Welcome to Scotland! St. Giles Holyrood Palace St. Andrews Balmoral Castle Loch Ness Inverness Local Highland cow Iona Abbey Stirling Castle
Edinburgh
Dreaming of Scotland? You are invited to join First Presbyterian Church, Graham, TX on an 11-day tour of Scotland. Not only will we see stunning scenery, castles and palaces, but we’ll also learn more about our Christian heritage. We’ll see where Knox preached, where George Wishart was imprisoned, and where the first Christian settlement was founded in 563. We’ll have a scenic cruise on Loch Ness, watch sheepdogs in action, try some Scotch whisky and almost certainly spot a Highland cow!
Our Hosts
Rev. D.C. and Elizabeth love to travel and share their experiences. Having traveled extensively around the United States, they are looking forward to expanding their horizons. They have been married since 1998, have two sons, a daughter-in-law and a granddaughter (She’ll arrive in February of 2021!). DC is the Senior Pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Graham, Tx. Elizabeth is an Elementary school teacher in Graham. Other than travel, the couple love to hike the Texas state parks and antique shop.
Key: IF = In Flight Meals, B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
Day 1: Friday, June 10, 2022: Departure
We will depart from Dallas today on our international flights to Edinburgh, Scotland. (IF)
Day 2: Saturday, June 11, 2022: Edinburgh
On arrival in Edinburgh, we will meet our Scottish tour director and board our air-conditioned bus. We will begin our time in Scotland with a bus orientation tour of Edinburgh, viewing the sites that we will see in more detail during the tour. We will then check-in to our hotel and the afternoon will be at leisure to explore in Edinburgh. We will dine in our hotel this evening. (IF/D)
Day 3: Sunday, June 12, 2022: Edinburgh
This morning we will attend a morning service at St. Giles cathedral. In the afternoon we will have a Reformation-themed walking tour including the John Knox House, Greyfriar’s Church, Magdalen Chapel and the Royal Mile. Our guide will tell us about the Reformation in Edinburgh: John Knox and the Covenanters. We will dine in a restaurant this evening. (B/D)
Day 4: Monday, June 13, 2022: Edinburgh
After a relaxed breakfast, an expert local guide will take us on a tour of Edinburgh Castle will include tiny St. Margaret’s Chapel, which dates back to the 1100s. We will also visit the royal palace of Holyrood where in 1561 John Knox had discussions about Christianity with Mary Queen of Scots. We will have free time to explore on our own this evening. (B)
Day 5: Tuesday, June 14, 2022: St. Andrews
Today we will head to St. Andrews, a spiritual center in Scotland for centuries. During the Reformation, St. Andrews University was third in significance after Oxford and Cambridge. In the now ruined castle, we will see the Bottle Dungeon where George Wishart was imprisoned before being burned at the stake, and pause at his martyrdom site, also remembering fellow martyr Patrick Hamilton. St. Andrews Cathedral was once the largest church in Scotland, but fell into ruin after John Knox’s sermon, which was inspired by Wishart’s martyrdom. We will see a monument to Robert the Bruce, the first king to unite the Scottish people and the wide sandy beach made famous in the film Chariots of Fire. (We can arrange an early-morning transfer for golfers this morning, who can play first, then join the tour – $25 transfer fee). We will transfer to our hotel in Perth and dine in the hotel. (B/D)
Day 6: Wednesday, June 15, 2022: Balmoral Castle, Leath, Inverness
Balmoral Castle, nestled in the Cairngorms National Park, has been the Scottish home of the Royal Family for over 150 years. We will tour the grounds, gardens and exhibitions, followed by free time to visit the café and gift shop. On the way to Inverness, we will stop near Aviemore to see sheepdogs in action in Leault Farm. We will then continue on to our hotel in Inverness. (B/D)
Day 7: Thursday, June 16, 2022: Loch Ness, Inverness
This morning we will enjoy the Highlands of Scotland, including a one-hour cruise on Loch Ness. At the end of our cruise, we will tour Urquhart Castle. Steeped in national heritage and history, this area is home to some of the most influential and quintessentially Scottish icons of all time such as Rob Roy MacGregor and Sir Walter Scott. The rest of the day will be at leisure. Options include golf, visiting a kilt maker, a distillery, or exploring Inverness. (B/D)
Day 8: Friday, June 17, 2022: Glencoe, Oban
On our way south, we will spend some time in Glencoe, where the massacre took place on February 13, 1692. The visitor center includes a 15-minute video presentation explaining what led up to the sad events. Scotland is famous for its whisky and we will take a tour of Oban’s distillery, which includes a taste of their famous single malt with some crystallized ginger. We will dine in our hotel in Oban this evening. (B/D)
Day 9: Saturday, June 18, 2022: Iona, Oban
This morning we will board a ferry to the Isle of Mull, then take another short foot passenger ferry from Fionnport to St Columba’s Island of Iona. Iona, the site of the first Christian settlement of Scotland, has been known as a place of spiritual power for centuries. It was founded in 563 by St. Columba (521-97) and was a leading center for Christian scholarship throughout Europe. Iona Abbey dates back to the 11th Century. We will return to Oban for dinner and overnight. (B)
Day 10: Sunday, June 19, 2022: Oban, Stirling, Edinburgh
We will have breakfast in the hotel, then travel to Stirling. We will tour the Church of the Holy Rude, once a royal cathedral where John Knox preached for James VI baptism in 1566. Nearby is the magnificent Stirling Castle, where James VI was educated by Scottish Reformer George Buchanan. We will end the tour with our farewell meal in Edinburgh. (B/D)
Day 11: Monday, June 20, 2022: Return
We will transfer to the airport this morning, to return to the USA. (B/IF)
Please note this itinerary is copyrighted.
