10 day tour
Scottish Highland Fling
From
£2419.00
Tour Summary
This 10-day Scottish adventure starts in Scotland's ancient capital, Edinburgh. Enjoy a two night stay with time to discover the many delights "Old Reekie" has to offer, including a visit to mighty Edinburgh Castle. Head into the Highlands to visit the picturesque Cairngorms National Park and evocative Culloden Moor. From Inverness, join the scenic North Coast 500 route to explore the Northern Highlands and visit the ancient Orkney Islands. Head westwards to explore the Hebridean islands of Skye, Mull and Iona before reaching stylish Glasgow, a cosmopolitan city by the River Clyde.
Edinburgh - let a local expert show you the highlights of this historic city, including a visit to mighty Edinburgh Castle to view the Scottish Crown Jewels
Inverness - enjoy an overnight stay in the Capital of the Highlands, a great base to explore nearby Culloden Moor
Orkney - discover the ancient history, unique culture and unrivalled wildlife of these Northern Isles
Isle of Skye - tour through the scenic beauty of the Sleat Peninsula, known as the Garden of Skye
Isle of Iona - visit this tranquil isle to see the ancient Abbey, founded by St Columba in 563 and the Reilig Oran, burial place of Scottish Kings
Movie locations – Avengers: Infinity War, The BFG and Cloud Atlas
Hotel accommodation included
Full Tour Itinerary
Select Day:
Day 1 - Edinburgh arrival
Welcome to Scotland's ancient Capital City. After settling into your hotel, why not enjoy a walk in nearby Princes Street Gardens or some retail therapy in one of the many designer shops found along George Street?
At 6 pm come together with your Tour Director and fellow passengers for a Welcome Dinner served in your stylish hotel.
Overnight: Marriott Courtyard, Edinburgh (or similar) (2 nights)
Day 2 - Exploring Edinburgh
This morning, join a Local Expert for a tour of this flourishing UNESCO World Heritage city.
First, we travel through the elegant streets of the Georgian New Town to view formal gardens and grand architecture. Cross over to the ancient Old Town to visit mighty Edinburgh Castle, home to the ornate Scottish Crown Jewels and the Stone of Destiny.
Later, take a drive along the famous Royal Mile through the Canongate to see the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official residence of HM The King in Scotland. Close by sits the modern Scottish Parliament building and the crags of Holyrood Park.
This afternoon is free for independent sightseeing.
Tonight, why not make a date to attend a Scottish Evening complete with Highland dancing, bagpipes and the Ceremony of the Haggis?
If your tour departs during the Edinburgh Festivals tickets to the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo are included. This dazzling show takes place on the Esplanade of Edinburgh Castle and features the spectacular massed Pipes and Drums.
Day 3 - Edinburgh - St Andrews - Inverness
We bid farewell to Edinburgh and cross the Firth of Forth, where we'll see the three bridges that span this wide estuary, including the magnificent Forth Bridge.
Our drive will take us through the Kingdom of Fife to reach St Andrews, renowned as the home of golf. Enjoy some free time to explore this historic town and its many golfing connections.
Later, cross the River Tay to reach Dundee, then make our way through the pleasant Perthshire countryside to reach the Victorian resort of Pitlochry. After some free time, we head through the Grampian Mountains to reach the picturesque Cairngorms National Park.
Haunting Culloden Moor was the site of a bloody battle between the Jacobite Army of Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Government Forces led by the Duke of Cumberland in 1746. It was the last battle fought on British soil, and the outcome changed life in the Highlands for generations. Discover the story behind this famous event at the award-winning visitor centre before making the short drive to our hotel in the centre of Inverness.
Overnight: Mercure Inverness Hotel, Inverness (or similar)
Day 4 - Inverness - Dunrobin Castle - Thurso
After a hearty Highland breakfast, we travel northwards across the Moray Firth to reach the Black Isle and the Cromarty Firth beyond.
Our first stop of the day will be at a local distillery, where we'll discover how expert distillers produce Scotch Whisky, Scotland's national drink, using just three ingredients: water, barley, and yeast. At the end of the visit, there's the chance to taste the end product too!
