Itinerary :

All Tours can start or finish in either Glasgow or Edinburgh.

Day 1 : Arrival

Arrive at Edinburgh/Glasgow Airport where you will be met by your driver/guide who will bring you to your splendid Hotel, in the Edinburgh area. Enjoy the grandeur of this Hotel tonight or travel into Edinburgh.

Day 2: Edinburgh

Today is for Exploring Edinburgh and the surrounding area. Though it’s streets are steeped in history, Edinburgh is a thriving modern capital – the Festival City. Elegant and exciting – truly one of Europe’s great cities.

Edinburgh Castle dominates the city skyline, is full of history and is a fantastic introduction to Scotland. Within the walls there is St Margaret’s Chapel, the Stone of Destiny and the Scottish Crown Jewels to visit.

Aside from the Castle there is the Old Town and Georgian New Town offering their contrasting Architecture, excellent Museums and Art Galleries; the Royal Yacht Britannia, Holyrood Palace and much more.

If you want to escape the city then explore the delightful surrounding countryside, where you can play golf, visit Roslin Chapel, Linlithgow Palace or go for a walk along one of our beautiful beaches.

Overnight Edinburgh area.

Day 3 :Edinburgh - Highlands

After your Full Scottish Breakfast depart Edinburgh heading north crossing the Forth Road Bridge with its dramatic views of the Victorian feet of engineering the Forth Railway Bridge. Continuing north visit Perth and Scone Palace the family home of the Earl of Mansfield and also the site of the famous coronation Stone of Scone, brought there in the 9th century by Kenneth MacAlpine, King of Scots. Continue to Pitlochry, a small Highland town. Stop at the Salmon Ladder where you may be lucky enough to see salmon leaping! From Pitlochry, travel towards Inverness You will take the very scenic & dramatic road over the Drummochter Pass one of the highest roads in Scotland. Descend into Speyside an area of Scotland famous for its whisky producing tradition. Overnight at Kildrummy Castle

Day 4 : Inverness

Travel northwards towards Inverness. In the morning follow the Whisky Trail and visit one of the many famous distilleries in the area. You can visit Glenfiddich, McCallums, Grants, Cardhu and many more. Each gives an audio-visual show and then a guided tour of the distillery to learn of the processes and for many the highlight is a tasting at the end of the tour. The choice of what to see and do in the Speyside area is huge – there are castles – Brodie, Cawdor (made famous by the Shakespeare’s Macbeth), and Ballindalloch. Visit Culloden Moor, site of the last land battle on British soil, wander around Inverness, capital of the Highlands, take the Strathspey Railway from Boat of Garten to Aviemore, watch the Ospreys at Loch Garten. Accommodation in Dingwall.

Day 5 : Highlands (Sutherland)

Today begins with a visit to the capital of the Highlands, Inverness before heading for a day trip into the northern highlands. Head for the Kessock Bridge and the Black Isle, in reality a peninsula decked out in a thousand shades of green. A maze of quiet country roads and forest tracks, the area is a delight to explore. It is a naturalist paradise with attractions such as the bird reserves and Munlochy and Udale Bay and the famous dolphins that can be best viewed on cruises from Cromarty. Continue north visiting Dunrobin Castle and Gardens bringing to life the lives through the centuries of the Earls of Sutherland. Here you can enjoy a display of the ancient sport of falconry in the gardens of the castle. Return to Dingwall.

Day 6 : Highlands – West Coast

Today travel south via Loch Ness. Loch Ness forms part of the Caledonian Canal a feat of some great engineering by Thomas Telford linking East Scotland with West by using a series of lochs linked by a canal system. Make a stop at Urquhart Castle, a very scenic spot and also the place where the most sightings of «Nessie» have been. Continue towards Fort William, which nestles beneath the highest mountain in Great Britain – Ben Nevis. If time allows, why not take a ride up in a gondola at Anoch Mor that on a good day will offer stunning views over the west coast. From Fort William, continue south to Ballachulish.

Day 7 : West Coast - Edinburgh

You will drive through Glen Coe, the dramatic and historic glen (valley), scene of the 1692 massacre of part of the MacDonald clan by soldiers of King William. Its steep sided mountains offer superb walking and climbing. Red deer, wildcat, golden eagle and rare arctic plants can be seen among the breathtaking peaks and spectacular waterfalls. Travel onto Stirling and visit Stirling Castle, magnificent both in its situation on a commanding rocky outcrop and in its architecture. Of outstanding interest are the Great Hall and the Gatehouse of James IV, the marvellous palace of James V, the Chapel Royal remodelled by James VI, and the artillery fortifications of the 16^th and 18^th centuries. The castle was a favourite royal residence and the birthplace of James II in 1430. From Stirling continue to Edinburgh.

Day 8 : Departure

Sadly, it’s time to leave Scotland. Make your way to the airport to join your flight home.