Overview
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Scotland is known for its many castles, and you’ll have the opportunity to visit Edinburgh Castle, dating to the 12th century and home of the Scottish Crown Jewels; Brodie Castle, with its outstanding art collection and magnificent library; and Dunrobin Castle, where you’ll also visit the formal gardens. Scotland is also known for its interesting and often bloody history, and you’ll have an opportunity to visit some of its historical sights. On the Orkney Islands, visit Skara Brae, with remains from a 5,000-year-old Neolithic village. Learn about 13 centuries of clan history at the Museum of the Isles on the Isle of Skye. Outlander fans will be treated to visits of two prominent sites: Linlithgow Palace, and the Royal Burgh of Culross, once a port city on the River Forth.
Of course, no vacation to Scotland is complete without seeing the amazing scenery. Throughout this Scotland tour, sit back and enjoy as you witness Scotland at its best—the breathtakingly wild and unspoiled scenery and miles of yellow sandy beaches on Scotland’s northern coast; the waterfalls and jagged, dark peaks on the Isle of Skye; the inspiring hills, green woodlands, and spectacular beaches on the “Road to the Isles”; and much more—while being escorted by an expert Tour Director who will bring Scotland to life with in-depth knowledge of its history, customs, stories, and secrets.
Highlights
Welcome dinner; orientation drive; farewell dinner
FALKIRKSee the world’s largest equine sculptures
ROYAL BURGH OF CULROSSGuided tour of the 17th-century village
LINLITHGOWVisit the birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots
EDINBURGHGuided sightseeing, visit Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace (excluding August and other occasional dates)
ABBOTSFORDGuided tour of Sir Walter Scott’s house
MELROSEVisit the abbey
ST. ANDREWSVisit the home of golf
INVERNESSVisit the Highland capital
CLAVA CAIRNSVisit the sacred prehistoric site
CULLODEN MOORVisit the battle site’s visitor center
BRODIEVisit the castle
ROSS-SHIRELF Guided tour of the whisky distillery
DUNROBINVisit the castle and gardens
JOHN O’GROATSTake the ferry to and from the Orkney Islands
ORKNEY ISLANDSBoard a local coach for a driver-guide commentary and visit the Churchill Barriers, Skara Brae and Skaill House, and Kirkwall; visit the LF Orkney Brewery and enjoy lunch at the Tasting Hall café
ULLAPOOLLF Fish & chips lunch
ISLE OF SKYEVisit the Museum of Island Life and the Museum of the Isles
ARMADALE–MALLAIG
Cross the Sound of Sleat by ferry; glenfinnan Take pictures of the monument and the Harry Potter viaduct; lochaline–fishnish Take the ferry to the Isle of Mull
GLENFINNANTake pictures of the monument and the Harry Potter viaduct
LOCHALINE–FISHNISHTake the ferry to the Isle of Mull
ISLE OF MULLVisit Tobermory
ISLE OF IONATake the ferry to the island and visit the center of Celtic Christianity
CRAIGNURE–OBANTake the ferry back to the Scottish mainland
LOCH LOMONDTake photographs of this stunning spot
2020 Tour itinerary
Inside visits and special features are shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description, including admission charges where applicable.
Total meals included:
- 13 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 9 dinners
ARRIVE IN GLASGOW, SCOTLAND
Day1
Welcome to Glasgow! Check into your hotel with the rest of the day free to relax in Scotland’s largest city. At 6 pm, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a welcome dinner at your hotel.
Meals included:
- Dinner
GLASGOW–FALKIRK–ROYAL BURGH OF CULROSS–LINLITHGOW–EDINBURGH
Day2
Start your grand tour of Scotland with a visit to The Kelpies, the largest equine sculptures in the world. Then, discover two prominent sites featured in the popular TV series Outlander. At the ROYAL BURGH OF CULROSS, follow your Local Guide through the charming, peaceful streets, which were once full of the hustle and bustle of a thriving 17th-century port on the Forth River. Then, take a short drive to the town of Linlithgow and visit the stunning LINLITHGOW PALACE ruins, birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots, and where Outlander’s Jamie Fraser was incarcerated. On to Edinburgh, your base for the next three nights. Later, don’t miss our optional Scottish evening with Highland dancers, bagpipers, and the Ceremony of the Haggis.