On the outskirts of Golspie lies Dunrobin Castle, the ancestral home of the Dukes and Earls of Sutherland. Built to resemble a French chateau, this fairy-tale castle boasts 189 rooms and extensive gardens, as we will discover during our visit.
There are lovely coastal views to enjoy as we make our way northwards to reach Thurso, our home for the next two nights. After checking into our hotel, why not enjoy an optional excursion to a local pub?
Overnight: St Clair Hotel, Thurso (or similar) (2 nights)
Day 5 - Orkney Islands Excursion
Today we have a fascinating excursion to the ancient Orkney Islands. Our day of adventure starts with a drive to nearby John O'Groats, Britain's most northerly village, where the ferry awaits to take us across the Pentland Firth.
We will arrive on South Ronaldsay, where a local coach and driver/guide is waiting to greet us. On our tour, we will see Scapa Flow, the scene of momentous events during both World Wars, then cross the Churchill Barriers to reach Mainland Orkney.
Enjoy a light lunch of local delicacies at the Tasting Hall café, then enjoy a tour of the award-winning Orkney Brewery, followed by a tasting of their craft beer.
We will spend this afternoon visiting the ancient treasures of Neolithic Orkney. First, we stop at Skara Brae, a fascinating 5,000-year-old Neolithic village complete with houses fitted with stone beds and seats. You can discover more prehistoric artefacts at the nearby Skaill House museum.
There is more ancient history on show when we visit the captivating Ring of Brodgar, a ritual site of gatherings and ceremony.
Enjoy free time in Kirkwall, the main town on the islands. It's a great place to browse the craft shops and jewellery designers for a unique souvenir of our visit.
In the late afternoon, we return to the mainland and make our way back to our hotel in Thurso.
Day 6 - Thurso - Ullapool - Gairloch
Today's journey through the Northern Highlands will take us along the famous North Coast 500 route, famed for its seascapes and mountain scenery. As we travel along the very top of Scotland, we discover a never-ending vista of expansive beaches, dramatic sea lochs and wild moorland.
Our journey will take us through the remote villages of Durness and Scourie, then across the sweeping Kylesku Bridge to reach Ardvreck Castle, which sits overlooking Loch Assynt.
We will break our journey in the picturesque fishing port of Ullapool, where we will enjoy a tasty lunch of freshly landed fish and chips served in a local restaurant.
Our scenic tour continues through Poolewe to reach Gairloch, where we will spend the night.
Overnight: Gairloch Hotel, Gairloch (or similar)
Day 7 - Gairloch - Isle of Skye - Oban
There is more dramatic scenery today as we make our way through delightful Glen Carron to Kyle of Lochalsh, where we drive "Over the sea to Skye".
The beautiful Isle of Skye is renowned for its stunning natural scenery. Today, we will explore the lovely Sleat Peninsula, often referred to as the Garden of Skye.
At Armadale, we board a ferry for the short sailing to Mallaig, a historic fishing port.
A scenic drive along the famous "Road to the Isles" will take us to Glenfinnan, where we will stop to view the imposing Glenfinnan Viaduct, featured in the Harry Potter movies, and the poignant Memorial to the Highlanders who fought during the Jacobite Uprisings.
As we reach Fort William, look out for the peak of Ben Nevis, Britain's tallest mountain, before we make a stop amongst the stunning beauty of Glen Coe. Later, travel through the Appin Hills to reach Oban, a bustling ferry port and our home for the next two nights.
Overnight: Oban Bay Hotel, Oban (or similar) (2 nights)
Day 8 - Excursion to Mull and Iona
Today we visit the Hebridean islands of Mull and Iona. From Oban board the ferry for the 45-minute crossing to Craignure on Mull. As we make our approach, look out for Duart Castle, the cliff-top stronghold of the Clan MacLean.
Our tour through the Isle of Mull will take us along the banks of Loch Scridain, where we can enjoy fantastic views of Ben More, the island's tallest peak. The winding road through the Ross of Mull brings us to little Fionnphort, where we board the ferry for Iona.
St. Columba landed on Iona in 563 AD, bringing Christianity to Scotland, and ever since then, this little island has been a place of pilgrimage. During our time here you can visit the restored Abbey and the Relig Oran, where 48 early Kings, including Macbeth, are thought to have been buried.
