Start your trip at Glasgow Airport where you will pick up your rental car and drive to your hotel. Take your time to get settled in before touring Glasgow by car, foot or public transport. This is a city that flourished in Victorian times. See George Square with its ornate City Chambers and nearby Glasgow Cathedral. Visit Provand’s Lordship, Glasgow’s oldest house built in 1471, and step back in time to discover Glasgow’s unique history. In the evening, enjoy your first Scottish dinner of the trip and then return to your hotel.
Overnight in Glasgow
Depart Glasgow and drive north along the banks of Loch Lomond with views of Highland peaks. At Tarbet embark on a short cruise to appreciate the beauty of this famous loch and admire panoramic views of the Highlands. Then travel across the mountains to visit Inveraray Castle. This imposing Campbell family home with four conical spires was built between 1746 and 1789. Take the guided tour which reveals the history of the family and region as you view the magnificent Armoury Hall and many fine rooms with tapestries, porcelains and portraits.
Browse around the nearby town, planned by the Campbell family. Journey across mysterious Rannoch Moor and through Glen Coe, a spectacular glen made famous by the Massacre of Glen Coe of the Clan Macdonald in 1692, to Ballachulish on the coast. Continue your drive to Oban on the west coast and visit Oban Distillery to see how whiskey is distilled and sample some at the end of the tour.
Overnight in Oban
Take a ferry ride from Oban to the Isle of Mull, which is one of the most beautiful of the Hebrides. After a scenic drive across the mountains of Mull take another short ferry ride to the peaceful Isle of Iona, the burial place of many Scottish kings. Visit Iona Abbey, where St. Columba founded Scotland’s first Christian settlement in the 6th century. Then enjoy some free time exploring anywhere else you wish to see before returning to Oban for another night.
Overnight in Oban
Travel the scenic “Road to the Isles” passing Loch Shiel and the Glenfinnan Monument. Cross by ferry to the Isle of Skye, often called the “Misty Isle” due to the showers that drift across the mountains. Visit the Clan Donald Centre at Armadale Castle to discover the history of the clans of the region. Explore the town of Portree, the “capital” of the Isle of Skye where you will overnight.
Overnight on Skye
Today spend the whole day touring the Isle of Skye. Travel to Dunvegan Castle, stronghold of the Chiefs of MacLeod for nearly 800 years, making it the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland. View priceless family heirlooms and stroll through formal gardens.
Drive alongside the dramatic Trotternish Ridge and stop at Lealt Waterfall and the Kilt Rock. After a walk at the Quiraing, drive to Uig. Explore the magic of the Fairy Glen, legendary home of the ‘wee people’! After lunch, you’ll drive to the most westerly point on Skye and walk to Neist Point lighthouse and see some of the most dramatic sea cliffs in Scotland, sea birds and maybe even marine wildlife. Return to your hotel for free time before dinner.
Overnight on Skye
Tour and take photos of the romantic Eilean Donan Castle. It’s a very popular attraction and one of the most recognized castles in all of Scotland. Enjoy more Highland scenery as you drive to Inverewe Gardens, where a haven of trees and shrubs was created from 50 acres of bleak headland in 1862. The varied plantings thrive due to the warmth of the Gulf Stream. Next, travel to Ullapool, an active fishing and ferry port that was built in 1788. Upon arrival, make your way to your hotel and check in before going out to explore the area.
Overnight in Ullapool
Today explore a remote Highland area with huge tracts of bogland, rugged mountains and coastline. Stop in Durness, one of Scotland’s most remote hamlets and learn about the 18th and 19th century Highland Clearances. Stop in Bettyhill, a village built in 1814 to replace crofts destroyed by the Clearances and continue to Thurso. Visit Caithness Horizons Museum. Here you’ll find the work of many local artists as well as many themed displays that bring the fascinating heritage of Caithness to life. Next, check into your hotel in Thurso and choose a nice restaurant in the area to enjoy dinner.
Overnight in Thurso
Take a ferry ride from the mainland to explore the largest island of Orkney. Visit Skara Brae, a 5,000-year-old village, to see remains of houses. View the Ring of Brodgar, a circle of prehistoric standing stones and see 12th century St. Magnus Cathedral in Kirkwall. Drive across the Churchill Barriers, created during World War II to German submarines out and see the Italian Chapel, built from two Nissan huts with elaborate paintings. Return to the mainland by ferry.
