6
Cultural liaisonS
Bespoke tours designed to enrich memories
About Us
To tour with Cultural liaisonS is to make an investment in your personal bank of rich reflections
We envisage each tour to be the equivalent of a top-quality, artistically produced coffee-table book; with the added advantage of your tour taking you to witness the locations and venues at the most opportune time - giving you your own intimate involvement
The aspiration anchoring the design of each of ours tours is to enhance understanding and excite curiosity; enriching the tour’s pleasures and experiences with informed commentaries given by charismatic communicators
Defining the difference.....
There is one imperative central to every tour which Cultural liaisonS offers; it has to have something which will make it ‘extra special’ to its tour members. Should that essential ingredient not be found, then the tour never proceeds beyond the planning stage
There is, in addition, the definitive ‘extra special’ that descriptions cannot capture - the ‘distinctiveness’ which our regulars regard as epitomising Cultural liaisonS
This perception gives our tour members a relaxed contentment, knowing that the tour has been meticulously planned, has charismatic communicators, is rich in added value and is being accompanied by a Tour Director dedicated to ensuring the group’s utmost satisfaction
Our central tenet of liaising
Each year we present just four-to-six tours, each designed to reflect the wishes and interests of our regular travellers - and, we trust, prove also persuasive to newcomers to Cultural liaisonS
g Each tour is the product of three sensitively honed stages:
~~~~Taking the suggestions and proposals of our ‘regulars’ often as our starting point, we have an intensive research phrase
c From this, we craft our bespoke dimension to ensure we best accord with the personal interests, level of energy and travel preferences of each group’s likely participants
c We then take the tour to our cardinal liaising stage - our central tenet - whereby we fine-tune the programme with our selected service providers - the hotels, transport companies, venues and guide
And the liaising continues until the completion of the tour; the Cultural liaisonS’ tour- manager travelling with you, acting on the group’s behalf to cover every detail in our quest to excel and ensure your complete satisfaction
Introducing our Tour Ambassadors......
Each tour is enhanced by illumination from one or several quality guides - ensuring informed experiences, local perspectives and enhancing your pleasure
A witty anecdote, meticulous preparation, discovering hidden gems, taking us ‘beyond doors’; all make for the extra-special tour guide
Someone whose company puts you at ease, who engages your curiosity and whose judgement you know you can trust are the qualities of a chosen local companion
g We don’t simply book guides - we seek charismatic communicators who combine all the above qualities and are passionate advocates of their region; these are our Tour Ambassador
....... Our hotels
g Our hotels are carefully selected for their prized ambience and idyllic settings - often with sea or landscaped views - along with their appropriateness as an ideal location as a base for our tour itinerary
g We mainly select ‘4-star’ or ‘3-star-superior’ family-owned hotels which prize their individuality and reputation for service, excellent local food and friendly atmosphere
g Unless otherwise stated, each tour includes half-board accommodation offering a cooked breakfast and a dinner menu of a minimum of three courses, with three choices per course. Accommodation is in twin/double en-suite bedrooms along with, at a supplement, a sole-occupancy option
.....Peace of mind
Financial responsibility is taken very conscientiously by Cultural liaisonS. The tour meets the EU regulatory conditions pertaining to package tours. In accordance with The Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Regulations 2018 all passengers booking with Cultural Liaisons Ltd are fully protected for all monies paid to us, including repatriation if required, arising from cancellation or curtailment of your travel arrangements due to the unlikely insolvency of Cultural Liaisons Ltd. This insurance has been arranged by International Passenger Protection Limited and underwritten by Insurers who are members of the Association of British Insurers
2021
We decided way-back before experiencing the lock-downs that we would not visit Europe in 2021, recognising that the consequences of the Brexit debacle would inevitably lead to queues, delays, restrictions and higher costs of insurance, along with local tourist taxes
The first part of the year saw the 'opening up' to the prospect of travel frustratingly delayed, leading to the cancellation of both our planned tours to Scotland. And with the long delays came, more and more, an increasing feeling of vulnerability; we found ourselves edging quickly away from any small cluster of persons walking nearby and looking for the safest time to shop. As the months added up, we yearned for a coffee with a friend but became ever-more anxious about joining the smallest of queues. The city-centre weekend became much less inviting than a rural retreat. It was the autumn before our only tour of the year when we enjoyed a week of spring-like weather on our tour of Cornwall
2022
With this desire to tread tentatively still reflected in our incoming emails and 'phone conversations, we are delighted to confirm that our two cancelled Islands of Scotland tours now have confirmed dates for 2022. The glitter on the sea, the silence of the forest, the serenity of the mountains, hills and glens along with the space and beauty of nature will sooth our lingering virus-induced agitation!
