Suggested Itinerary
Day 1 – Drumlanrig Castle
Board our private executive coach at your preferred pick up points – en route we visit the ancient Douglas stronghold of Drumlanrig Castle, perhaps the most romantic of Scotland’s great houses with a fine collection of silver, porcelain, French furniture and art – check in to the 3* Peebles Hydro Hotel on the outskirts of Peebles.
Day 2 – Bowhill House & Country Estate and Abbotsford House
Bowhill House and Country Estate is home to the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch and Queensberry and a part of the internationally renowned Buccleuch art collection – Abbotsford House, built and lived in by the 19th century novelist Sir Walter Scott, is stunningly located by the banks of the River Tweed in the heart of a landscape that inspired the poetry and novels of its creator.
Day 3 – Traquair House & Mellerstain House
Dating back to 1107, Traquair House is said to be the oldest inhabited house in Scotland and has been visited by 27 monarchs, including Mary Queen of Scots – Mellerstain House is an exquisite Robert Adam stately home built between 1725 and 1778 with the library being regarded as one of Robert Adam’s finest creations.
Day 4 – Manderston & Floors Castle
Manderston, completely rebuilt between 1903 and 1905, boasts not only sumptuous State rooms and bedrooms, decorated in the Adam manner, but also all the original domestic offices and a truly ‘upstairs downstairs’ atmosphere – Floors Castle, originally built for the 1st Duke of Roxburghe in 1721, is home to a fine collection of priceless European paintings, tapestries and furnishings.
Day 5 – Dumfries House
Designed 250 years ago by architect brothers John, Robert and James Adam, Dumfries House is an imposing Palladian mansion nestled within 2,000 acres of scenic Ayrshire countryside and is widely acknowledged as one of the most architecturally significant stately homes within the United Kingdom.
Day 6 – Sizergh Castle & Gardens
En route home we visit the National Trust’s Sizergh Castle and Gardens in Cumbria, a medieval house extended in Elizabethan times and surrounded by beautiful grounds.
Tour Features
Half board accommodation
All excursions & guided tours included
Blue Badge guide Days 2 to 4
Executive coach throughout
ONE FREE PLACE PER 10 PAYING PASSENGERS
Drumlanrig Castle
Bowhill House
Abbotsford House
Traquair House
Mellerstain House
Manderston
Floors Castle
Dumfries House
Sizergh Castle & Gardens
Hotel
Five nights on half board basis at the 3* Peebles Hydro Hotel on the outskirts of Peebles. Facilities include a restaurant, bar and an indoor swimming pool. All rooms are en suite.
Tailor-make this tour
Here are some more suggested places of interest you might like to include:
- Ford and Etal Estate - home to the Joicey family for over 100 years, the estate is centred on the villages of Ford and Etal in the valley of the River Till between the Scottish Borders and the Cheviot Hills and a guided tour takes in Lady Waterford Hall, commissioned in 1860 by Louisa Anne, Marchioness of Waterford, and the 14th century Etal Castle
- Paxton House - built for a German princess in 1756 by John and James Adam, this is one of the finest Palladian houses in Britain containing the preeminent Scottish collection of Chippendale furniture and acting as an outstation of the National Galleries of Scotland
Tour Reviews
Reviews for The Houses & Castles of the Scottish Borders
Date of tour: May 2015
It is just a week since we returned from our visit to the Border country and I wanted to write and say how much everyone enjoyed it. The Blue Bell Inn in Belford was very welcoming and the staff friendly and helpful. The trips we went on were all excellent. The countryside was at its Spring best and I think many return trips will be made judging from the comments I heard. Alnwick we know well and thoroughly enjoyed seeing again on our way home. Thank you for all the extra work I gave you with the changes I made. We couldn't have had a better guide than Kate. It was lovely to have her staying with us and she became one of the group immediately. She was full of excellent information and knew exactly when to talk and when to leave us to have a little sleep! Our coach was very comfortable and clean. Thank you to everyone who helped to make this another successful trip. I would be grateful if you would pass this on to Nicola, whom I dealt with most of the time and who was always helpful and never put out by my demands!
JT, Anlaby
Date of tour: November 2012
I am writing on behalf of my group with regards our September 2012 holiday to Scotland which Tailored Travel organised for us. This was an excellent holiday which everyone enjoyed. Thanks to you and your staff for an excellent holiday. As you are aware we are using your services again next year with a trip to Amsterdam, Bruges and the Keukenhof Flower Festival, and we look forward to another wonderful experience under your guidance. Once again, many thanks.
AD, Stevenage
Date of tour: May 2011
I have just returned from our trip to Scotland and would like to commend the services of our Blue Badge guide, Mike and driver, Graham. They were informative, knowledgeable, considerate and unfailingly polite and pleasant throughout our trip. We never seemed to go anywhere in a straight line, or return the same way, so intent were they in making sure that our trips in the coach were as interesting as the rest of the wonderful art and architecture we saw. Many thanks to them both.
ML, Tonbridge
Call us on
020 7064 4970
to tailor this tour
for your group
Tailor make your group tour
Remember this itinerary is just our suggestion. Tailor make this tour exclusively for your group to suit your members’ budget or preferences. You could:
- stay at a 4* hotel
- for more (or fewer) days
- include different excursions – see ‘Tailor-make this tour’ tab for suggestions
- bring a specialist lecturer
- include all entrance fees & gratuities
Call us on
020 7064 4970
to tailor make the perfect tour
for your group