Overnight in Thurso
Drive along the coast to John o’ Groats, the most northerly village on the British mainland. Visit Dunrobin Castle, dating to 1275 but renovated in the mid-1800’s. With 189 rooms this is the largest mansion in northern Scotland. Continue south towards Inverness. Stop and visit the picturesque ruins at Urquhart Castle which was once one of Scotland’s largest castles. You can take a look in the gloomy prison cell, as well as get to see medieval artefacts left by castle residents. After exploring the castle, continue driving until you reach Aviemore.
Overnight in Aviemore
Aviemore is a town in the Cairngorms National Park, in the Scottish Highlands. After breakfast today, begin exploring some of the many forest paths and admire the nature and wildlife you come across. Check out the 17th Century Braemar Castle and learn of its exciting story. Lastly, end your day with a visit to the Royal Lochnagar Distillery where you will enjoy a guided tour of the distillery and have the opportunity to taste some exclusive whiskies.
Overnight in Aviemore
Today, drive south past the majestic Cairngorm Mountains and through mountainous countryside and to the east coast to St Andrews, the “Home of Golf.” Visit the British Golf Museum or browse through the medieval town and check out St Andrew’s amazing cathedral and castle.
When you’re ready for your next destination, drive south to Edinburgh. After checking into your hotel, go out and get a small taste of all that Edinburgh has to offer. Enjoy a traditional Scottish dinner in the evening.
Overnight in Edinburgh
The best way to explore Edinburgh is by one of its many walking tours. Take one or more of these and you can then decide what you would like to see for the remainder of the day. See the bustling Princes Street and the gracious, wide streets of the 200-year-old Georgian New Town.
Walk along part of the Royal Mile where compact medieval houses reach 11 floors tall. Visit Edinburgh Castle, which dominates the city and contains the Crown Jewels of Scotland and the Stone of Scone. If you happen to be there during the month of August, the Military Tattoo Show is definitely worth seeing.
Overnight in Edinburgh
Drive towards the historic border town of Berwick-on-Tweed following the sweeping coastline of the North Sea and cross the ancient Scotland/England border into Northumberland. Lindisfarne or Holy Island is a tidal island settled by Irish monks from Scotland circa AD 635. From here the Christian message spread throughout the north of England. In 793 a fierce Viking invasion heralded the beginning of the Viking Age.
Bamburgh Castle is undoubtedly one of the most impressive fortresses in Britain. Used as a film location for ‘Mary Queen of Scots’, ‘Macbeth’, ‘The Devils’ and ‘Ivanhoe’, a stroll along the magnificent beach is a great way to start the day. The views from the beach of both the castle and Holy Island are stunning so make sure you bring your camera!
After a short drive, arrive at Alnwick Castle at lunchtime. This magical place is one of Europe’s finest castles and has been at the centre of many historical events – from bloodthirsty battles between the Scots and the English to the intrigues of the Guy Fawkes plot. Its sumptuous setting has famously been used as film locations for ‘Harry Potter’ (Hogwarts) and ‘Robin Hood Prince of Thieves’. Return to Edinburgh through the charming and historic village of Etal.
Overnight in Edinburgh
Return your car at Edinburgh Airport before your flight home.
All hotels and accommodations included in your trip are carefully selected to meet a 4-star standard or higher. While we occasionally book 3-star hotels or B&B properties, they must meet our high standards of quality and comfort. To ensure consistency, we strive to have a team member visit each property regularly or conduct a thorough site inspection.
The tour package does not include flights to and from the tour’s starting location, but we are happy to provide you with a flight quote for your trip to Scotland, along with travel protection for the duration.
Although booking flights might seem straightforward, hidden fees or service classes without seat assignments, meals, or checked bags can arise. With our experience since 1985, we are familiar with the best routings and have access to great contracts, often offering better prices than those available online.
Your first vacation quote, and up to two revisions, for trips of 9 or fewer days, and 45 days in advance of travel, are complimentary. If an itinerary requires further revisions subsequent to this, we will require a non-refundable deposit of $75 per person in order to continue.
If you are requesting a quote for a vacation that is 10 days in length, or with travel dates within 45 days, or to a non-core destination, a deposit of $75 per person will be required in order for us to begin working on your proposal.
Planning deposits can then be put towards the cost of the trip should you decide to proceed with the booking.
If you would like to create a custom itinerary before or after the tour to extend your trip, we would be happy to assist with this.
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