As my favourite time of year approaches, the Autumn colours enrich the landscape and Rabbie's tour adventures just get better and better. We still have places left on our 5 and 8 day multi-day island adventures throughout September and October and if you are coming later in the year we remind you of our copper bottomed guarantee on all our tours. We know how important it is for you to avoid any holiday disappointment so we guarantee our departures. It's very simple - if you book, you go.

2009 will see the 250th anniversary of Robert Burns, Scotland's best loved poet and the man we named our company after. To coincide with the Homecoming Year we are launching our most exciting programme of tours ever. There will be something for everyone in 2009. Discover your family history with a range of Clan tours departing from Edinburgh - Macdonalds, Campbells, Robertsons, MacGregors, McLeods and Camerons are amongst those scheduled to run, and you can plan your own family tour with Rabbie’s using our unique clan finder system on our website. Type your surname in and see what clans you are related to, learn about your history and what part of Scotland your clan originated. To try it out click here.

Also departing next summer are a series of 4 day specialist whisky tours to the “Queen of the Isles” on the Whisky Coast. Islay is home to 8 of Scotland’s finest malt whisky distilleries Lagavulin, Laphroaig, Bowmore, Bunnahabhain, Bruichladdich, Ardbeg, Caol Ila and Kilchoman. For the whisky enthusiast these are ideal as you won’t need to drive anywhere yourself! Details coming soon on www.rabbies.com

In addition to our regular programme of tours next year we will be introducing a new 5 day tour to the Outer Hebrides - Lewis and Harris are on the extreme fringes of Europe and we look forward to taking some of you to explore these magnificent islands in the Atlantic. The 2009 programme has been cleverly knitted together so that you can combine tours together whilst on route in the Highlands so there are many options for vacations of 7,8,9,10 and even 13 days duration. Look out for further information on our website at www.rabbies.com or in my next newsletter.

Other News

Congratulations and welcome to newcomers Liam and Angela, who are busy on the road enjoying their first season as guides.

We are also delighted to report that we have been shortlisted again this year for another "Thistle award". This time for "People Development". We're looking forward to the awards night on 24th October.

Hearty congratulations to Mackenzie and Andrea on the proud birth of their first born child. And unto them came a son. A big welcome to Finn MacCool Dalrymple. What a fantastic name. See below for a picture of the happy family.

And finally, well done to Calum for firstly participating in, and completing the "Corrieyarrick challenge". An epic race of 17 miles of uphill running, followed by a 26 mile cycle ride! Not for the faint hearted.

Our Natural world - Our native wildlife

As Autumn arrives it heralds change for the mainland and mountainous wildlife in Scotland. Golden eagles, sea eagles, grouse, ptarmigan and capercaillie bird species stay with us all year round, unlike other species which take flight for warmer climates such as Africa for winter. The rutting season is in full thrust with red deer once more locking antlers to win and defend their harem of hinds.

And did you know:

Deer will shed their antlers annually between January and April, after the rutting season is over. By this time his need to defend and impress the females takes a back seat. That is until next season, when the antlers will have grown back. This process takes between 2 and 4 months in the summer, during which velvet grows around the antler. The velvet is filled with blood vessels and minerals that feed the antlers. Once fully grown a cut off valve starves the blood supply, causing the velvet to wither and dry up. The antlers themselves grow into solid bone tissue, and are an indication of the age of the deer. Basically the more points the more years!

Once upon a time, there was a young lass whose roots lay on the far side of the world. She was a slim, pretty girl with long dark hair, a mischievous smile and a sense of adventure. One day Chee Chee, as she affectionately became known, decided that the rugged beauty of Scotland was too great an attraction and she would like to visit. As she searched for information on travelling in Scotland, she came across a tour company that filled her very needs so she signed up and jumped aboard a Rabbie's bus. On the tour she met an exciting, dynamic group of people and as each day slipped into the next, Chee Chee grew more and more tired, as she enjoyed a few late nights in the pub with her fellow tour companions.

Because she slept so little, and partied too much, each day her natural beauty became more marred by bleery eyes, limp hair and gaunt sunken cheeks. It all came to a head when she was due to meet her bus and fellow companions at 09.00 for a day around the island of Skye.

Skye is a glorious, enchanting island rich in history, fact and fable, with a hint of magic. This, combined with her alluring, intoxicating beauty, have all helped to make the island one of the top 10 "must sees" in Europe. Everyone was therefore very anxious to be under way to absorb every moment of the island unfolding before them. We waited for Chee Chee as she did not appear when she was supposed to, for it was soon discovered that Chee Chee's bed was still stuck to her body. Everyone waited patiently and finally a very pale, dishevelled Chee Chee appeared.

" I am so sorry" she cried to us all. " I am soooo sleepy!"

" Well" I said "you know there is a price to be paid for being late. I will have to think of a punishment for you."

" I have one" pipped up Nicole." I think we should make her into a burger" ( a true story teller in the making)

"Ah" I agreed "a nice tasty burger."

"Well" cried Chee Chee in alarm "I would need to be a very expensive burger because my meat is limited. I am so thin!"

How we laughed. As we travelled up towards the faery fall of Stoer we stopped to admire the view.

"Now Chee Chee" I said. "This is where you can redeem yourself and your beauty. These waters are very special. King Egfrid, king of the fairies lives close by, and has blessed these waters. When I give you the magic number, you can restore your beauty and protect it forever in case you intend spending more time in the pub. By submerging your face in the icy stream for 7 seconds, not a second more or a second less the magic will work."

"Oh it will be soooo cold" Chee chee squealed.

"Yes I know" I replied with a wicked laugh. "But you have no choice."

And so it was that Chee Chee placed her face into the magic waters of Skye whilst we all counted 7 seconds. When she withdrew her face, Chee Chee could not believe how her face had been transformed, and as she studied her looks in the mirror she declared "Now I am beautiful. Everyone, look at me, see how beautiful I am."

And indeed she was......almost as beautiful as the misty island herself.

3rd - 12th September - Weeping willow - the melancholy one

Someone born during these dates is beautiful and melancholic. They love beautiful, tasteful things, and enjoy travelling. They are honest, restless and tend to be capricious. Their intuition is strong although they tend to suffer in love, but occasionally find a soul mate to last the distance.

13th - 22nd September - Lime tree - The Doubter

Someone born during these dates will accept all that life throws at them, and they have a tendency to be lazy and idle disliking stress and violence. They are usually talented but lack the drive to see their dreams through. They are loyal to friends but complain a lot and are prone to jealousy.

23rd September - Olive tree- The wise one

Someone born on this date loves the sun and heat. They are tolerant and cheerful, sensitive with a good sense of right and wrong. As calm people they abhor aggression but prefer to spend their time in the company of well read, intellectual friends.

24th September - 3rd October - Hazelnut tree  - The Extraordinary one

Someone born during these dates is popular and charming and knows how to make an impression. They are undemanding and very understanding with a precise sense of judgement.

And a wee joke to end....

A woman came home, screeching her car in the driveway, and ran into the house. She slammed the door and shouted at the top of her lungs,
"Honey, pack your bags. I won the lottery!"
The husband said, "Oh my God! What should I pack, beach stuff or mountain stuff?"
"Doesn't matter," she said. "Just get out."

And that's it for another quarter. Wishing you all a hale and hearty Autumn.

Hope to see you on tour soon.
(Chi mi sibh a dh'aithghearr)

Suu and all at Rabbie's.