Four Day Tour

Sample Tour – Impressions of Scotland

This tour has a good mix of Scottish experiences, visiting important towns that boast long histories, such as Stirling and St Andrews. We visit Stirling Castle, which is steeped in the lives of kings and queens and was an important site in Scotland’s wars of independence.

The tour also features the west coast and Oban, which has a stunning view of the Isle of Mull. The schedule includes visits to Loch Ness and the Highland capital of Inverness with its Bronze age Clava Cairns and Culloden battlefield, where the Highland clans made their last stand.

The tour finishes with a visit to the picturesque towns of Pitlochry, Dunkeld and St Andrews which is the former ecclesiastical capital of Scotland steeped in history of the reformation and boasting its unique university.

Your guide will provide a narrative of Scottish history throughout and will add context to all that you see.

Four Day Tour

Sample Tour – Impressions of Scotland

This tour has a good mix of Scottish experiences, visiting important towns that boast long histories, such as Stirling and St Andrews. We visit Stirling Castle, which is steeped in the lives of kings and queens and was an important site in Scotland’s wars of independence.

The tour also features the west coast and Oban, which has a stunning view of the Isle of Mull. The schedule includes visits to Loch Ness and the Highland capital of Inverness with its Bronze age Clava Cairns and Culloden battlefield, where the Highland clans made their last stand.

The tour finishes with a visit to the picturesque towns of Pitlochry, Dunkeld and St Andrews which is the former ecclesiastical capital of Scotland steeped in history of the reformation and boasting its unique university.

Your guide will provide a narrative of Scottish history throughout and will add context to all that you see.

DAY ONE:

Pick-up in Edinburgh at 8.30am, drive to Stirling and take a walk through Stirling’s old town, visiting the Church of the Holy Rude, the Holy Rude graveyard, Cowane’s Hospital and Stirling Castle.

Stirling Castle is one of the largest most important castles in Scotland with views to the Wallace monument and Stirling Brig.

Carry on to nearby Doune Castle, a medieval structure rebuilt by the Duke of Albany in the 14th century which was featured in Monty Python and the Holy Grail and as Castle Leoch in Outlander.

Have lunch in Doune.

Stop at Kilmahog to see, photograph and an option to feed the Highland cows.

Stop at St Conan’s Kirk on Loch Awe, built 1881-6, with its view to the Campbell’s castle of Kilchurn and view the wonderful architecture in the interior designed by Walter Douglas Campbell.

Arrive in Oban early evening and drop off at hotel.

DAY TWO:

Pick-up at 8.30am, drive north through Appin and view stunning Castle Stalker on Loch Laich (an inlet of Loch Linnhe) before heading north and visiting the Glencoe Visitor Centre, which details the history, geology and wildlife of the glen. This is followed by a journey through the historic glen, site of the Glencoe massacre on 13 February 1692, when 30 members of Clan Donald were killed by Government Forces.

Stop for lunch in Fort William or nearby Glen Nevis.

Travel along Loch Eil to the Glenfinnan Monument where Bonnie Prince Charlie raised the standard in the 1745 rebellion, and enjoy views back toward Ben Nevis, Scotland’s highest mountain. Take a short walk to view the Glenfinnan viaduct on which the Hogwart’s train travelled in the Harry Potter films.

Travel up the Great Glen to Urquhart Castle, perched on the side of Loch Ness. The historic castle gives great views onto the loch and perhaps a chance to glimpse Nessie!

Arrive in Inverness early evening.

DAY THREE:

Pick up at 8.30am, visit the 4,000 years old Clava Cairns built in the Bronze-Age to house the dead. An early morning visit to walk among these ancient stones can feel atmospheric, and it is no wonder that the site was used in a key scene in Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander TV series.

Visit the nearby Culloden Battlefield where the Jacobite clans were finally defeated by the Government forces in 1746. As well as the interesting visitor centre, there’s an opportunity to walk around the battlefield on the bleak Drumossie moor – an atmospheric and moving experience.

A visit to Inverness town centre can be combined with a bite to eat, some shopping and a walk to the Ness islands.

The afternoon can incorporate a visit to the excellent Tomatin or Dalwhinnie Distilleries before heading south toward Pitlochry or alternatively a visit to the stunning Blair Castle, home of the Duke of Atholl. He is the only person in the United Kingdom permitted to have his own private army, the Atholl Highlanders, who are garrisoned in the castle.

On arrival in Pitlochry, a walk to the salmon ladder and past the Pitlochry Theatre can be a pleasant end to the day before arriving at your accommodation for the evening.

DAY FOUR:

Stop off at the lovely little town of Dunkeld, once the site of a Pictish fort, and visit the Cathedral then enjoy a walk at the nearby Hermitage.

Drive south past the town of Perth and visit the historic university town of St Andrews. Stroll around the university sites and learn about the traditions of the students of Scotland’s oldest university. St Andrews historically was the ecclesiastical centre of Scotland until the Scottish Reformation. The remains of St Andrews Cathedral can be seen, along with St Andrews Castle and the sites of various happenings in Scotland’s bloody reformation of the church. St Andrews is also renowned as the home of golf and the iconic Swilcan Bridge separates the 1stand 18th fairways. Lunch in St Andrews can end with a visit to Janetta’s famous gelateria for an ice-cream.

Next stop is the East Neuk of Fife and a visit to one or more of the pretty coastal villages. A walk between two of the villages along the lovely coastline offers views across the water to the Bass Rock and to Edinburgh.

Finally, a visit to the historic village of Falkland is a chance to take in its Royal Palace and lovely old buildings. The town doubled for Inverness in the Outlander TV series and a scene from the first episode was filmed in one of the local gift shops.

Return to Edinburgh for early evening.

Other Tours

Tours can be arranged for anywhere in Scotland such as Edinburgh, Glasgow, the South West (Ayrshire & Galloway), Argyll & the Isles, the Highlands, the Far North (Caithness and Sutherland) Royal Deeside & Aberdeenshire, Orkney, the Borders and the Outer Hebrides.

Tours can be created around interests such as golf, whisky, castles, genealogy, walking and many other subjects, just let us know what you would be interested in.

“Would you like an adventure now, or would you like to have your tea first?”