Ultimate Scotland

Welcome to Scotland! If you arrive early, take an optional walking tour of the city, featuring The Royal Mile, with a stop at the Whisky Experience and Edinburgh Castle.

This evening, meet your tour guide and traveling companions for a welcome dinner.

Head to Scotland’s largest city, Glasgow. Panoramic views abound as you pass Loch Lomond, listening to the traditional Bonnie Bonnie Banks song. Enjoy a brief coffee stop in Luss, a stunning village with views of the loch. Stop by the grave of Rob Roy, Scotland’s Robin Hood, and your guide will tell a few tales of this folk hero and ancient Highland clans.

If weather allows, grab a photo at Rest and Be Thankful, a famous pass along the way. Have lunch at Inveraray, along the shores of Loch Fyne. Continue along the banks of Loch Awe, stopping at Kilchurn Castle, ancestral home of the Campbell Clan. Enjoy a short walk to stretch your legs, and take a photo of one of Scotland’s most photographed castles. Stop in Oban for the night, and enjoy a glass of local whisky with your dinner.

After breakfast at your hotel, continue on to Dunstaffnage Castle. Take in views of the Connel Bridge and the Falls of Lora. Continue north for scenic views of Glen Coe, location of a notorious clan massacre. Your guide will tell you all about it as you cruise by, arriving in Fort William for lunch.

After a hearty meal, do some shopping or snap a few photos of Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Britain. Board the famous Jacobite steam train, deemed “The Greatest Railway Journey in the World”. Stunning scenery abounds as you cross the Glenfinnan Viaduct, with glimpses of a few gorgeous Scottish islands in the distance.

After arrival in Mallaig, the ferry will take you to the Isle of Skye. Spend the night by a roaring fire or exploring a few pubs.

If the sun is shining, take a scenic drive along the Trotternish Ridge, with stops at the Kilt Rock and Lealt Waterfall. Walk among the unique rock formations at Quiraing before diving to Fairy Glen, Uig for an adventure in the home of the wee fairies.

Have a traditional Scottish lunch. Try some haggis if you dare, fish and chips if you’re not so brave. Drive to the Neist Point Lighthouse for spectacular views of the Western Isles. Return to Portree for the evening.

Take a quick stop at Sligachan for a view of the famous Cuillin Mountains before crossing the Skye Bridge back to the mainland. Stop in Plockton, a village with an out-of-place main street lined with palm trees. Drive through a 2,000 foot mountain pass, with views to Skye and some other Scottish islands.

Lunch in quaint Applecross. Enjoy a leg stretch at the Corrieshalloch Gorgre before stopping in Ullapool for the night.

Spend a memorable day frolicking in the natural beauty of the Coigach Peninsula. This area has it all – lochs, coastline, woodlands, and mountains. Drive to the Inverpolly Nature Reserve for a walk. Grab some refreshments in Lochinver before a picnic lunch on the white sand at Achmelvich Beach.

Explore the shores of Loch Assynt, highlighted by the ruins of Ardvreck Castle. Visit Smoo Cave, or shop in Durness for some local handicrafts. Stop in Inverness for the evening.

Wake up bright and early to see Nessie! Sign up for a boat cruise on Loch Ness, or wander through the Old Town, Inverness. Enjoy lunch at a riverside restaurant, and purchase some souvenirs at the historic Victorian Market.

The rest of the day is yours to do as you please.

Learn about Scottish history at Culloden Moor, the site of the last battle fought on British soil. Go back even further into history at Clava Cairns, the site of 4,000 year old stone circles and burial mounds. Travel back into the present at Cairngorms National Park, learning about the local flora and fauna found here.

Stop for a wee dram at the Blair Athol Distillery. Take a tour and sample the goods before continuing on the Dunkeld. Take a romantic walk through the Hermitage Woodland, and then head back to the hotel to prepare for your farewell dinner.