Itinerary
- Day 1
Glasgow
You'll arrive in Glasgow with the afternoon and early evening to yourself. Walk around the city center, check out some shops, or relax at your hotel before heading down at 6 pm for a welcome dinner with your tour director and fellow travelers.
- Meals
- Dinner (Welcome dinner at hotel)
Included Activities
- Welcome dinner at hotel
- Day 2
Culross - Falkirk - Linlithgow
Start the morning with a walking tour through Culross, a 17th and 18th-century village, guided by a local expert. From there, you'll drive to Falkirk to see The Kelpies, enormous equine sculptures. Later, stop at Linlithgow Palace ruins, where Mary Queen of Scots was born and where Outlander was filmed.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Walking tour of Royal Burgh of Culross with Local Guide
- Visit The Kelpies at Falkirk
- Visit Linlithgow Palace ruins
Landmarks/POIs The Kelpies Linlithgow Palace - Day 3
Edinburgh
Spend your day exploring Edinburgh with a local guide who'll take you through both the New Town and Old Town. You'll visit Edinburgh Castle to see Scotland's Crown Jewels and walk through this historic fortress that's been attacked more than any other place in Great Britain, with over 1,100 years of history behind its walls.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- City sightseeing with Local Guide - New Town and Old Town
- Visit Edinburgh Castle and view Scotland's Crown Jewels
Optional Activities
- Scottish Night with Bagpipers and the Ceremony of the Haggis - three-course meal followed by traditional Scottish song and dance
- Rosslyn Chapel - 15th century church with religious, pagan and early Masonic themes
- Royal Yacht Britannia Excursion and Dinner - visit the former Royal Yacht and enjoy dinner with wine and coffee at a local restaurant
Landmarks/POIs Edinburgh Castle Rosslyn Chapel Royal Yacht Britannia - Day 4
Abbotsford
Tour Sir Walter Scott's Abbotsford House, where the 19th-century author wrote some of his most successful work. Your guide will explain how Scott influenced Scottish culture through tartan fashion and also played a role in saving Scottish banknotes and recovering the Crown Jewels. Note: if your tour departs August 2, 9, or 16, you'll also attend the Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Abbotsford House
Landmarks/POIs Abbotsford House - Day 5
St. Andrews - Dundee - Pitlochry - Inverness
Begin in St. Andrews, the home of golf and a historic university town. Drive across the Firth of Tay through Dundee to Pitlochroy, where you'll explore the Victorian mountain resort and tour Blair Athol whisky distillery. Later, you'll travel through the Grampian Mountains and Cairngorms National Park on your way to Inverness.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit St. Andrews - home of golf and university town
- Walk through Victorian mountain resort at Pitlochry
- Visit Blair Athol whisky distillery
Landmarks/POIs St. Andrews Blair Athol Whisky Distillery Cairngorms National Park - Day 6
The Highlands
See Clava Cairns, an ancient Bronze Age chamber tomb, then head to the Culloden battlefield visitor center to learn about this significant historical site. You'll also visit Cawdor Castle, the ancestral home of the Campbells with connections to Shakespeare's Macbeth. By afternoon, you'll have free time to explore Inverness on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Clava Cairns - Bronze-Age chamber tomb site
- Visit Culloden battlefield site and visitor center
- Visit Cawdor Castle
Optional Activities
- Loch Ness Cruise and Urquhart Castle - visit Urquhart Castle and board a motorboat for a cruise on Loch Ness for a possible glimpse of the famous monster
Landmarks/POIs Clava Cairns Culloden Battlefield Cawdor Castle Urquhart Castle Loch Ness - Day 7
Dunrobin - Thurso
Visit Dunrobin Castle in the Northern Highlands, a grand home of the Earls and Dukes of Sutherland with views overlooking the Moray Firth. The castle has a French style with tall spires and formal gardens inspired by the Palace of Versailles. After touring, you'll travel to Thurso where you'll have free time this afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Dunrobin Castle and gardens
Optional Activities
- Ceilidh Evening - fireside experience at The Old Smiddy pub with Gaelic storytelling, music, and two drinks of your choice
