Tag: Rabbie's

Fall in love with the UK all over again this Autumn

As we leave summer behind and enter the autumn months, the UK will change before our eyes. Its most recognisable landscapes will soon be draped in golden leaves, famous peaks will be topped with snow, and mysterious mist will embrace our treasured landmarks.

Rabbie’s (www.rabbies.com) is offering tours throughout our transformed nation, on which we’ll fall in love with the UK all over again.

The award-winning small-group tour operator has departures across the UK throughout the autumn months, and with its guaranteed departure policy – those who book are certain to travel (and have a great time). Every adventure promises new experiences, gorgeous views, local stories from an insightful driver-guide and an unforgettable exploration.

  • Discover natural beauty in the borders: The land that separates Scotland and England has seen conflict in its time, visits to the magnificent Alnwick Castle and the ruins of Kelso Abbey will tell you as much. But in this landscape, natural beauty still reigns supreme. The River Tweed weaves gracefully through the region and an evening drive along the Northumberland coastline will show sandy beaches painted in glorious dusk shades. For some, nothing is cosier than a well-stocked bookshop. This tour stops at one of the largest and most impressive second-hand book shops in Britain, the perfect opportunity to stock up on some autumn reading! Prices for this one-day tour of Alnwick Castle, the Northumberland Coast & the Borders start at £47.
  • Holiday like the Romans in Bath: The city’s bath complex must have been the perfect destination for Roman settlers seeking refuge from Britain’s unpredictable autumnal weather. Today it is a must-visit attraction for those wishing to peek back in time. Travellers to this gorgeous city can also admire its splendid architecture and medieval cathedral. Be sure to take shelter from autumnal winds in one of the splendid emporiums or designer boutiques. One of the many Rabbie’s tours that incorporate Bath is the Stonehenge, Glastonbury, Bath & the South West Coast tour. Few sights are more magical that seeing Stonehenge, the ancient world wonder, on a crisp and misty autumn morning. This 3-day tour departs from London and starts at £169.
  • Experience the snow-capped peaks of Northern Scotland: Northern Scotland boasts a wild landscape and nothing complements this more than a sprinkling of snow atop the peaks. Skye’s Cuillin Mountains look more epic, Glencoe’s curves look larger than life, and the landscapes of the North Coast 500 look even more striking at this time of year. The days may be a little shorter, but if you’re an avid photographer, the gentle light will ensure some majestic shots. Take a North Coast 500 3-day tour with Rabbie’s, departing from Inverness from £159.

Rabbie’s operates sustainability-focused, eco domestic travel options, ensuring that the places we love are there for future generations to enjoy and advocates ‘taking only photos and leaving only footprints’.

Rabbie’s tours provide worry-free journeys so guests can enjoy a sustainable staycation without concerns.

For more information and to book, visit www.rabbies.com

Is a small group tour the best way to secure a summer staycation?

With accommodation and attraction partners in less-frequented towns and popular tourist hotspots across the country, group tours may be the best kept secret to securing the summer staycation of your dreams this year.

Small group tour operator Rabbie’s (www.rabbies.com) operates a guaranteed departure policy – meaning if you book, you go. Yes, even to Devon and Cornwall in the peak of summer, and the best news – there’s still plenty of availability!

Rabbie’s takes pride in their sustainable approach to travelling and promises that its guests ‘take only photos and leave only footprints’. Rabbie’s use small mini coaches that can visit locations off the beaten track that larger operators are not able to reach. Offering explorations beyond the guidebook while supporting and giving back to the smaller, less touristed communities around the country.

This summer’s tour highlights include:

Devon & Cornwall

Immerse yourself in the folklore of England on this five-day tour departing from London. First stop is England’s ancient capital, Winchester. Here guests can visit The Great Hall and see the round table that inspired Arthurian legends.

