Castles And Clans Tour (14days)
11th May – 24th May 2008
6th July – 19th July 2008
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Choose from our stable of Milwaukee chrome and steel chariots to ride this spectacular tour, which takes you through 2000 years of fascinating history. Soak up the heraldic atmosphere of bygone times, while staying in medieval castles and traditional character hotels. Ride through the haunting glens of Bonnie Scotland, the scenic mountains of the Cumbrian Lake District, and the rolling countryside and unspoilt coastal routes of Northumberland.
Day 1 Our first night will be spent in the well situated Hilton Hotel on Newcastle Upon Tyne’s lively quayside. The quayside has stunning views of the Tyne Bridge, the new Millennium Footbridge, the Sage Music Centre and the Baltic Arts Centre. We will enjoy a welcome meeting and tour briefing in the executive lounge, and then you will be free to sightsee or explore the multitude of nearby bars and restaurants for the rest of your evening.
Day 2. 124 miles. This morning our bikes will be waiting for us at Just Harleys, our local dealership, so it’s time to put on your riding gear and saddle up! Today we will ride via the scenic cathedral city of Durham to the pretty coastal town of Whitby, for lunch. Whitby was the birthplace of Captain James Cook, the Commander of HMS Endeavour, and the discoverer of the Hawiian Islands. Bram Stoker wrote Dracula while staying here, finding much of his inspiration from Whitby Abbey, which was founded in 675AD. After lunch we will ride over the Yorkshire Moors through the charming village of Goathland (where the TV series Heartbeat was filmed), and then on through the impressive grounds of Castle Howard, to the ancient city of York for our two night stay in a 4* Hotel in the centre of the city.
Day 3. Today we have a free day to explore York. York was first settled by the Romans in 710AD almost 2000 years ago and is steeped in history. There are many fascinating places to visit, including York Minster (founded by Bishop Paulinus in 625AD), the Jorvik Centre with it’s history of the Viking presence in the city, the York Castle Museum and the National Railway Museum. There will also be an optional ride-out to a local place of interest.
Day 4. 155 miles. Our destination today is the beautiful Cumbrian Lake District. In the morning we will ride through the West Yorkshire Pennines to the quaint little village of Haworth, where the Bronte sisters wrote most of their famous novels. We will then ride on, over the Pennines to Hawkshead, situated in the central Lake District. William Wordsworth went to school here, and Beatrix Potter was also a famous resident. Tonight we will stay in a converted mill, which nestles on the bank of the River Leven, minutes from the foot of Lake Windermere. Dinner included.
Day 5. 100 miles. Today we wend our way through the scenic fells and lakes on narrow twisty roads, as we make our way toward the West Cumbrian town of Penrith, over the Kirkstone Pass. Leaving the Lake District behind, we head across country to the world famous Hadrian’s Wall. Built by the Romans almost 2000 years ago, the wall stretches across the country from the east coast to the west coast, and was built to keep the Scottish ‘barbarians’ out of England! Much of the Wall and it’s main settlement at Housteads can still be seen. Hadrian’s Wall attracts tens of thousands of visitors from around the world every year.
We spend the night at Otterburn Towers Hotel in Northumberland. This fortified building was once an old English stronghold against the Border Reivers (rustlers and raiders who plundered the Scottish Borders). The building was founded by a cousin of William the Conqueror in 1086, and numbers Sir Walter Scott as one of it’s many famous visitors. After dinner, come and listen to tales of the Border Reivers by the fire in the library bar. Sleep well – if you can! Dinner included.
Day 6. 145 miles. After a hearty full English breakfast we’ll set off for Kielder Forest and Reservoir, in the Northumberland National Park. The reservoir is the largest man-made lake in the UK and holds over 44 billion gallons of water. We then continue on through border country and into Bonnie Scotland. Beware of wild Haggis on the road – it could be their mating season and they get a bit frisky! We’ll cross the Firth of Forth on the spectacular Forth Road Bridge, and ride up to the Highlands to overnight at the small town of Pitlochry, with it’s famous dam and fish ladder.
