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An Incentive Scottish Voyage of Discovery
for BITS
May 2004
80 pax
For many of your guests this may be their first visit to our country and our aim is to offer them an opportunity to sample the very best that Scotland has to offer making this an unforgettable experience.
Day 1
Experience Scotland airport representatives will be on duty all day to coordinate arrivals & transportation.
Our Programme Manager will oversee all arrangements from arrival to departure.
A brief transfer takes guests to the Marriott Dalmahoy Golf and Country Club Hotel where a private room is set up for their check-in.
The Marriott Dalmahoy is set in 1000 acres of wooded parkland at the foot of the Pentland Hills. Guests can enjoy extensive leisure facilities including indoor heated pool, fully equipped gymnasium, sauna, steam room and much more. In addition, there are two golf courses - the championship East and challenging West course - and a 12 bay floodlit driving range with full PGA teaching facilities. The hotel is located 3 miles from Edinburgh International Airport and 7 miles from Edinburgh city centre.
This evening guests enjoy a welcome drinks reception followed by dinner in a private suite.
Overnight at Dalmahoy
Day 2
After a delicious Scottish breakfast guests proceed to their conference room for the morning meeting, followed by a foray into Edinburgh city centre.
Lunch at Howie’s Waterloo.
Situated in Waterloo Place at the foot of one of the city’s best known landmarks, Calton Hill, is Howie’s Waterloo. The traditional exterior of the building conceals a wonderful oasis of simple elegance and excellent food.
High ceilings and a sweep of windows give the restaurant a cool, airy feel perfectly complimented by a sea of white tablewear and sparkling wine glasses.
And after lunch an opportunity to discover more about Scotland’s capital city.
Edinburgh, the beautiful capital city of Scotland is situated amongst green volcanic hills and its earliest settlement was on the castle rock itself, overlooking the city and surrounding area. The Old Town of today grew up around the castle walls and in the 18th century the Georgian New Town was designed and built by eminent architects.
While in the past Edinburgh was the focal point of the Scottish enlightenment, today the lively cultural life of the city continues with the world famous Edinburgh International Festival and Fringe, the Scottish National and Chamber Orchestras, the Galleries and Museums and three thriving universities, not to mention the city’s newest attractions – the former royal yacht Britannia and Dynamic Earth, the world’s very first geological museum.
The city is also a financial centre, second only to London in importance.
An alternative way to explore is the Edinburgh Taxi Rally.
Guests are divided into teams to participate in a Taxi Treasure hunt/rally in and around Edinburgh. Each team will be given a set of clues and riddles to solve and a list of things to find and photograph – their form of transportation for today – traditional black cabs.
By following their instructions correctly they will all meet up ( ?!) in the city centre for afternoon tea/coffee & scones at the Royal Scots Club.
The Royal Scots Club resides in Edinburgh’s New Town in an elegant row of traditional town houses, not far from Stevenson’s childhood home.
Founded in 1919 as an exclusive private gentlemen’s club, the building has been tastefully refurbished to the highest standards whilst retaining many of the original features.
Return to Dalmahoy late afternoon.
This evening dinner in the hotel or a brief transfer to the Bridge Inn, a traditional pub located on the bank of the Union canal. The Inn is renowned for its relaxed, informal atmosphere and good food.
Late evening return to the hotel for overnight
Day 3
Breakfast followed by meeting and lunch in the hotel.
This afternoon transfer to a nearby private country estate for their very own Highland Fling
Guests are met on arrival by their instructors who will brief them on the format of the day over coffee and home baking.
This morning an opportunity to participate in the Highland Games Challenge
These events most probably originated as fairs organised by ancient Scottish kings & clan chiefs. Clans would compete in contests designed for the king to select the best men as his warriors.
Today Highland Games have become popular all over the country featuring competitions in traditional disciplines such as “tossing the caber”. “putting the stone”, “throwing the hammer” and wrestling which put the contestants’ skills and strength to the test.
Caber tossing
Skills and strength are needed to throw the caber (a tree trunk) to land directly. Cabers of various sizes and weights would be available.
Haggis hurling
Through years of rearing their own brood of these creatures , the group would have the opportunity to throw them as far as possible.
Archery
Qualified instructors will show participants how to hit the mark !
Crossbow
William Tell had a true aim as he split the apple on his son’s head. Intstructors will help participants hit the targets.
Target golf
Guests are invited to practise their swing and aim for the target – a golf hole ! The hole is surrounded by a series of rings and points are awarded for balls which land in the various rings. Maximum points are scored for a hole in one !
Late afternoon return to the hotel
Alternatively, we can organise an exclusive golf clinic on site. Guests would be introduced to the basics of golf by qualified PGA golf professionals and the have an opportunity to put their newly acquired skile to the test in a mini tournament.
This evening transfer to a very special venue for a farewell gala dinner.
Just 40 minutes from the hustle & bustle of the city centre in the rural tranquillity of east Lothian is Prestonhall, one of the finest Georgian houses in the south of Scotland.
It was built by Robert Mitchell in 1791 for Alexander Callander who had recently returned from India where he made his fortune as a trader in the East India Company. The house was suitably comfortable and well appointed for a man of his position and it remains to this day the family home of the Callanders. Prestonhall is renowned for its fine, beautiful interiors. Much of the furniture dates back to the 18th and 19th centuries and provides a superb setting for receptions – the currrent proprietor has hosted members of the present day British Royal family.
Guests are greeted on arrival by a kilted piper and welcomed to Prestonhall by its charming proprietor, Makjor Henry Callander. They are offered drinks and canapes, then Major Callander will conduct them on an informal tour of the house, followed by a delicious, traditional Scottish banquet served in the lovely in the lovely candelelit dining room.
Dinner might also include the famous « address to the Haggis »
The Address to the Haggis is a traditional ceremony associated with Scotland’s national poet, Robert Burns. At any Scottish dinner where haggis is being served, it is customary for the haggis to be piped into the room carried aloft by the chef. Once in place, the haggis is “addressed” by one of the performers reciting the famous Address to the Haggis. The poem is humorous with lots of actions and sets the tone admirably for a relaxed and enjoyable evening.
Towards the end of dinner a charming display of highland dancing performed by young girls in national costume.
And to end the evening on a high note, why not include the ceremony of beating retreat?
This military tradition is performed by a full pipe band in regimental uniform. Performed at the close of day to call the troops to barracks it provides an excellent finale to a special evening. The band will march and play rousing refrains and plaintive laments. The ceremony always takes place outside, often floodlit and lasts approximately 10/15 minutes. At the end of play the coaches are on cue to transfer your party back to their hotel.
Late evening return to the hotel for overnight
Day 4
After breakfast guests are transferred tothe airport for their departure flights
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