Tag: tours

Tour Scotland’s Outlander history with Rabbie’s

This weekend the smash hit Outlander returns to our TV screens, and Scottish touring company, Rabbie’s (www.rabbies.com) is offering fans of the historical drama the opportunity to visit some of its most famous filming locations.

Step aboard a luxury mini-coach and be transported to a fictional, mystical world.

Travel back with Claire to the Jacobite revolution on the Outlander Trail

Outlander first hit our screens in 2014, when millions of us watched Claire Fraser fall unknowingly into the violent world of 18th century Scotland. Since then, she, and her soulmate Jamie, have adventured with Pirates in the West Indies and fought for survival in revolutionary America – but the show has never forgotten its Scottish roots, nor the dramatic wild highlands that inspired this story of rebellion and romance.

The Rabbie’s Outlander Trail sets off from Edinburgh and soon arrives at Culross, where cobbled streets lead to the historic Culross Palace.

This charming town posed as the fictional village of Cranesmuir in Outlander, the home of Geillis Duncan and her ill-fated husband Arthur. Continue to the small town of Falkland where fans can relive the show’s first ever episode, recognizing familiar sights such as Mrs. Baird’s Guesthouse and the Bruce Fountain, where Claire’s husband Frank first saw the ghost of Jamie.

Elsewhere, visit Newtonmore Highland Folk Museum, which houses replicas of 18th-century turf-roofed Highland crofts, which were used in the show’s earliest episodes.

After resting overnight in the ‘Capital of the Highlands’, Inverness, the tour visits Culloden, a town drenched in history as it sits not far from the Culloden Battlefield, the site of the last battle fought on British soil.

Viewers watched Outlander’s Claire and Jamie say their tearful goodbyes here before Jamie joined the Jacobite army to fight for the Stuarts. You have the opportunity to explore the visitor centre and site, and pay tribute to those real soldiers who lost their lives fighting for their freedom.

On the third day of this Outlander adventure, guests visit the majestic Glen Affric, a beautiful spot with high mountains and dense pine forests. Landscapes like these were once the perfect hiding spots for Jacobite soldiers evading the English redcoats.

Next, travel along the entire length of Loch Ness to reach Glenfinnan, and the tall stone monument which proudly commemorates the beginning of the last Jacobite rising.

On your final day exploring the sites and scars of 18th century Scotland, get ready to discover the iconic fortresses which projected power and dominance over the Highlands.

First up is Doune Castle, an extensive ruin that represented Castle Leoch, home of Colum and Clan MacKenzie in Outlander. Later it’s Blackness Castle (above), a heavily fortified stronghold perched on the shore of the Firth of Forth. Your final destination is Jamie’s lovely Lallybroch home – Midhope Castle.

An essential photo opportunity for fans of the show to remember their journey through locations synonymous with Outlander and Scottish history itself.

Prices for this four-day Outlander Trail start at £265 with the first tours departing in April. A one-day Outlander Adventure which visits Culross, Linlithgow Palace, Blackness and Midhope Castles and more departs during March, with prices starting at £46. Both tours depart from Edinburgh.

This isn’t the only tour offered by Rabbie’s which transports fans to their favourite fictional worlds:

Lacock Village has long been a favourite of Hollywood location scouts, and when guests step off the bus and explore the beautiful village they will soon see why.

Productions as diverse as Harry Potter, Downton Abbey, and Pride and Prejudice have all been shot in this rural Wiltshire village.

Appropriately enough, the nearby Lacock Abbey was where William Henry Fox Talbot created the earliest surviving photographic negative in 1835, and kick-started popular photography!

The Abbey’s peaceful cloisters have since portrayed Hogwarts, and its antechambers doubled as the place that young Harry Potter stumbled upon the Mirror of Erised.

Visit Lacock, along with other gorgeous locations on the Bath, Avebury & Lacock Village tour departing from London. Prices start from £56.

As with all Rabbie’s tours, guests are transported in luxury 16-person mini-coaches and treated to the stories and services of a friendly-driver guide. The mini-coaches mean Rabbie’s tours can reach the smaller, independent destinations, ensuring your trips supports local communities and independent businesses.

To book a Rabbie’s Tour and for more information, visit www.rabbies.com.

Small group escapes to the wizarding world

With Harry Potter’s birthday (31 July) celebrated by millions of fans worldwide, there’s no better time than now to be thrown headfirst into the wonderous world.

It’s been 20 years since we first saw the winding streets of Diagon Alley, Harry’s steam train ride through the Scottish Highlands and the breath-taking towers of Hogwarts School. Small group tour operator Rabbie’s (www.rabbies.com) is here to help Potter fans re-live the magic with tours to iconic Harry Potter filming locations for the perfect escape into the wizarding world.

