Links and Useful Websites
Some useful and interesting links for your Scottish vacation and self drive tour
Private cruises on Loch Ness for our clients
http://www.highlandfreespirits.com
Highland Free Spirits specialise in exclusive cruises for up to 6 people on Loch Ness in a luxurious modern cruiser and will include Champagne on boarding, a light finger buffet and wine.
Weddings can also be arranged on board for our Scotland Made Easy clients too!
If you want to have your wedding arranged in Scotland, contact Susan at
Currency Exchange
Air Travel
Rail Travel
Tips to Travel lightly
Steam Trains
http://www.strathspeyrailway.co.uk
Car Hire
For coach and bus hire from a quality company based in Inverness, try www.decoaches.co.uk
For motorcycle hire - contact Duncan at http://www.scotlandbybike.com
Ferry travel to the islands
http://www.calmac.co.uk Ferries to Western Isles, Hebrides, Mull, Skye
http://www.northlinkferries.co.uk Ferries to Orkney and Shetland
Golf
www.moraygolf.co.uk Lossiemouth Golf Club
Sites of General Interest
www.inverness-chamber.co.uk
http://www.scotland-info.co.uk The Internet Guide to Scotland
http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/places Historic Scotland properties all round Scotland to visit eg Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle, Urquhart Castle, Fort George, Clava Megalithic Chambered Cairns and Standing Stones
http://www.ambaile.org.uk Information on Highland Culture and History
http://www.nairnfestival.co.uk Nairn Book and Arts Festival - September 2012
http://www.caledoniancraftconnections.com Textile and woollen crafts with spinning demonstrations, courses such as feltwork, jewelry making etc and unusual wool and yarns for sale - based in Nairn
http://www.scotland-inverness.co.uk/Chatelaine Scottish castle information
http://www.cawdorcastle.com Cawdor Castle and interesting gardens near Nairn
http://www.ballindallochcastle.co.uk Ballindalloch Castle near the Speyside Whisky Trail
http://www.glamis-castle.co.uk Glamis Castle in Angus - where our late Queen Mother spent her childhood
http://www.scone-palace.co.uk Perthshire
http://clunyhousegardens.com Interesting gardens near Aberfeldy in Perthshire
http://www.moray.gov.uk/moray_standard/page_2007.html Biblical gardens in Elgin using 110 herbs and plants mentioned in the Bible.
http://www.dcs.ed.ac.uk/home/jhb/whisky/scotland.html Information on whisky distilleries all round Scotland
http://www.maltwhiskytrail.com Malt whisky trail near Speyside
http://www.aultsighadventures.com Hill Walking and Mountaineering with professional, qualified mountain guide. Will collect our clients from their accommodation if near Inverness, NW Highlands or Skye
http://www.rothiemurchas.net Rothiemurchas estate and Visitor Centre in Cairngorm National Park
http://www.giles-pearson-antiques.co.uk Restoration of antiques and specialist in chairs - near Nairn and Inverness
http://www.logie.co.uk Logie Steading - interesting art gallery, including local crafts, secondhand books, antiques and teashop - situated near Nairn and Forres
http://www.john-nicholson-artist.com Scottish artist based in Inverness
http://www.gordon-c-harrison.co.uk Landscape Photography in the Highlands. Based at Achnasheen
http://edintattoo.co.uk Edinburgh Tattoo information
http://www.universityhotelnetwork.com Online resource site for finding hotels for conferences close to universities all over the US
Highland Games in Scotland - these are usually from July to September but you may find others in May and June. Some of the games may be large or small and not all have websites.
Here are a selection which may be of interest to you during your trip.
May
Atholl Gathering and Highland Games held at Blair Castle
http://www.blair-castle.co.uk/events_parade_gathering.cfm
June
Strathmore Highland Games at Glamis Castle
July
Luss Highland Games, in the village of Luss, Loch Lomond
Forres Highland Games
Lochcarron Highland Games, Attadale Estate
Inverarary Highland Games at Inverarary Castle
http://www.inveraray-games.co.uk
Lochearnhead Highland Games at Balquidder
http://www.lochearnheadhighlandgames.co.uk
Inverness Highland Games
http://www.invernesshighlandgames.com
St Andrews Highland Games
Dufftown Highland Games
http://www.dufftownhighlandgames.org/highland.html
Lochaber Highland Games at Fort William
August
Dornoch Gathering
http://www.dornochhighlandgathering.com
Aboyne Highland Games
Mey Highland Games
Glenfinnan Highland Games
Nairn Highland Games - on the 3rd Saturday of August
http://www.nairnhighlandgames.co.uk
Argyllshire Gathering at Oban
Lonach Gathering at Bellabeg village in Strathdon, Aberdeenshire.
This famous March of the Clansmen (the only one of its kind worldwide) leaves the village of Bellabeg early am, led by the Lonach Patron. They march round several houses in the area where they are given "Traditional Scottish Hospitality" before the Games commence and several well known personalities are often seen attending.
September
Braemar Gathering - which is attended by Her Majesty the Queen and some of the Royal Familyand is early in September
http://www.braemargathering.org
Pitlochry Highland Games
If you would like a self drive tour round Ireland, we also do that at http://www.irelandmadeeasy.co.uk
If you would like a self drive tour personalised for you round Italy - try Italygate as they work in a very similar manner to us and are locally based in Rimini. They do upmarket personalized tours and honeymoons as Scotland Made Easy does. Their site is http://www.italygate.it
