By Delta Music Makers and Friends

Jantzen's recommend keeping picnic snacks, napkins, and plastic utensils in your bag for impromptu lunches.  Entries to castles and attractions are generally not included, except where the band is performing. 

Concert details and dates are shown in bold.  Follow the links.

Wallace Monument, Stirling

Sir Walter Scott, Loch Katrine

Glenfiddich Distillery, Dufftown

Bellfield Park, Inverness

Kibble Palace, Glasgow

Blarney, Ramada Golf Resort

St.Stephens Green, Dublin

Tuesday July 31: Fly Vancouver to Glasgow Scotland on Air Transat, 10pm departure, 2:30pm arrival Scotland time (9-10hr flight).  Try to get some sleep on the plane overnight, in preparation for our exciting 18-day tour!

Wed. August 1: arrive Glasgow Airport mid-afternoon, meet our professional, humorous coach driver Mike Hawker, who has become a friend of the band since our previous two European tours with him.  Please load band equipment into the trailer, and all the personal luggage into the bus luggage compartments, then stow your carry-on bags on the racks above your seat.  Seating will be rotated throughout the tour.  Jump on board and we depart Glasgow Airport and immediately drive north to Stirling, Scotland, for 2 nights (we're returning to Glasgow later in the tour).  Stirling grew up around its hilltop castle, historically one of Scotland's most important fortresses. Afternoon/evening free to explore the twisting cobble streets of this hillside town, shopping or researching museums and pubs. You'll also have time for a nap, if desired, since you'll need to be fresh for tomorrow's concert.  Golden Lion Hotel, Stirling, 2 nts, www.thegoldenlionstirling.com

Thursday August 2, CONCERT #1 takes place at 3pm at the historic and elegant Wallace Monument, outside Stirling.  Your morning is free to explore the magnificent Stirling Castle and wander the historic streets of Stirling.   Below the castle, the Old Town is still protected by the original walls, built in the 16th c to keep Mary, Queen of Scots safe from Henry VIII.  Please get back to the hotel in time to change into uniform and depart at 2pm for our 3pm-4pm concert.  After the concert, enjoy the monument and the coffee shop before 5pm departure.  Evening free in Stirling.

Friday August 3:  CONCERT #2 is on the historic steamship Sir Walter Scott.  We’ll depart in uniform at 9am, after breakfast, checkout, and loading.  Our driver Mike will take us a short 35 miles west to the Loch Katrine pier, where we will load our band equipment onto the Sir Walter Scott.  The ship departs at 10:30 and proceeds serenely up the lake to Stronachlachar, before returning to the dock by 12:30.  Performance will likely be one short concert in each direction.  After re-loading the bus, we head north through the Scottish Highlands to Inverness, arriving in late afternoon, and stay 3 nights.   Inverness is the center of commerce for the Scottish Highlands, also famous for its summer floral displays. Best Western Inverness Palace Hotel and Spa, 3 nights, www.bwsitemanager.co.uk

Saturday August 4 CONCERT #3 takes place at the Glenfiddich Distillery in Dufftown at 2pm.  We’ll depart at 9am for a Highlands daytrip, carrying instruments and uniforms! First stop is Culloden Battlefield, where Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Jacobite Rebellion met its end, then, if time, Cawdor Castle in Braveheart country, setting of Shakespeare’s “Macbeth.”  Next the Whiskey Trail: we may stop for lunch at Craigellachie before moving on to the Glenfiddich Distillery in Dufftown. Glenfiddich has enthusiastically invited us to perform in their VIP Suite! Perform first, sample later! Distillery Tour follows our 2pm concert.  We return in the evening to explore Inverness at our leisure.

Sunday August 5 CONCERT #4 at the Bellfield Park Bandstand in central Inverness, a joint concert with the Crown Church Band! Optional morning daytrip departs 9am to go south along the Caledonian Canal to the beautiful waters of Loch Ness, with a stop at Drumnadrochit and the Loch Ness Centre.  Must return by noon, in time for 1pm departure to bandstand and 2pm-3pm concert at Bellfield Park, which is a short drive from our hotel.  After returning, you are free to explore, and of course, there may be an opportunity to socialize with the Crown Church musicians.

Monday August 6  We load our bus and depart Inverness by 10am and drive west to the mysterious Isle of Skye, 90 miles.  We’ll be staying at Kyleakin, just near the Skye Bridge, in the Swallow Kyleakin Hotel.  But we’re not done yet.  An optional afternoon 100-mile trip is offered, continuing northwest across Skye to Dunvegan Castle, home of the McLeod clan, returning late afternoon.  This hotel is the location of the only dinner included in the tour  Swallow Kyleakin Hotel, Kyleakin, Skye, 1 nt.

