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8-Day Classic Scotland Tour

Customisable Itinerary
4.8 • (1 review)

Trip Overview

Enjoy a glorious exploration of the Highlands and islands on this luxury Scotland tour.

Starting in Edinburgh, you'll stay in castles and historic locations while learning about the ancient and medieval history of this tiny country by visiting iconic locations like Stirling, the Isle of Skye, Inverness and St. Andrews on this in-depth tour.

To top it all off, you'll finish your tour in Scone Palace, an iconic castle of Scotland that saw only the biggest names come through it door; it was a coronation site for Scotland's kings.
Sightseeing
Outdoors & Nature
Beach & Sea
Culture & Arts
Cruising
Food & Drink

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Itinerary

Day 1

Tour of Royal Edinburgh

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Tour of Royal Edinburgh

Your first stop in the capital is Edinburgh Castle then travel along the Grassmarket, one of the oldest parts of the city with many taverns and inns. Travel down the Royal Mile past St Giles Cathedral, to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official residence of the Queen in Scotland. Drive through Holyrood Park and around Arthurs Seat and then visit the New Town to experience the elegance of 18th-century living. Finish at Royal Yacht Britannia, the former home from home of the Royal family.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Dalhousie Castle Hotel4 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    A Royal Tour of Edinburgh

    Edinburgh Castle

    Holyrood Palace

    Royal Yacht Britannia

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Edinburgh

    Bonnyrigg

Day 2

Stirling Castle and Glencoe

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Stirling Castle and Glencoe

Travel north to Stirling, with its imposing position in the centre of the country, stopping at Stirling Castle. For centuries this was the most important castle in Scotland and the views from the top make it easy to see why. Continue north-west towards Rannoch Moor and the most beautiful of all glens, Glencoe, the site of the infamous 1692 massacre of Clan MacDonald. Travel over the Ballachulish bridge and on to Fort William to Inverlochy Castle, nestling in the foothills of the mighty mountain.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Inverlochy Castle Hotel5 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Stirling, Glencoe and Inverlochy

    Stirling Castle

    Glencoe

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Bonnyrigg

    Scotland

    Stirling

    Glencoe

    Fort William

Day 3

Travel to the Isle of Skye

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Travel to the Isle of Skye

Your travels today take you to Skye, or in Scots Gaelic 'Eilean A Cheo' meaning Misty Isle. In Mallaig, catch the ferry to Skye. Once on the island, visit The Clan Donald Centre which museum follows the Clan Donald’s story through to the Jacobite risings and beyond. Take in the stunningly beautiful road to the little community of Elgol. In Glenbrittle Forrest you can walk to the Fairy Pools. Finally in Portree, the capital of the island you can wander down around freely.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Cuillin Hills Hotel4 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Isle of Skye Tour

    Fairy Pools

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Inverlochy Castle to Mallaig

    Ferry from Mallaig to Skye

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Fort William

    Scotland

    Highland

Day 4

The Western Side of the Isle of Skye

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The Western Side of the Isle of Skye

Travel to the west coast to take in views from Neist Point Lighthouse, the most westerly point on the Isle of Skye. Visit Dunvegan Castle, the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland where you can walk in the Round Garden, the Walled Garden or the Water Garden, and look forward to lunch at The Three Chimneys world-class Restaurant. Take a scenic drive around to the Skye Museum of Island Life. Pass Duntulm Castle to reach the Mealt Waterfall, Kilt Rock and finally the Old Man of Storr.

