Highlands & Islands Adventure

“Ceud mile failte” A hundred thousand welcomes!

Is exploring the Scottish Highlands and Islands on your bucket list but the planning sounds a wee bit daunting? Come to Scotland with me and let me show you around the country I love. 

My name is Frances. I grew up on a farm in the Highlands, graduated from Aberdeen University, and through my love of travel and adventure met and married my tall, dark and handsome American husband. We have lived in Oregon for the last 32 years. Scotland and my family call me home at least once a year. I love being a tourist in my own country, and over the years have taken many families and friends to experience one of the most magical places in the world. 

Come with me and Gottman educator Georgia Anderson, with a maximum of six other couples to experience much of Scotland that you will not find in a large group tour or listed in tour books. You will be staying in quaint hand-picked bed & breakfasts, a castle, and eating delicious local homemade dishes. Our couples' learning sessions (see below) will be at Pitmain Farm House, which was built in the mid 1800's. From there, you will have private working farm tours, hike to a private lake, learn to make wonderful homemade scones, or play 18 holes on the local golf course. You will experience Scotland with local guides and become part of our family and village.

Schedule for the week. (Subject to weather)

Sunday 

Arrive in Kingussie by car or train. Check in to a warm and welcoming bed and breakfast. 

WIlliam Munro, one of our hosts.

Monday

After enjoying a hearty homemade Scottish breakfast you can walk through the village to Pitmain Farm House, about 1mile away, or can be collected and driven there. This will be the meeting point for our daily tours and learning time with Georgia. 

Monday's adventures will include a tour of the family farm, including working sheepdogs with my brother William. Lunch will be provided in the farmhouse by his wife and our hostess, Anna. After lunch we will hike the hills behind the farm to a private loch, see some amazing scenery and one of the best grouse shooting moors in Scotland. From here we will go back to the village for a traditional “chippy” dinner. This fish and chip shop has been a favorite of mine since I was a wee girl. 

Monday evening will be a relaxing time by log fires in the farmhouse learning with Georgia. 

Anna Munro, our hostess

Tuesday

Following breakfast at your B&B we will again meet and take you to some of the magical places I make sure to visit whenever I’m in the area. Ruthven Barracks, now a ruin and a landmark of the village is only about a mile away. Weather permitting we will walk there before our learning session with Georgia. A traditional homemade lunch will be provided in the farmhouse before we set off for an afternoon exploring the surrounding area. A hike or bike ride round the mystical Loch an Eilein, drive through some of the Cairngorm National Park and a short hike to Green Loch before stopping at a local market. This will be a great place to pick up Scottish souvenirs. By this time we will be ready for dinner at one of my favorites, The Old Bridge Inn. 

Wednesday 

By now you know how much you will miss the delicious breakfasts when you leave Scotland! After pick up or meeting at the farmhouse we will be visiting The Highland Folk Museum in the nearby village of Newtonmore. Here you will go back in time and see life as it used to be in the Highlands. Lunch will follow, then you will have a choice of activities. You can learn the traditional art of making scones with us in the farm kitchen or play 18 holes at The Kingussie Golf Club with William and maybe my father Donald, a real highland gentleman! Dinner tonight will be at the farmhouse and include a selection of fare caught or raised on the estate. For this last evening in Kingussie you will hear about the area from a local storyteller or even learn a traditional Scottish Country Dance. 

Thursday 

Today we leave Kingussie to explore more of the beautiful Highlands. This will be a day of Castles, lochs and maybe a monster sighting. At 9am you will be picked up at your B&B and travel over the moors to Cawdor Castle, stopping to see some interesting historical sights. 

We will tour Cawdor Castle, of MacBeth fame, then drive through Inverness. This lovely city is the capital of the Highlands.

After lunch, a cruise on the famous Loch Ness, exploring the mystical Urquart Castle before a real treat--a night at the Tulloch Castle. This romantic castle dates back to the 12th century. Thankfully it has been updated a wee bit and is now a much sought after destination for weddings, holidays and great food. My husband and I have spent some of our favorite nights away here and this will be a memory to last a lifetime.

Friday

After breakfast in the castle we travel west through some amazing scenery along the way to The Isle of Skye. This island is steeped in history and a must see for natural beauty. It is the largest and northernmost isle of the inner Hebrides. We will hike to the Old Man of Storr and the picturesque Fairy Pools. 

After a little free time on the island we spend the night in a local hotel and sample some island hospitality. 

