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New Departures! Three of our best-selling tours are back by popular demand in the latter half of 2017 — our Arran trip, Scottish Steam Break, and Outer Hebridean grand tour are all returning for round two, so be sure not to miss out! Turn to p.3 for the full details.
Autumn Tints of Arran As you board the ferry at Ardrossan, you see the distinctive silhouette of Goat Fell rising dramatically from the clear waters of the Firth of Clyde giving a foretaste of your destination, whose unique magic never disappoints.
Are you available? As the summer holidays come to an end, as the nights draw in and the mornings bring a slight chill, it might seem like the world is winding down for autumn — but not us! We’re taking the opportunity for adventure, and we’d love for you to join us. Your last chance to book some of our most popular autumn trips is right here, so go on, throw caution to the wind...
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A Grand Tour of the Outer Hebrides Classic Scottish Steam Break Chart a course and set the propeller going, it’s full steam ahead on our Classic Scottish Steam break! Discover firsts, lasts, exclusives and superlatives on this unique tour which will take us back to the heady days of the era of steam.
The concept of a Grand Tour might seem almost at odds with the famously laid-back pace of life in Scotland’s Western Isles, but bear with us: on these remote islands, you’d be hard-pressed not to discover a new archaeological gem at every turn. Whether discovering Norse mills or ancient hills, this is truly a place where time is on our side — even on our new, shorter 5-day tour.
Pompeii, Herculaneum & Classical Campania I n Pa rtn ership w i th
New 2017 Departure What’s included Transfers
Pompeii and Herculaneum, the Roman towns uncannily preserved for thousands of years by the very material that destroyed them, are unlike anywhere else on Earth — and the way we explore them, with special insight and access, is just as unique.
Ask any archaeology enthusiast — or any travel-lover, or historylover, or anyone, for that matter — and they’re sure to agree that a trip to ancient Pompeii is nothing short of a bucket-list topper. And why wouldn’t it be? It gives us the gift of unparalleled insight into life in the Roman World with its remarkably well-preserved streets, buildings, and even the likenesses of those unfortunate enough to be caught in Vesuvius’ pyroclastic flows. In its capacity as a reminder of the devastating power of nature, and as a passport to the ancient world, it is almost entirely unique — but for the nearby town of Herculaneum. Often overlooked in favour of its more famous neighbour, Herculaneum is a treasure trove of archaeological finds, waiting to be discovered. On this unforgettable excursion, we explore both of these tragic towns, with more depth than any other tour provider, thanks in no small part to our expert archaeological lecturers, many of whom have excavated at the site. From world-renowned sites to well-kept secrets, this tour rounds up all the incredible experiences to be had across the Roman Bay of Naples into one unforgettable holiday. Join us for a once-in-a-lifetime journey into the ancient world, where you can walk in the footsteps of gladiators, slaves, senators and citizens in incomparable company, and learn more about Ancient Roman life than you ever thought possible.
Return flights London to Naples
Hotels Seven nights at a family-run hotel in a charming medieval village
Travel Comfortable coaching throughout
Visits Visits to Paestum inc. museum, National Archaeological Museum, Piscina Mirabilis, Pozzuoli, Stabiae, Villa San Marco, Villa Ariadne, Herculaneum, Villa Regina, Vesuvius and Oplontis
Meals All breakfasts; eight lunches; seven dinners with wine
Staff Services of a professional tour manager
Extra Extra...
Enjoy exclusive special access usually only available to archaeologists at the Piscina Mirabilis, the world’s largest Roman cistern
Departures Director’s Tour: 28 November, 2017 Dates throughout 2018, see p.36 of the main brochure for full details 8 days from £1,895 Single room supplement £185
Latest Availability Tresco’s Abbey Gardens In the idyllic Scilly Isles, just off the coast of Cornwall, there’s a remarkable garden where ancient monastic ruins provide arches for climbing plants and shelter for tender tropicals. These are the Abbey Gardens, the highlight of our Tresco trip — not forgetting, of course, the beaches and bays of the island itself! Departures: 2 & 9 October, 2017 4 days from £845 Single room supplement: £75
Bulgarian Archaeology Roman ruins rubbing shoulders with burgeoning modern towns, deep forests sheltering icon-laden monasteries, serene ancient places and rock-carved devotional spaces — it’s not difficult for Bulgaria to capture the imagination of any traveller, but for archaeology lovers, it’s nothing short of enchanting. Departures: 3 October, 2017 9 days from £1,365 Single room supplement: £160
Yunnan: Footsteps of the Plant-Hunters Poised between Tibet, Vietnam, Laos and Burma, the gloriously biodiverse Yunnan Province has been a draw to botanists for well over a century — and no wonder. Hundreds upon hundreds of species of rhododendron, primula, and more can be found here, in ever-changing, beguiling landscapes: paradise for plant-hunters. Departures: 8 October 15 days from £4,995 Single room supplement: £585
New Date