Today’s Distance: 74 mi / 119 km
Meals included:
- Breakfast
EDINBURGH.
Day3
Morning city sightseeing with a Local Guide introduces you to the 200-year-old “New Town” and the famous scientists, inventors, and novelists who lived there. In the “Old Town,” visit EDINBURGH CASTLE to admire Scotland’s Crown Jewels, then explore HOLYROOD PALACE (when available, excluding August and other occasional dates). After time on your own in Edinburgh, why not take an optional excursion to Rosslyn Chapel, made world-famous by Dan Brown’s Da Vinci Code, and also one of Scotland’s most remarkable buildings.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
EDINBURGH. ABBOTSFORD EXCURSION
Day4
Today’s excursion brings you into parts of the Scottish Lowlands and Border Counties. Drive through rolling hills and leafy valleys to ABBOTSFORD HOUSE and enjoy a guided tour of Sir Walter Scott’s home. It contains an impressive collection of historic relics, weapons, and armor, as well as an extensive library with over 9,000 rare volumes. Then, visit Melrose Abbey, the burial place of Robert the Bruce’s heart. This afternoon, join a unique optional experience: board the former Royal Yacht Britannia to see how the Royal Family and crew of 240 lived and worked on board. Dinner rounds off this optional evening. For departure numbers August 8, August 15, August 22, tickets are included for tonight’s performance of the world-renowned MILITARY TATTOO.
Today’s Distance: 80 mi / 129 km
Meals included:
- Breakfast
EDINBURGH–ST. ANDREWS–PITLOCHRY–INVERNESS
Day5
Travel over the elegant Forth Road Bridge and through Fife to St. Andrews. Cross the Firth of Tay and from Dundee, head into the Highlands with a lunch stop in the Victorian mountain resort of Pitlochry. Drive through the Grampian Mountains and Cairngorms National Park to Inverness, the Highland capital, where you spend the next two nights.
Today’s Distance: 200 mi / 325 km
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
INVERNESS. HIGHLANDS EXCURSION.
Day6
Fascinating visits on today’s excursion. Stop first at CLAVA CAIRNS, featured in the Outlander series and one of Scotland’s most sacred prehistoric sites. See its three exceptionally well-preserved burial cairns, each enclosed by stone circles. At CULLODEN VISITOR CENTRE, the story unfolds of the crushing Hanoverian victory over Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Scottish clans. Then, visit BRODIE CASTLE, the ancestral home of Clan Brodie, with an outstanding art collection and magnificent library. Back in Inverness, the rest of the day is at leisure. Our recommendation for this afternoon would be to join the Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle optional excursion, which includes a cruise on the loch.
Today’s Distance: 45 mi / 70 km
Meals included:
- Breakfast
INVERNESS–THURSO
Day7
Continue an unforgettable journey with a guided tour of a LF WHISKY DISTILLERY. Then, follow the coast road to majestic DUNROBIN CASTLE, perched on a high terrace above walled gardens and for centuries the seat of the Dukes and Earls of Sutherland. Overnight in Thurso, the most northerly town on Britain’s mainland. Before dinner, you may choose to join an optional excursion to a local pub.
Today’s Distance: 109 mi / 176 km
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
THURSO. EXCURSION TO THE ORKNEY ISLANDS
Day8
A fascinating day full of adventure. At John o’Groats, board a FERRY for the 45-minute crossing to South Ronaldsay, one of the Orkney Islands, where a local coach and driver-guide await you. Cross the four Churchill Barriers and overlook Scapa Flow, where the German fleet scuttled itself in World War I. After a light LUNCH at the Tasting Hall café, take a guided tour of the award-winning LF ORKNEY BREWERY and sample the local ale. Then, head for SKARA BRAE, where you see the fascinating remains of a 5,000-year-old Neolithic village and visit SKAILL HOUSE. Yet more highlights: the Ring of Brodgar, the Orkneys’ Stonehenge, and Kirkwall, the small and picturesque island capital. Return to the mainland by FERRY in the late afternoon.
