Scotland's West Coast and Isle of Bute for Solo Travellers

Local departure by coach or Home Connect Service, before continuing to Scotland and the Riverside Lodge Hotel in Irvine for four nights.

This morning, we head along the Firth of Clyde to Wemyss Bay. Here, we join the ferry over to Rothesay, with free time to explore this Victorian resort with its gardens, shoreline walks and pleasant eateries – plus the wonderful gin distillery!

Later, the day continues with a tour of the island, which is 15 miles long and 4 miles wide, passing Ettrick Bay, which boasts a mile of golden sand. We also see Scalpsie Bay, which is home to over 200 seals.

We then return back to the mainland and the hotel where you can enjoy a pre dinner drink with your fellow travellers.

Today, you can either relax in the hotel or join us for an optional excursion to the cosmopolitan city of Glasgow.

Our first stop will be the Glasgow Riverside Museum, which houses the city’s fabulous transport and technology collections which have been gathered over the centuries. They reflect the important part Glasgow has played in the world through its contributions to heavy industries like shipbuilding, train manufacturing and engineering. It also offers a classic car collection and fabulous tall ship to explore.

You will then have free time in the city centre, so why not try the hop on hop off bus tour to see the main sights? Glasgow cathedral is worth a visit and, if more museums are your thing, the city has so much choice!

This morning, we head south along the Ayrshire, taking in the sea views across the Firth to Arran to visit Culzean Castle. Perched on the cliff overlooking the Firth of Clyde, this former home of the Marquess of Ailsa, the chief of Clan Kennedy, is now owned by the National Trust for Scotland.

Entrance to the castle is included, which boasts one of the largest collections of British military flintlock pistols in the world. The elegant rooms and bustling kitchen, all filled with the artefacts of Culzean Castle’s history, are also a fascinating visit, The castle walled garden is one of the largest in Scotland and provides fruit and vegetables for the Home Farm Kitchen which is an ideal place to have lunch.

This afternoon we continue our tour of the Ayrshire coast with stops at Ayr before heading to the pretty village of Alloway with time to roam the home of Scotland’s most famous poet – Robert Burns.

After breakfast, we start our return journey home.