Gardens of Normandy with the Daily Telegraph Just as the gardens at Giverny once inspired Monet, they now enthral countless visitors with their abundance of lupins, poppies, and, of course, water lilies! And there’s plenty more planting perfection where that came from — the effervescent Jardin Plume and striking Le Bois de Moutiers, for starters. Departures: 9 October, 2017 4 days from £995 Single room supplement: £270
A Classic Scottish Steam Break Ever wanted to see Britain’s highest mountain? Its shortest river? How about the deepest freshwater loch in Europe? On our Classic Scottish Steam Break, you can, and then some. The experiences on this tour run from British superlatives to global exclusives, including a ride on the world’s last seagoing paddle steamer. Departures: 12 & 13 October, 2017 4 days from £395 Single room supplement: £60
A Grand Tour of the Outer Hebrides Our flagship tour returns in a brand new incarnation for October, but this slightly shorter trip is by no means short on the important stuff. Ocean sunsets, mysterious standing stones, fantastical castles seeming to float on the waves, the unmistakable feeling of sand between your toes — it’s all there in abundance. Departures: 15 October, 2017 5 days from £675 Single room supplement: £100
New Dates
Albanian Archaeology For two thousand years of untouched archaeological heritage, set in the most daydream-inducing landscapes, look no further than Albania. This unspoilt Balkan beauty spot is a feast of ancient Greco-Roman sites, picturesque medieval towns and 8th-century castles, and an archaeology enthusiast’s dream. Departures: 17 October, 2017 8 days from £1,295 Single room supplement: £175
Autumn Tints of Arran As any previous visitor to Arran will surely agree, this little gem of an island is a treat in any season. But for maximum magic, autumn is the time to go — see the gardens of Brodick Castle in their finest seasonal garb; watch night fall from our cosy hotel on the ‘sunset side’ of the island; and admire the golden foliage. Departures: 23 & 29 October, 2017 4 days from £395 No single room supplement!
Malta’s Archaeological Heritage Malta’s diminutive archipelago is by no means any indication of the riches it holds — from the Neolithic to now, they are many and varied, and all out there to be discovered on tour. Get back to where it all began at the Cave of Darkness; take to the seas at the Blue Grotto; and admire priceless art at St John’s Cathedral. Departures: 7 November, 2017 8 days from £1,175 Single room supplement: £150
Consider us for Christmas On a Brightwater Christmas break, there’s always room for one more around the table. So if you haven’t yet firmed up your festive plans, why not spend the holidays with us? The laid-back luxury of a lovely hotel, the pleasure of like-minded company, not to mention oodles of good cheer — it’s all present. Will you be?
Christmas in the Borders
Christmas in the Cotswolds
When a Scottish staycation means waking up in the sheer luxury of a grand country house hotel, looking out over a landscape brimming with the promise of powdery snow and bracing frosty walks (followed with the promise of a warming dram by a crackling fire) why would you want to celebrate the season anywhere else?
We can think of few places better suited to a truly tranquil Christmas getaway than Oxford and the Cotswolds. For an enviably stress-free way to celebrate your Yule, be sure to join us on this three-night trip. With congenial company and a cosy hotel, you’ll want for nothing — except the chance to do it all again next year.
What’s included • Traditional Christmas carvery lunch with all the trimmings • Optional scenic coach tour of the Border country • Plenty of free time to kick back and relax in festive style
Departures: 24 December 2017 4 days from £595 Single room supp: £150
Moffat at Christmas
What’s included • Traditional four-course Christmas Day lunch • Gala dinner with live entertainment • A buck’s fizz Boxing Day brunch
Departures: 24 December 2017 4 days from £745 Single Room Supp £375
The Cotswolds village of Broadway
Christmas in Perthshire
New Year in Perthshire
What do you get when you bring together a festive afternoon tea, live jazz, a scenic tour of the bonny Perthshire countryside, nightly piano music, a rip-roaring Ceilidh, and an authentic Scottish piper? A very Merry Celtic Christmas, of course! For a cosy Christmas with all the trimmings, look no further.
Bring your black-tie finery for a Happy Hogmanay of drinks, dinner and dancing in the heart of Highland Perthshire. Swap swarming streets for natural forests; the stress of the taxi ranks for comfortable coach transfers, and the same old chatter for the convivial company of your like-minded fellow Brightwater travellers.
What’s included • Full Christmas lunch accompanied by jazz trio • Festive afternoon tea on arrival at our hotel • Boxing Day excursion to the House of Bruar
Departures: 24 December 2017 4 days from £795 Single Room Supp £300
A frosty day on the River Dochart
What’s included • Scenic coach tour of Perthshire • Special drinks reception with accompaniment from a piper • Optional walks in the beautiful local countryside
Departures: 30 December 2017 4 days from £1,195 Single Room Supp £425
Queen’s View at Loch Tummel, Perthshire
Brightwater Holidays Ltd, Eden Park House, Cupar, Fife KY15 4HS Call today on 01334 657155 | Email: info@brightwaterholidays.com Visit: www.brightwaterholidays.com
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