12 Nights / 13 Days
TOUR
ITINERARY
Day 1 - Welcome to Edinburgh
Welcome to bonnie Scotland! There
are airport transfers from Edinburgh Airport at 09:00, 11:30 and 14:00 hrs.
Conditions apply. Relax after your journey. This evening, meet and get to know
your companions and Travel Director at a Welcome Pub Reception, which includes
a typical Scottish meal and drinks.
Visit our Getting to Scotland page
for more information on rail and air links to Edinburgh.
Overnight: Apex Haymarket Hotel,
Edinburgh (or similar) (3 nights)
Day 2 - Edinburgh City Tour and Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh is a rugged and
beautiful city. See Princes Street, the New Town, the Royal Mile, Scottish
Parliament and Arthur's Seat during your morning sightseeing tour with an
expert Local Guide. Visit the apartments at the historic Edinburgh Castle with
views of Holyrood House, the former residence of Mary Queen of Scots. A
highlight of our visit will be a viewing of the Scottish Crown Jewels. During
the Edinburgh Festival, tickets for the spectacular Royal Edinburgh Military
Tattoo are also included.
Day 3 - Scottish Border Excursion
This morning into the beautiful
Scottish Borders to see impressive 12th century ruined Jedburgh Abbey. Admire
Melrose Abbey, where the embalmed heart of Robert the Bruce is said to rest,
before following the valley of the River Tweed back to Edinburgh.
Day 4 - Edinburgh - St Andrews - Dundee
See the spectacular Forth Bridge
as we travel to St. Andrews, considered by many as the home of golf, take a
photograph at the famous Old Course or enjoy discovering the ancient University
- there is so much to enjoy. Later visit Glamis Castle, the childhood home of
the late Queen Mother, birthplace of Princess Margaret and the setting for
Shakespeare's Macbeth. Enjoy a guided tour of the castle and free time to enjoy
the beautiful gardens. Later arrive in Dundee, a waterfront city in the Tay
Estuary which is the UK's first UNESCO City of Design.
Overnight: Apex City Quay, Dundee
(or similar)
Day 5 - Dundee - Culloden Moor - Carrbridge
This morning visit a local malt
whisky distillery to learn more about the distillers art and to sample a wee
dram. Travel through dramatic Highland landscapes and the rugged Cairngorm
National Park. Visit the site of the Battle of Culloden where, in 1746, Bonnie
Prince Charlie's Jacobite army was defeated. Lately, the site has featured in Diane
Gabaldon's fictional novel "Outlander". It's a short drive to our
hotel in Carrbridge.
Overnight: Carrbridge Hotel,
Carrbridge (or similar)
Day 6 - Carrbridge - Loch Ness - Thurso
It is a short drive to admire the
beauty of Loch Ness, home of the fabled monster. Visit Dunrobin Castle, the
ancestral home of the Dukes of Sutherland, which resembles a French chateâu
with its towering conical spires. Stroll through the formal gardens, inspired
by the Palace of Versailles. Enjoy wonderful sea views as we travel northwards
to Thurso, our home for the next two nights.
Overnight: Pentland Hotel, Thurso
(or similar) (2 nights)
Day 7 - Orkney Islands Excursion
Visit John O'Groats, then take the
ferry from Gills Bay across the Pentland Firth to the Orkney Island of South
Ronaldsay. See the Churchill Barriers, built as part of naval defence to
protect the anchorage at Scapa Flow during World War II. Visit the ornate
Italian Chapel, built by Italian prisoners of war. Visit Skara Brae and walk
through the remains of the famous Neolithic village. See the prehistoric Ring
of Brodgar en route to visit Viking Kirkwall where we will see towering St
Magnus Cathedral. Later we will cross the sea back to the mainland. Dine
tonight at your hotel.
Day 8 - Thurso - Ullapool - Isle of Skye
The landscape along the northern
coastline is stunning! See misty valleys and glens and visit the picturesque
fishing village of Ullapool, which sits on Loch Broom. View impressive Eilean
Donan Castle then continue via the Kyle of Lochalsh and over the sea to Skye,
where we will see the towering Cuillin Hills.
Overnight: Kings Arms Hotel,
Kyleakin (or similar)
Day 9 - Isle of Skye - Fort William - Ballachulish
The main town on the island is
Portree, which sits overlooking its attractive harbour. There is time to enjoy
Portree for yourself before joining the ferry for the short sailing to Mallaig.
Tour the famous "Road to the Isles" and see the famous Railway
Viaduct, which features in the Harry Potter movies and Glenfinnan Monument,
where Bonnie Prince Charlie rasied his standard at the start of the 1745
Jacobite uprising. At Fort William you will see Britain’s highest mountain, Ben
Nevis, in all its glory. Later arrive at your hotel in Ballachulish.
Overnight: Ballachulish Hotel,
Ballachulish (or similar) (2 nights)
Day 10 - Isle of Mull & Isle of Iona Excursion
Cruise from Oban across the mouth
of Loch Linnhe to Craignure on the Isle of Mull, the fourth largest Scottish
island and a jewel of moorlands, forests and cliffs. Drive to Fionnphort for a
short ferry crossing to the island of Iona. It was here that St Columba built a
monastery in 563. Visit the Abbey, one of the oldest and most important
religious sites in Western Europe, before returning to your hotel for dinner.
Day 11 - Ballachulish - Glen Coe - Glasgow
Enter dramatic Glen Coe, known as
the Glen of the Weeping after the tragic massacre of 1692 of the resident
MacDonald Clan. The beautiful scenery continues as we make our way over Rannoch
Moor and via Tyndrum to Loch Lomond, where you can stop for photographs and
perhaps take a cruise on the Loch. Later your orientation of Glasgow includes
views of George Square, the impressive City Chambers and a visit to Glasgow
Cathedral.
Overnight: Holiday Inn
Theatreland/Novotel, Glasgow (or similar) (2 nights)
Day 12 - Stirling Castle and Bannockburn Excursion
This morning enjoy a guided visit
of the historic Stirling Castle and explore the Royal Palace of King James V.
See the Stirling Heads making your way to nearby Bannockburn - the site of the
famous battle between King Robert Bruce of Scotland and Edward II of England.
Enjoy a Farewell Lunch on a working Scottish farm with your companions and
Travel Director and after you'll have free time to further explore Glasgow.
Day 13 - Depart Glasgow
Say a fond farewell to bonnie
Scotland as your wonderful holiday draws to a close. Airport transfers are
available at 07:00 hrs and 09:00 hrs. Conditions apply.
Tour Ends!!