DISTINCTLY SCOTLAND
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10-Day Tour
Edinburgh - Scottish Highlands - Orkney - Skye
An extensive tour of the Scottish Highlands and Islands
A 10-Day Ready-to-Book tour, personally created by Iain, giving you the very best Scottish tour that we offer.
10 Days starting from $6,999pp
High-season (June – August) starting from $7,999pp
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Minimum 4 persons per tour, (double occupancy rooms. Not including airfare).
The cost includes quality hotel accommodation, (with breakfast each day), entrances to attractions, (including Spirit of Scotland Show) and ferry rides. Tips are not included. Costs are subject to price changes and availability, until the tour deposit paid. {Contact us for great deals on other guest numbers}
The Tour at a glance:
Day 1
EDINBURGH TOUR
EDINBURGH Castle
'SCOTTISH EVENING'
FIFE COASTAL VILLAGES
ST ANDREWS
DUNDEE - GLAMIS Castle
Day 2
Day 3
HIGHLANDS TOUR
BALMORAL Castle
INVERNESS
START NC500 ROUTE
DUNROBIN Castle
JOHN 'O GROATS
Day 4
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FULL DAY ORKNEY EXPLORATION
Day 5
Day 6
THURSO TO ULLAPOOL BY NC500 ROUTE
SUTHERLAND EXPLORE
Day 7
WESTERN HIGHLANDS
EILEAN DONAN Castle
SKYE TOUR
Day 8
SKYE TOUR
DUNVEGAN Castle
FERRY TO Ft William
Day 9
GLENCOE VIEW
RANNOCH MOOR
LOCH LOMOND CRUISE
Day 10
CITY OF GLASGOW
STIRLING Castle
EDINBURGH
The Forth Road Bridges
(Forth Road Bridge 1964, Queensferry Crossing 2017)
10-Day Tour full details:
Day 1
Edinburgh
After lunch your guide will take you on a personal Walking tour of the Royal Mile. You will see all of the amazing historical sights, including Edinburgh Castle, The Grassmarket and Greyfriar's Churchyard. There is also the famous 'Harry Potter Street' (Victoria Street or Diagon Alley). Camera Obscura and the Scotch Whisky Experience. There are also many various attractions and gift shops can be decided on the day.
Your personal guide will greet you at Edinburgh Airport to whisk you to your hotel, where you drop your bags and time to freshen up. Your hotel is handily situated in the city centre where we start our driving tour of Edinburgh.
In the evening its off to the Royal College of Surgeons. not to have an operation, but this is the lovely venue of the 'Spirit of Scotland Show'. You will enjoy a Scottish themed evening of festivities including: A welcome piper in full Highland regalia, 4-Course dinner, (including haggis), bagpipers, Scottish country dancers, and a complimentary dram of whisky!
o/n MARKET STREET HOTEL
Fife Coast - St. Andrews - Glamis Castle
Day 2
Off to the Scottish Highlands today via the home of Golf, St Andrews.
We will take the scenic route along the coastal fishing villages in the East Neuk, stopping at Crail and Anstruther. They reckon they make the best Fish 'n Chips in Scotland at Anstruther. You can decide.
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St Andrews is a must visit for golfers worldwide, as the game started here, and is home to the oldest golf club in the world, 'The Royal and Ancient'. The town also has the oldest University in Scotland, where Prince William met Catherine. We will show you which cafe was the venue of their first date!
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On to Glamis Castle passing the city of Dundee, which is the city of the 3 'J's'...Jute, Jam and Journalism, (your guide will explain).
Glamis Castle is the private home of the Earl of Strathmore and was the childhood home to the Queen Mother, the King's grandmother. A fascinating and impressive royal residence.
We leave Glamis to enter the Highlands and your lovely Highland hotel. o/n DALMUNZIE HOTEL
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Glamis Castle
Day 3
Highlands exploration via Highest road in Scotland! Balmoral Castle - Speyside distillery - Inverness
Today we drive into the heart of the Grampian Mountains past the Glenshee ski Centre and over the high peaks towards Ballater and His Majesty the King's summer residence - Balmoral Castle.