Saturday

Breakfast will be our last meal on the Isle of Skye but prepares us for another fantastic day of scenery and sights. We drive south past the Cullin Mountain range, the Five Sisters of Kintail and down the west coast. Our first stop is the classic Eilean Donan Castle, (which you may recognize from many movies). During the journey south there are many short stops at dramatic viewpoints and places of historical significance. 

Our trip will end in Perth. This is a lovely town to explore if you would like to spend the night. It is also a central point from which to travel south to Edinburgh or Glasgow airports.  If you decide to stay and continue exploring Scotland this would be a great time to see Edinburgh, St. Andrews or do more hiking around Loch Lomond. 

During our week together, you will become family and experience the Highlands of Scotlands in a unique way. In some ways you will go back in time as we travel through this ancient land. I also thoroughly enjoy many modern day comforts, so as your guide will combine the two for an unforgettable trip. 

As we say goodbye we will be sad to see you go but will say “Go gcuire Dia an t-adh ort.” May God put luck on you! 

Here's a wee bit about what my friend Georgia will offer.

About the "Us Elevated" Course:

This week's activities are designed for couples who have already experienced the Gottman 7 Principles Workshop. If you need a refresher or even the full course, contact Georgia at knowhowmom@gmail.com.  

You already know the basics... 

—build friendship 

—avoid the horsemen 

—repair


—use soft startups

—dialogue about conflict 

...All the great material you learned in your first Gottman 7 Principles course. But we didn’t get to spend a lot of time on the ROOF of that Sound Relationship House. And the roof is where all the good stuff happens! 

The BEST way upper level work is accomplished is putting yourself in places that inspire your soul and draw you closer. I believe adventure and novelty enhance relationships, SO I’ve partnered with my dear friend Frances to create this once in a lifetime experience, to take your relationship to the next level. 

You will be offered a short dose of instruction/facilitation Monday through Wednesday (most likely in the evening, weather dependent), with time to think, share, and dream together as a couple while inspired by this beautiful place.

Topics: 

1. 
“Where To From Here? Shared Vision, Dreams, and Your Future Together” 
   Inspiration to Dream, Plan and Forge a Meaningful Future Together
   
2. “Removing Barriers to Growth as a Couple—Enabling Progress” 
   Discover small shifts in perspective that streamline your journey together. 
   
3. 
“Adventure, Novelty & Security in the Game of Love” 
   Intrigue and Safety--Can you have both? (YES!)

Pricing:

$2850 per couple, with brilliant incentives for Early Birds! (see ticket types for details)

Price Includes:

• Hotels Sunday through Friday
  
• Most meals
• Workshop 
• Admission to all activities including taxes and tips
  
• Transportation on excursions (if you prefer, you may rent your own car and follow along)
• All booking fees

Does not include:

• Transportation to and from Kingussie
• Lunch and dinner on Friday and Saturday
• Health or travel insurance

FAQ:

How do I get to Kingussie?


Scotland is not a large country so getting to Kingussie from any of the Scottish airports is quite easy. Inverness (INV) is the closest airport but Edinburgh (EDI) and Glasgow (GLA) are an easy train ride to the Highland village of Kingussie.

INV- Jet bus service or taxi from the airport to the city center where you can then catch a train or bus to Kingussie. The airport is nine miles from the city center and then the train journey will take about 45 minutes.

EDI or GLA- both airports have train or bus services to the city center train and bus stations. The direct (no change) trains from these cities take about 2-1/2 hours. 
All of these routes have direct trains at various times of the day. These direct trains save a bit of time and bother especially when traveling with luggage. 

If you fly into London each of the airports have a train to the city. From here you can get a no change train from Kings Cross station around noon each day or the overnight Caledonian Sleeper Train at 8 pm arriving in Kingussie at 7:15 am the next morning. 

What will the weather be like in October?

• Changeable! You may have all four seasons in one day. The only thing we can guarantee is it will not be hot.
  
• Bring a warm rain jacket, umbrella, and sturdy, water resistant footwear, just in case!
  

How strenuous are the physical activities?

• Most activities are listed as moderate. The longest walk is four miles round trip.

Can I opt out of an activity?

• Yes! There will be plenty of options for you if you would like an alternative.
  

Will there be internet service?

• Yes, most accommodations will provide internet service.

WIll I have a private bathroom?

• Yes, each couple will have a private bath in their respective rooms in each location.

Do people in Scotland speak English?

• It may not sound like it, but aye, they do!

Any other things I should bring along?

• Don't forget a camera, warm layers or woolies, personal items and clothing, and a sense of adventure!
• There are small shops in the village for forgotten items.

Have more questions? Contact Us!

Regarding travel and touring: Frances frances.m.hawkins@gmail.com

Regarding the course: Georgia at knowhowmom@gmail.com