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    Accommodation

    Cuillin Hills Hotel4 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    The Western Isles of Skye

    Dunvegan Castle & Gardens

    Skye Museum of Island Life

    Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls Viewpoint

    Old Man of Storr

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    Restaurants

    The Three Chimneys

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast and lunch

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Highland

    Scotland

Day 5

Loch Ness and Inverness

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Loch Ness and Inverness

Today, travel over the Skye Bridge to Eilean Donan Castle, surrounded by some majestic scenery. Travel towards Loch Ness to the Clansman Harbour for a Jacobite Cruise to enjoy the stunning mountains from the loch. Alight at Urquhart Castle to explore for an hour. Returning to land, travel to Beauly and the ruins of Beauly Priory. Founded around 1230 AD by monks of the Valliscaulian order, before reaching Culloden House, a handsome Palladian country house, which stands in 40 acres of land.

  • accommodation icon
    Accommodation

    Culloden House Hotel4 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Eilean Donan Castle

    Jacobite Cruises of Loch Ness

    Urquhart Castle

    Beauly Priory

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Portree to Loch Ness

    Private Driver from Loch Ness to Inverness

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Highland

    Kyle of Lochalsh

    Inverness

    Scotland

    Beauly

    Balloch

Day 6

Inverness and the Surrounds

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Inverness and the Surrounds

Today on your luxury Scotland tour, visit Cawdor Castle, built as a private fortress by the Thanes of Cawdor, it's home of the Campbell family to date. Head towards Inverness to Culloden battlefield where the last hand-to-hand battle was fought on British soil in 1746. Travelling further back in time, Clava Cairns, or Bulnaraun of Clava, is one of the best-preserved Bronze Age burial sites in Scotland. Nearby Culloden Viaduct, is Scotland's longest masonry viaduct which crosses the River Nairn.

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    Accommodation

    Culloden House Hotel4 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Cawdor Castle

    Culloden Battlefield

    Clava Cairns

    Culloden Viaduct

    The Victorian Market

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    Restaurants

    Cawdor TavernOptional Activity

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Inverness to Cawdor Castle

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Balloch

    Scotland

    Inverness

Day 7

Castles, the Queen's View and Pitlochry

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Castles, the Queen's View and Pitlochry

Travel through Cairngorm National Park to reach Dalwhinnie Distillery where you can sample the 'Gentle Spirit' of the glen. Further south is Blair Castle and the House of Bruar, nestling at the side of the famous Bruar Falls. Stop at Queen's View before continuing into the Highland resort town of Pitlochry, built on Victorian tourism, to Fonab Castle located on the banks of Loch Faskally and a short walk from the heart of the historic Victorian town of Pitlochry.

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    Accommodation

    Fonab Castle Hotel5 star

  • activities icon
    Activities

    Dalwhinnie Distillery

    Blair Castle

    Queen's View

    Pitlochry

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Inverness to Pitlochry

  • meals icon
    Meals

    Breakfast

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Balloch

    Scotland

    Pitlochry

    Perth and Kinross

Day 8

Scone Palace and St. Andrews

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Scone Palace and St. Andrews

Scone Palace was the coronation site of Scottish Kings. There is a replica of the Stone of Destiny and Moot Hill chapel where coronations took place. Spend a few hours touring St. Andrews visiting the cathedral ruins, the stunning St. Salvator's Chapel, St. Andrews University, the Tower of Holy Trinity, and the most historic church in St Andrews. Last but certainly not least, The Old Course and The Swilken Bridge. Cross over the Forth Road Bridge to the south of Edinburgh to Dalhousie Castle.

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    Activities

    Scone Palace

    St Andrews and Surrounds

    Dalhousie Castle

  • transportations icon
    Transportations

    Private Driver from Pitlochry to Edinburgh

  • destination icon
    Destinations

    Perth and Kinross

    Scotland

    Saint Andrews

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What’s included?

  • 7 nights accommodation
  • 30 activities
  • 6 breakfasts and 1 lunch
  • Entrance fees
  • Ground transportation
  • Licensed English speaking guides

What’s not included?

  • Airport transfer
  • Alcohol beverages
  • Domestic flights
  • Entry visas / airport departure tax
  • Gratuities
  • International flights
  • Laundry
  • Personal expenses
  • Travel insurance
  • Trekking permits
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