Take a small coach, not flying car, to the historic and beautiful Scottish borders

On the spectacular Northumberland coastline, an area of outstanding natural beauty, sits Alnwick Castle. This fortress doubled as Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, and is a wonderful site to visit for muggles and wizards alike. A tour of the castle allows guests to walk in the footsteps of Harry, Ron and Hermione, and discover the real-life history of this 11th century castle.

All this and more is available on Rabbie’s Alnwick castle, Northumberland coast & the Borders tour, a one-day trip departing from Edinburgh. Guests will also get to visit the quaint village of Kelso, with its cobbled town square and beautiful boutique shops.

A visit to one of the world’s largest and most impressive second-hand book shops in Britain also awaits guests, who may feel transported into the cosy surroundings of Hogwarts Library! Prices for this one-day tour start from £47 per person.

Witness the magic of Edinburgh and the ‘Harry Potter’ Viaduct

If Harry Potter has a spiritual home, it is Edinburgh. JK Rowling wrote the majority of the series here and visitors will see how the beautiful city offered inspiration around every corner.

Take a wander up Victoria Street, a colourful old lane with many brightly painted shops, said to be the inspiration for Diagon Alley. For those willing to travel further afield, the Isle of Skye & West Highlands tour will take guests deep into the picturesque Scottish mountains.

The crystal lochs will remind fans of The Great Lake – mermaids and Giant Squids not guaranteed. Also, witness the Glenfinnan Viaduct – the most iconic part of the railway journey to Hogwarts. This is a four-day trip departing from Edinburgh starting from £219 per person.

It may be for muggles, but Oxford University has much to offer the Harry Potter superfan

The University of Oxford acted not only as inspiration for some Harry Potter settings, but also as a commonly used filming location. A visit to Oxford at the right time will mean you share the ancient streets with students draped in their graduation robes, a look not a million miles away from Hogwarts uniform.

On the Oxford & Traditional Cotswold Villages tour, eagle-eyed guests will enjoy seeing the beautiful New College Courtyard where Daniel Radcliffe and Robert Pattinson discuss the dragons that they will soon be facing in the Triwizard tournament. A visit to the charming Cotswold villages is truly magical in its own right. You’ll be in need of a chocolate frog after all this excitement!

This one-day tour departs from London with prices from £65 per person.

With social distancing measures in place, reduced group sizes and increased cleaning measures, Rabbie’s offers worry-free journeys for a sustainable staycation.

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

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.  

Make up for lost time with the perfect day out

With the next stages of lockdown easing and diaries filling back up from 26 April in Scotland and 17 May in England, now’s the time to start reuniting with loved ones and making memories beyond your back garden.

Rabbie’s (www.rabbies.com) offers safe, small group tours across the UK, including day trips perfect for that first adventure out of lockdown.

From Edinburgh … Explore the enchanting world of Harry Potter’s Hogwarts and discover the historic and beautiful borders.

With its fascinating history, both in the real world and make-believe, Alnwick Castle – which doubled as Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry – is the perfect place to let yourself, and your mind, run free.

On this day tour, passengers can look forward to taking in captivating coastlines, graceful rivers, gentle valleys and rolling hills of the Scottish Borders. Rabbie’s’ Alnwick Castle, the Northumberland Coast & the Borders one-day tour departs from Edinburgh and costs from £44 per person.

From Manchester… Discover the mountains, marvels, and myths of North Wales and Chester.

Cameras at the ready for Conwy, one of the most picture-perfect harbour towns in the world, and home to a castle fit for a king (King Edward, to be exact), perched by the sea.

Fuel up with an iconic fish and chips lunch before heading into Snowdonia National Park for scenic roads and sweeping views before a visit to the historic town of Chester. Rabbie’s’ Snowdonia, North Wales & Chester one-day tour departs from Manchester and costs from £42 per person.

From London … Mix in a slice of history with your Gin and Tonic. Escape the big smoke to amble along the lanes and paths of the ancient city of Winchester.

Take in the awe-inspiring cathedral, ancient mill and cute cafes before heading to Laverstoke Mill, home to one of the world’s most popular gins, Bombay Sapphire.

Learn all about the ethically minded production of the drink, while enjoying a tipple or two before heading back to the city. Rabbie’s’ Bombay Sapphire Gin & Winchester one-day tour departs from London and costs from £56 per person.

With social distancing measures in place, reduced group sizes and increased cleaning measures, Rabbie’s offers worry-free journeys for a sustainable staycation.