New tour to remember WW1 Scottish servicemen

Remembering lives lost.

This year is the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War and Thistle Holidays from Edinburgh has launched a new tour to remember the Scottish servicemen who lost their lives in battle.

The special event, planned for November 2014, is a guided tour of the battlefields of Flanders and the Somme and unlike other tours it is centred around the battles involving Scottish regiments and locations of interest to the people of Scotland.

Business development manager of Thistle Holidays Graeme Tilley said: “The First World War was a very significant event for Scotland in particular as 22 battalions from famous regiments like The Black Watch, The Royal Scots and The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders were the tip of the sword during the fighting on The Western Front.

“They were fighting a new type of war where mustard gas replaced bows and arrows and heavy mortar fire replaced cannon balls.”

The tour visits Scottish Memorials at Black Watch Corner and The Royal Scots Memorial at Contalmaison as well as Ypres and a chance to witness the Last Post which has been played every evening at 8pm at The Menin Gate memorial in the town since 1928.

Whilst many events are planned to take place in Scotland, this tour gives the opportunity to remember the fallen Scottish soldiers in the battlefields where they fell.

For more details visit thistleholidays.co.uk.

On Saturday June 21, take your reserved seat on a special train to the historic city of Chester or choose to travel further along the North Wales Coast through Rhyl and Colwyn Bay as far as Llandudno Junction.

The final stop on the coast is the small cathedral city of Bangor before the train crosses the famous Britannia Bridge over the Menai Straits on to Anglesey where the final destination is the ferry port of Holyhead.

The traditional carriages will be diesel-hauled via the West Coast Main Line over Beattock and Shap summits and through Lancaster and Preston to rural Cheshire.

Passengers may join this special excursion at Glenrothes, Thornton, Kirkcaldy, Dalgety Bay, Edinburgh Waverley, Kirknewton or Lockerbie.

Return fares are £67 for adults and £49 for children, including seat reservation. First class seats are available at £99.

Prior booking is essential and meals can be ordered at the time of booking. A cooked breakfast costs £10 and three-course hot dinner £15.

To book call 0131 202 1033. Further details and booking forms are also available at srpsrailtours.com.