Home page
Tours
Sample Day
Appreciations
Links
Contact us
Site Map

How a day can work out whilst touring with Tours des Forges:

A day's Touring in and near Edinburgh

An outline of one day of the five-day guided car tour of Scotland and Northern England
planned, with hotels booked, before they left home, for Ric and Molly,
as told by S, their driver/guide

I meet Ric and Molly at the beginning of their second day of their tailor-made guided car tour, in the lounge of their Edinburgh hotel, so that we can briefly discuss and fine-tune the day ahead.
They decide they would like to go out of town for most of the day; however they must do some shopping for gifts for friends at home. The mission is accomplishes after visits to three shops. VAT has been deducted (Ric and Molly are from the USA), seven different mailing addresses given . . . and the store will do the rest!

Although we spent their first day touring Edinburgh's New Town by car, and the Royal Mile on foot (including two hours in Edinburgh Castle), we cruise a little more in the New Town before heading out towards the Firth of Forth, passing the Botanical Gardens en route . . . no time to stop!

I learnt on their first day that Ric and Molly are both keen on walking (nothing strenuous, just two or three miles or so of level walking), so I want them to have time for a good stroll in the grounds of Hopetoun House, a 17th and 18th century house twelve or so miles out of Edinburgh.

On the way we stop in the quaint old village of South Queensferry. Ric is a keen video man. There are excellent views of the Forth Railway bridge over the river, a mighty feat of Victorian engineering.

The camera has rolled, the little village and its ancient church inspected, and we are soon taking the quiet road that turns into the drive of Hopetoun House.

Many would pay to go and see the fine interiors and furnishings, but Ric and Molly opt for the "grounds only" ticket. We are soon walking the spacious avenues near the house, before we make our way to the elevated terraces that run above and alongside the river Forth. We spot a herd of fallow deer below us. Primroses colour the dells and lawns. We make a leisurely walk of some two miles.

Although Ric and Molly have told me they will normally not want to stop for lunch, I recommend the restaurant at the house as they can get a quick drink there, and a bite to eat. We plan to walk in the grounds of Linlithgow Palace afterwards and explore the ruins of this great building. After a quick meal (to which they kindly invite me as their guest) we begin our ten-mile drive through pretty lanes to Linlithgow.

I remember to alert them to be watching out, just before a magnificent view of the palace comes
into view when we are about two miles away. We see it sitting in a frame of green trees and lawns, with a background of perfect blue sky.

After Ric has finished his videoing from the outside, and we have thoroughly explored the ruins -- the palace has been lacking a roof since 1745 -- I suggest a nearby hotel where they can get afternoon tea on our way back to Edinburgh. We do go there for tea, and then walk a little in the gardens of the hotel, we then begin our half-hour journey back to their hotel.

Before we part, we discuss plans for to-morrow. At Molly's request, I recommend a restaurant where they might enjoy dining in the evening (which I later learnt they did not take up!). We part until 9.30 the next day. Flexibility is the key:They know they can request changes when we meet, and indeed any time during the day's touring.