Here are the provisional arrangements for 2012:

Singer and broadcaster Jack Beck will lead a two week trip to Scotland beginning Sunday June 17th 2012. Of course you are free to arrive in Scotland before the tour starts or to stay afterwards; but we will rendezvous in Edinburgh Airport on the morning of June 17th and finish back at the airport on June 29th. This year the tour will cover the far North, the Hebrides and Orkney as well as Sutherland and Aberdeenshire.

As usual, Aberdonian singer and writer Colin Stuart will be driving and co-guiding and there will be input along the way from some of their musical friends.

This is a different tour from previous years and will cover the areas that there was never time to visit before. The Gaelic speaking Hebrides, the exotic gardens of the far North West, the Viking heritage of Orkney, the tragic history of Sutherland and the wonderful ballad legacy of Aberdeenshire.

Sunday 17^th – Travel from Edinburgh airport to Crianlarach Hotel

Monday 18^th – Travel from Crianlarach to the isle of Skye, staying at Uig Hotel (music in the evening)

Tuesday 19^th – Travel to Stornoway (ferry from Uig at 0940) then tour of Lewis and Harris. Stay at Cabarfeidh Hotel (music in the evening)

Wednesday 20^th – Travel to Ullapool (ferry from Stornoway at 1300) then visit gardens at Poolewe. Stay at Royal Hotel, Ullapool

Thursday 21^st – Travel from Ullapool to Thurso staying at the Pentland Hotel (music in the evening)

Friday 22^nd – Travel from Thurso via South Ronaldsay and Scapa Flow to Stromness, Orkney (ferry from Gills Bay at 0930)

Saturday 23^rd – Exploring Orkney, staying in the Stromness Hotel

Sunday 24^th – Exploring Orkney, staying in the Stromness Hotel

Monday 25^th – Travel from Stromness to Inverness through Sutherland (ferry to Gills Bay at 1200). Staying at the Kingsmill Hotel

Tuesday 26^th – Travel through Aberdeenshire to Aberdeen. Staying at Maryculter House Hotel.

Wednesday 27^th – Explore Aberdeenshire and Morayshire. Staying at Maryculter House Hotel (music in the evening)

Thursday 28^th – Travel from Aberdeen to Fife, visiting Anstruther and St. Andrews. Farmhouse dinner at night, then to Quality Hotel at Edinburgh Airport.

The cost is $3,050 – Please note that this does NOT include airfare.

It’s in the nature of our tours that they remain flexible up to and during our travels.

Please also note – the group size will be strictly limited to 10 maximum. The first 10 to firmly book and pay their deposit will be confirmed.

See a photo album of the 2008 trip –

http://picasaweb.google.com/memain6/TheGrandScottishAdventure2008?authkey=YfmPf-9Y18c

Mary Mainous, who took the pictures, enjoyed the 2008 tour so much she went back in 2009! Here is her 2009 slide-show –

http://picasaweb.google.com/memain6/GrandScottishAdventure2009?authkey=Gv1sRgCOecwZuDwObQ9gE#

and here’s more of the 2009 visit from Barbara and Jack McGeachy -

http://picasaweb.google.com/mcgeachy42/ExperienceScotland2009PhotosByJackMcGeachy?feat=email#