Dartmoor’s rolling hills, steep valleys, and peat bogs make for a dramatic landscape, and animal lovers will enjoy the rare sight of grazing wild ponies. The North Devon Coast leaves guests spoiled for choice with castles, cliff top walks and Boscastle, the charming Elizabethan fishing village, all waiting to be explored.

You will struggle to find a more photogenic coastal view than St. Michael’s Mount, take a moment to learn more about this remote island community. Finally take time to explore Glastonbury and discover the secrets of the town behind the music on the journey back to London. Prices for this five-day trip to a magical corner of England start from £369 per person.

Iona, Mull & the Isle of Skye

Experience the peace, tranquillity and sheer rugged beauty of the Scottish Islands on this five-day tour. After departing from Edinburgh guests are treated to the impressive mountain views of the West Highlands before arriving in the bustling town of Oban.

From here set sail to the tiny Isle of Iona, the birthplace of Celtic Christianity and ancient burial ground of Scottish Kings. Guests have the opportunity to visit the other worldly Fingal’s Cave and beautiful Iona Abbey.

Travel back to the mainland for a visit to the beautiful fishing village of Plockton. On to the Isle of Skye your guide will choose the perfect activity for you depending on the weather. Be sure to enjoy the views as you head back along the shore of Loch Ness en route back to Edinburgh. This five-day tour costs from just £389 per person.

Snowdonia, North Wales & Chester

Castles, cathedrals and coastline, all this and more are waiting to be explored on this three-day tour of Snowdonia, North Wales and Chester. After leaving Manchester, travel to the walled market town of Conwy before heading deep into Snowdonia.

The mountains and glacial landforms create the perfect backdrop for your travels and provide spectacular views. Guests are given the opportunity to experience the rugged beauty of the Isle of Anglesey before visiting one of the most charming and unique villages in Wales.

Portmeirion was built as a tribute to the Mediterranean and this coastal village boasts technicolour streets, palm trees and sculptures. End your Welsh whistle-stop tour with visits to Harlech castle and the Roman town of Chester. Experience this impressive corner of Britain with prices starting from just £189 per person.

With staycation options running slim, Rabbie’s offer a stress-free travel experience with availability this summer. Guests are able to sit back and relax in the air conditioned mini-coach while their driver-guide takes the wheel. The expert drivers know the stories, sights, and secrets of the areas they travel and give their personal insight to destinations and are sure to make it a journey to remember.

For more information and to book, visit www.rabbies.com.  

Small group tours of Scotland’s islands this summer

Summer on Scotland’s islands

Embark on an island adventure this summer with Scottish small group tour specialist Rabbie’s (www.rabbies.com). From white sandy beaches that rival the Caribbean, to serene mountain vistas and enticing local seafood – Rabbie’s tours will take you beyond the guidebooks for a fascinating insight into the history, culture and landscapes of the Scottish isles.

For food connoisseurs – Mull & Iona

Blessed with massive mountains and stunning lochs, journey to Mull and discover the Victorian harbour town of Oban for charming intimacy whilst savouring local seafood in quintessential Tobermory.

Tiny Iona is inhabited by only 120 people and is home to sandy beaches and one of Scotland’s most important religious sights, Iona Abbey. For nature enthusiasts, this tour takes in “The Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond” and ‘Nature’s Cathedral’, Fingal’s Cave – compiled of naturally assembled hexagonal pillars from a Paleocene lava flow. Rabbie’s three-day Mull & Iona tour departs from Glasgow, with prices starting from £185 per person.

For history enthusiasts – Isle of Skye

Venture through breath-taking landscapes, quaint villages and visit the famous Eilean Donan Castle on a journey to the ‘Misty Isle’. En route to the island’s capital, Portree, pass fertile plains, shimmering lochs, rugged mountain tops and dramatic coastlines.

