SCOTLANDS HIGHLANDS ISLANDS & CITIES
Group Tour
Visit the isles of Skye and Mull, the Orkney Islands and witness the beauty of Loch Ness. View the ruins of Melrose Abbey and visit Glamis Castle, the setting for Shakespeare’s Macbeth.
SIGHTSEEING HIGHLIGHTS
ORIENTATION of Dundee, Orkney Islands, Stirling and Glasgow
VISIT Edinburgh Castle, Glamis Castle, the battlefield and Visitor Centre of Culloden, Dunrobin Castle, John O’Groats, The Italian Chapel in Orkney Islands, Skara Brae, Ullapool, Isle of Skye, Isle of Mull, Isle of Iona, St. Mungo’s Cathedral in Glasgow and Stirling Castle
VIEW Jedburgh Abbey, the 18th green at St. Andrews, Inverness Castle, Eilean Donan Castle and Glencoe
SEE Loch Ness, Loch Lomond and the Battlefield at Bannockburn
THE TRAFALGAR DIFFERENCE
CONNECT WITH LOCALS
Join the Wood family at their 15th-century farm on the shores of Loch Ard for a home-cooked Scottish ‘Be My Guest’ lunch, tales of Rob Roy and a few foot-tapping ceilidh tunes. (Day 12)
DIVE INTO CULTURE
Visit Blair Athol Whisky Distillery in the foothills of the Grampian Mountains for a tour and tasting of their single malt whisky. (Day 5)
LOCAL SPECIALISTS
For included sightseeing in Edinburgh

Day 1
Arrive Edinburgh (3 Nights)
Embrace the allure of Auld Reekie and explore its labyrinthine lanes, before joining your fellow travellers and Travel Director for a Welcome Reception to kick-start your turas through an unimaginably beautiful part of the world.
Hotel – Apex Haymarket
Included Meals – Welcome Reception
Day 2
Edinburgh Sightseeing and Free Time
Let your ‘Local Specialist’ take you on an informative sightseeing tour of Edinburgh, stopping to view the regal Palace of Holyroodhouse. See the new Scottish Parliament Building and the Royal Mile, delving into the heart of the city, before visiting Edinburgh Castle, perched atop Castle Rock. Stroll through the grand New Town with its Gothic façades enjoying the rest of the day at leisure. Tickets to see the Edinburgh Tattoo are included on departures that coincide with performance dates.
Included Meals – Breakfast
OPTIONAL EXPERIENCE
Dinner And Drive To Historic Torphichen
Enjoy a scenic drive to the ancient village of Torphichen, associated with Scottish kings and Knights Hospitaller. At the haunted Torphichen Inn your arrival will be toasted by our convivial host before enjoying an excellent dinner of local specialties and entertainment.
Adult Price: £48.00*
* The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
OPTIONAL EXPERIENCE
Rosslyn Chapel
We’ll drive out of Edinburgh to the tiny village of Rosslyn, where you’ll hear the inside story on the famous Rosslyn Chapel. One of Scotland’s most unusual 15th-century buildings, Rossyln is famed for its associations with the Knights Templar, the Masonic movement, and now ‘The Da Vinci Code’.
Adult Price: £21.00*
* The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
OPTIONAL EXPERIENCE
Royal Yacht Britannia
You’ll explore this magnificent ship, which has played host to some of the most famous people in the world. Now berthed in Leith, you’ll be welcomed on board to discover the heart and soul of this most special of royal residences – the former honeymoon sanctuary for four royal couples.
Adult Price: £23.00*
* The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
OPTIONAL EXPERIENCE
Scottish Show With Dinner
Tonight is your chance to put on that tartan and join us for an evening of singing, dancing and bagpipe playing at an internationally famous venue. You’ll enjoy delicious food and wine, join in the singing and watch a Highland dance or two. There’s even a chance to sample Scotland’s national dish – haggis.
Adult Price: £60.00*
* The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
OPTIONAL EXPERIENCE
Dinner And Ghost Walk
Work up an appetite discovering some of Edinburgh’s most haunted places with your Local Specialist, who’ll share ghoulish tales before you enjoy a three course meal in a local restaurant.
