glaciers some 10,000 years ago during the last Ice Age. Many visitors are attracted by Windermere, England's largest lake, the pretty villages of Hawkshead and Coniston, and by the two main walking centres of Keswick and Kendal. To the north of Windermere is the smaller town of Ambleside, inspiration for William Wordsworth's well-known poem "Daffodils". The landscape is dramatic with deeply gouged valleys, long thin lakes, and rugged snow-capped mountains formed by glaciers. Scafell is the highest mountain at 977 metres (3,205 feet), and Helvellyn, Great Gable, and the Old Man of Coniston are almost as high. Overnight in the Lake District.

Day 2

We cross the border north of Carlisle at Gretna (where you can visit - and even get married at - the world-famous Blacksmith's shop), and head west to Dumfries, the largest town in south-west Scotland and known as the "Queen of the South" for its old red sandstone buildings and spacious parks. An important administrative centre, it also has several interesting museums connected with Robert Burns. The poet moved to Dumfries in 1791 and the house in which he died is now the Burns House Museum. Burns, his wife and five of his children are buried in the Burns Mausoleum in St Michael's churchyard. Overnight in Dumfries.

Day 3

As we continue westwards, it is worth stopping en route at Kirkcudbright, famed for its artists and pretty Georgian architecture, or Gatehouse of Fleet. Then we turn toward the north to Ayr which also has strong Burns associations, particularly the Burns National Heritage Park in nearby Alloway. Overnight in Ayr.

Day 4

We continue to head north for Irvine, whose maritime museum is worth seeing, before crossing the Firth of Clyde at Gourock for Dunoon. North from Dunoon, the Younger Botanic Gardens in Cowal are especially attractive during the spring and summer. Overnight in Tighnabruaich or Strachur.

Day 5

Continuing north, we round Loch Fyne for Inveraray, famed for its castle, award-winning jail museum and the local seafood. Then on to Loch Awe, which has the impressive ruins of Kilchurn Castle at its head, turning east and north via Bridge of Orchy, crossing Rannoch Moor and driving through the awesome mountain scenery of Glen Coe. Overnight in the area.

Day 6

We can take the Corran Ferry just north of Ballachulish to visit the area of Ardgour and the villages of Strontian, Salen or Acharacle. We then circle north to Lochailort and head west on the beautiful 'Road to the Isles', past fabulous white-sand beaches and impressive island views to the fishing village of Mallaig. A ferry will take us across to Armadale with its Castle Gardens and Museum of the Isles on the Isle of Skye. Overnight on the Isle of Skye.

Day 7

We return to the mainland across the toll bridge at Kyleakin and head east and north to Lochcarron village and then north to Glen Torridon with its dramatic mountain backdrop. We drive along the south shore of scenic Loch Maree and continue east to the picturesque Victorian spa town of Strathpeffer. Overnight in Strathpeffer.

Day 8

We continue east to the Black Isle peninsula and the attractive 18th century seaport of Cromarty. Turning south-east brings us to the bustling city of Inverness. The site of the infamous battle of Culloden is nearby whilst, lying further east, is Nairn which offers good golf facilities and beautiful beaches; we can also take in nearby Fort George and Cawdor Castle. Leaving Nairn south-bound brings us to the famous Highland resort of Grantown-on-Spey; the nearby Speyside Heather Centre is worth a visit. Overnight in Grantown-on-Spey.

Day 9

We travel south over Glen Shee, along the highest main road in the UK, then east to explore the Angus Glens. Overnight at Kirriemuir, the home of the creator of Peter Pan, J. M. Barrie, or at the 'royal' village of Glamis.

Day 10

Travelling south towards Edinburgh, Scotland's Capital, we can pause at the thriving market town of Perth. Destroyed by successive waves of invaders, including English kings, followers of the Reformation, and Oliver Cromwell's Roundheads, the city is largely an early 19th-century creation. Central Perth has many handsome buildings, especially in the area overlooking the wide River Tay. An excellent local museum, art gallery, repertory theatre, and the Museum of the Black Watch (a famous Scottish army regiment) are just some of the attractions. The highlight of the city is the sumptuous Scone Palace, where Scottish kings were crowned.

Scotland's capital makes a strong first impression with a city skyline that includes the dramatic Edinburgh Castle perched on a high crag. The Royal Mile runs down from it, through the high tenements of the old town, to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, official residence of British royalty when in Scotland. Behind that loom the cliffs of Arthur's Seat, the city's own mini-mountain, only minutes from bustling Princes Street. The elegance of the new town contrasts with the historic ambience of the old town. Neoclassical buildings and magnificent museums, such as the wonderful National Gallery of Scotland, add to the city's reputation as a centre for the arts. It is most famous for the annual Edinburgh Festival in late August - when music, drama, and dance events take place at venues all over the city - but now also has a political role as home of the Scottish Parliament. Overnight in Edinburgh.

Day 11

We return to England and drive through Newcastle upon Tyne, the largest city in the north-east. The River Tyne is the city's lifeblood, first bridged by the Romans and today by six impressive bridges including the Swing Bridge and the Tyne Bridge, which was the model for the Sydney Harbour Bridge in Australia.

To arrive in Durham in good weather is to see it in all its glory, the skyline dominated by Durham Cathedral, one of the finest in Britain. Built in the 12th century, it stands by the medieval Durham Castle on a sandstone knoll on a horseshoe bend in the River Wear. The cathedral contains the tomb of the 8th-century Northumbrian monk, the Venerable Bede, who wrote one of the first histories of England. The castle is now used by Durham University, but parts of it are open to the public. Overnight in York.

Day 12

York is the most important historic city in the north of England, and until the 19th century was second in size and importance only to London. As Eboracum it was capital of the Romans' northern European empire and when taken by the Danes in 867 it became Jorvik, Danish capital of eastern England. The Jorvik Viking Centre, just one of the city's many museums, recreates a Viking village. The 13th-century city walls are among the most important medieval fortifications in Europe, but the jewel in York's crown is undoubtedly York Minster, the largest medieval cathedral in Europe.

Return to London.