Coach tour from Oxford to Scotland?
Mar 21st, 2013, 03:01 PM
#1
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Coach tour from Oxford to Scotland?
After spending a week in Oxford I would like to travel for 3-4 days in Scotland. As a woman traveling alone I would like to arrange a tour (departing from Oxford would be lovely) and am more interested in the Highlands (or Hebrides?) rather than Edinburgh. Any suggestions?
Mar 21st, 2013, 03:47 PM
#2
Few if any tours of Scotland would originate in Oxford . . .
You will have a MUCH easier time of things if you take the train on your own to Glasgow or Edinburgh (preferably Edinburgh) and then take a tour w/ either Rabbies or Timberbush.
www.rabbies.com
http://www.timberbush-tours.co.uk/
Few if any tours of Scotland would originate in Oxford . . .
You will have a MUCH easier time of things if you take the train on your own to Glasgow or Edinburgh (preferably Edinburgh) and then take a tour w/ either Rabbies or Timberbush.
www.rabbies.com
http://www.timberbush-tours.co.uk/
Few if any tours of Scotland would originate in Oxford . . .
Mar 21st, 2013, 11:29 PM
#3
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"Few if any tours of Scotland would originate in Oxford"
On the contrary. Coach tours ostensibly originating from provincial cities constitute a hugely thriving industry in Britain, as the population ages and the number of people wanting short, companionable breaks but don't want to drive grows massively. It's fuddy-duddy industries aimed at the fast-collapsing young person market that are in trouble.
Many of them depend on partnerships with local newspapers, and the monopoly Oxford paid-for paper group partners with Newmarket Holidays (http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/holidays/). But there are others, sometimes partnering with freesheets and sometimes working through local brick and mortar travel agents. Google terms like "Oxford departure coach tour" to unearth them.
But they take time. From smaller cities, you're shuttled to a motorway service station to catch a connection (at some times of the week, there'll be dozens of coaches swapping passengers), so a lot of those 4 days goes on getting there and back. And they usually concentrate on places easily got to, so the Hebrides are unlikely to be on their list (to be honest you're probably better for that with a specialist cruise operator like Hebridean Princess).
There are now scheduled flights from Oxford to Edinburgh (www.minoanair.com) and you may well find the best use of your time is to use them, and pick up a tour from there.
On the contrary. Coach tours ostensibly originating from provincial cities constitute a hugely thriving industry in Britain, as the population ages and the number of people wanting short, companionable breaks but don't want to drive grows massively. It's fuddy-duddy industries aimed at the fast-collapsing young person market that are in trouble.
Many of them depend on partnerships with local newspapers, and the monopoly Oxford paid-for paper group partners with Newmarket Holidays (http://www.oxfordmail.co.uk/holidays/). But there are others, sometimes partnering with freesheets and sometimes working through local brick and mortar travel agents. Google terms like "Oxford departure coach tour" to unearth them.
But they take time. From smaller cities, you're shuttled to a motorway service station to catch a connection (at some times of the week, there'll be dozens of coaches swapping passengers), so a lot of those 4 days goes on getting there and back. And they usually concentrate on places easily got to, so the Hebrides are unlikely to be on their list (to be honest you're probably better for that with a specialist cruise operator like Hebridean Princess).
There are now scheduled flights from Oxford to Edinburgh (www.minoanair.com) and you may well find the best use of your time is to use them, and pick up a tour from there.
Mar 22nd, 2013, 01:34 AM
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As well as the tours organised by local operators which Flanner detailed, there are some country-wide coach tour companies. One of these is Shearings (http://www.shearings.com).
Mar 22nd, 2013, 01:38 PM
#5
I know there are coach tours aimed at OAPs from everywhere. I guess my point was to get to the Highlands/Islands from Oxford makes very little sense when there are many really terrific small group tours starting from Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Flying up would be fine, but IMO the train would be easier since the trains go to Waverly Station . . . and the tours mostly leave from Waverly Bridge.
Flying up would be fine, but IMO the train would be easier since the trains go to Waverly Station . . . and the tours mostly leave from Waverly Bridge.
Mar 23rd, 2013, 03:27 PM
#6
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Sincere thanks for the replies - consensus seems to be get to Edinburgh as quickly as possible to maximize the time spent in Scotland. I have checked out both Rabbies and Timberbush and they have options that are appealing.