Our hotels are chosen for their quality, amenities and proximity to areas of interest. Whenever possible, we choose hotels in town centers, so that you are able to go off and explore in your free time. It may be necessary for us to substitute hotels for others of equal quality. You will be fully informed of any changes that affect you. Enjoy your stay!
Transfers are automatically included if we have booked your flights.
If you have booked your own flights, we can still provide transfers, as long as we have your flight details on file and a phone number to give to the driver. We will include your transfer information in your final packet. Transfers will be arranged for each arrival, so that you won’t have to wait for other tour members if their flight is delayed. Transfers can be arranged for the day of your choosing, but we can’t arrange transfers if you arrive or depart by train.
Please note that individual transfers are booked through a third-party and you will be responsible to communicate with the company in case of delays.
Flights can be arranged once this tour is a guaranteed departure, but no earlier than the end of July 2021. We will let you know as soon as we have reached the minimum number of participants.
Group Air: We will be arranging group air from Dallas and payment is due with the final payment.
Individual Air: If you would like assistance with alternative flights, please visit our Book a Flight page. Please wait until the tour is a guaranteed departure before booking non-refundable airfare and send a copy of your flight itinerary for our records as soon as you have booked it.
Arrival: Please arrange to arrive in Edinburgh no later than 10:00 am on Saturday, June 11, 2022.
Departure: You are welcome to depart from Edinburgh at any time on Monday, June 20, 2022
We can arrange pre- and post-tour nights in Edinburgh, but due to the volume of tours in 2022, we are not able to arrange additional travel within Europe.
Price based on a minimum of 25 participants
• Transportation: via private, deluxe air-conditioned motor coach
• Accommodations (double-occupancy) in centrally located 4-star hotels
• Meals as indicated in the itinerary
• Professional tour director throughout the tour
• Local step-on guides for city tours and major attractions
• Entrance fees included as per itinerary
• Guides will use Whisper Headsets throughout the tour
• Arrival and departure transfers
• Baggage handling (1 piece of baggage per guest)
• All taxes and tips except as indicated below
• Air transportation and related taxes and fees
• Meals and beverages not identified in itinerary
• Single supplement ($675)
• Items of a personal nature, such as passports and visas. Passports must be valid for 6 months beyond return date.
• Insurance (see below for details)
• Gratuities for tour director and driver
• Initial deposit of $350 will secure your place on the tour, which can be paid by credit voucher, check or credit card payment. Please send all checks to Reformation Tours, 64 Fiesta Circle, St Louis, MO 63146.
• Final invoices will be sent in April 2022
• Final payment is due by May 27, 2022
• Reservations will be accepted after May 27, 2022, subject to availability
We will continue to assist clients who have a current policy with Roam Right Insurance, a division of Arch Insurance Company. Policies are now transferable to tours in 2021 and 2022.
If you don’t have insurance yet, we are now partnering with an award-winning company called Squaremouth, which helps travelers search, compare, and buy the best travel insurance for the lowest price. They offer excellent customer support and can help you find the best policy for your trip.
Regardless of reason, cancellations are costly, so we recommend purchasing travel insurance.
From time of deposit to until 100 days before departure (if not canceled by us): $100
From November 22, 2021 to May 10, 2021: $350 cancellation penalty plus any nonrefundable deposits
From May 11, 3021: No refund– Cancellation charges also apply to additional accommodation reserved prior to and after the tour.
– Cancellations must be received in writing by 5:00 p.m. central time on the last business day of the applicable time period.
– For flight changes or cancellations, revision fees and/or airline cancellation charges will apply.
– Roommates canceling can result in a single supplement charge for the roommate. The Participant who cancels will be responsible for that charge if a substitute roommate cannot be found.
– Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance is strongly recommended.
Reformation Tours cannot assume responsibility for any additional costs or fees relating to the issuance and/or cancellation of air tickets or other arrangements not made through Reformation Tours.
This is a private tour for members of First Presbyterian Church, Graham, TX and their friends and family.
We look forward to welcoming you on the tour.
You can fill out your reservations online by clicking the “Book Now” tab.
You can either send a check made payable to “Reformation Tours” to 64 Fiesta Circle, St. Louis, MO 63146 or click here to pay by credit card.
We will continue to assist clients who have previously purchased Roam Right Insurance policies, which can be transferred to tours in 2021 and 2022. If you don’t have insurance, we are now offering clients the opportunity to compare and buy insurance directly:
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64 Fiesta Circle, St. Louis, MO 63146
Tel: (618) 222-9914
Toll Free: (800) 303-5534
info@reformationtours.com
CST # 2093421-30