The Border Explorer NEW TOUR
Sunday 28 April 2024 to Thursday 02 May 2024
£625pp Single supplement £136
- Destination
- Itinerary
- Full inclusions
- Hotel
- Booking request
Be quick - this tour is departing soon so we've had to release our discounted rooms back to the hotel, we'd be delighted to negotiate more - send your booking request and we'll be in touch.
The Scottish Borders are renowned as one of the most romantic destinations in the world - famous for being the go-to destination for young lovers wanting to marry before their 21st birthday in the mid 1700s, it remains a love story location to this day. Immerse yourself in these age-old tales at the revamped Gretna Green Experience with lunch included and enjoy dreamy, romantic scenery during a scenic drive across the Solway Firth and the Lowther Hills.
Visit the magnificent ‘Pink Palace’ at Drumlanrig Castle and start planning your time wandering in the spring garden with their handy map or download one of the scenic estate trails to explore deep into the woodland of Dumfries and Galloway. From castles to conflict, uncover the story of the greatest munitions factory on earth during WWI at the Devil’s Porridge Museum, take a virtual tour of this intriguing museum to find out what you can expect to see. Of course, a visit to Scotland wouldn’t be complete without a traditional whisky tasting at one of the oldest operating distilleries in the country that won Best Distillery 2021 at the Scottish Business Awards following an extensive revamp.
The Devil's Porridge Museum and Annandale Distillery are winners of a 2023 Travellers’ Choice Award from Tripadvisor – this is only awarded to attractions that are ranked within the top 10% and consistently earn great visitor reviews!
We always recommend taking out adequate holiday insurance, that's why we’ve partnered with SunWorld holiday insurance who can offer single or annual multi-trip cover. Get your free custom quote.
Tour code: B3432
Sunday
Cross the border at Gretna Green and check in.
Monday
Spend the morning at Drumlanrig Castle – a magnificent ‘Pink Palace’ containing a world class art collection and surrounded by stunning Victorian gardens. Don’t miss the 183m Long Terrace Walk and the restored Victorian glasshouses and Rock Garden. Take a scenic drive across the Lowther Hills, via Beattock Summit to spend a wee while in the former spa town of Moffat – a vibrant destination overlooked by the beautiful green Moffat Hills.
Tuesday
Visit the intriguingly named Devil’s Porridge Museum to discover the story of the greatest munitions factory on earth during World War One! Galleries feature displays from the trenches, HM Factory Gretna, evacuees, the 1941 Gretna bombing and much more. Then, for a romantic visit to the Famous Blacksmiths Gretna Green Experience. This immersive attraction, refurbished in 2022, takes you through eight centuries of love, romance and marriage at Gretna. Discover tales from runaway couples and their rebellious journeys over the border with a (heart)warming soup and sandwich lunch included. Finish the day at the Annandale Distillery. This award-winning site underwent a huge restoration in 2015 and looks forward to welcoming you with a tour and tasting of the local hooch.
Wednesday
Sit back and enjoy spectacular, unspoilt scenery during a guided coach tour of southwest Scotland, through undulating coastline and endless green countryside. The Solway Firth is the third largest estuary in the UK with beautiful beaches, thriving nature reserves and scenic coastal towns and villages.
Thursday
Back over the border to home.
- 4-night stay with breakfast
- 3 course dinner with tea/coffee every evening (min 3 choices)
- Entry to Drumlanrig Castle & Gardens
- Entry to the Devil's Porridge Museum
- Blacksmiths Gretna Green Experience with lunch
- Annandale Distillery tour & tasting
- Full day guided tour of the Solway Firth
- Free time in Moffat
- Door2Door Travel (save £10pp by meeting the coach at a central departure point)
- BCH ABTOT Financial Protection
- Pre allocated coach seat
- Executive touring coach featuring a refreshment station, reclining seats, reading lights, curtains, foot and arm rests, toilet, safety belts, air suspension and individual air-flow controls
- An experienced, friendly, highly-rated and professional tour driver
- Friendly booking team on hand to answer any questions you might have in the run up to your holiday
- Book with just a £50pp deposit (balance due 8 weeks prior to departure)
- LOYALTY DISCOUNT! Book 3 holidays (in any calendar year) and save £15pp, book 4+ and save £20pp, just let us know in special requests that you'd like to redeem your discount
Holiday Inn Dumfries 
- Set within 100 acres of landscaped parkland on the Crichton Estate, just outside Dumfries
- Beautiful stone building with many original features
- Ensuite rooms with Freeview HDTV, hairdryer, bathroom toiletries, free WiFi and complimentary tea/coffee tray
- Brasserie restaurant
- Lounge bar featuring a glass ceiling
- Outdoor seating
- Access to Neuro’s Spa is available to Holiday Inn Dumfries guests at approx. £3.50pp per day, it is located 2 minutes’ walk from the hotel within the estate and features a 12m heated pool, sauna, steam room and beauty rooms
- Lift
ACCESS: Most bedrooms feature walk-in showers but some have shower over bath so please specify if this is a requirement, ground floor rooms and accessible room available upon request
Please ask us about upgrade options which may be available at a supplement