Adult Price: £40.00*
* The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
Day 3
Excursion to The Borders
A scenic day’s excursion brings us to the ruins of the 12th-century Augustinian Jedburgh Abbey, which we will have an opportunity to view. Continue to nearby Melrose Abbey, said to be the final resting place of the embalmed heart of Robert the Bruce. We take the scenic route back to Edinburgh this afternoon, following the lush green landscapes along the Tweed River.
Included Meals – Breakfast
OPTIONAL EXPERIENCE
Dinner And Ghost Walk
Work up an appetite discovering some of Edinburgh’s most haunted places with your Local Specialist, who’ll share ghoulish tales before you enjoy a three course meal in a local restaurant.
Adult Price: £40.00*
* The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
Day 4
Edinburgh – St. Andrews – Glamis Castle – Dundee
This morning, we cross the Firth of Forth to the celebrated home of golf – St. Andrews, to view its ancient university and famous golf course. Shakespeare’s Macbeth takes centre stage as we visit Glamis Castle, once the home of the beloved Queen Mother and birthplace of Princess Margaret. Enjoy a guided tour of the castle and explore its beautiful gardens, before we travel to the waterfront city of Dundee, distinguished for its status as the first UNESCO City of Design, and the original home of marmalade.
Hotel – Apex City Quay
Included Meals – Breakfast
Day 5
Dundee – Pitlochry – Culloden – Scottish Highlands
‘Dive Into Culture’ and learn about the local whisky industry at a famous distillery, including a tasting of Scotland’s much-loved golden nectar. Hearts and hands warmed, we wind our way to the tragic battlefield and Visitor Centre at Culloden, past rugged landscapes and the imposing Cairngorms Mountains. Visit the site where Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Jacobite army was defeated. Our final stop for the night is in the heart of the Scottish Highlands and gateway to Loch Ness.
Hotel – Carrbridge
Included Meals – Breakfast
OPTIONAL EXPERIENCE
Highland Farm Experience
Visit a real Highland sheep farm and meet Neil the Shepherd and his border collies. He’ll show you how he uses different whistles to command each dog to carry out different tasks. You’ll also have the opportunity to try your hand at feeding the lambs and discover his training techniques. Weather permitting.
Adult Price: £15.00*
* The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
OPTIONAL EXPERIENCE
Cawdor Dinner Evening
Join us for dinner at a traditional country pub in the charming village of Cawdor, home to Shakespeare’s Macbeth.
Adult Price: £38.00*
* The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
Day 6
Scottish Highlands – Loch Ness – Inverness – Thurso (2 Nights)
The mystical haunt of Nessie is our first stop today before passing through Inverness en route to Dunrobin Castle. This stately home and its magnificent gardens, inspired by the Palace of Versailles, comes straight from the pages of a fairy tale. Spend your afternoon exploring its château-like structure and surrounds, once home to the Clan Sutherland. Arriving in Thurso, our home for the next two nights, we enjoy dinner at our hotel.
Hotel – Pentland
Included Meals – Breakfast, Dinner
OPTIONAL EXPERIENCE
Loch Ness Cruise
Sailing from Clansman Hotel, we’ll experience a scenic cruise on Scotland’s most famous waterway, Loch Ness. We’ll also see beautiful Urquhart Castle, founded in the 13th-century, from the lake. The management regrets to inform you that Nessie sightings are not guaranteed!
Adult Price: £24.00*
* The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
Day 7
Orkney Islands Excursion
We board a ferry to South Ronaldsay in the Orkney Islands, viewing the stretch of WWII causeways known as the Churchill Barriers. Visit the ornate Italian Chapel, built by Italian prisoners of war. Visit Skara Brae and see the prehistoric free-standing stones of the Ring of Brodgar before delving into the stories of the Neolithic village. We stop at beautiful Kirkwall Cathedral for a photo opportunity before returning to our hotel for dinner.
