Enchanting Escapes in the Borders

Day 1

We depart the local area and make our way north crossing the border and, arriving at the 4* Peebles Hydro Hotel with time to settle in before dinner.

Day 2

Walk in the footsteps of royalty in a tour of the 'floating palace', The Royal Yacht Britannia. Serving the Royal Family for 44 years and travelling more than a million nautical miles, Britannia is one of the most famous ships in the world. The ship has been boarded by some of the world's most influential people including Sir Winston Churchill, Boris Yeltsin, Rajiv Gandhi and Nelson Mandela. Now a 5-star visitor attraction, your audio tour will walk you through the State Apartments, crew quarters, the gleaming engine room, the state Dining Room and the Sun Lounge. After our tour we have time to explore Edinburgh.

Day 3

Today we escape to a hidden haven in the heart of the Scottish Borders, where 127,000 acres of winding glens and enchanting forests lead to the Buccleuch family's inspirational country home, gifted to them by King Robert the Bruce over 700 years ago.
Christened 'Sweet Bowhill' in Sir Walter Scott's famous poem, 'The Lay of the Last Minstrel', the majestic, enchanting and regal Bowhill House even hosted a visit from Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Unveil a rich history full of art, treasures and ancient tales of the family on a private tour of the house and gardens before tucking into a buffet lunch in the Courtyard Gallery.

Day 4

This morning we visit the Great Tapestry of Scotland, an extraordinarily illustrated 420 million years of Scotland - 300 miles of wool, 50,000 hours of stitching, 1,000 stitchers and 160 panels displayed on 143 metres of linen. Take a journey along Europe's largest Tapestry with your costumed guide and discover the breadth of Scottish history and culture in the historic textile heartland of the Scottish Borders. With the representation of all Scottish people at the heart, talented stitchers created a masterpiece telling the stories of Scottish icons and events, the lives of ordinary people, along with vibrant displays of the country's magnificent natural landscapes. We return to the hotel for the afternoon at leisure in Peebles.

Day 5

We depart the hotel, and with a stop on route, arrive home mid-afternoon.

D=Dinner, B=Breakfast