Recent news about the likely success of the vaccination quest and the start of the roll-out programme appears encouraging, especially as most CulturalliaisonS-ers are in the first of the priority- group categories
We’re looking forward to touring with you again and have been busy making preparations so that when you feel the time is right, Cultural liaisonS will have tours ready to offer
Consequently, we already have some no-commitment ‘holding’ arrangements in place, particularly with hotels and ferries. At present, these options include new dates for the two Scotland tours postponed from 2020 and an October tour to Cornwall
Our central precept in planning for 2021, has been to source dates as far into the year as possible to give us the best chances of not only the tours taking place but also being a comforting reassurance as we begin the return to normal. With this 'window of dates' as our template, we have curated three tour themes which ensure each tour visits its location at the optimum time to best capture its magic and distinctiveness
As coronavirus has wreaked its havoc, Scotland's offshore communities acted fast to insulate themselves, halting ferry and air arrivals for all but the most essential travellers. Consequently, given their unique offshore geography, some experts believe that Britain's northern archipelagos are amongst the most well-placed for an accelerated return to relative normality
Our tours to island communities have always been amongst the most fondly remembered by our Cultural liaisonS-ers and therefore an island focus for our 2021 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
The return to normal is likely to be a step-by-step gradual process and lies behind our choosing an autumn date for our third tour. With the hectic hosting of the G7 completed and the summer-crowds gloriously missing, we shall enjoy an exploration of the gems of Cornwall
Not that our island theme is lost on our autumn tour. Cornwall is quintessentially a maritime region. Almost an island - joined to Devon by less than four miles - it is surrounded by water and nowhere in the region is farther than twenty-five miles from the sea. We shall discover a distinct identity that has a lot more in common with the Northern Isles of Orkney and Shetland than its neighbours across the Tamar
With each day seemingly introducing both new possibilities but also fresh doubts into our daily life, all we can be ‘certain’ of is that ‘uncertainty’ will abound over the coming months. While we all looking forward to a holiday, we are unable confidently to envisage one; where to go, what will be open to visit and what restrictions will appertain.
With holidays in mind, what each of us is likely to feel comfortable with changes with the news reports of the day; not the most stable of ground as, with my Cultural liaisonS’ cap on, I’m constantly fine-tuning the itineraries to reflect every medical and government pronouncement.
It is with this backcloth that we present early details of our 2021 Tours.
Fortunately, we decided way-back that we would not visit Europe in 2021. The consequences of the Brexit debacle will inevitably lead to queues, delays, restrictions and higher costs of insurance, along with local tourist taxes
This doesn’t mean that our geographical horizons are necessarily narrower - one of our tour's hotels is at the same latitude as St Petersberg and - for a bird flying in a straight line - Norway is only half the distance to that of going to London!
Our tours to island-communities have always been amongst the most fondly-remembered by our CulturalliaisonS-ers and, therefore, an island focus for our 2021 programme soon became central to our planning. Social-distancing comes easily on the islands of Scotland and gives us flexibility best to respond to the uncertainty we face as to how 'normal' will be the new normal. And, intriguingly, this island-identity is central to our tour to Cornwall
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 Day 1 at our hotel - after a scenically-rewarding drive through Cumbria and the Borders - with time to relax before dinner
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.
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
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.
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 south
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. Also included today is a visit to the Isle of Arran Distillery, where we shall have lunch, followed by a tour of the distillery and a taste of the finished product
Our first LiaisonS-link received a warm welcome, though I'm yet to receive some of the promised contributions!
Particularly pleasing was the nostalgic wave it provoked amongst our long-term regulars, leading to some emails and 'phone calls wistfully remembering favourite hotels and fondly-recalled guides. Often, the reflection led to "I wonder what has happened in the intervening years....."
This encouraged me to some browsing on the web and I had intended to share some of my discoveries in this update - but time is pressing and I'll keep it for next time. Likewise, some of our more 'recent regulars' were surprised to discover we had regularly included river cruises in our yearly portfolios and they wondered what else has been different from today.
Twenty-four years have seen not only much continuity but some unique opportunities have come our way; like when - at the end of a cruise to Russia and Finland - we found ourselves on an 'unplanned' journey on the "Concorde of the seas"! O.K. details either next time or perhaps over dinner when we next meet up
The photograph in LiaisonS-link 1 of the catamaran-type river boat proved of great interest. It not only evoked much nostalgia from the long-termers who joined us on its Danube cruise but whetted the curiosity of others as to its design. Being dual-hulled it was the widest boat on the Danube, thereby offering cabins of a much bigger size than any other boat when introduced in 1986, a record not surpassed since. She was the flagship of the Peter Deilmann line and the first river-boat officially to have the deluxe 5-star rating
Those of us who travelled on her still talk of the nine-course evening dining!
Thanks also to those who recalled some 'characters' who graced our tours, reminding me that the mother and father of author Lee Child were regulars for many years as was the aunt of another crime writer, Colin Dexter
Some recollections of our tour 'characters' must, in the interests of privacy, remain in the emails (!) but I can share one - about a lady who had completed the booking form’s 'name by which you wish to be known' with the entry "Miss Smith" (though I've here substituted one common short surname with another)'.
This lady took me aside at breakfast one morning to vehemently complain that her previous evening's fruit-salad dessert was "nothing but chopped apples". I duly accompanied her to Reception where they telephoned through to their lady head-of-restaurant to join us. With a puzzled look, she arrived, listened to the complaint, then said, "But madam, our dessert-table is buffet-style, the fruit salad made up of several glass bowls, each of a different fruit. You must have taken from only one bowl! "Miss Smith stalked off muttering, "It should be made more clear!"