Explore the natural wonders of Skye including the Trotternish ridge, with its spectacular cliffs and rock formations including the Old Man of Storr. When making tracks back south, travel through the Cuillin Hills, enjoy stunning views over Loch Doich and the Five Sisters of Kintail before trying to spot the elusive Loch Ness Monster. Rabbie’s three-day Isle of Skye tour departs from Glasgow or Edinburgh, with prices starting from £165 per person.

For nature lovers – Lewis, Harris & the Outer Hebrides

If you catch the white sandy beaches of Lewis and Harris on a sunny day, you’d be forgiven for thinking it could be a remote beach in the Caribbean. This stunning tour takes guests along Loch Broom, past the Summer Isles, to Stornoway – capital of the Outer Hebrides. Marvel at the mountains of Harris and visit the Maldives of Scotland at Luskentyre Beach where the pristine sand contrasts perfectly with its turquoise waters.

After a day exploring unspoilt beaches and stunning landscapes, visit the small port of Leverburgh for a delicious local lunch. Uncover the stories behind the Callanish standing stones and explore the site where the famous Lewis Chessman were discovered. Departing from Inverness, this three-day tour starts from £209 per person.

Rabbie’s offers worry-free sustainable staycations with its small group tours. Social distancing measures are in place with increased cleaning measures and reduced group sizes to ensure the safety of all guests.

For more information and to book, see www.rabbies.com or call +44(0) 131 226 3133.

Tips for booking a sustainable holiday

The last year has led consumers to be much more sustainably focused, the public are becoming consistently more engaged and putting their money where their mouth is.

With travel on hold for the best part of the last year, sustainable options are becoming more favourable. Whether that be supporting independent businesses or choosing an environmental option.

Small group tour specialist, Rabbie’s (www.rabbies.com), specialises in sustainable travel and has shared its top tips to consider when booking an eco-friendly holiday.

Consider your mode of transport

While it’s hard to resist the temptation of a self-drive holiday post-pandemic, this convenient way of getting around is not the most eco-friendly. Travelling using communal transport modes, such as by small mini-bus, is a much more fuel-efficient option to reduce your carbon emissions while travelling. Domestic coach tours are a great way to explore the country and visit destinations off-the-beaten track in a sustainable way by lowering the number of independent vehicles on the road.

Visit smaller communities

Steer clear of tourist hot-spots and opt to visit destinations that are typically out of reach. Areas outside of the standard sightseeing trail have been hit especially hard by the pandemic. Tourism spend is worth so much more to these smaller communities and sustainable travellers have an opportunity to really make a difference to the lives of locals. Consider taking a trip to areas such as the Isle of Wight, North Wales and the lesser-known lakes of the Lake District.

Leave no trace

Particularly important when choosing to visit natural beauty locations, travellers should aim to leave places as they found them (or in some circumstances, in a better shape than when they arrived). Travelling on a small group tour allows for groups to avoid making loud noise and let nature’s sound prevail.

A local, knowledgeable guide will help to ensure that travellers respect the communities being visited to ensure an enjoyable journey for those on the tour, as well as those who will visit next. With so many amazing natural beauty locations to visit across the UK such as the woodlands of the Peak District National Park and the beaches of Lewis and Harris, it’s vital to preserve these destinations for years to come.

Choose a responsible operator

Selecting to holiday with a sustainable and morally-sound operator will ensure you’re making the world a better place through travel. Tour companies with substantial green credentials and responsible travel initiatives are a great way to reduce the impact your travels have on the environment in which you are visiting.

Small-group touring company, Rabbie’s, have environmental protection as a core focus of the business. The company even taxes itself £10 for every tonne of CO2 they use, with staff then voting on which community or environmental project this money should go towards each year.

With social distancing measures in place, reduced group sizes and increased cleaning measures, Rabbie’s offers worry-free journeys so you can enjoy a sustainable staycation without concerns.

To arrange a private tour call Rabbie’s on +44(0) 131 226 3133 or email explore@rabbies.com, or for scheduled group tours see www.rabbies.com.