Balmoral has been the cherished residence of the UK Royals ever since it was purchased by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in the 19th century.
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Afterwards, it up to the highest road in Scotland, the Cock Bridge to Tomintoul road, where you will get some really great views of the mountains and glens. Up here you may spot some Red Deer or even on of our famous cattle, 'Highland Coos'
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Now to Speyside. This is the main whisky producing area of Scotland and home to numberous world famous brands. Macallan, Glenfiddich, Knockando....plus many many other famous brands. Let us know which one you wish to visit. There is also the largest cooperage in the UK, with daily demonstrations of barrel making.
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After your tour and a wee dram, we head north to the Capital of the Highlands, Inverness, passing on the way the towns of Elgin and Nairn,
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o/n GLEN MOHR HOTEL
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Balmoral Castle
Day 4
Culloden - Loch Ness - John 'o Groats
In 1746, the last battle to be fought on British soil was The Battle of Culloden. This fight brutally ended the Jacobite Rebellion led by Charles Edward Stuart, better known as "Bonnie' Prince Charlie. Today we visit the actual location of this fierce battle, which now has an award winning visitor experience.
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We'll also see if we can spot the 'Loch Ness Monster' by driving down to Loch Ness. It holds the largest volume of water of any lake in the United Kingdom, and deep too, giving rise to this world famous legend! (bring your camera!).
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North now on the NC500* route to Dunrobin Castle. This magnificent structure sits in it's majestic setting overlooking the Moray Firth. Here we will experience one of the best Falconry Displays I have ever seen.
Then to John 'o Groats, the most northerly point in the Island of Britain. Here we get views north to the Orkney Islands where we go tomorrow.
o/n FORSS HOTEL
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Castle Stalker
* The 'North Coast 500' is a travel discovery route around the North of Scotland. Known as the 'NC500' It is believed to be based on 'Route 66', and for many folks is a 'bucket list' trip!
Day 5
Full Island of Orkney tour
We set sail today over the Pentland Firth past the
'Old Man of Hoy', (see picture on right). Today is an exploration of Orkney, where we will see:
Maeshowe , a 5000 year old neolithic chambered tomb with ancient Viking graffiti.
Skara Brae, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the best preserved Neolithic villages in Europe. It's remarkably intact 5000 year old stone houses offer a fascinating glimpse into prehistoric life.
Ring of Brodgar, this ancient stone circle dates back to the third millennium BC. It is one of the largest and most impressive stone circles in Scotland, with 27 of the original 60 stones still standing.
We now route to the capital Kirkwall and St Magnus Cathedral.
Next to the Italian Chapel. This was built by Italian prisoners of World War II demonstrating their creativity and ingenuity in the face of adversity. Here we get great views of the Atlantic Wall and Scapa Flow, where the German fleet were kept capture after World War I.
Then ferry back to the mainland. o/n FORSS HOTEL
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Day 6
North Coast 500 Sutherland discovery Ullapool and Loch Broom
This morning we continue on the North Coast 500 Route! We will experience the simply breathtaking scenery routing along the most northerly coast of Britain. This region is the least populated part of Scotland, home to many seabirds and lonely white sand beaches.
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This is a day for you to really drink in the majesty of the Scottish rugged countryside and coastline. We will have the opportunity to stop at deserted beaches and breath in the purest air in the country!
We will pass through quaint towns like Tongue, Durness and the breathtaking Assynt Viewpoint.
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Really stunning West Highland scenery today!
o/n ULLAPOOL HOTEL
Kylesku Bridge
Day 7
NC 500 - Eilean Donan Castle
Skye Bridge - Portree
Staying on the route of the NC500 along the charming coastal route, passing great scenery and the villages of: Poolewe, Kinlochewe, Loch Carron.
Poolewe was where the British Naval Arctic Convoys departed to Russia, with essential supplies, equipment and munitions, during World War II. Sadly, many didn't make it back from this highly dangerous endeavour.
Next to Eilean Donan Castle. This very famous castle has appeared in various movies as the quintessential Scottish Castle. (see photo on right).