Tuesday August 7: Today we'll end up at Glasgow, Scotland's largest city, where we'll spend two nights. But what a journey! We'll depart about 9:30am and drive to the SE corner of the island for the Armadale-Mallaig ferry.  At Mallaig,on  the mainland side, you will have the option of taking the famous Hogwarts Express, the steam train used in the Harry Potter movies.  It runs from Mallaig to Fort William, the "most scenic train trip in Scotland!"  Cost: around $40CAD.  It departs 2pm, arriving 4pm in Fort William, where our driver Mike will pick us up and continue on southward to Glasgow.   After a dinner stop en route, we'll probably arrive at the Quality Hotel Glasgow around 8 or 9pm Quality Hotel, Glasgow, 2 nights, www.quality-hotels-glasgow.com

Wed. August 8 CONCERT #5 at Kibble Palace, 2pm: Explore the sights of Glasgow in the morning.  Buy a ticket on the hop-on-hop-off bus tour to take you, with interesting commentary, to such places as George Square, Gallery of Modern Art, Clyde Maritime Centre, Argyle Arcade (Scotland’s first shopping mall), Princes Square, etc. etc.  Please return by noon or so, for a 1pm departure.  We have been invited to perform at Kibble Palace in the Glasgow Botanical Gardens at 2pm-3:30pm.  Members of the Dunbartonshire Concert Band may be present, but this will not be a joint concert due to their holiday schedule.  Following the concert, you are free to continue exploring Glasgow – your hop-on bus ticket will still be good through the evening.  Some of us may choose to socialize with the other musicians.

Thursday August 9: We probably need to depart by 8am this morning to drive the 30 miles from Glasgow to Troon and report to the ferry terminal by 9am.  We are booked on the 10a.m. ferry from Troon Scotland across the sea to Larne, Ireland.  Arriving about noon, we'll look forward to a lengthy, scenic drive north along the Antrim Coast.  It is about 60 miles to The Giant's Causeway, that famous geological phenomena that has spawned myriad legends, then about 120 miles to Sligo via Londonderry. Our destination is Markree Castle, near Sligo!  Check out its website: www.markreecastle.ie to learn it's fascinating history.  Prepare for a dinner experience that will be elegant and relatively expensive.  Other choices might be to share a taxi to nearby Collooney, or stock up on groceries earlier and have a sandwich in your room instead. A previous visitor says “If you are looking for a 'real' castle experience this is the place for you. It exhudes old world charm unlike some of the more modern, over-done castle hotels. If you are looking for luxary and the five-star experiece you'd be best elsewhere but the Markree is warm, friendly and relaxing. I was sad when they couldn't accommodate me for longer because of a wedding coming in... but what a place to get married.” Markree Castle, near Sligo, 1 night only.

Friday August 10 Some may choose to relax and enjoy the morning at the castle, while others take an optional trip to the Beleek Pottery Centre, 30 miles north, departing 9am, returning to Markree Castle around noon in time for checkout. Since we could only book one night at the castle, we must depart this lovely fortress by 1pm and head southwest to the Welcome Inn Hotel in Castlebar, County Mayo, about 40 miles southwest, arriving about 2pm.  Golfing, horse-riding and other activities are available at the hotel, though booking ahead via the website might be a good idea. Traditional Irish music is featured in the pub. Welcome Inn Hotel, Mayo, 1 night.  www.castlebar.mayo-ireland.ie/WelcInn.htm

Saturday August 11: A full day's drive south takes us to Limerick, with two very interesting stops en route: the Galway Crystal Factory, where your delightful purchases and Xmas presents can be shipped home at nominal expense, and the Cliffs of Moher, the dramatic cliffs on Ireland's west coast.  Have your cameras ready!  Arriving late afternoon in Limerick, we'll spend three nights at the Jury’s Inn, an excellent base for exploring southwest Ireland.  Limerick is the third largest Irish city, founded by the Vikings because of its strategic location on the River Shannon. It's history includes various episodes of siege, occupation, and heroic battle through the ages.  Your evening is free to explore. Jurys Inn, Limerick, 3 nights.

Sunday August 12 CONCERT #6 at the Blarney Ramada Hotel and Golf Resort this evening.  Bring your uniforms, and don’t forget your shirt and shoes!  We depart at 11am for our exciting daytrip. Our first stop is the thatched Village of Adare, a definite Kodak Moment!  Around 2pm, we’ll depart Adare and our driver Mike will take us south 50 miles to Blarney.  Here you’ll have three hours to kiss the Blarney Stone, and roam the famous castle, its grounds, the  Blarney Woolen Mills shops, and the village.  At 5pm we board our bus and Mike will take us to the Ramada Golf Resort, 3 miles out of town.  The Blarney Brass and Reed Band has made the following arrangements:  “A 3course or 4 course meal with choice of main course for 40 persons in their bar area is booked for your group.  I will be getting the menu which you can choose from or decide what you would like on this menu shortly.( price will be 30euro to 40euro per person depending on what choice you make). The time for your meal is also at your choice , I presume you will need it around 5ish. Locker rooms for your personal effects and to change into uniforms are at your disposal , they also have shower facilites if required, this is all available in the same building just downstairs from where you have your meal. Just beside the bar is the room in which we will have our concert.” 

