Clan Leslie Society International Gathering 2025
LESLIES ON TOUR
REGISTRATION DEADLINE: APRIL 3, 2025
IMPORTANT: You will need an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) to enter the UK for the gathering.
Visiting the UK? Get your ETA — You will need to have your ETA granted before your journey to the UK. Your Electronic Travel Authorization lasts for 2 years and is valid for multiple trips. Click this link for more information and to apply: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/apply-for-an-electronic-travel-authorisation-eta
The Leslie Gathering 2025 Itinerary
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Thursday 3rd July - Edinburgh
6.30pm – 10.00pm
Reception, buffet and ‘meet your cousins’
The Radisson, Royal Mile
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Each evening there will be a full briefing of the next day’s itinerary.
Friday 4th July, Edinburgh
Assemble at 8.45, in Reception Room, walk from Radisson at 9.00.
The room is booked for you to leave your bags.
9.15
Esplanade of Edinburgh Castle
Guided tour down the Royal Mile, with Adrian Laird Craig and Gordon MacFarlan
Finish at the bottom of the Royal Mile, by 11.30. Make your own way back to Radisson.
12.30
Informal lunch at the Radisson.
2.00
Buses to Parenwell Bridge (arrive 3.00)
4.00
Arrive at Balgeddie Hotel, Leslie, including drop-offs at other hotels.
6.15
Buses collect from other hotels
6.30 Nairn Suite
Talk on Noel, Countess of Rothes, heroine of the Titanic
Speaker: Angela Young, Noel’s Great Granddaughter.
7.30
Dinner.
Buses to other hotels after dinner.
Saturday 5th July
9.00
Leave Balgeddie – one coach picks up other hotels.
9.30
Visits to: Leslie House, Leslie Kirk, the Leslie Family Crypt, where a short dedication takes place, unveiling a plaque to the 20th and 21st Earls of Rothes outside the crypt.
11.00 coaches leave from outside old Leslie Kirk
Light lunch at Rothes Hall and an opportunity to look round the Glenrothes Heritage Centre exhibit, which includes Leslie portraits, historical items, Titanic memorabilia and more.
12.30 and 12.45
Buses to Aberdeenshire, via Ballinbreich Castle, Abernethy Tower.
Tour of Lindores Abbey Distillery
Approximately 4.30
Arrive at the Holiday Inn, Aberdeen West.
7.00
Reception
7.30
The Banquet
Followed by Scottish Country Dancing, with a caller for instruction.
Sunday 6th
9.30
Leave Holiday Inn, Aberdeen West.
10.00 – 10.30
Visit infamous Battle of Harlaw site,
11.00
Church service at the Chapel of the Garioch and visit to the Leslie Cross (funded by members of the Clan Leslie Society International).
12.00
Pig Roast at Leslie Castle, hosted by the Clan Leslie Charitable Trust, with Piper, greetings and speeches.
Afternoon
3.00
Buses to Edinburgh via Aberdeen airport (arrive at approx. 3.45), or via Edinburgh airport (arrive approx. 6.00 p.m.). Both buses will terminate in Edinburgh City Centre.
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​ACCOMMODATIONS
NOTE: Your gathering registration fees cover the meals, activities and transportation outlined above. It does NOT cover your hotels. Members are responsible for booking their accommodations for each leg of the trip. We have put together a list with various price points to help you plan your stay.
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Edinburgh:
Radisson - Royal Mile, Edinburgh, www.radissonhotels.com - rate: £240 with code TLC2025;
Premier Inn, Waverley, Edinburgh - www.premierinn.com - rate: £160-180;
Travelodge, Edinburgh Central - www.travelodge.co.uk - rate £155-190.
Fife:
Balgeddie House Hotel, Glenrothes - www.balgeddiehouse.com - +441592 742511 - rate £130-150 with code Clan Leslie 2025 NOTE: it is easier to book this hotel if you call them directly.
Premier Inn, Glenrothes - www.premierinn.com - approx £90;
Travelodge, Glenrothes - www.travelodge.co.uk - approx £90.
Aberdeen:
​Holiday Inn, Aberdeen West - room rate is currently £80-85 - mention Clan Leslie, July 2025.
https://www.ihg.com/holidayinn/hotels/us/en/aberdeen/abzwh/hoteldetail
Additional Recommendations for Your Trip (from Chief Alex!)
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Sadly we cannot visit every place in Scotland that has relevance to the clan and for thosewho want to explore further, below are some suggestions.
Additional Tours:
If you are considering an organised tour, then we recommend Atom Tours, who do an
Ancestral Lands Tour for Leslies (and Amy, the owner, is a Leslie!): https://www.atomtours.co.uk/
A list of places to visit that have interesting Leslie connections:
Perthshire
Seasyde House, an AirBNB
Home to Fiona Leslie, the house is extremely comfortable, overlooks the Tay Estuary in
beautiful surroundings and boasts a unique collection of important Leslie portraits, dating
from the 1600’s.
Fiona is offering ‘family rates’ and please use ‘Leslie Gathering’ when booking: https://seasydehouse.co.uk/
Fife
Balgonie Castle, owned by Stuart Morris. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balgonie_Castle
Aberdeenshire/Moray
The ruin of Rothes Castle, Speyside: https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/rothes/rothescastle/index.html
Fetternear Palace, Aberdeenshire: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fetternear_Palace
The Glenrothes distillery, Rothes: https://www.theglenrothes.com/en-us
Here are some places to visit, some of which have Leslie connections but are worthwhile anyway.
Stirling Castle – the 9 th Earl of Rothes was based there, as Commander of the Navy: https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/stirling-castle/
The Malt Whisky Trail, Speyside: https://maltwhiskytrail.com/
The North Coast 500 – a route around the north of Scotland, for those with cars: https://www.northcoast500.com/
Loch Ness: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loch_Ness and Urquhart Castle: https://www.historicenvironment.scot/visit-a-place/places/urquhart-castle/
There are many more and the Visit Scotland website (https://www.visitscotland.com) is the best place to find inspiration for places to visit, whether historical tours or beautiful hiking routes. It also has a comprehensive list of places to stay, from local inns to beautiful castlesand out of the way hotels.
