From the Irish Sea to the Bay of Biscay

Enhance your cruise and extend your trip with a carefully designed programme.

Day 1 - Edinburgh

Meet at Edinburgh Airport in the Arrival hall. Look for PONANT sign. You will be greeted by our local representative off the flight selected by PONANT or any other flight (provided that you have previously communicated your flight schedule to your travel agent).  

You will be transferred to the Virgin Hotel Edinburgh 5*. 

Day and dinner at leisure.

Day 2 – Edinburgh - Peebles

You board your transportation after breakfast this morning and embark on a full-day tour, leaving the city behind you and heading into the glorious countryside. Make your first stop at Traquair House, the oldest inhabited house in Scotland. Explore the impressive rooms of what was originally a royal hunting lodge and visited by no fewer than 27 kings and queens. On your guided tour, you also discover the history of the famous Bear Gates, which were closed indefinitely behind Bonnie Prince Charlie as he rode away in 1745.

Enjoy a traditional lunch at this historic venue, before continuing on to the historic and beautiful Rosslyn Chapel. Situated in the little village of Roslin, this ornately decorated chapel was built in the 1400s and took over 40 years to complete. Practically every surface of the building is covered in intricate carvings depicting bible stories and local history including that of the Holy Grail highlighted in Dan Brown’s novel The Da Vinci Code. Take your time to explore the breath-taking details and soak up the remarkable atmosphere of this peaceful place. Let your guide explain the meanings behind the carvings and the numerous theories, myths and legends.

Following your visit, you transfer the short distance towards Peebles and your accommodation at Barony Castle Hotel. Dinner this evening is at your hotel’s award-winning 1536 Restaurant.

Day 3 – Peebles

Board your transportation after breakfast and set off into the charming Scottish Borders region, the picturesque area of rolling hills and farmland lying between Edinburgh and the boundary between Scotland and England. The salmon-rich River Tweed gently winds its way through this bucolic landscape, which you explore on a full day excursion. Although a peaceful region today, it was long fought over between England and Scotland in the late Middle Ages.

Once great medieval monasteries now survive as romantic ruins including Dryburgh Abbey, your first stop this morning. On your visit you take in the atmospheric setting and witness the final resting place of Scotland's national novelist Sir Walter Scott. It was this part of Scotland that he made his home, building a fairy tale house in Scots Baronial style called Abbotsford, which is your next visit of the day. Check out his personal library and study, as well as the colourful gardens, whose lawns sweep down to the river and which provided an ideal place to stimulate his creative imagination.

Lunch will be served in a local restaurant, before you proceed to the charming town of Melrose, which hosts even more dramatic and beautiful ruins, including the 12th-century Melrose Abbey, the burial place of the heart of Robert the Bruce, a medieval King of Scotland and considered a national hero. On your return journey to Peebles, stop for a photo opportunity at Scott’s View, taking in the stunning panorama of rolling farmlands, woodlands and the three peaks of the Eildon Hills.

You return to your accommodation at Barony Castle Hotel and dinner this evening is at your hotel’s award-winning 1536 Restaurant.

Day 4 – Peebles - Greenock

Board your transportation after breakfast this morning and head west to Glasgow, the largest city in Scotland.

Glasgow has many interesting sites to visit, including Kelvingrove Art Museum and Gallery, housed in an impressive Edwardian sandstone building on the banks of the River Kelvin. Home to an eclectic array of internationally significant collections, it boasts a fine selection of works by French Impressionists. As you continue your tour, discover how Glasgow became an artistic centre during its industrial heyday, with celebrated designers like Charles Rennie Mackintosh offering an interesting contribution to the European art movement of the early 20th century with a distinctive interpretation of the Art Nouveau style.

Lunch will be served in a local restaurant.

Glasgow’s heritage is also closely linked with shipbuilding, and you can see models of the ships built in the local shipyards on your final stop at the Riverside Museum. Here, some of the finest cars, bikes and other vehicles can also be seen, including one of the oldest Rolls Royces in the world!

After your visit, you are transferred to the port of Greenock to embark on board your ship.

Your hotels: 

Boasting an ideal location in the Edinburgh city centre, the Virgin Hotel Edinburgh is close to the old town. With its sober, elegant decor, you will love staying at this ideally located hotel.

Based in the pretty Borders town of Peebles, Barony Castle Hotel offers a comfortable stay with charming views of the 16th-century castle estate, gardens, and glen.

Upgraded rooms are also available depending on availability and on a supplement basis. Contact your travel professional for further detail.

Your programme includes: 

·        1-night accommodation in Standard room at The Virgin Hotel Edinburgh 5* (or similar) including breakfast.

·        2-night accommodation in Standard room at Barony Castle Hotel 4* (or similar) including breakfast and dinner.

·        Meals as mentioned in the programme.

·        Beverages package during meals (mineral water + 1 soft drink or 1 local beer or 1 glass of wine + 1 coffee or tea).

·        Transfers and visits as mentioned in the programme.

·        The services of a local English-speaking guide. 

Your programme does not include: 

·        Lunch and dinner on day 1.

·        Personal expenses.

·        Visa if necessary.

·        Tips for the driver and local guide.

·        Early check-in and late check-out.

·        Other services not mentioned in the programme.

Please note: 

·        It is imperative that the details of your departure flight are provided to your travel agent, no later than 30 days before the start date of your cruise, to secure the proper private transfer.

·        Official hotel check-in time is 3:00 p.m. 

·        Official hotel check-out time is 12:00 a.m.

·        Early check-in or late check-out might be available depending on availability and on a supplement basis.

·        This programme is not suitable for people with reduced mobility.

·        Edinburgh is compact and hilly. This program requires to be able of walking up moderate slopes and numerous stairs. 

Contact of your hotel:

Virgin Hotel Edinburgh
1 India Buildings, Victoria Street

Edinburgh EH1 2EX

Telephone: 0131 526 4810

Barony Castle Hotel

Old Manse Road 

Eddleston  EH45 8QW

Telephone: 01721 730 395

 

Duration and order of the visits may vary. To know your PONANT flight schedule, please contact your travel agent; it is also indicated on your electronic ticket included in your travel documents.

Kindly note that a minimum number of participants is required for this trip to proceed. As a result, both the price and itinerary may be adjusted based on the final number of participants. Should the minimum number not be met, we will offer you an alternative arrangement.