Scotland Discovery

Welcome to Scotland and its capital city Edinburgh. Steeped in history, the city is a picturesque combination of old and new, with medieval buildings lining the vibrant and bustling streets making it an ideal city for locals and visitors alike.

We arrive in Edinburgh and make our own way to our hotel before meeting our fellow travellers and local tour director for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. We don’t want you to miss out on any aspect of your small group tour. To ensure that you don’t, we recommend you arrive at your starting destination by 3.00pm.

We’ll join our fellow travellers and our tour director for a brief orientation this afternoon, walking through Greyfrairs and Victoria Street, before making our way to the Grassmarket for our welcome dinner.

Embarking on a guided city tour of Edinburgh, our day begins with a leisurely walk through the picturesque Princes Street Gardens, where we'll admire the elegant Scott Monument. Continuing our sightseeing, we stop to view iconic landmarks such as the renowned Royal Mile and the National Museum of Scotland. Next on our itinerary is the illustrious Edinburgh Castle. Immersed in history, we'll delve into the lives of past monarchs and soldiers as we explore the castle's intriguing past. Perched atop a hill, the castle rewards us with stunning views of the city below. Our tour concludes with a stroll through Edinburgh's charming old town and past the historic St Giles' Cathedral.

We'll enjoy the remainder of our afternoon at leisure to explore more of the city at our own pace.

This morning, we bid farewell to Edinburgh and set off towards the captivating city of Inverness on Scotland's north-east coast. Nestled amidst breathtaking landscapes, Inverness beckons visitors with its abundant natural beauty that surrounds the town at every turn. Crossing the Firth of Forth, we'll continue to the town of St Andrews passing by the town's cathedral and castle, before making our way to Pitlochry.

Here, we have the pleasure of indulging in a delightful traditional afternoon tea experience at the renowned Verandah Restaurant of the Atholl Palace Hotel. Making our way to Inverness, we'll drive through Cairngorms National Park, the largest national park in the United Kingdom.

Today, our exploration takes us to the city of Inverness. Referred to as the capital of the Highlands, the pretty cosmopolitan city is located on the banks of the River Ness. We'll pass by Inverness Castle and admire its architecture before seeing the Victorian Market, the Gothic-style St Andrew's Cathedral, Falcon Square, Tollbooth Steeple and Inverness Town House, before making our way to Culloden.

The Culloden Battlefield marks the site where the Jacobite army was defeated in 1746. We'll learn about the Battle of Culloden and pay tribute to the men who tragically lost their lives in the final Jacobite Rising. Continuing to Forres, we'll view the largest Picto Scottish Standing Stone, Sueno's Stone. Dating back to Scotland's early medieval period, the stone stands over 6.5 metres tall and is adorned in intricate carvings.

Special Experience: Taste the local drop at the Glen Moray Distillery. Established in 1897, we visit the whisky distillery and learn about the Scottish drink of choice.

Renowned for its incredible landscape, the Isle of Skye is arguably one of Scotland's most beautiful destinations. The enchanting island is made up of dramatic scenery, rich history and quaint villages, and is ours to explore for the next couple of days. After breakfast this morning we'll start our journey through the Highlands.

Travelling along the shores of Loch Ness, we'll make our way to Drumnadrochit.

Next, we’ll visit one of Scotland’s largest castles, Urquhart Castle, to enjoy panoramic views across Loch Ness. We continue to Eilean Donan Castle for a stop outside the 13th century castle, before continuing to our hotel in Skye and enjoying a group dinner this evening.

Have your cameras charged as we spend our day discovering more of what the Isle of Skye has to offer. We start our day with a quick stop in the small village of Sligachan to view the majestic mountain range of the Black Cuillin Hills. Continuing we visit the iconic Old Man of Storr and Kilt Rock, followed by a short scenic coastal walk along the Quiraing walking trail. Prepare to be mesmerised by the stunning cliffs and striking rock formations, offering incredible photo opportunities and unforgettable views. Continuing through the picturesque Trotternish Peninsula we’ll arrive at the Skye Museum of Island Life. We step back in time and explore an old Highland village and its traditional thatched cottages to learn about the life locals led 100 years ago.

We then continue our journey to Dunvegan where we will visit Dunvegan Castle. The historic fortress has a rich history that dates back over 800 years. Later in the evening, we make our way back to the hotel.

Challenging Day: Today is a particularly challenging day, where there will be extended periods of walking time, often across uneven ground and in areas of high altitude or heat and humidity.

We'll begin our day with a ferry ride back to the mainland, from Armadale to Mallaig, before continuing to Glenfinnan. Here, we'll step into the world of Harry Potter and stop to view the viaduct that the budding wizards travel across on their train journey to Hogwarts. We continue to Fort William, home to the tallest mountain in the United Kingdom, and enjoy free time for lunch.

Special Experience: Board the United Kingdom's only mountain gondola for stunning aerial views of the Highlands, ascending to Scotland's Aonach Mor. In the afternoon, we will venture towards the town of Taynuilt, where we will spend the remainder of the day and relish a delightful dinner as a group.

The vibrant city of Glasgow welcomes visitors with arms wide open and is home to a wealth of character, a rich history, and unique neighbourhoods. We make our way to Glasgow this morning travelling through the Trossachs National Park, stopping en route at Loch Lomond. We'll also drive past the iconic Inverayray Castle, also known as Duneagle Castle in the popular series Downton Abbey.

Special Experience: Incredible scenery awaits us at Trossachs National Park where we cruise the vast waters of Loch Lomond admiring its spectacular natural beauty. We'll have some free time for lunch, before continuing to Glasgow. Upon arrival we will check into our hotel and have some time to freshen up before indulging in a group farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Our tour concludes after breakfast this morning. We'll say goodbye to our new friends and to wonderful Scotland.