Iona is also famous for its beautiful, unspoilt beaches, so why not seek out St Columba's Bay, famed for its sparkling green stones, or the bright blue water and soft white sands of Port Ban?
Day 9 - Oban - Loch Lomond - Glasgow
It's a relaxed start today, so we can enjoy some free time in Oban before making our way through the Western Highlands, a landscape renowned for its heather-clad mountains, sparkling sea lochs, and ancient castles.
A real highlight of the journey is Loch Lomond, where the Highlands meet the Lowlands. Our tour along the "bonnie, bonnie banks" lets us enjoy panoramic views of the Queen of Scotland's lakes.
Glasgow is Scotland’s largest city. Our orientation drive will introduce us to some of the highlights, including the 12th-century Cathedral and Provand's Lordship, the oldest building in the city. Tour through the city centre to see the ornate Victorian architecture and impressive City Chambers (Town Hall) in George Square. The tour ends in the leafy West End to see the imposing campus of Glasgow University, before arriving at our hotel.
Enjoy some free time before joining our Tour Director and fellow passengers for a farewell dinner in a local restaurant.
Overnight: Clayton Hotel, Glasgow (or similar)
Day 10 - Homeward bound
Sadly our tour ends after breakfast.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I expect on this Escorted Tour?
If you enjoy the art of first-class travel whilst enjoying amazing value then an Escorted Tour is just for you. These tours are carefully researched and combine quality hotels, luxury travel, informative visits and leisure time. You’ll find our Escorted Tours to be memorable - for all the right reasons!
You will travel aboard a state of the art motorcoach with air-conditioning, reclining seats, oversized windows and emergency washroom. Many coaches are equipped with WiFi too.
An experienced tour manager will lead the tour and your coach will be expertly driven by a professional driver. In certain locations you’ll may be joined by a local guide who will provide local insight and show you the highlights.
These tours are inclusive of superior tourist class accommodation, transportation, selected admission fees and many meals.
On many tours you’ll have the chance to personalise your touring experience by participating in some carefully planned optional excursions. These are at additional expense and, if available, details will be provided with your tour documentation.
What type of room should I choose?
Selecting the right sleeping arrangements can be a little bit confusing, so here is a description of what you can expect from the hotel accommodation offered as part of your tour:
Single room - this is a room for one person sleeping in a single bed.
Twin room - this is a room for two people sleeping in two separate beds.
Double room - this is a room for two people sharing one large bed.
Family room - this is a room for three people sleeping in one large bed (2 people) and one single bed (1 person).
Please note that a family room is normally a standard double or twin room with either a sofa bed or a rollaway bed.
All room types, other than twin rooms, are subject to availability.
Can you arrange pre or post tour accommodation?
If you are flying internationally to reach the United Kingdom then it is worth considering arriving a day early to relax and let the jet-leg subside.
Please email us for a quotation at info@scottishtours.co.uk.
Can I reserve specific seats on the coach?
Seats cannot be pre-booked, however your tour director will implement a seat rotation system which will allow all passengers the opportunity of experiencing spectacular views from different seats on the motorcoach.
Do I need to follow the complete tour itinerary?
Subject to the itinerary it may be possible to join the tour late; leave early or miss a day to pursue your own itinerary (proving the tour is staying in the same hotel for two nights or more, of course).
Please feel free to contact us to discuss your requirements - we’ll do our best to help.
Unfortunately we can’t discount the price of the tour to compensate for any unused portions of the tour.
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Customer Reviews Overall Rating:
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Rating: (4 /5) 01 Jul 2023
A great tour taster of Scotland. You will see vast swathes of the countryside with some spectacular highlights such as the Orkney Islands and extremely ancient sites. Extraordinary places. But, it will be a touch and go experience - there will be places you want to return to. This tour will give you a perspective on Scotland you will not forget and it will encourage you to return to the special touchpoints you found. The bus was very comfortable and the accommodation was excellent. You will be busy and entertained. Excellent tour guide and bus driver - a long trip perhaps but most enjoyable.
Gerrit from Omokoroa, NZ
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