Next 'over the sea to Skye' by the Skye Bridge and our tour of Skye starts! Routeing towards the capital Portree, where they paint some houses pink!
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o/n CUILLIN HILLS HOTEL
Eilean Donan Castle
Skye Tour - Ferry to Fort William
From Portree we head north to the Kilt Rock, the Old Man of Storr: This iconic rock formation is one of Skye's most famous landmarks. A hike to the base of the Old Man offers stunning views of the surrounding landscape and the rocky pinnacle itself.
The Quiraing is next. A landslip on the eastern side of Skye, the Quiraing offers some of the island's most spectacular scenery. Visitors can take a hike through the otherworldly landscape, passing towering cliffs, rock formations, and stunning viewpoints.
Let's have lunch at the ancestral home of the Clan McLeod That is of course Dunvegan Castle. This historic landmark not only houses some priceless paintings and antiques, but has beautiful gardens to explore too.
Time for another distillery tour, Take your pick from Talisker or Torabhaig - both amazing!
Day 8
Driving north on Sleat, Isle of Skye
As you can see from the video, touring Skye is a spiritual experience - bliss!
Before we join the 25 minute ferry crossing to the mainland at Mallaig, there is another superb route to discover. The really incredible deserted beaches at Ord on the west coast of Sleat. It conveniently brings us towards the port of Armadale. This is amongst my favourite Scottish drives!.
At Mallaig we head east to our night stop at Fort William. o/n MOORINGS HOTEL
Day 9
Glencoe - Rannoch Moor - Loch Lomond Cruise
Fort William lies at the southern end of the Caledonian Canal, which links Inverness to Loch Linnhe, and was named by King William III in 1690. It was after the construction of a military fort to guard against the Jacobites!
It is also the location of the UK's highest mountain, Ben Nevis at 4413feet. This has made Ft William a hikers paradise.
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We next head to Glencoe, (see photo on right). This impressive glaciated valley, (or Glen), is the most famous glen in Scotland, due not only to its beauty, but also because of the 'Massacre of Glencoe' in 1695, when government forces killed 39 of the Jacobite supporting McDonald Clan.
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This takes us to Rannoch Moor, a magnificent high moorland which shows Scotland at its rugged best.
Then on down to Loch Lomond, the largest loch by area in the UK, and where you will join a mini-cruise around the loch.
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o/n CAMERON HOUSE HOTEL
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Glencoe
A Kelpie
City of Glasgow Tour
Stirling Castle - Kelpies - Edinburgh
Day 10
Leaving Loch Lomond we drive south to Scotland's largest city, Glasgow. The city that built most of the ships for the burgeoning British Empire in the 19th and early 20th centuries. We visit the Riverside Museum of Transport that has over 100 scale models of the superb ships that were built on the River Clyde here in Glasgow. The Cathedral is next, and then off to Stirling Castle.
It was here that Mary Queen of Scots sought to create a fabulous palace to rival other monarchies of Europe. You can judge if she achieved her goal!
Then its away to see the Kelpies, ( one of them in our photo on the left). These outstanding sculptures represent the shape-shifting water spirits from Scottish folklore known as Kelpies, which are said to inhabit lochs and rivers, often taking the form of horses.
And so, its back to Edinburgh, where you catch your flight the next day, when you can reflect on what has been the trip of a lifetime!
o/n MURRYFIELD HOTEL
Customise the Tour
Anyway you want!
Famous Scots
Andrew Carnegie (1835–1919) was a Scottish-American industrialist and philanthropist. Born in Dunfermline, Scotland.
He immigrated to the United States with his family in 1848. Carnegie's rise to prominence began when he worked his way up from a bobbin boy in a cotton factory to become a prominent figure in the steel industry.
He founded the Carnegie Steel Company, which became one of the largest steel producers in the world. Despite his immense wealth, Carnegie believed in giving back to society and became one of the most generous philanthropists of his time. He donated millions of dollars to fund the construction of public libraries, establish educational institutions, and promote peace initiatives. Carnegie's legacy continues to be celebrated for his contributions to education, culture, and social welfare. The library he donated to Edinburgh is on George IV bridge.
A true Scottish hero!
Andrew Carnegie