Pastor George Wright & Take Hold Church 9-Day Journey to Scotland, November 7 – 15, 2024

Questions? Email us at info@signaturetours.com

Join Pastor George on an incredible adventure through Scotland. You will see unparalleled beauty, visit historical sites that have shaped Christianity, and partner with Take Hold Church. Experience the joy of encouraging fellow believers across the world and locking arms to build a faith community in Edinburgh. Enjoy visiting a Renaissance castle, journeying through the Highlands, exploring Iona, and much more. This will be an amazing experience that you do not want to miss!

9-Day Journey to Scotland

DAY 1 (NOV 7): Depart Atlanta for Edinburgh, England.

DAY 2 (NOV 8) Arrival in Scotland  Arrive in Edinburgh where we will be met at the airport for transfer to our hotel. Dinner and overnight in Edinburgh (3 nights)  

DAY 3 (NOV 9) Edinburgh - Serve the city alongside our partner in Edinburgh - Take Hold Church.

DAY 4 (NOV 10) Church Service at Take Hold Church in Edinburgh

DAY 5 (NOV 11) Edinburgh/Kelpies/Falkirk Wheel/Stirling Castle/Glasgow/Loch Lomond/Oban In Falkirk, we visit the Falkirk Wheel, a rotating boat lift. It reconnects the two canals for the first time since the 1930s. It opened in 2002 as part of the Millenium Link project and is a masterpiece of modern engineering. In contrast, we admire “The Kelpies,” a 98-foot-high horse-head sculpture depicting kelpies (shape-shifting water spirits). We continue to Stirling, where we explore one of Scotland’s finest Renaissance castles. It is one of the largest and most important castles in Scotland, both historically and architecturally. We will learn about the famous battles of William Wallace, the national hero of Scotland. We drive through Glasgow and start our scenic tour through the Highlands. We stop at the Loch Lomond and continue to Oban, the “Gateway to the Islands”. Dinner and overnight in Oban. (2 nights)

DAY 6 (NOV 12) Oban Daytrip to the Isle of Mull Staffa and Iona We board our ferry in the morning to the island of Mull, which we cross to the furthest western point, which is Fionnphort. Here, we board the ferry for the Isle of Staffa, which lies five miles southwest of Mull. This dramatic, uninhabited island is best known for its magnificent basalt columns and spectacular sea caves. We see the famous Fingal’s Cave, which inspired Mendelssohn’s Hebrides Overture.  Our boat brings us to the Dreamy Island Iona, which sits off the southwesternmost tip of Mull. The island is only 1.5 miles wide by 3 miles long, so it’s small enough to explore on foot. Set out to discover beautiful bays, panoramic views, and historic sites. Iona is the birthplace of Celtic Christianity. Iona Abbey, just a short walk from the ferry, is one of Scotland’s most historic and sacred places. The abbey was founded by Saint Columba and his Irish followers and became the heart of the early Scottish church. Return to Oban. Dinner and overnight.

DAY 7 (NOV 13) Oban/Fort William/Isle of Skye A scenic ride through the Highlands brings us via Tyndrum and the Loch Tulla viewpoint to the stunning Glencoe. This Valley is known for its haunting past as well as its wild beauty. The infamous massacre that took place here in 1692 is a tragic and poignant chapter in Scottish history and one of the key moments in the story of the Jacobites. We continue to Fort William, where we see Neptune’s Staircase, which is composed of eight locks and is located on a stretch of the Caledonian Canal overlooked by an impressive range of mountains, including Ben Nevis.  This is a must-see engineering masterpiece. On the way to Mallaig, we see the Jacobite Express, known from the Harry Potter movies. We board our ferry to the Isle of Skye. Dinner and overnight.

DAY 8 (NOV 14) Isle of Skye/Loch Ness/Inverness/Aviemore Early in the morning, we make our way to the most famous lake in the world. Loch Ness is said to be inhabited by an aquatic monster. Many sightings of the so-called Loch Ness monster have been reported, and the possibility of its existence, perhaps in the form of a solitary survivor of the long-extinct plesiosaurs, continues to intrigue many. We drive to Inverness, the “Capitol of the Highlands”. After a city tour, we drive to Aviemore located in the Cairngorm National Park. The Park has more mountains, forest paths, rivers, lochs, wildlife hotspots, friendly villages, and distilleries than you can possibly imagine. Five of the UK's six highest mountains, over 3,000 ft. are located here.

DAY 9 (NOV 15) Aviemore/Edinburgh Airport Early transfer to Edinburgh Airport for your return flight home with luggage packed with keepsakes and your heart full of memories! 

