VACATION DETAILS

At the southern end of the Great Glen, this area's main town is Fort William, a major and well-resourced touring and route centre for the West Highlands. The area also takes in the Highland landscapes between Loch Linnhe, the major sea-loch at the south of the Great Glen, and the western seaboard itself. These include the lands of Ardnamurchan, Ardgour, Morvern and Moidart - rugged landscapes notable for their soft and mild Atlantic climate, and - in places - their lush growth of mossy, fern-rich woodlands.

Dominated by the ramparts of Edinburgh Castle, this picturesque city offers shopping on Princes Street, the grandeur of the Royal Mile, St. Giles Cathedral and historic Palace of Holyrood House, where Queen Mary lived and many Scottish kings were wed. Or venture across the moors to marvel at the scenic Highlands.

Excursions

Also known as St. Andrews-by-the-Sea, this relatively small, picturesque old town near the Maine border and 85 mi/135 km southwest of Fredericton was founded by British Loyalists who wanted to escape the newly independent U.S. in the 1780s. Today, one of the town's main attractions is the Huntsman Aquarium, a small aquarium with a child-friendly "touch pool." The Ross Memorial Museum focuses on local history, antique furniture and Asian items.

We also recommend a visit to the St. Andrews Blockhouse National Historic Site, which was built during the War of 1812, and to St. Andrews Gardens, a nice place for a picnic. Don't miss the quaint shops on Water Street.

A short drive across the ocean floor (at low tide) will take you to Ministers Island where you can take a tour of Sir William Van Horne's visionary 50-room home with greenhouses, windmill and tennis courts. If you’re planning an overnight stay, consider the Fairmont Algonquin Hotel, built in 1889 and known now as the Castle-by-the-Sea.

The Tides of Passamaquoddy Bay, the bay that surrounds the St. Andrews peninsula, raise water levels 28 ft/9 m or more twice a day. The transition from low to high tide takes more than six hours and 2.25 billion tons of water. The phenomena uncovers 6 sq mi/15 sq km of intertidal beach just waiting to be explored for sea creatures and historical artifacts left behind.

New River Beach Provincial Park (25 mi/40 km east of St. Andrews) is the only major sandy stretch on the Fundy shore. It offers campsites, a long saltwater beach, cliffside hiking trails and some special programs, such as guided ghost walks and an annual sand-sculpture contest. Be warned that bad weather systems often stall over this area, and a short drive to Saint John will prove it.

Glasgow is Scotland's biggest city and major tourist destination, possessing some of Britain's finest architecture and hosting a variety of cultural events and attractions. Glasgow has been described as the finest surviving example of a great Victorian city. Of particular interest is George Square - lined by several buildings constructed in the Italian Renaissance style. Few buildings pre-date 18th century. The most prominent of these are Glasgow Cathedral, and Provand's Lordship, which is the city's oldest house (c. 1471) and now a museum. The cathedral, situated on high ground to the east of the city and dating in parts from 12th century, is an outstanding example of Gothic architecture. The city has numerous parks and ornamental open spaces, including the Botanic Garden and zoological gardens. Glasgow grew around a church built in the 6th century by St Kentigern, who converted Scots to Christianity. The commercial growth of the community dates from the union of Scotland and England in 1707 and the opening up of trade in the 18th century when Glasgow became a major port and shipbuilder.