Our tours to island-communities have always been amongst the most fondly remembered by our CulturalliaisonS-ers and therefore an island focus for our 2022 programme soon became central to our planning. Social-distancing comes easily on the islands of Scotland and gives us flexibility to best respond to the uncertainty we face as to how 'normal' will be the new normal
And it doesn’t mean that our geographical horizons are necessarily narrower - one of our tours take us to the same latitude as St Petersberg and from our hotel - for a bird flying in a straight line - Norway is only half the distance to that of London
Additionally, we intend to offer two nearer to home tours. Details are yet to be confirmed, but one will be to Suffolk and the surrounding area
2021
We decided way-back before experiencing the lock-downs that we would not visit Europe in 2021, recognising that the consequences of the Brexit debacle would inevitably lead to queues, delays, restrictions and higher costs of insurance, along with local tourist taxes
The first part of the year saw the 'opening up' to the prospect of travel frustratingly delayed, leading to the cancellation of both our planned tours to Scotland. And with the long delays came, more and more, an increasing feeling of vulnerability; we found ourselves edging quickly away from any small cluster of persons walking nearby and looking for the safest time to shop. As the months added up, we yearned for a coffee with a friend but became ever-more anxious about joining the smallest of queues. The city-centre weekend became much less inviting than a rural retreat. It was the autumn before our only tour of the year when we enjoyed a week of spring-like weather on our tour of Cornwall
2022
With this desire to tread tentatively still reflected in our incoming emails and 'phone conversations, we are delighted to confirm that our two cancelled Islands of Scotland tours now have confirmed dates for 2022. The glitter on the sea, the silence of the forest, the serenity of the mountains, hills and glens along with the space and beauty of nature will sooth our lingering virus-induced agitation!
Our tours to island-communities have always been amongst the most fondly remembered by our CulturalliaisonS-ers and therefore an island focus for our 2022 programme soon became central to our planning. Social-distancing comes easily on the islands of Scotland and gives us flexibility to best respond to the uncertainty we face as to how 'normal' will be the new normal
And it doesn’t mean that our geographical horizons are necessarily narrower - one of our tours take us to the same latitude as St Petersberg and from our hotel - for a bird flying in a straight line - Norway is only half the distance to that of London
Additionally, we intend to offer two nearer to home tours. Details are yet to be confirmed, but one will be to Suffolk and the surrounding area
Scotland's West; Islands, Coast and Waterways May 09 - 16
Grounds of our hotel in Scotland
Day 1 Transfer to Scotland
Our tour has the bonus of being set in an easy to reach region of Scotland. Whereas most programmes to Scotland require an en-route overnight stay, on this tour we arrive at our hotel - after a scenically-rewarding drive through Cumbria and the Borders - with time to relax before dinner
Our coach leaves Abergavenny at 09.00 and has two further en-route meet up points, Tewkesbury and Cheltenham. Interspersed with three comfort breaks, our actual 'on the move' driving time is about six hours
Day 2 Footsteps of Charles Renee Macintosh
Enjoy a full-day focusing on the craftsmanship of Charles Renee Macintosh, the pioneering Glaswegian architect, designer and artist
In the company of our specialist guide, our tour of the city will evaluate Mackintosh’s life and influences, visiting some of his most famous works and lesser known treasures along the way
Mackintosh famously designed several tearooms in Glasgow for local businesswoman Catherine Cranston, with the first at 217 Sauchiehall Street. We enjoy afternoon tea at the iconic Willow Tearooms, now sensitively restored to the original 1903 designs
Day 3 Scotland's Inland Waterway
Scotland’s canals are some of the most famous and historic in Great Britain. Discovering their heritage and changing roles, we take a boat trip on the Falkirk Wheel, the world’s only rotating boat lift which links two canals, one 35 metres above the other
Our canal homage continues with a visit to the Kelpies, where we go inside the 30 metres high horse-head sculptures which stand alongside a new extension to the Forth and Clyde Canal
Scottish lochs are rich in majestic landscapes, history, Gaelic myths and legends - ensuring a magical trip through their landscapes
Our tour then takes us to Loch Lomond, the largest loch in Britain, where we enjoy an afternoon cruise with a background commentary from Neil Oliver, the Scottish archaeologist, historian and broadcaster
Day 4
The second island to be visited is the Isle of Arran, which we reach after a 55-minutes ferry crossing from the mainland
Known as 'Scotland in miniature', Arran has the famous Highland Fault Line running through it; thereby giving, in the north of the island, rugged mountains with granite peaks and deep glens which dramatically contrasts with the softer landscape, glorious beaches and rolling hills of the southNew paragraph
Our guided full-day richly scenic circular tour of the 56 miles around its coastline experiences dramatic peaks, sweeping glens and verdant forests. Expect to witness red squirrels, golden eagles, red deer, otters and seals.
All the other days of the tour take us away from the mainland on full-day guided explorations of the Firth of Clyde islands of Bute and Arran
Day 5 Isle of Bute Exploration
We are met at our hotel by our specialist guide for today. Just a 35-minute ferry crossing takes us to the tranquil island of Bute
Only 15 miles long and 5 miles wide, it is rich with history, culture and wildlife. The Guardian described the Isle of Bute as 'an absolute bute of an island' that "could just have it all"
For such a compact island, Bute has some extraordinarily varied landscapes. Our guided full-day exploration takes us through the lush, fertile and rolling hills of the island's heart to the craggy, heather-covered moorlands of the north and the delightful sandy beaches and bays around the coastline. Admire historic Rothesay Castle, the island’s guardian since the 12th-century, and experience the serenity of St Blane’s Chapel, one of the earliest Christian sites in Scotland
In the afternoon, we explore Mount Stuart, the fairy-tale home of the Marquess of Bute. Regarded by many as Britain’s most astounding Victorian mansion, the house and its 300 acres of gardens reflect the artistic, religious and astrological interests of the 3rd Marquess, remembered as a scholar, historian, archaeologist, romantic, mystic and one of the greatest patrons of the arts of the Victorian era
Day 6
After breakfast we leave for our Cotswolds and Gateway to Wales set-downs.
A leisurely scenic drive - with en-route lunch stop and comfort breaks - brings us home just after tea-time.
Our Services
Consulting
Sales
