Award-winning Scottish tour specialist Brightwater Holidays (www.brightwaterholidays.com, 01334 766062) has made its best-selling Classic Scottish Steam Break more accessible than ever thanks to the addition of a new, alternative itinerary that includes return flights from London's Luton airport as standard.

The original version of this popular itinerary has pick-up points in Scotland, but the new iteration will open this holiday up to guests in central and southern England with the inclusion of return flights from London along with options for departures from regional airports, such as Southampton, Bristol, Birmingham, Belfast International Airport and Gatwick, which will be available at a supplement.

The hotel for this tour will be the charming 4* Stirling Highland Hotel, situated in the heart of this historic city of the same name. The hotel is a restored Victorian-style school dating from 1854 and is just minutes on foot from the 12th century Stirling Castle. Facilities include an extensive spa and fitness suite with four treatment rooms, a 17-metre indoor heated swimming pool, sauna, steam room and gym.

Highlights on the short but full itinerary, which combines Scotland's beautiful landscapes with a healthy dose of nostalgia for the golden age of travel, include a ride on the Falkirk Wheel boat lift, the first of its kind in the world; a journey aboard the Jacobite steam train on the 84-mile Fort William to Mallaig line, which includes the Glenfinnan Viaduct; a cruise on the world's last seagoing paddle steamer, the PS Waverley; and a scenic yet informative cruise on Loch Katrine, amid the spectacular scenery of the Trossachs.

This four-day tour departs on 6th July and 18th August 2023, and prices start from £895pp. There is a low single supplement of just £120pp and the price includes return flights from London, accommodation throughout at the 4* Stirling Highland Hotel, all visits as per the itinerary, a Tour Manager to accompany the trip, all local travel aboard a private coach, and all breakfasts and dinners – leaving lunches free for guests to explore local flavours on their travels. View the tour here.

Brightwater Holidays has been operating its Classic Scottish Steam Break for over a quarter of a century now. The company has taken over 10,000 guests on this memorable tour across just over 300 departures, and Brightwater estimates that between them, their guests have travelled over 840,000 miles on the Jacobite alone. This tour has previously been featured in an article by Good Housekeeping and The Scottish Sun.

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For further media information, please contact Martha Bernardo: martha@specialistjourneys.com

Notes to Editors: Brightwater Holidays celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2022 and is a well-established specialist in quality, escorted garden holidays and scenic Scottish tours. The company won Gold at the 2021/22 British Travel Awards for Best Travel Company for Coach Holidays, and it has achieved several other accolades over the years. 

The holidays offered by Brightwater feature visits to a selection of the finest gardens in the UK, Ireland, Europe and worldwide, as well as the opportunity to see plants in their natural habitat. Itineraries have been carefully crafted and timed to ensure that gardens are looking their best, and special features of the holidays often include guided tours with garden owners or designers, visits to private gardens and exclusive behind-the-scenes visits. As well as benefiting from an experienced Brightwater tour manager, there are often specialist hosts on the tours. It also has a dedicated Private Groups service, with Private Groups Manager Jenni Duncan being shortlisted for Group Leisure & Travel's Excellence Award in 2021.