Landmarks/POIs Dunrobin Castle - Day 8
Orkney Islands
Take a ferry from Scrabster to the Orkney Islands and spend the day seeing sights like the Old Man of Hoy, Skara Brae, and the Ring of Brodgar. You'll tour The Orkney Brewery and have lunch at the Tasting Hall café, learning about their hand-crafted ales including Skull Splitter. A ferry brings you back to the mainland in the late afternoon.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Light lunch at The Orkney Brewery Tasting Hall café), Dinner
Included Activities
- Ferry crossing to Orkney Islands
- Visit Old Man of Hoy
- Visit Skara Brae
- Visit Skaill House
- Visit Ring of Brodgar
- Visit Kirkwall
- Guided tour of The Orkney Brewery
- Light lunch at The Orkney Brewery Tasting Hall café
- Ferry crossing return to mainland
Landmarks/POIs Old Man of Hoy Skara Brae Skaill House Ring of Brodgar Kirkwall The Orkney Brewery - Day 9
Ullapool
Head to Ullapool, a charming fishing port with whitewashed houses and views across Loch Broom. Grab a traditional fish and chips lunch at a local spot, a classic Scottish meal. After lunch, you'll have time to walk around the harbor town and explore on your own before moving on.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch (Traditional fish and chips at a local restaurant), Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Ullapool fishing port
- Traditional fish and chips lunch at local restaurant
Landmarks/POIs Ullapool Loch Broom - Day 10
Isle of Skye
Travel across the Isle of Skye and check out the Museum of Island Life. Stop in Portree, the island's main town, where you can take in views of the Cuillin Hills. Skye has incredible mountain ranges and coastline that you'll see throughout the day.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Museum of Island Life
- Stop in Portree
- Views of Cuillin Hills
Optional Activities
- Eilean Donan Castle and Pub Visit - visit the most photographed landmark in Scotland surrounded by loch and mountain, followed by a drink at a charming local pub
Landmarks/POIs Museum of Island Life Portree Cuillin Hills Eilean Donan Castle - Day 11
Isle of Skye - Glenfinnan - Fort William - Glen Coe - Oban
Start at the Museum of the Isles on Skye, then take a ferry across the Sound of Sleat to the mainland. Drive to Glenfinnan to see the monument for fallen Jacobite clansmen and the famous viaduct from Harry Potter. You'll pass through Glen Coe with beautiful scenery on your way to Oban, passing Fort William, which sits near Ben Nevis, the UK's highest peak.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Museum of the Isles
- Ferry crossing on Sound of Sleat to mainland
- Visit Glenfinnan monument to fallen Jacobite clansmen
- Photos of Glenfinnan Viaduct (Harry Potter filming location)
- Pass Fort William - gateway to Ben Nevis
- Scenic drive through Glen Coe
Landmarks/POIs Museum of the Isles Glenfinnan Monument Glenfinnan Viaduct Ben Nevis Glen Coe - Day 12
Isle of Mull - Isle of Iona
Ferry from Oban to the Isle of Mull for a scenic drive across the island. Watch for Scottish red deer and Highland cattle along rolling hills. You'll cross another ferry to Iona to visit the historic center of Celtic Christianity, then return to the mainland.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Ferry crossing to Isle of Mull
- Scenic drive across Isle of Mull
- Ferry crossing to Isle of Iona
- Visit center of Celtic Christianity on Isle of Iona
- Ferry crossing return to mainland
Optional Activities
- Private Visit to Duart Castle - tour of the 800-year-old family home of Clan Maclean with a dram of whisky
Landmarks/POIs Isle of Mull Tobermory Isle of Iona Duart Castle - Day 13
Inveraray - Loch Lomond - Glasgow
Drive through the Pass of Brander near Inveraray for mountain views. Stop at Loch Lomond to take photos, then continue to Glasgow for a tour highlighting the 12th-century cathedral, university buildings, and Georgian squares. You'll have free time this evening to explore on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Scenic drive through Pass of Brander
- Stop at Loch Lomond for photographs
- Orientation drive of Glasgow landmarks - 12th-century cathedral, university buildings, Georgian squares
Landmarks/POIs Pass of Brander Loch Lomond - Day 14
Glasgow
Your trip ends this morning after breakfast at the hotel before your departure.
- Meals
- Breakfast
