SCOTLANDS HIGHLANDS ISLANDS & CITIES

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