Today’s Distance: 119 mi / 191 km
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
THURSO–ULLAPOOL–ISLE OF SKYE
Day9
A day to sit back and enjoy the breathtakingly wild and unspoiled scenery, some of the finest in Britain. The northern coast is lined with miles of yellow-sand beaches and pristine estuaries, and the hills and mountains take on a purple hue as the summer progresses. This is Scotland at its best! Drive to the quaint fishing port of Ullapool, where you enjoy a traditional LF FISH & CHIPS lunch at a local restaurant. Late-afternoon arrival on the Inner Hebridean Isle of Skye.
Today’s Distance: 219 mi / 353 km
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
ISLE OF SKYE
Day10
Striking landscapes, unusual rock formations, and dramatic waterfalls will capture your attention on your drive around the Trotternish Peninsula. Visit the thatch-roofed cottages at the MUSEUM OF ISLAND LIFE, close to the last resting place of Highland heroine Flora MacDonald. Then, follow the spectacular coast route, before stopping for free time in the picturesque island capital of Portree. On the way back to Broadford, take in the views of the jagged and dark peaks of the Cuillin Hills.
Today’s Distance: 100 mi / 161 km
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
ISLE OF SKYE–GLENFINNAN–ISLE OF MULL
Day11
Call at Armadale Castle for a visit to its MUSEUM OF THE ISLES and insight into 13 centuries of Clan Donald history before boarding your FERRY at Armadale to cross the Sound of Sleat. Rejoin the mainland at Mallaig and follow the “Road to the Isles.” Stop at Glenfinnan with its viaduct, as seen in the Harry Potter films, then take the FERRY to the Isle of Mull, to conclude your day with a visit to the quaint island capital of Tobermory.
Today’s Distance: 135 mi / 217 km
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
ISLE OF MULL. IONA EXCURSION
Day12
A leisurely day to relax and enjoy the best of Scotland’s western isles. Drive across Mull to visit the beautiful and fascinating Isle of Iona. Time to visit the ABBEY and explore the religious settlement before returning to your hotel in the early afternoon.
Today’s Distance: 72 mi / 116 km
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
ISLE OF MULL–INVERARAY–GLASGOW
Day13
Your final island FERRY crossing brings you to Oban. Then, over the Pass of Brander and from Inveraray to the “Bonnie Banks” of Loch Lomond. Back in Glasgow this afternoon, an orientation drive takes in the fine 12th-century cathedral, imposing university buildings, and elegant Georgian squares. Time for last-minute shopping before enjoying a farewell dinner at your hotel.
Today’s Distance: 108 mi / 174 km
Meals included:
- Breakfast
- Dinner
GLASGOW
Day14
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning.
Meals included:
- Breakfast
Things to note
- August 8, 15 & 22 Departures–Edinburgh Military Tattoo ticket included
Hotels
It may occasionally be necessary to use alternative hotels of a similar standard to those shown.
DoubleTree by Hilton Glasgow Central
Superior First-Class
DoubleTree by Hilton - Glasgow is a luxury hotel in Glasgow City Centre. It is ideally located for the Central Train Station and for all the sights and special events that make Glasgow so unique. The hotel is within a short distance of the fashionable boutiques and restaurants of Princes Square, the roar of Hampden Park for football or music events and the 'Armadillo' for concerts.
Location
Cambridge Street, Glasgow, United Kingdom
Hotel Facilities
- Bar/Lounge
- Luggage Storage
- Elevator
- Restaurant On-Site
- Concierge desk
- Spa Services
- Laundry Available
- Parking/Valet
- Fitness Room
- Pool
- Currency Exchange
Room Facilities
- Disabled Access / Rooms
- Cable/Satellite
- Coffee Maker
- Hair Dryer
- Non-smoking Rooms
- Air Conditioning
- Internet Access
- Room Service
- Television
- In-Room Safe
- Iron/Ironing Board
- Phone
Radisson Blu Glasgow
Superior First-Class
Offering Free high-speed, wireless Internet access throughout, the hotel compromises 250 rooms with complimentary amenities like iPod docking stations, bathrobes and slippers. Collage Restaurant, two stylish bars, access to LA Fitness and a first floor dedicated solely to meetings and events round out the offerings. Glaswegian hospitality and Radisson Blu service standards blend to offer guests a memorable, upscale stay.
