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Orkney Confirmed, Inverness Launched & Iona Delivered - The Moneypenny Files - w/c. 26th October 2026

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Monday — “The Brochures Finally Arrive” Monday opened with some welcome news after the disappointments of last week. An email arrived from the printers with the message we had been waiting to see for what felt like considerably longer than necessary. The delayed Iona Pilgrimage & Hebridean Heritage brochures would be delivered today . The sense of relief at TML HQ was immediate. After weeks of planning, promotion, enquiries, brochure requests, production delays, revised delivery dates and more revised delivery dates, the finish line was finally in sight. Naturally, there was no time for celebration. Not yet. Whilst we waited for the delivery van to appear, David and I turned our attention to the growing list of prospective guests who had patiently awaited news of the brochures. Over recent weeks, interest in the programme had steadily gathered momentum, and we now had over 110 enquiries, brochure requests and expressions of interest recorded against just three departures. So the m...
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More Enquiries, Missing Files & Highland Dreams - The Moneypenny Files - w/c. 19th October 2026

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Monday — “More Enquiries, More Momentum & A Nationwide Stirring” Another 14 enquiries greeted us when we started work on Monday morning — emails arriving via the website, others landing directly, plus more direct messages through Facebook. We began to wonder whether we might have to run additional departures — if the hotel on Iona could accommodate. Each departure can only accept 15 guests , so capacity suddenly felt very real. As we analysed the list of enquiries, it became clear this was a truly nationwide campaign . Messages had arrived from Scotland, Yorkshire, the Midlands, Dorset, London, Kent, Buckinghamshire , and even two from Northern Ireland . A spread so wide it felt like the country had collectively leaned in. By late morning, more leads, emails and direct messages arrived. Once we’d caught up (for now), our thoughts turned to March’s planned Scenic Rail Journey Escape to Inverness . The final itinerary was taking shape, more costs were coming through, and the broch...
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Momentum in the North — Orkney Reawakens & Inverness Beckons - The Moneypenny Files - w/c. 12th October 2026

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Monday — “Orkney Reawakens, NC500 Expands & Iona Nears the Finish Line” Monday opened with gusto — the kind of morning where ideas arrive before the kettle has even boiled. David had been thinking over the weekend about expanding the Scenic Scotland Xplorer universe and revisiting Orkney , which we last offered in 2022. So we set about revisiting the original itinerary, adapting and expanding it into a 7‑day immersive Xplorer experience for 2027 — a deeper, richer, more atmospheric journey that lets guests see more of Orkney than ever before. It is planned as a flight‑only experience , departing from Edinburgh or Manchester , flying direct to Kirkwall on an afternoon service. David has already spoken to See Orkney about using their two minibuses, and is exploring options for larger private groups too. I began refining our thoughts and created a draft itinerary, while David emailed the hotel we used in Kirkwall to check availability for next year. After lunch, our attention...
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