NOTE: Schedule is subject to change due to various factors and the tour guide’s discretion. 

PRICING:

• $4995 per person based on double occupancy. 
  
• Single room supplement - $1295
• $500 per person with registration to secure space.
• Balance due on or before August 6, 2024

FLIGHT SCHEDULE:

• BA 226   07NOV ATL LHR   1010P 1115A 08NOV 
• BA1446  08NOV LHR EDI   0405P 0530P  
• BA1436  15NOV EDI LHR   0830A 1005A  
• BA 227   15NOV LHR ATL   0335P 0815P

* Flight times, flight numbers, equipment, gates, and seats are subject to change. For the most current information check the airline website.

WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE REGISTERING

PASSPORTS: Passports must be valid with an expiration date of at least six months beyond the return home date of the tour. Participants with non-US passports are responsible for country-specific entry requirements. If you do not have a valid passport or need to renew your passport, enter "RENEWING" or "APPLIED FOR" when completing registration.

CANCELLATION POLICY: The $500 per person deposit is nonrefundable. Other payments exceeding the $500 per person are refundable in full up to ninety days prior to departure. After this date, refunds for unused accommodations and services will be limited to the amount received from and/or credited by all carriers, sightseeing operators, and hotels. All funds, including the deposit, are non-transferable.

AIR: The Standard Tour includes round-trip, economy-class airfare from the departure city listed in the itinerary. All group seating is assigned by the airline and cannot be changed by Signature Tours. Seat changes can only be made during check-in at the airport. Upgrades such as Comfort, Premium, Business, or First Class are not available with the standard tour. Participants who wish to upgrade or purchase a specific seat should choose the Land Only option when registering. Frequent flyer, TSA Precheck, and Global Entry numbers can only be added at check-in.

LAND ONLY: Participants who wish to arrange their own air should choose the Land Only option. $1000pp will be deducted from the standard tour price when selecting this option. Participants arranging their own air should notify Signature Tours at least 6 months prior to the departure date. Land Only Passengers arriving with or before the group are welcome to join the group bus at no additional charge. For those not traveling with the group, Signature Tours can provide contact information to arrange a private transfer.

GROUND/TRANSFERS: The group will be met on arrival by a Signature Tours representative and transferred to the hotel/airport. Land Only participants not traveling with the group are responsible for scheduling ground transfers.

HOTELS: Superior first-class hotels throughout. Priced based on two people per room with a private bath and shower.

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: A limited number of single rooms are available at additional supplement prices. Signature Tours and/or the group leader will make every attempt to pair single participants requesting a roommate. However, the single supplement fee will be charged for each person occupying a single room, whether by choice or circumstance.

MEALS: Breakfast and dinner are provided daily. Lunch is provided on days as noted in the itinerary. 

SIGHTSEEING: Entrance fees to all places listed in the itinerary are included, as well as an expert English-speaking guide.

LUGGAGE: Space is limited on the tour buses. Participants are allowed one suitcase weighing 50lbs or less and will be transported in storage under the bus. Participants are allowed one backpack/daypack or personal bag to carry on the bus during the tour. These requirements will meet most airline carrier restrictions. See the carrier website for airline-specific baggage restrictions and requirements. Medical devices are not included in these restrictions. 

TIPS, SERVICE CHARGES, AND TAXES: Tips, service charges, and taxes ARE INCLUDED in the selling price. Taxes, as imposed by national and/or local governments, that are not included at the time of booking are the responsibility of the participant.

NOT INCLUDED: Excess baggage fees, passport fees, visa fees, food or drink items not listed on the regular table menu for included meals, and items of a personal nature such as room service, laundry, etc. Any service not indicated in the itinerary and/or the above list of included features.

HEALTH REQUIREMENTS: This tour requires a substantial amount of walking. Many of the sites are not accessible by wheelchair, and the uneven terrain is not feasible for rollators. Signature Tours reserves the right to refuse individuals who may require special attention beyond what the tour guide and tour host can provide.

TRAVEL INSURANCE: Travel Insurance is not included in the purchase price. For your convenience, we offer travel insurance through Travelex Insurance Services. For more information and rates, please review the product flyer or Click Here to enroll in the plan.
* Travelex Insurance Services, Inc CA Agency License #0D10209. Insurance coverages underwritten by Zurich American Insurance Company (NAIC # 16535).

Signature Tours
PO Box 956817 Duluth, GA 30095
info@signaturetours.com