V2 - TCS - The Montgomery's explore the UK
Sunday 27th April – Saturday 17th May 2025
Sunday 27th April – Saturday 17th May 2025
On arrival into London you will be met planeside by the VIP team and whisked seamlessly through the formalities and out to your waiting car. Your private driver will take you to your city centre hotel and the rest of the day is free to rest, relax and perhaps take advantage of the spa facilities after your long journey.
Overnight: London | Mandarin Oriental
Room Type: Junior Suite
Meals Included: None
You’ll be met this morning by your private city guide and you’ll climb aboard a classic mini cooper for a whirlwind tour of the Highlights of London. From the impressive facade of Buckingham Palace to the lesser known gems of the city, let your local guide tell you stories of this buzzing metropolis as you squeeze through narrow alleyways and round busy streets.
You’ll be dropped back off at the hotel after your tour and the rest of the day is free – perhaps you might wish to take a wander through Hyde Park or visit one of the nearby museums as you start to get under the skin of the capital city.
Overnight: London | Mandarin Oriental
Room Type: Junior Suite
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
After the highlights of yesterday, today you will head into the underbelly of the city to discover a hidden world of disused London Underground Stations. With a private guide, you will visit places rarely seen by the general public and may look familiar from film franchises such as Sherlock Holmes and James Bond!
Emerging into the sunlight, the rest of the day will be spent exploring some of the gems that are hidden in plain sight with your guide. From the neighbourhoods of Walthamstow to the Greenwich observatory there are so many places to visit that you will be spoilt for choice and your guide will discuss all of the options with you so you can make the most out of your day.
Overnight: London | Mandarin Oriental
Room Type: Junior Suite
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Today is a very relaxed day as you take things at your leisure to just explore the green spaces of the city with your guide. Spend some time in St James’s Park – the oldest Royal Park in London with its beautiful lake and fountain just relaxing with a coffee and watching the world go by. Or perhaps head to Greenwich Park which has a history dating back to Roman times and has some stunning gardens to wander around.
When you are ready, you can also spend some time exploring some of the wonderful museums that the capital is known for, from the British Museum with over two million years of human history and culture to Tate Modern with it’s impressive collection of artworks that have shaped art as we know it today.
Overnight: London | Mandarin Oriental
Room Type: Junior Suite
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
For your final day in London you will meet up with an acclaimed foodie writer for a wonderful tour of the famous Borough Market. From exclusive food and wine tastings, you will be immersed in the incredible sites and smells of this place. Indulge in some wonderful tastings as you wander along and learn more about the cultures that are all mixed together in this smorgasbord of gastronomic delicacies.
Feeling stated and satisfied, you will spend the afternoon perhaps doing some souvenir shopping or some final sightseeing before ending your day in a private pod of the London Eye seeing the iconic skyline from a different perspective as you guide points out the famous sites. A fantastic way to end your time in London.
Overnight: London | Mandarin Oriental
Room Type: Junior Suite
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
It is time to leave the bright lights of the city today and head to the green fields and rolling hills of the Cotswolds. Your first stop will be Oxford where you will meet a local city guide and enjoy a tour of this stunning city with its academic links and gothic architecture. Venture off the beaten track as well as seeing the famous sites hearing stories of the city from your expert guide.
Later on, you’ll head to a local village to indulge in a spot of duck herding with a local farmer! Watch the dogs navigate the ducks through an obstacle course in this hands on experience before continuing on to your country house hotel for the evening.
Overnight: Broadway | Dormy House Hotel & Spa
Room Type: Splendid Room
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
After a few days in the city it is time to lace up your hiking boots this morning and head out into the countryside to stretch your legs. There are so many options to choose from today and your guide will discuss all of the options with you this morning before you set off.
One option is that you hike up Broadway Tower, that offers far stretching views across 5 counties before heading onto to the unconventional home of Charles Wade – the architect who was famous for building a model Cornish fishing village that attracted visits from Queen Mary and Virgina Woolf! Spend some time exploring this home before returning to the hotel in the late afternoon.
Overnight: Broadway | Dormy House Hotel & Spa
Room Type: Splendid Room
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Spend the day exploring the chocolate box villages that make this part of England so special. From the villages with well kept village greens to the ones with streams running through the middle. there are plenty of places to visit and little shops to stop off at to buy some souveniers. Your guide will discuss all the options with you for the day so you can make the most of your day exploring the area – there may even be a chance to stop off for a delectable afternoon tea with homemade scones – the epitome of an English Spring afternoon.
