Scotland's Highlands, Islands and Cities
Tour Type: Country Explorer
Brochure Type: Ireland and Scotland Tours 2024 v1
This unforgettable Scottish Highlands trip travels into the far-reaches of Scotland's rugged countryside. Keep your eyes peeled for Nessie, delve into the history of the kings and warriors and join the Wood family for a ceilidh and lunch in the 'presence' of Rob Roy.
Choice Highlights
Brochure Type: Ireland and Scotland Tours 2024 v1
This unforgettable Scottish Highlands trip travels into the far-reaches of Scotland's rugged countryside. Keep your eyes peeled for Nessie, delve into the history of the kings and warriors and join the Wood family for a ceilidh and lunch in the 'presence' of Rob Roy.
Choice Highlights
- Explore Edinburgh with a Local Specialist
- Discover Dundee, Orkney Islands, Stirling and Glasgow
- Visit Edinburgh Castle, Glamis Castle, Blair Athol whisky distillery in Pitlochry, the battlefield and Visitor Centre of Culloden, Dunrobin Castle, John O'Groats, The Italian Chapel in Orkney Islands, Skara Brae, Ullapool, Isle of Skye, Isle of Mull, Isle of Iona, St. Mungo's Cathedral in Glasgow and Stirling Castle
- View Jedburgh Abbey, the 18th? green at St. Andrews, Inverness Castle, Eilean Donan Castle and Glencoe
- See Loch Ness, Loch Lomond and the Battlefield at Bannockburn
- Tickets for the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo are included on departures that coincide with performance dates
- Edinburgh: Explore the city with your Local Specialist as you travel along Princes Street to see the Scott Memorial, the neoclassical Adam facades of New Town and the official Scottish residence of the King, Palace of Holyroodhouse.
- Jedburgh: See the impressive 12th-century Jedburgh Abbey that dominates the centre of town.
- Melrose: View the historic ruins of Melrose Abbey and appreciate its many carved decorative details.
- St. Andrews: Visit the university town where the famous beach scene from 'Chariots of Fire' was filmed and see the golf course where the sport was created.
- Glamis: Visit Glamis Castle, and appreciate the building's illustrious history and picturesque setting.
- Inverness: At the exciting Culloden Visitor Centre, discover why the Battle of Culloden lasted only an hour yet changed the Highland way of life forever.
- Golspie: Explore the grand castle and admire its magnificent gardens during your visit of Dunrobin Castle.
- Orkney Islands: Cruise to the windswept Orkney Islands. Come face-to-face with relics spanning human history, from pagan stone circles to reminders of wartime tragedy.
- Scottish Highlands: Admire picturesque lochs and glens as you travel through the Scottish Highlands.
- Eilean Donan: Stop for a photo of this gorgeous castle.
- Glenfinnan Viaduct: See the Glenfinnan Viaduct, along which the Hogwart's Express once crossed in the Harry Potter series.
- Glasgow: See the grand public buildings of Glasgow, including George Square and St. Mungo's Cathedral.
- Glencoe: Visit this Highland village on Loch Leven.
- Stirling: Visit Stirling and see its castle, once the seat of Scottish royalty.
- Pitlochry: Warm your heart with a little Scottish whisky at a traditional distillery in the Scottish Highlands.
- Kinlochard: Join the Wood family at their 15th-century farm on the shores of Loch Ard for a home-cooked Scottish Be My Guest lunch, tales of Rob Roy and a few foot-tapping ceilidh tunes.
- An expert Travel Director and professional Driver
- Cherry-picked hotels, all tried and trusted
- All porterage and restaurant gratuities
- All hotel tips, charges and local taxes
- Breakfast daily and up to half of your evening meals
- Must-see sightseeing and surprise extras
- Audio headsets for flexible sightseeing
- Luxury air-conditioned coach with Wi-Fi in most countries or alternative transportation (such as rail journeys)
- Return ferry to the Orkney Isles
- Ferry from the Isle of Skye to Mallaig
- Return ferry to the Isle of Mull and Iona
- Optional Experiences and free time
Call (716) 675-1190 for more information or to book today! Mention code 17113023
- Tour Operator
- Trafalgar Tours
- Offer
- Offer valid through 3/31/2023
- Duration
- 13 Days
- Escorted
- Escorted - Yes
| Day | Destination | Description |
| Day 1 | Edinburgh | Welcome to Edinburgh: Embrace the allure of Auld Reekie and explore its labyrinthine lanes, before joining your fellow travellers and Travel Director for a Welcome Reception to kick-start your tour through an unimaginably beautiful part of the world. Voco Hotel Haymarket Edinburgh |
| Day 2 | Edinburgh | Discover Enchanting Edinburgh: Let your Local Specialist take you on an informative sightseeing tour of Edinburgh. See the regal Palace of Holyroodhouse, the new Scottish Parliament Building and the Royal Mile, delving into the heart of the city, before visiting Edinburgh Castle, perched atop Castle Rock. Stroll through the grand New Town with its Gothic facades enjoying the rest of the day at leisure. Tickets to see the Edinburgh Tattoo are included on departures that coincide with performance dates. Voco Hotel Haymarket Edinburgh |
| Day 3 | Edinburgh | A Day of Abbeys, Landscapes and History: A scenic day's excursion brings us to the ruins of the 12th-century Augustinian Jedburgh Abbey, which we will have an opportunity to view. Continue to nearby Melrose Abbey, said to be the final resting place of the embalmed heart of Robert the Bruce. We take the scenic route back to Edinburgh this afternoon, following the lush green landscapes along the Tweed River. Voco Hotel Haymarket Edinburgh |
