Join us on a pre-Christmas tour to Edinburgh, featuring Scottish Ballet’s production of the classic fairy tale ‘Cinderella’. Our trip also includes a festive lunch in Jedburgh, a fascinating visit to the former Royal Yacht Britannia and time to visit Edinburgh’s centre or the continental-style Christmas Market.
York Association of the National Trust
Edinburgh
YANT Holiday Archives 2018
Holidays Organiser: Peter Drew 01904 702285 holidays@yant.org.uk
Other 2018 Holidays
- Mallorca
National Scottish Ballet’s “Cinderella” in Edinburgh and Christmas lunch in Jedburgh
14th - 15th December, 2018
Holiday Review: December Tour to Edinburgh Featuring ‘Cinderella’
14th – 15th December, 2018
EDINBURGH 14 -15 DECEMBER 2018
Two festive days led by Peter Drew began with a beautiful sunny coach journey, seeing the Northumberland countryside and Kielder Water on our way to Scotland. We climbed steeply to wild moorland, woods and hills like giant mole hills, then descended , passing Jedburgh Abbey ruins before reaching The Caddy Mann, a restaurant where we had a delicious Christmas lunch, chosen from a varied menu.
We reached Best Western Braids Hills Hotel with plenty of time to get ready for the evening’s treat: ‘Cinderella’ ballet set to Prokofiev’s music and performed by the Scottish Ballet and Orchestra. This was a spectacular performance, whisking us into the magical world of Cinderella, the ugly sisters, the fairy godmother and the ball with billowing ball gowns, magical roses and the very special glass slipper.
After a good breakfast our coach took us to The Royal Yacht Britannia, built on the Clyde in 1953 and decommissioned in 1997. This elegant ship travelled more than a million nautical miles around the globe, hosting dignitaries and giving the Royal Family many enjoyable family holidays as well as their official visits. Each visitor has an audio guide and it is fascinating to see the rooms of the Royal family, modestly decorated, reusing much furniture and objects from previous royal yachts. The large dining room and other rooms have souvenirs on show such as sharks tooth swords and souvenirs from Easter Island, and photographs of the Royal family. We saw the crew’s quarters, the Rolls Royce with its special parking spot, the hospital bay, the laundry, the engine room and finally a café where we met up for refreshments before leaving for the City Centre.
In Edinburgh the group split up, some going to the Art gallery, others to the Christmas Market, absolutely buzzing, others for a meal or to the National Museum of Scotland. The museum has seven floors so you would need many visits to see it thoroughly. I saw the Millennium clock which is very tall, decorated with figures and machines: on the hour all begin to move. There was an interesting exhibition of Scottish samplers often embroidered by young girls, and other galleries with interactive machinery, Dolly the cloned sheep and much more.
Then the journey home through wind, sleet and rain, with much to remember about our very enjoyable trip to Edinburgh.
Ruth Davies
Holiday Itinerary: December Tour to Edinburgh Featuring ‘Cinderella’
14th – 15th December, 2018
from £289
Tour Highlights
• Christmas lunch in Jedburgh
• Visit to the former Royal Yacht Britannia
• Top-price Dress Circle tickets for Scottish Ballet’s acclaimed production of Cinderella
• Free time for shopping at Edinburgh’s Christmas Market
Friday 14 December 2018
We depart by coach from York and head north, stopping en route for refreshments (not included). We will break our journey with a festive lunch at the Caddy Mann Restaurant in Jedburgh, just over the border in Scotland.
In the afternoon we continue to our hotel on the south side of Edinburgh, the 3-star Best Western Braid Hills Hotel. Character and features are proudly displayed throughout this Victorian building, with distinctive corner towers, amazing stained glass windows and original ornate ceiling cornicing.
In the early evening we transfer to the Festival Theatre, where we will enjoy Scottish Ballet’s performance of Cinderella. In this spectacular production, primary colours burst out of the darkness and billowing ball gowns whisk you into a magical world, while Prokofiev’s irresistibly melodic score shows well-loved characters in a whole new light. Christopher Hampson’s Cinderella is everything you adore about the classic fairy tale – made fresh, funny and touching. We meet Cinderella at the saddest of times, then see her taken for granted by her wicked stepmother and two nasty stepsisters. But there’s no time for despair: Cinderella’s fairy godmother is casting spells on dressmaker spiders, magical roses and a very special glass slipper. Will love conquer loneliness, and light chase away the dark?
Following the show we will return to the hotel.
Saturday 15 December 2018
After breakfast we will transfer to the Ocean Terminal at Leith, the permanent home of the former Royal Yacht Britannia. Built by John Brown & Company on the Clyde in 1953, HMY Britannia served as the royal yacht of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II from 1954 until the new Labour government in 1997 decommissioned her. During her 43-year career, this elegantly proportioned ship travelled more than a million nautical miles around the globe and her last foreign assignment was to convey the last governor of Hong Kong, Chris Patten, and the Prince of Wales back from Hong Kong after its handover to the People's Republic of China on 1 July 1997. The interior of the ship remains exactly as it was when it served both as a venue for trade and diplomatic receptions and as a retreat for the Royal Family, who spent many enjoyable private holidays aboard her, mainly off the west coast of Scotland. The cabins and public rooms are modestly decorated (there are no gold-plated taps here) and the crew’s quarters are rather cramped and Spartan, yet the ship provides a fascinating glimpse into the private life of The Queen and her family. Audio-guides are available.
Following our visit, we transfer to Edinburgh city centre, where you are free to have lunch (not included) and visit some of Edinburgh’s many attractions; such as the Castle, the Royal Mile, the Palace of Holyroodhouse and the National Gallery. Adjacent to the National Gallery in Princes Street Gardens there is a large and vibrant continental-style Christmas market and, of course, a wide range of shops on Princes Street, including the famous Jenner’s department store.
In the afternoon we depart for home, stopping for refreshments (not included) with arrival due at our original departure point in York in the early evening.
Included in the price
• One night’s bed and breakfast at the BW Braids Hills Hotel, Edinburgh
• Festive two-course lunch at The Caddy Mann, Jedburgh
• Comfortable coaching throughout
• Visit to the former Royal Yacht Britannia and free time in Edinburgh
• Top-price tickets for the Scottish Ballet production of Cinderella at the Festival Theatre
• Porterage
• Gratuities
Not included (per person)
• Single room supplement £40.00
• Insurance £18.00 (under 65); £35.00 (65-74); £52.00 (75-90)