This year Scotland celebrates its wonderful culinary heritage, it’s fresh and delicious produce and its world beating whisky and spirits.
Whether you are enjoying seafood straight out of the sea, fresh berries straight off the bush or sampling whisky right where it is made – you will encounter a vibrant foodie movement and a farm to table mentality.
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From a plate of freshly caught fish, enjoyed whilst taking in the beautiful scenery of the Orkney Islands, to an adventure picking wild berries on a trip to the Scottish Borders, to trying a genuine Arbroath smokie or Aberdeen buttery - a wealth of delicious food experiences await you that connect you to the land, to the people and to the traditions of Scotland.
You will discover great food and drink wherever you go - but if you want to focus your vacation on gourmet delights there are a number of “trails” for you to follow. For example - discover the West Coast Seafood Trail that takes in some of Scotland’s finest seafood restaurants where guests can enjoy a catch of the day whilst watching the fishermen come back from sea and bring in their haul. The Trail winds its way through Argyll and explores the rugged coastline, lochs and unspoiled countryside – all of which make the seafood taste so exceptional.
Or how about trying The Picnic Butler? The Picnic Butler is an exclusive experience offered by Forest Holidays at their two Scottish locations at Ardgartan in Argyll, and Strathyre in Perthshire. Each location is nestled in the natural luxury of breath taking Forestry Commission land, on the edge of stunning lochs and surrounded by dramatic mountains. The Picnic Butler will take guests out to extra special places at each location to experience a picnic of local produce. The Picnic Butler, who is an experienced forest ranger, will also offer guidance on foraging, making fires, spotting wildlife and outdoor survival – creating brilliant moments you will remember for a lifetime.
Glasgow and Edinburgh, of course, offer a huge range of tremendous experiences from Michelin Star chefs to boutique distilleries and craft beer pubs. For instance you can visit Edinburgh Gin and tour the distillery where two stills, curiously named Flora and Caledonia, weave their magic. Caledonia is a tall, elegant column still. Flora is a 200 year old rotund pot still. Both create wonderfully individual gins that taste as spectacular as the equipment used to create them. You can even book a 3hr Gin Making Experience with a tutored tasting session and opportunity to learn how to create your own special gin.
Air Canada rouge have great value, seasonal non stop flights to get you to Edinburgh. Once you are there - Air Canada Vacations can arrange your hotel accommodation in over 150 hotels right across Scotland, car rental and a wide choice of shorter excursions and activities as well as tours that take you beyond Edinburgh to explore the Highlands and Islands of Scotland. Ask your Travel Agent to help make your reservations or check out www.aircanada.com and www.aircanadavacations.com.
Air Canada Rouge
Air Canada rouge service launched on July 1 2013 with a product specifically tailored to the leisure markets that offers competitively priced travel. Air Canada rouge offers service to Europe, the Caribbean and US Sun routes. Edinburgh was the first new Europe route and it is the only non stop flight from Toronto to Edinburgh.
The onboard service is designed to make every flight a great start and end to a wonderful vacation. The rouge crew is trained in Customer Service Excellence at the Disney Institute to create memorable moments for customers and a relaxed atmosphere on board.
There are 3 comfort options – rouge, rouge plus with extra leg room and Premium rouge.
Premium rouge customers enjoy a selection of premium meals served on fine porcelain dishes. All alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages are complimentary. Customers in rouge and rouge Plus enjoy a complimentary hot meal, non-alcoholic beverages and tasty snacks when travelling to and from Europe. Johnny Walker Black Label is the Scotch Whisky available throughout the cabin. And Air Canada are one of the first airlines in North America to have wireless streaming service for in flight entertainment on your Apple or Android devices.
There are up to 5 flights per week, running seasonally from June 16 to October 14, 2015. Flights depart Tues, Thurs, Fri and Sun – and the frequent flights allow for flexible durations from as little as 4 days (perfect for a golf weekend) to 10 or more days. Add this to Air Canada’s network of connecting flights within Canada, that includes Montreal amongst 61 other Canadian cities, and you have the ultimate flexibility in your schedule.
Air Canada Vacations
Air Canada Vacations offers over 30 day excursions from Edinburgh, including walking tours, Castle admission tickets to Edinburgh Castle, Linlithgow Palace and Stirling, a St. Andrews Day Trip, a Scottish Highlands Day trip, a visit to The Royal Yacht Britannia, a Bus and Boat Tour and more!
In keeping with Scotland’s Year of Food and Drink – take one of Air Canada Vacation’s `Whisky Tasting Day Trips from Edinburgh` to visit to tour two distilleries and sample aged whisky crafted by masters. Stop at the Glengoyne Distillery and the Deanston Distillery - touted as the most environmentally friendly of all the distilleries in Scotland, as it gets all its power from the hydroelectric generators left from the old cotton mill days.
Or how about their Edinburgh Chocolate Walking Tour. If you are tempted by Edinburgh's array of chocolatiers and confectioners but don't know where to start you can head out on a 2.5-hour chocolate walking tour of the city, and savour seven sugary samples in some of the city's finest dessert boutiques.
Here are examples of just three of the longer tours that you can book with Air Canada Vacations:
“Over the Sea to Skye” City and Coach Tour
9 day / 7 night package
Inclusions:
- Roundtrip flights from Canada
- Transfers upon arrival and departure between hotel and airport
- 5 night accommodation in Edinburgh
- 1 day Hop On Hop Off ticket
- 3 day/2 night tour to the Highlands via motor-coach transportation, including 1 overnight in Skye and 1 overnight in Loch Ness
- Breakfast daily
“Braveheart to Nessie” City and Coach Tour
7 days / 5 nights package
Inclusions:
- Roundtrip flights from Canada
- Transfers upon arrival and departure between hotel and airport
- 4 night accommodation in Edinburgh
- 1 day Hop On Hop Off ticket
- 2 day/1 night tour to the Highlands via motor-coach transportation, including 1 overnight in Loch Ness
- Breakfast daily
“Classical Scotland” Fly Drive vacation
9 days / 7 nights
Inclusions:
- Roundtrip flights
- 7 night accommodation (2 night Edinburgh, 2 nights Oban, 1 night Skye, 1 night Inverness, 1 night Perthshire)
- 8 day car rental
- Breakfast daily staying at traditional B&Bs.