Historic Architectural Tour in Scotland

Arrive early morning at Glasgow International Airport and be met by your expert local guides for transfer to your downtown hotel. For a day and evening, experience the formerly dreary but now youthful and hopping Glasgow scene, a mecca of international travel.

Full Scots breakfasts are included daily, so after breakfast depart by luxury coach for The Borders to experience Torwoodlie Broch, an example of the most ancient of Scots fortifications 1st-2nd century AD. After lunch travel to Dumfries & Galloway to tour the Motte of Urr, an excellent example of the second oldest type of Scots fort, the Motte and Bailey built around the 12th century. Then it’s back to your base in Glasgow.

Today, you’re off to your next historically chronological site, Bothwell Castle, a marshal facility of Edward I, “Hammer of the Scots” in the 13th century. Following lunch return to The Borders for a viewing of Tantallon, a late 14th-century “livery & maintenance” fortification before heading back to your Glasgow base for a final night there.

This morning, you’re off to the Scottish Highlands! On your way north you’ll stop at Loch Oich to see “The Well of the Heads.” If there’s a lonely Scots monument that will echo in your soul, this is it. Soon after, you will be on the shores of Loch Ness, so keep your eyes peeled for Nessie! You’ll stop for the night and sleep on Loch Ness at a well-rated waterfront hotel.

Today will be a day of environmental or cultural volunteerism near the Highland village of either Glen Coe or Drumnadrochit, possibly including an archeological or forestry effort. You might even assist at the Scots Raptor Program with the rehabilitation of birds of prey.

On to the town of Inverness at the north end of the Caledonian Canal and Loch Ness. Here, on the River Ness, you’ll board the Jacobite Queen to sail up the canal past old, new, wrecked and even sunken vessels, out onto the Loch and to Urguhart Castle. Urguhart began as a Motte and Bailey fortification, evolved into a stone castle, and was destroyed after the Highland uprisings. It is an iconic location on the Loch and one of the most photographed. That night, dinner and an evening in beautiful Inverness with lodgings at a central hotel.

After breakfast, you’ll board your coach and travel north and east over one of the most scenic routes in the Highlands, passing manor houses, standing stones, re-forestry and sustainable agriculture. And then you’ll arrive at the Highland capital of Edinburgh! Edinburgh is ground zero for Scots history. After checking into your Princes Street hotel, you’ll head over to Craigmiller House, a prime example of the latest and most popular type of Scots fortifications, the “Tower House” dating to the late 14th to 17th century. After Craigmiller you’ll be free to explore the Royal Mile — Grey Friars Church Yard, the National Galleries, the National Museum and Mary King’s Close are all in easy walking distance

Today you’ll see two jewels of Scots castles, one built for defense and the other as a home to Kings and Queens! First, Edinburgh Castle, a mighty edifice that has been fortified for hundreds of years. Then down along the Royal Mile to Holyrood House, home to the royalty of Scotland.

Sadly, it’s goodbye to Scotland. After breakfast, board the Glasgow train at Old Waverly Station for the short journey back to Glasgow and the airport to embark for your flight home.