Day 7. 176 miles. Today we’ll ride through the eerily beautiful Glencoe, surrounded by the black granite Munro’s Mountains, and scene of the infamous clan massacre of the MacDonalds by a Campbell led regiment. We’ll follow the 60 mile long Caledonian Canal stretching from Fort William to Fort Augustus, (which was named after King George II’s younger son Prince William Augustus). Here we‘ll stop for tea and cakes while we watch the narrow boats going up or down the lock ladder. Our afternoon ride will take us along the shores of Loch Ness, (keep your eyes peeled for a glimpse of fabled monster Nessie), towards the city of Inverness, and then on for a well deserved two night stay in the small town of Strathpeffer. Dinner included.
Day 8. Today is a free day for you to explore the local area. Strathpeffer was originally founded as a spa town, and is quite a contrast to the working towns and villages of the area. Nearby Dingwall was the birthplace of Macbeth, and was one of the main centres of Norse administration during their time of occupation. The name Dingwall comes from the Norse for meeting place. Why not take a boat trip on the Moray Firth, where you might even be joined by dolphins? The Moray Firth is a haven for Bottlenose Dolphins and Minke Whales, with a very occasional visit by Humpback Whales. Perhaps you’d rather sample Scotland’s ‘Water of Life’ at the nearby whiskey distilleries. We will also have an optional rideout (315 miles) to John o’ Groats today, for those of you who simply must have a photo at the UK mainland’s most northerly point! Dinner included.
Day 9. 153 miles. Heading south today, past Inverness, we will call in at the famous Battlefield of Culloden, where Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Scottish forces were cruelly defeated by the English in 1746. We’ll then ride on to visit the Queen’s Scottish country residence – Balmoral Castle. A tour in a local distillery will give us the opportunity to see how the famous Scottish Malt Whiskey is made, before we ride on over the ski area of Glenshee, and down to our hotel in the Spittal of Glenshee. Here we will have a traditional Scottish dinner followed by traditional Scottish music and sword dancing round a magnificent log fire. Dinner included.
Day 10. 95 miles. We have a short ride today, winding our way out of the Highlands, past Perth and following the eastern banks of the River Tay, to Scotland’s capital city, Edinburgh, for a two night stay in the magnificent 5* Caledonian Hilton Hotel, overlooking the spectacular Edinburgh Castle and the famous Princes Street. The Caledonian’s famous guests include royalty, heads of state, and Roy Rogers and his horse, Trigger! On the way, we’ll visit the Edinburgh Harley Davidson dealership, just in case you need yet another souvenir tee shirt!
Day 11. Affectionately known as ‘Auld Reekie’, you’ll have a full day to do as you choose here in Edinburgh, so hit the shops, chill out and absorb some of Scotland’s capital city’s fascinating history, or use it as a base for exploring the surrounding area. The 412 foot Royal Yacht Britannia is moored in Leith on the outskirts of the city. The yacht was launched in 1950 and has been host to many world leaders at state banquets throughout her lifetime. It was also a favourite for royal honeymooners!
Day 12. 150 miles. Leaving those frisky Haggis behind(!), we’re travelling down the coastline to the border town of Berwick Upon Tweed today, where we go back into England. Our route will take us across the causeway (tides permitting), to see the imposing castle and monastery (founded by St Aidan in 635AD) on the Holy Island of Lindisfarne. Returning to the mainland, we’ll pass the magnificent castles of Bamburgh, Alnwick (used in the Harry Potter films), and Warkworth, before heading on to our overnight stay at Lumley Castle Hotel in County Durham. Our last night will be spent dining in fine style in the castle’s medieval surroundings attended by serving wenches in full period costume. Dinner included.
Day 13. After a splendid farewell breakfast, we’ll head back to Newcastle Upon Tyne to return the bikes and sadly say our goodbyes.
N.B. Although all our hotels are chosen for their high standards and/or special characteristics, some hotels offer upgrades including special views, four-poster beds and deluxe themed rooms. Please ask for details. Hotels are subject to availability, & we reserve the right to substitute hotels of a similar or higher standard if necessary.
Prices: Per Person
Rider & Pillion £1395
Rider Only £1655
Bike Rental £1395 including insurance
All mileages are approximate depending on routes and weather.
All hotel stays are on a bed and breakfast basis. Dinner is included where specified.