Scotland's Highlands and Islands

There is an Outlander theme to today's activities. From Glasgow, we travel across the centre of Scotland to visit The Kelpies, the World's largest equine sculptures.

We then head to Culross, a delightfully well-preserved village. A local expert will guide us along the cobbled streets to see the 16th- and 17th-century buildings that formed the backdrop for the fictional town of Cranesmuir. Look out for impressive Culross Palace; it's where Claire's herb garden was filmed.

Later, we cross the Forth Estuary to visit historic Linlithgow Palace, once a favoured residence of the Scottish Kings and Queens. Overlooking a lovely loch, this was the birthplace of Mary, Queen of Scots, in 1542. The elegant courtyard and elaborate fountain will give you a flavour of its former glory. In the TV series, this location served as Wentworth Prison, where Jamie was incarcerated.

A short drive brings us to Edinburgh for a three-night stay. Tonight, why not attend a Scottish evening of bagpipes, dancing and the ceremony of the haggis?

Today, we explore Edinburgh in the company of a local expert. Our tour begins with a drive through the Georgian New Town, where we can see impressive squares, stylish terraces, and beautiful gardens. Later, head over to the medieval Old Town to visit mighty Edinburgh Castle, where we will see the Scottish Crown Jewels and Queen Margaret's Chapel, the oldest building in the city.

After our visit, enjoy a walking tour along the famous Royal Mile to learn of the many interesting characters that lived here over the centuries. At the foot of this famous street, we will stop to visit the Palace of Holyroodhouse, HM The King's official residence in Scotland (excluding August and other occasional dates).

This afternoon, enjoy free time for independent sightseeing or join an optional excursion to visit Rosslyn Chapel. This remarkable 15th-century church is featured in Dan Brown's bestselling book The Da Vinci Code.

Today we venture south into the rolling countryside of the Scottish Borders to visit Abbotsford House, the treasured home of Sir Walter Scott, the famous novelist and Scottish patriot.

In addition to writing famous novels such as "Waverley", "Ivanhoe", and "Lady of the Lake", Scott also promoted the wearing of tartan, saved the Scottish banknote, and unearthed the Scottish Crown Jewels, which had been lost in Edinburgh Castle. During your guided tour, discover more about his fascinating life and see his eclectic collection of historical relics and curios.

This afternoon, enjoy free time for independent sightseeing or join an optional excursion to visit the Royal Yacht Britannia. This former floating palace served the Royal Family for over 40 years and was the venue for lavish state banquets attended by presidents and royalty.

Tonight, if your tour departure coincides with performance dates, tickets to the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo are included.

From Edinburgh, we make our way into the Kingdom of Fife. As we cross the Firth of Forth, look out for the magnificent Forth Bridge, completed in 1889, which has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site.   

The historic university town of St Andrews is our first stop. Famed as the home of golf, there will be free time to visit the Old Course, considered to be the oldest in the World. In addition to its golfing connections, St Andrews was an important centre of religious life, so why not seek out the remains of the cathedral, once the largest in Scotland or the nearby castle, home to the nation’s leading bishop.

Our scenic drive continues through Highland Perthshire, known as “big tree country”, where we will stop in the attractive resort town of Pitlochry.

Discover the secrets of whisky-making when we stop to visit a distillery. After a tour to discover the traditional methods used to produce Scotland’s national drink, there is a wee taste of the end product!

A drive through the Grampian mountains will bring us to the beauty of the Cairngorms National Park and the Spey Valley. Inverness is our home for the next two nights.

There are more Outlander connections today as we discover some of the many attractions that surround the Highland Capital of Inverness.

Our first stop is Clava Cairns, an impressive Bronze Age burial ground which contains passage graves and standing stones. This ancient site dates back around 4,000 years. It’s thought that the Outlander author, Diana Gabaldon, took inspiration for the make-believe stone circle, Craigh na Dun, from this historic site.

Next, we make the short drive to Culloden Moor, the site of the famous battle between Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Jacobite army and the Government troops under the command of the Duke of Cumberland. The award-winning visitor centre tells the story of this 1746 battle and the bloody aftermath.

Our next visit is to ancient Cawdor Castle. Famous for being mentioned in Shakespeare’s Macbeth, this grand fortress was built as a home for the Thanes of Cawdor in 1451. On our visit, discover the legend of The Holly Tree and view the sumptuous apartments whose walls are adorned with portraits and tapestries.    

This afternoon is free, so you can explore at your own pace. If you would like to explore the area further, an optional Loch Ness cruise experience is available, which includes a visit to Urquhart Castle.

After a hearty Highland breakfast, we leave Inverness and head over the Black Isle. There are beautiful seascapes to enjoy as we travel across the Cromarty and Dornoch Firths and make our way into the Northern Highlands.

Exquisite Dunrobin Castle is the home of the Dukes and Earls of Sutherland. During our visit, we'll see some of the castle's 189 apartments, including the elegant dining room and extensive library, which contains some 10,000 books. Step outside to visit the formal gardens, said to have been modelled on those found at Versailles. They make a great spot to capture the ideal photo of this fairytale chateau.

Our destination is Thurso, the most northerly town in mainland Britain. After resting at your hotel, why not join your tour director for a visit to a local pub before dinner?