Included Meals – Breakfast, Dinner
Day 8
Thurso – Ullapool – Isle of Skye
Dramatic landscapes accompany our scenic drive along the rugged north-west coastline of the Scottish Highlands to remote Ullapool on the shores of Loch Broom. We journey to the 13th-century Eilean Donan Castle, perched on a tiny island where three sea lochs meet, then continue to the Isle of Skye where we’ll stay overnight and enjoy a delicious dinner in our hotel.
Hotel – Kings Arms
Included Meals – Breakfast, Dinner
OPTIONAL EXPERIENCE
Isle Of Skye Drive
An opportunity to travel around the Isle of Skye with your Local Specialist. You’ll hear about the way of life on this remote inner Hebridean Island and discover its stories and legends.
Adult Price: £15.00*
* The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
Day 9
Isle of Skye – Ballachulish (2 Nights)
We return to the mainland following a beautiful route that takes us past the Glenfinnan Viaduct, along which Harry Potter’s Hogwarts Express once crossed to his beloved school of magic. We pass Fort William on the shores of Loch Linnhe, renowned as the gateway to Ben Nevis, before continuing to Ballachulish, our Highland home for the next two nights.
Hotel – Ballachulish
Included Meals – Breakfast
OPTIONAL EXPERIENCE
Ballachulish Dinner and Drive
Enjoy a scenic drive on Loch Linnhe for dinner.
Adult Price: £37.00*
* The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
Day 10
Mull and Iona Excursion
Set sail from Oban to the Isle of Mull, disembarking at Craignure. Cross the pretty island countryside to catch a ferry from Fionnphort to the island of Iona, which was once the home of a Gaelic monastic community in Iona Abbey. Before our journey back to Ballachulish, we’ll have the chance to view Rèilig Odhrain, the final resting place of many Scottish kings.
Included Meals – Breakfast, Dinner
Day 11
Ballachulish – Glasgow (2 Nights)
A solemn reminder of the MacDonald clansmen, who were massacred at the ‘Glen of Weeping’, marks our morning journey south to Glasgow. We follow the banks of Loch Lomond, then enjoy an orientation tour that will see you view St. Mungo’s Cathedral and George Square with its statues of Britain’s famous sons and daughters.
Hotel – Holiday Inn Theatreland
Included Meals – Breakfast
OPTIONAL EXPERIENCE
Glasgow City Evening
You’ll enjoy a chance to experience a night out in the city of Glasgow. Your Travel Director will take you for an evening of good food, a drink, and undoubtedly interesting conversation.
Adult Price: £37.00*
* The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
OPTIONAL EXPERIENCE
Doune Castle
Enjoy a visit to this famous castle, featured in film and television shows such as Monty Python, Outlander, and Game of Thrones.
Adult Price: £24.00*
* The Optionals and pricing listed here are a guideline only and subject to change.
Day 12
Stirling Castle and Bannockburn Excursion
Mary, Queen of Scots and several Scottish kings and queens have made Stirling Castle their home over the centuries. Enjoy a visit to its grounds and delve into the history of this royal residence and fortress, besieged by Bonnie Prince Charlie in the 18th century. We’ll visit the splendidly decorated Royal Palace of King James V and view the renowned Stirling Heads, before venturing to Bannockburn, where King Robert Bruce of Scotland defeated Edward II of England during the First War of Scottish Independence. Later, we ‘Connect With Locals’, joining the Wood family this afternoon for a memorable ‘Be My Guest’ lunch at their 15th-century farm on the shores of Loch Ard, amidst tales of Rob Roy. This evening, we return to Glasgow for time at leisure to enjoy true Scottish hospitality.
Included Meals – Breakfast, Be My Guest
Day 13
Depart Glasgow
Our epic journey across Scotland’s highlands, islands and cities has come to an end. It’s time to say a fond farewell to our travel companions and Travel Director as our memorable holiday comes to an end. Airport transfers are available. Conditions apply.
Included Meals – Breakfast
12 NIGHTS
Accommodation
18 MEALS
12 breakfasts, 1 lunch (Be My Guest), 5 dinners
ON-TRIP TRANSPORT
All transport shown
Weekly from Monday the 4th of May 2020 to Saturday 10th October 2020