Short – Scotland, September 20th

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Scotland, September 20th – 25th 2015.

We travelled partly by train and visited  Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s Hill House in Helensburgh and Luss on  Loch Lomond on our first afternoon. We then spent a full day visiting Mount Stewart House on Bute, looking spectacular in late summer sunshine. Our last full day in  Glasgow began with a tour of the House for an Art Lover before the members of the group chose a particular gallery or attraction, with many visiting Kelvingrove and the Burrell, while others went to the Willow Tea rooms or cathedral.

On day 4 we began the second phase of the trip and travelled south to Dumfries House, for many the highlight of our holiday.  This amazing and much loved house and its collection of Chippendale furniture was saved at the last minute from being sold by the intervention of the Prince of Wales.

We also saw Culzean Castle, another  Robert Adam design, which has a remarkable cliff-top location, before arrival at our second hotel. The Cally Palace, at the Gatehouse of Fleet, was comfortable and surrounded by an extensive golf course and grounds. From it, we were able to explore Kirkcudbright, including Hornel’s home, Broughton House,  and  to relax in comfort.

Our final day was spent in restored gardens close to the hotel and in the Tullie House museum and gallery in Carlisle from where we travelled home.