Location
301 Argyle St., Glasgow, United Kingdom
Hotel Facilities
- Bar/Lounge
- Concierge desk
- Luggage Storage
- Pool
- Elevator
- Ice Machine
- Restaurant On-Site
- Business Center
- Free WiFi
- Fitness Room
- Currency Exchange
- Laundry Available
Room Facilities
- Disabled Access / Rooms
- Television
- Cable/Satellite
- Phone
- Air Conditioning
- Coffee Maker
- Smoking Rooms
- Hair Dryer
- Iron/Ironing Board
- In-Room Safe
- Non-smoking Rooms
- Room Service
- Mini-bar
- Internet Access
Hilton Edinburgh Carlton
Superior First-Class
The grand, classically designed Carlton has an excellent central location just off the Royal Mile and is equidistant between the castle and Holyrood Palace. With 189 spacious air-cooling rooms, the hotel is an ideal base from which to explore the city. It offers the elegant Bridge Restaurant, a cocktail bar, a fitness suite with Techno gym equipment, swimming pool, sauna, steam room spa, and a squash court.
Location
North Bridge, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Hotel Facilities
- Bar/Lounge
- Spa Services
- Elevator
- Free WiFi
- Laundry Available
- Luggage Storage
- Fitness Room
- Restaurant On-Site
- Pool
- Currency Exchange
- Business Center
- Concierge desk
- Beauty Salon
- Parking/Valet
Room Facilities
- Coffee Maker
- In-Room Safe
- Television
- Room Service
- Desk
- Hair Dryer
- Complimentary Toiletries
- Mini-bar
- Iron/Ironing Board
- Cable/Satellite
- Voicemail
- Pay Movies
- Wake-Up Calls
- Phone
- Alarm Clock
- Internet Access
Mercure Inverness Hotel
First-Class
Enjoy warm Highland hospitality in Old Town Inverness at Mercure Inverness Hotel. Rebuilt on the site of the original Caledonian Hotel, the modern hotel is just 200 meters from Inverness train station and a caber toss from the city's numerous pubs and restaurants.
Location
33 Church Street, Inverness, United Kingdom
Hotel Facilities
- Restaurant On-Site
- Free WiFi
- Fitness Room
- Bar/Lounge
- Laundry Available
- Elevator
- Spa Services
- Luggage Storage
- Business Center
- Concierge desk
- Pool
Room Facilities
- In-Room Safe
- Room Service
- Television
- Iron/Ironing Board
- Hair Dryer
- Disabled Access / Rooms
- Non-smoking Rooms
- Coffee Maker
- Cable/Satellite
- Internet Access
- Phone
St Clair Hotel
First-Class
Unpack and relax in your room. All 34 rooms are freshly decorated and have the essential direct dial telephone, television with Freeview, hairdryer, hospitality tray and en suite shower rooms with complimentary toiletries.
Location
Sinclair Street, Thurso-Caithness, United Kingdom
Hotel Facilities
- Free WiFi
- Restaurant On-Site
Room Facilities
- Television
- Cable/Satellite
- Complimentary Toiletries
- Internet Access
- Phone
- Room Service
- Hair Dryer
- Coffee Maker
Dunollie Hotel
First-Class
The Dunollie Hotel is set by the serene waterside of Broadford Bay, at the foot of the mountains that lead to the famous Cuillin Hills. With 84 en suite bedrooms, a bar and restaurant, it is perfectly placed to explore an area rich in history.
Location
Broadford, Isle of Skye, United Kingdom
Hotel Facilities
- Free WiFi
- Restaurant On-Site
- Parking/Valet
Room Facilities
- Television
- Non-smoking Rooms
- Hair Dryer
- Cable/Satellite
Isle Of Mull Hotel
First-Class
Situated on the crescent Craignure Bay, you will find the breathtaking Isle of Mull Hotel & Spa. With its convenient location to the ferry terminal, the hotel is situated in the perfect place; central while still giving you the feeling of being a million miles away from it all. With panoramic sea views, extensive spa facilities and Sheallach-Na-Mara restaurant.
Location
, Craignure-Isle Of Mull, United Kingdom
Hotel Facilities
- Restaurant On-Site
- Free WiFi
- Spa Services
- Bar/Lounge
- Pool
- Fitness Room
- Currency Exchange
- Hot Tub
- Ice Machine
Room Facilities
- Iron/Ironing Board
- Internet Access
- Phone
- Television
- Disabled Access / Rooms
- Room Service
- Coffee Maker
- Hair Dryer