| Day 4 | Glamis Castle and on to Creative Dundee | Explore Glamis Castle and on to Creative Dundee: This morning, we cross the Firth of Forth to the celebrated home of golf - St. Andrews, to view its ancient university and famous golf course. Shakespeare's Macbeth takes centre stage as we visit Glamis Castle, once the home of the beloved Queen Mother and birthplace of Princess Margaret. Enjoy a guided tour of the castle and explore its beautiful gardens, before we travel to the waterfront city of Dundee, distinguished for its status as the first UNESCO City of Design, and the original home of marmalade. Apex City Quay |
| Day 5 | Culloden and Inverness | Venture to Culloden and Inverness Dive Into Culture: Dive Into Culture and learn about the local whisky industry at a distillery, including a tasting of Scotland's much-loved golden nectar. Hearts warmed, we wind our way to the tragic battlefield and Visitor Centre at Culloden, past rugged landscapes and the imposing Cairngorms Mountains. Visit the site where Bonnie Prince Charlie's Jacobite army was defeated. Our final stop for the night is Inverness, the cultural capital of the Scottish Highlands, where we'll overnight. Columba |
| Day 6 | Loch Ness and Thurso | Journey to Loch Ness and Thurso: The mystical haunt of Nessie is our first stop today en route to Dunrobin Castle. This stately home and its magnificent gardens, inspired by the Palace of Versailles, comes straight from the pages of a fairy tale. Spend your afternoon exploring its chateau-like structure and surrounds, once home to the Clan Sutherland. Arriving in Thurso, our home for the next two nights, we enjoy dinner at our hotel. Pentland, Norseman |
| Day 7 | Orkney Islands | A Day on the Orkney Islands: After stopping at John O'Groats, we board a ferry to South Ronaldsay in the Orkney Islands. Visit the ornate Italian Chapel, built by Italian prisoners of war. See the prehistoric free-standing stones of the Ring of Brodgar before visiting Skara Brae and delving into the stories of the Neolithic village. We stop at beautiful Kirkwall Cathedral for a photo opportunity before returning to our hotel for dinner. Pentland, Norseman |
| Day 8 | Over the Sea to Skye | Over the Sea to Skye: Dramatic landscapes accompany our scenic drive along the rugged north-west coastline of the Scottish Highlands to remote Ullapool on the shores of Loch Broom. We journey to Eilean Donan Castle, built in the 13th-century perched on a tiny island where three sea lochs meet, then continue to the Isle of Skye where we'll stay overnight and enjoy a delicious dinner in our hotel. Kings Arms |
| Day 9 | Oban | Onwards to Oban: We return to the mainland following a beautiful route that takes us past the Glenfinnan Viaduct, along which Harry Potter's Hogwarts Express once crossed to his beloved school of magic. We pass Fort William on the shores of Loch Linnhe, renowned as the gateway to Ben Nevis, before continuing to Oban, our Highland home for the next two nights. Royal |
| Day 10 | Sail to the Isles of Mull and Iona | Sail to the Isles of Mull and Iona: Set sail from Oban to the Isle of Mull, disembarking at Craignure. Cross the pretty island countryside to catch a ferry from Fionnphort to the island of Iona, which was once the home of a Gaelic monastic community in Iona Abbey. Before our journey back to Oban, we'll have the chance to view Reilig Odhrain, the final resting place of many Scottish kings. Royal |
| Day 11 | Glasgow | Off to Glasgow Make Travel Matter: A solemn reminder of the MacDonald clansmen, who were massacred at the 'Glen of Weeping', marks our morning journey south to Glasgow. Join a wildlife cruise on Loch Lomond, a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER Experience, then enjoy an orientation tour viewing St. Mungo's Cathedral and George Square with its statues of Britain's famous sons and daughters. AC by Marriott |
| Day 12 | Stirling Castle's Secrets | Uncover Stirling Castle's Secrets Connect with Locals: Venture to Bannockburn, where King Robert Bruce of Scotland defeated Edward II of England during the First War of Scottish Independence. Mary, Queen of Scots and several Scottish kings and queens have made Stirling Castle their home over the centuries. Enjoy a visit to its grounds and delve into the history of this royal residence and fortress, besieged by Bonnie Prince Charlie in the 18th century. We'll visit the splendidly decorated Royal Palace of King James V and view the renowned Stirling Heads. Later, we Connect With Locals, joining the Wood family this afternoon for a memorable Be My Guest experience at their 15th-century farm, on the shores of Loch Ard, amidst tales of Rob Roy. This evening, we return to Glasgow for time at leisure to enjoy true Scottish hospitality. AC by Marriott |
| Day 13 | Glasgow | Farewell Glasgow: Our epic journey across Scotland's highlands, islands and cities has come to an end. It's time to say a fond farewell to our travel companions and Travel Director as our memorable holiday comes to an end. Find out more about your free airport transfer at trafalgar.com/freetransfers. |
- Dates/Pricing
- Disclaimer
- Twin prices are per person.
- These prices are correct at the time of the website going live, however are subject to confirmation at the time of booking.
- All tour information is correct at time of tours going live, however is subject to change, please confirm all details at time of booking.
- For full terms and conditions, please refer to our Conditions page.
- Hotel Class Key: D: Deluxe SF: Superior First Class F: First Class