Overnight: Broadway | Dormy House Hotel & Spa
Room Type: Splendid Room
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Just north of the Cotswolds are the famous Malvern Hills where the local springs used to provide water for the late Queen Elizabeth II. The ridge line spans 13km from end to end and you can choose which part you wish to hike but whatever you decide, you will be rewarded with breathtaking views all the way to Wales. There are so many paths to choose from along with quaint country pubs to stop for refreshments on this lovely day out in the countryside.
On your way back to your accommodation you can stop off for an early dinner at a local pub where you can dine with the locals and enjoy a leisurely drink in the garden.
Overnight: Broadway | Dormy House Hotel & Spa
Room Type: Splendid Room
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Your guide will take you to Birmingham airport this morning in time for your flight to the Capital of the Highlands – Inverness. On arrival here you will be met by your driver guide for the next part of your trip and you’ll head to Culloden Battlefield, the site of the last battle of the Jacobite rising in 1746. Here you will take a private tour of the battlefield and the visitor centre before heading south to the heart of the Cairngorms National Park and your boutique farmhouse base for the next few nights.
Overnight: By Kingussie | Killiehuntly Farmhouse
Room Type: Double Room
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
The Cairngorms National Park is home to 5 out of the 6 highest peaks in the UK as well as a plethora of wonderful hiking routes to suit everyone. Your guide will discuss the options with you today but perhaps you may like to take a gentle hike through the towering Scot’s pines to a green lochan where, legend has it. the fairies come down to wash their clothes at night when no one is watching!
Another option could be to hike on of the many hills in this part of the park that offer breathtaking views of the whole valley stretching as far as the eye can see. The choice is yours and your guide will make sure you make the most out of your day here.
Overnight: By Kingussie | Killiehuntly Farmhouse
Room Type: Double Room
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
After a strenuous day yesterday today can be more of a relaxed pace. First you will visit a local open air museum where you will see how highlanders used to live here right up until the 1950s. Visit the replica village, take a lesson in the school and perhaps try on some of the traditional dress while your guide regales you with tales of times gone by.
Later on, you can take a hike along the river or through the local woodland before arriving back at your hotel for a wee rest before an evening of excitement. Head out after dinner for your very own private wildlife experience at a local hide – watching the animals of the night come to feed and play while you sit in the shadows watching their every move. Perhaps a pine martin and a wild cat will cross paths, or a badger will scrabble in the undergrowth to find food for his family. Whatever you witness, it will be a truly unique and memorable experience.
Overnight: By Kingussie | Killiehuntly Farmhouse
Room Type: Double Room
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
You can have a later start today after your late evening and when you are ready you will head off to the next part of your adventure.
Today you will visit the iconic ruins of Urquhart Castle. Perched on the shores of Loch Ness, the castle offers a glimpse into a bygone era of conflict, clans and legends. As you explore the ramparts and peer through the weathered windows, you will be rewarded with breathtaking views over Loch Ness, its serene waters shrouded in legendary tales. Your adventure will continue as you take a private boat cruise across the Loch in search of the fabled Nessie.
Continue your journey through stunning Scottish scenery to the fabled Isle of Skye. You have the option to stop for a short hike along the way allowing to stretch your legs and properly get into the Scottish landscape, you guide will suggest appropriate routes depending on the weather and how you feel.
Overnight: Isle of Skye | Cuillin Hills Hotel
Room Type: Premier Deluxe Sea View
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
This morning you are free to explore this incredible island with your guide. You can choose to discover the quaint local village of Portree with its lovely harbour and it’s many art and coffee shops, or perhaps head to the historic Dunvegan Castle, learning its legends and history, and wander around its beautiful surrounding gardens. It is the only castle to have been occupied by the same family, the Macleod clan for 800 years.
This afternoon enjoy a unique experience, foraging for local wild edibles with an expert forager. You will be amazed by the delicious foods that can be found on the local shores. Hear stories about his life as a ghillie and how people used to live off the land until very recently, and the trend for foraging that has now been reborn. A fantastic afternoon meeting a true unique character.
Overnight: Isle of Skye | Cuillin Hills Hotel
Room Type: Premier Deluxe Sea View
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
Today you have a full day of hiking with your expert guide in this incredible landscape. You will be spoilt for choice with the dramatic landscape on offer, with many fantastic hikes through stark and unusual rock formations and landscapes, including the awe-inspiring Old Man Of Storr and the Quiraing. The rugged coastline of this island means that you can enjoy incredible sweeping views of islands and mountains in almost every direction.