A fascinating day awaits as we visit the ancient Orkney Islands. We make for John O'Groats, and join the ferry for the short 45-minute crossing of the Pentland Firth. On arrival at South Ronaldsay, a local driver/guide and coach will be waiting for us.

The Churchill Barriers carry us over the waters of Scapa Flow, which have witnessed monumental events during both World Wars. Italian prisoners of war built these causeways to defend the naval fleet that was based here.

The award-winning Orkney Brewery is famed for its excellent ales. We'll enjoy a light lunch in the Tasting Hall, then join an expert brewer for a guided tour followed by a tasting.

After lunch, head to the amazing Stone Age village of Skara Brae. This 5,000-year-old Neolithic village is one of the best-preserved in Europe. During our visit, see the ancient houses complete with stone beds and dressers.

Another prehistoric gem is the Ring of Brodgar, an impressive Stone Age henge believed to have served as a gathering place for ceremonies and rituals. Later, discover the Viking influences of Kirkwall, the main town on Orkney, before returning to the ferry for our crossing back to the mainland.

Today, sit back and relax as the stunning scenery of the North West Highlands unfolds around us. Much of our travelling will be along the famous North Coast 500 route, one of Scotland's most picturesque drives.

As we travel along the far north coast, we will discover picturesque sealochs, golden beaches and heather-clad hills. We break our journey in the attractive fishing town of Ullapool, on Loch Broom, where there is a tasty treat of freshly landed fish and chips for lunch.

Later, we travel through beautiful Glen Carron to reach Kyle of Lochalsh before using the graceful road bridge to cross over to the Isle of Skye and our hotel in the village of Broadford.

As the sun rises on the magical isle, we have an enjoyable day exploring Skye, the largest of the Inner Hebrides. Our tour begins with a scenic coastal drive to Sligachan, where you can enjoy incredible views of the towering red and black Cuillin mountain ranges.

There are more picturesque landscapes to savour as we tour through the Trotternish Peninsula. Look out for the Old Man of Storr, a rocky pinnacle and Kilt Rock, where the impressive Mealt waterfall cascades 60 metres into the sea below.

We will stop to visit the traditional thatched cottages of the Museum of Island Life, whose fascinating exhibits tell the story of life on this island over the centuries. Nearby, we will see the grave of Flora MacDonald, the Jacobite heroine who helped Bonnie Prince Charlie escape "Over the sea to Skye".

Later, enjoy free time in Portree, where you can browse the independent craft shops for a souvenir or take a stroll down to the attractive harbour to enjoy the views. After our break, return to our hotel with time to relax before dinner.

Our day starts with a drive through the Sleat Peninsula, a centre of Gaelic culture on the island. We will stop at Armadale Castle to visit the Museum of the Isles, which tells the story of the Clan Donald, whose power and influence were said to rival those of the King himself.

Next, board a ferry for a short sail across the Sound of Sleat to reach Mallaig, a historic fishing town.  The next part of our journey will take us along the Road to the Isles with stunning views at every turn.

We will break the journey at Glenfinnan to view the impressive viaduct that has been featured in several Harry Potter movies. We will also see the poignant Glenfinnan Monument, which commemorates the Highlanders who lost their lives during the Jacobite uprisings.

A scenic drive will bring us to the Victorian seaside town of Oban, our home for the next two nights.

After breakfast, we join a ferry for our short crossing to the Isle of Mull. On arrival, we tour through Glen More and along the banks of Loch Scridain to reach the little ferry port of Fionnphort. It is a short sail across the sound to reach Iona, renowned for its rich religious heritage. St Columba landed here in 563, bringing Christianity to Scotland.

During our visit, we have time to explore the restored Abbey and admire the impressive Celtic crosses.  Seek out the Relig Oran graveyard,  where 48 early Scottish Kings are said to have been buried.

Iona is famed for its sparkling white beaches, so why not enjoy a relaxing stroll before we bid farewell to this idyllic island?

After returning to Mull, we retrace our journey to Craignure, where we catch the ferry to Oban. Tonight dinner will be served in our hotel.

Leaving Oban, we'll follow the banks of Loch Etive, an attractive sea loch, to reach the narrow Pass of Brander.

Enjoy views of ruined Kilchurn Castle, sitting overlooking Loch Awe as we make our way towards Inveraray. This elegant 18th-century town sits on the banks of Loch Fyne and was built by the Duke of Argyll, whose castle we will see as we leave the town. Fans of the popular TV series Downton Abbey may recognise it as the fictitious "Duneagle Castle" from the 2012 Christmas special.

Our travels take us through the dramatic "Rest and be Thankful" mountain pass to reach the beautiful shores of Loch Lomond. We'll tour along the "bonnie, bonnie banks" to reach Glasgow once more.

On arrival, enjoy a panoramic tour showcasing the many attractions of Scotland's largest city, including medieval Glasgow Cathedral and the city's oldest house, Provands Lordship. Next tour through the city centre, to see the magnificent Victorian architecture, then head to the bustling West End to view the imposing façade of Glasgow University.

Later, head to our city-centre hotel and enjoy some free time for last-minute shopping or sightseeing. Tonight, join your tour director and fellow travellers for a farewell dinner.