CROOKHAM TRAVEL
11 Attlee
Gardens, Church Crookham, Fleet, Hampshire GU52 6PH
Telephone:
01252 628647 Fax: 01252 665652
E-mail:
crookhamtravel@talktalk.net
Prospectus
for:
THE ABERDEEN, GRAMPIAN & TAYSIDE EXPLORER
Thurs 14th to Friday 22nd June 2012
SORRY...
THIS TOUR IS NOW
FULLY BOOKED
London Kings Cross - Stonehaven
Aberdeen – Fraserburgh – Royal Deeside
Keith – Speyside – Grampian Mountains
Aviemore – Perth
Tayside – Stirling – Larbert
Private Railways –
Breweries – GBGs
Larbert – Edinburgh – London Kings
Cross
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WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THE HOLIDAY The cost of this 9-day 8-night
holiday should not exceed £850 single room or £770 twin share at current
prices. This excludes rail fares or other travel to and from your home. From |
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Visits to these breweries: Brewdog Brewery Aboyne Brewery Metcalfe
Burnside Brewery Cairngorm
Brewery Moulin Hotel
Brewery Inveralmond
Brewery Angus Brewery Tinpot Brewery Tryst Brewery ·
Nine days coach travel, including very scenic routes ·
Eight nights hotel bed and breakfast ·
At least three first pints ·
Six evening meals and two lunches ·
Museums |
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Interesting railways: Royal
Deeside Railway Grampian Transport
Museum and Miniature Railway Caledonian
Railway Kerr's
Miniature Railway Keith &
Dufftown Railway Cairngorm
Mountain Railway Strathspey
Railway ·
Great pubs, including famous ones such as: The Creel Inn,
Catterline Fisherman’s
Tavern, Broughty Ferry ·
Whisky Distillery visit ·
Cooperage visit ·
VAT at current rate ·
Crookham Travel Courier throughout in Scotland |
BACK TO BONNIE SCOTLAND
After the popularity of our Oban holiday it is now
time to cross to the eastern side of Scotland to find out how real ale is doing
over there and call in on some of those who are helping change this “beer
desert”. A very interesting and varied programme has been arranged which should
appeal both to ladies and gentlemen remotely interested in fine scenery, good
beer, some quaint pubs, and private railways – even a dram or two of the hard
stuff.
THURSDAY 14TH JUNE 2012
The tour begins from Kings Cross at 1000 by HST
direct to Stonehaven due 1641. By that time everyone
will be dying for a decent drink so our coach will collect you to visit a GBG
at Maryculter before heading for the Brentwood Hotel
in Aberdeen city centre for four nights. The hotel bar has ten handpumps, the
manager is a CAMRA member and it features in the GBG. Dinner will be included
for all this evening and can be reserved locally for other nights. This may
well suit some as dining in this prosperous oil city is not cheap.
FRIDAY 15TH JUNE
If you thought of Aberdeen as a far flung tip of NE
Scotland, today’s tour will change your mind. There are more than 50 miles
beyond Aberdeen, where railways used to run to Peterhead and Fraserburgh. It is
at the latter where Brewdog produces its (to some)
controversial products and where the enthusiastic staff and very tasty products
are more than enough reasons to stop by. This attractive town is also home to a
CAMRA Regional Award winning pub and our visit will be marked by free
sandwiches! The afternoon will include a stop at Kinnaird Head and the interesting
Museum of Scottish Lighthouses (if
funding continues into 2012). The lighthouse marks the entrance to the Moray
Firth and the most north-easterly point of Scotland. The return journey will
include a stop in Old Meldrum for the GBG pub. Evening is free in Aberdeen.
SATURDAY 16TH JUNE
Today we head west along Deeside. On the route of
the former Ballater branch is the fledgling Royal Deeside Railway where we
shall stop to ride their line. Then a visit to the Aboyne Brewery will be made before
arriving at the Boat Inn (GBG) at the town. We shall then stop at Ballater to
visit the nicely-restored station which houses a small museum including items
of Royal journeys via the station. Next call will be at Alford for the Grampian
Transport Museum and its miniature railway which crosses the golf course! As
this is a longer day we shall stop at Dunecht and Jaffs (GBG) for an evening
meal en-route back to Aberdeen.