Our joint concert will run 7:30-9pm, with Pevensey once again as the massed number.  We’ll arrive back at the Jury’s Inn in Limerick by 11pm.

Monday August 13 You have the option of doing one of two daytrips today, or just staying in Limerick. OPTION #1:Some people may want a bus-free day exploring Bunratty Castle and Folk Park.  You would need to arrange your own transportation via taxi or public bus.  Built in the 15c, this formidable castle is one of Ireland's major attractions.  The castle tour is extremely interesting.  On the grounds of the castle is the Bunratty Folk Park, a meticulous recreation of historic rural life in Ireland.  Entry fee is 14euros for both.  NOTE: you will need to arrange your own transportation to and from Bunratty Castle, via taxi or public bus, in your own time.  

OPTION #2: Those who wish to see more of Ireland can join Mike on a 200-mile tour through southwest Ireland to the isolated, scenic Dingle Peninsula, departing at 11am.  Bring a picnic lunch. Possible stops include such delightful sites as the iron age Dunbeg Fort, Slea Head, the Blasket Centre at Dunquin, and the village of Ballyferriter.  We hope to stop for early dinner at Tom Crean’s South Pole Inn at Annascaul.  Tom Crean was with Shackleton through his famous, miraculous adventure at the South Pole. As well as being a great pub, it is full of Shackleton memorabilia. We’ll return to Limerick in the evening.

Tuesday August 14 CONCERT #7: After early breakfast and checkout, we leave Limerick at 9am to drive across Ireland on the N7 to Dublin.  At noon our first Dublin stop will be St. Stephen’s Green, where we give our FINAL CONCERT OF THE TOUR  at 1pm-2pm.  When packing up after this concert, please help prepare all instruments and band equipment for the flight home next Friday.  This may require bubble wrap, tape, straps, and careful attention to detail. Later, we'll check into the Jury's Custom House, on the River Liffey within easy walking distance of city attractions and shopping.  Dublin is one of Europe's most interesting cities, with it's rich history of Celtic, Viking, Norman, and English occupations, all leaving their mark on the culture and architecture. Your evening, plus all day tomorrow, is free to explore this vibrant, historic city.  Several companies offer pub/music tours (we appreciate any research you might care to share on this subject).    Jury's Custom House Inn, Dublin, 2 nights.

Wed. August 15: Total free day and evening to explore Dublin.  This is a great city to explore on foot or on transit.  Curt and Jhandie recommend getting a ticket on the hop-on hop-off bus tour that will take you to all the main sites of Dublin, including Trinity College (the Book of Kells), Dublin Castle, the Temple Bar area, and the many cathedrals and galleries.  The drivers give excellent commentary, and you may get off at any attraction and reboard a later bus to continue your tour.  Tours of the Guiness Brewery and Jamiesons Distillery are recommended.  By the end of the day you'll be able to make informed pub choices!  Several companies offer pub/music tours.

Thursday August 16: Today we say goodbye to Ireland, departing the hotel about 10:30am to catch the 12:15 ferry.  This is the "Dublin Swift" that will take us across the Irish Sea to Holyhead in Wales in under 2 hours, arriving about 2pm.  A 2 hour drive across the north coast of Wales brings us into Chester, England, our favourite walled-city from the 1999 tour, for our final night. Walk the wall!  Possible evening concert. Our hotel is near the Queen's Hotel where we stayed in 1999. Beforehand, try a “virtual” stroll around Chester's famous defensive wall at this link www.chesterwalls.info/

Best Western Westminster Hotel, Chester, 1nt

Friday August 17: After a free morning to explore Chester, most of our group will head home.  Please meet at the bus at noon with instruments when our driver Mike will take us 32 miles to Manchester Airport for our 4pm flight to Vancouver, arriving 5:30pm.  Others will continue on with their UK explorations and family visits.  We must set a date for a photo party, so we can relive all the good times!  See you at band rehearsal on Tuesday, September 18.  Note: assistance will be needed from everyone at Manchester Airport to help divvy up the band equipment between fewer passengers heading home.  Note: Colin Hull has agreed, and would welcome additional help, to meet us with a van at the Vancouver Airport to carry the band equipment to someone's garage, to be stored for a week or two until all the participants come home and claim their instruments and equipment.

HERE’S LOOKING FORWARD TO A WONDERFUL MUSICAL ADVENTURE WITH ALL OUR GOOD FRIENDS!

For further information email or telephone our
TOUR LEADERS:    Curt Jantzen & Hugh Martell

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