Among several interesting requests this week were a couple for a Scotch whisky distillery tour, one for June and the other for September.  I’ve made it my top story just in case you can think of 8-10 of your customers who’d enjoy a late summer, slightly blurred look at Scotland, based on their preferred brands.  I’ve also flagged up my gin-infused tour of the Cotswolds which also doubles up as a great pre or post cruise add-on.

The major sculpture exhibition at the Royal Horticultural Society’s flagship garden at Wisley works well with the Hannah Peschar Sculpture Garden near Guildford and the 20^th anniversary Celebration of Art at the award-winning Borde Hill just east of Gatwick.  Elsewhere, Bristol’s spectacular Balloon Fiesta in August has caught my eye along with the reopening of Yorkshire’s Whitby Abbey which inspired Bram Stoker’s novel, Dracula.

Every two weeks, I write the Agent’s Perspectives for Travel Research Online and if the UK is high on your agenda my Chelsea, Chocolate, Ceramics and Cornwall will reveal ideas that you’ll not see anywhere else.

Amber Nectar

This great tour of Scotland starts as a west coast island-hopping adventure to Islay and Jura, before focusing on Speyside which has the greatest concentration of malt whisky producers compared to any other region of the country. Use the link to see more details and time the trip to coincide with one of the annual single malt whisky festivals.

Just Imagine This

I’m well known for my imaginative approach to customising Cotswolds’ tours and this one has a very clear gin distillery theme. It works as a 3-4-night pre/post cruise extension or as a programme prior to a few days in London. It can also be distilled into a tearoom, pub and gin filled few days in one of England’s most attractive regions.

Sculpture at Wisley

From late May to December, the Royal Horticultural Society flagship garden at Wisley is hosting a major exhibition of modern and contemporary featuring the work of 6 seminal 20^th and 21^st century artists.  Each piece of sculpture will be carefully sited around the ever-changing long views of the 240-acre garden to demonstrate a connection between the spirit of the works and their surroundings.

Bristol Balloon Fiesta

The Bristol Balloon Fiesta (8^th-11^th August) is Europe’s largest, attracting a wonderfully colourful display of over 150 Hot Air Balloons from across the globe. The Fiesta can only be seen in Bristol, the city where hot air balloons are manufactured and it’s staged at Ashton Court Estate with mass ascents morning and evening, plus two spectacular night glows.

Whitby Abbey Reopens

Whitby Abbey, the imposing ruin overlooking the North Yorkshire coast, has re-opened to the public following a major $2.1 million re-interpretation project by English Heritage, including a new museum and new interpretation around the historic site.  Founded in the 7th century, Whitby Abbey was one of the most important religious centres in the Anglo-Saxon world.  It also inspired Bram Stoker’s most famous work, Dracula.

Chelsea, Chocolate, Ceramics and Cornwall

My recent Agent’s Perspectives for Travel Research Online features the Royal Horticultural Society’s Flower Shows (over and above Chelsea), Blenheim Palace, York, our home of chocolate and the autumn Ceramics Biennial in Stoke on Trent before taking a closer look at Cornwall, highlighting its appeal as a 5 night/6 day TRAVEL LESS SEE MORE destination in the rugged south western tip of England.