SUNDAY 17TH JUNE
A southerly circuit will be made today starting
from the hotel at 1000 for the first call of the day at Laurencekirk and the
Metcalfe Burnside brewery. Next is a stop at Brechin for a return ride on the
Caledonian Railway to Bridge of Don, followed by time for drinks and lunch. The
afternoon will include a visit to Arbroath for the Wetherspoons and the Kerr’s
Miniature Railway. The final call is the gem of the day, especially if the
weather is fine. The Creel Inn (GBG) at the cliff-top village of Catterline is
superb, as are the views to sea. An earlier arrival back at Aberdeen will allow
more exploration of the city and its nine GBG pubs.
MONDAY 18TH JUNE
This morning it’s time to repack and head up the
A96 through the Grampians and Speyside, to our next hotel at Nethy Bridge.
Stops will be made at The Highlander Inn on the banks of the Spey at
Craigellachie, the Speyside Cooperage, the 11 mile Keith & Dufftown Railway
for a chartered train ride and finally at Charleston of Aberlour with its GBG
pub in the old railway station. The Nethy Bridge Hotel is in a fine country
location adjacent to Abernethy Forest, home to Scottish Crossbills, Pine
Martens, Red Squirrels, Wild Cats, Red Deer, Black Grouse, Crested Tits, Osprey
and Capercaillie. At least bottled beers will be available – cask will be
attempted! DB&B is included here for all.
TUESDAY 19TH JUNE
Fancy a ride on Britain’s broadest gauge railway?
You will get one during the visit to the summit of Cairn Gorm
on its funicular. Also today we shall revisit the now sizeable Cairngorm
Brewery and visitors’ shop, plus a whisky distillery. Although not everyone’s
cup of tea (or even whisky), it would be amiss not to stop at one of the many
famous ones in the Speyside valley. Some time will also be available in
Aviemore town. Dinner and night at Nethy Bridge Hotel.
WEDNESDAY 20TH JUNE
A short ride from the hotel is Boat of Garten,
the base for the Strathspey Railway and it is from there that we shall ride the
line to Aviemore and back to Broomhill, terminus of their recent extension. Our
coach will collect us and head south down the A9 which is a picturesque run
through the mountains, sharing the valley with the Highland main line and
various rivers. Lunch will be taken at the classic Blair Atholl Hotel in their
huge chandeliered dining room, followed by a drive to Queen’s (Victoria) view
at Tummel – weather permitting. Next the ancient Moulin Hotel and its small
brewery beckons, before arriving at Perth for a tea-time visit to the hugely
successful Inveralmond Brewery. Two nights in Perth are at the Salutation Hotel
(DB&B).
THURSDAY 21ST JUNE
Today is Tayside day. We shall visit Angus
Brewery at Carnoustie, owned by CAMRA Tayside’s Chairman, who will have a lot
to regale you with, including his successful efforts to get real ale into
hitherto “forbidden” areas. Then it’s to Broughty Ferry for the Fisherman’s
Tavern, a long standing regular in the Good Beer Guide. Evening
free in Perth.
FRIDAY 22ND JUNE
This is the day for heading home – or elsewhere –
but hey, not yet, as we have some more visits for you. First stop will be at
the Tinpot Brewery, Bridge of Allan followed by lunchtime in the shadow of
Stirling Castle, ending with a final pint or two at the Tryst Brewery, Larbert.
Our train from there is at 1515 to Edinburgh (1602-1630) due Kings Cross at
2055 where this full-of-interest holiday ends.
HOW TO RESERVE YOUR PLACE/S
Please complete the booking form and send it with your deposit of £80 per person (cheque payable to “Crookham
Travel”) to Crookham Travel, 11 Attlee Gardens, Church Crookham, Fleet, GU52 6PH. You may also send the booking and deposit
electronically. The deposit amount should be transferred to our account at
Santander a/c 87825884, sort code 09-01-27 using the reference: ES deposit.
Only 30 places are available so you should reserve yours without delay.
Most of the arrangements have already been confirmed but some are still
outstanding so the right is reserved to amend the programme should this be unavoidable.
Click HERE for the
BOOKING FORM in easily printable PDF* format
Click HERE
to read Crookham Travel's Booking Conditions
CROOKHAM TRAVEL
11 Attlee Gardens, Church Crookham, Fleet, Hampshire GU52 6PH
Telephone: 01252 628647 Fax: 01252 66 56 52
email: crookhamtravel@talktalk.net
"Quality Tours
with Taste Since 1977"
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deposit and subsequently the balance of all monies paid to us, including
repatriation if required, arising from cancellation or curtailment of your
travel arrangements due to the insolvency of Crookham Travel. There is no
requirement for Financial Protection of day trips, and none is provided. This
insurance is only valid for packages booked that DO NOT include flights.
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