This evening you could take a walk around the pretty harbour with it’s colourful harbour and dine at one of the many delicious eateries here.
Overnight: Isle of Skye | Cuillin Hills Hotel
Room Type: Premier Deluxe Sea View
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
It is time to leave the fabled isle today and head back to the main land to the dramatic valley of Glen Coe, where the mountains soar into the skies like jagged daggers reaching ever onwards. You’ll leave Skye by the ferry and journey towards the mountains along one of the most picturesque roads in the whole of the county. You may even catch a glimpse of the famous ‘Harry Potter’ steam train thundering across the viaduct as it charges towards the coast.
Before you arrive at your accommodation, you will stop off at a local walkers tavern to meet a storyteller who will weave their magic as they tell you tales of magic, mystery, myths and legends. Let the stories wash over you while you nurse a wee dram before continuing onto your amazing accommodation for the evening.
Overnight: Glencoe | Glencoe House
Room Type: One Bedroom Suite
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
The dark and dramatic mountains and glens that surround your hotel provide incredible hiking as well as a tragic history. Your guide will discuss the options with you today. You may decide to summit the iconic Pap of Glencoe or you might want to head to the Lost Valley where the MacDonald clan used to hide their rustled cattle. As you hike you’ll discover this beloved glen’s bloody and tragic past.
This evening you are in for a treat, as you return to your hotel you will meet a local musician who is passionate about gaelic and Feis Spe (traditional Scottish music) With her trusty Clarsach – small harp – she will entertain you with a few tunes and even let you have a go yourselves. Feel the strings vibrate under your fingers as you pluck them to create your very own piece of Scottish music!
Overnight: Glencoe | Glencoe House
Room Type: One Bedroom Suite
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
For your final day in the Highlands, you will meet a local ranger who works in the Nevis Range caring for the natural and cultural heritage of the area. Find out more about the work they do as you enjoy a guided hike through the landscape, seeing how the community is working together to promote thoughtful access and appreciation of the local area.
After an immersive morning, the rest of the day can be spent pottering around the shops in Fort William or just relaxing back at your hotel looking back over your wonderful time in the Highlands of Scotland. Your guide will also be on hand should you wish to head out for one last local walk before dinner.
Overnight: Glencoe | Glencoe House
Room Type: One bedroom Suite
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
It is time to leave the Highlands of Scotland and head to your final destination on your epic UK adventure. On the way south, you can stop off at Stirling to visit one of the most famous castles in the country, and where many Kings and Queen’s of Scotland have entertained over the years. You may even wish to visit Bannockburn while you are there, the site of Robert the Bruce’s most famous victory over the English Army.
You’ll arrive into the capital city in the late afternoon and the evening is yours to head out into the city to dine on some of the tasty treats that this vibrant city has to offer.
Overnight: Edinburgh | The Balmoral Hotel
Room Type: Deluxe Castle View
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
This morning immerse yourselves in the winding cobbled streets of historic Old Town Edinburgh as you enjoy a private walking tour with an expert local guide. Discover the highlights of this unique capital city from the Palace of Holyroodhouse all the way up the ‘Royal Mile’ to the mighty ancient fortress which is Edinburgh Castle itself. Walk the ramparts atop castle rock and hear the tales of the One O’Clock gun and the stories of locals of times past. Your guide will leave you here so that you can spend as much time in the castle as you wish.
You then have a free afternoon to continue explorations at your own pace with your main guide, perhaps soak up views of the city from Arthur’s Seat, one of the most famous local walks or instead pick up souvenirs or relax as you prefer.
In the late afternoon you’ll enjoy a cookery class where you will make your own unique meal under the watchful eye of your own private chef and then dine together, raising a glass to your UK adventure – the perfect end to your trip.
Overnight: Edinburgh | The Balmoral Hotel
Room Type: Deluxe Castle View
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch
A private transfer will collect you from your accommodation and take you to the airport to connect with the VIP team who will guide you safely through the formalities before you board your plane. Waving farewell for now but taking with you special memories and wonderful stories of your explorations.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Pricing:
The NET price for this itinerary, based on 2 clients on a twin-share basis, and including a £12 per person conservation contribution is:
Conservation Contribution
This voluntary donation of £12 per person goes towards conservation projects in the locations we operate. If you would like to opt out just let your trip designer know.
Click here for more information.
Please see our booking terms here.