Best of Scotland
-
Tour highlights (July 04 - 16)
Edinburgh's Royal Mile, Old Town and Holyroodhouse Palace, the Queen's Royal Residence in Scotland. Stirling Castle, royal abode of the House of Stewart. Mary Queen of Scots was crowned in the chapel and her son, James Stewart, was also baptized there. Glenkinchie Distillery in the rolling farmland of East Lothian, where fine malt whisky has been produced since 1840. Visit St. Andrews, and enjoy a round of Golf! Inverness, Capital of the Highlands. Enjoy a cruise on the dark waters of Loch Ness, home of the elusive "Nessie". Full day excursion to the Isle of Skye. Finally, Glasgow with its 12th Century Gothic Cathedral and squares....
-
Tour itinerary
Day 1 - Day of departure
Depart on your overnight flight to Glasgow (make your own arrangements).
-
Day 2 - Edinburgh
Arrival in Edinburgh. Dinner and overnight will be at your hotel.
-
Day 3 - Edinburgh
Full Scottish breakfast, followed by a half day guided sightseeing tour of Edinburgh to include the famous Royal Mile, Edinburgh's busiest tourist street. You will see the Old Town, the New Town and Holyroodhouse Palace (the Queen's Royal Residence in Scotland). You will also enjoy a visit to Edinburgh Castle. In the afternoon, after free time for independent lunch, enjoy a visit to the Royal Botanic Gardens, one of the finest Botanic gardens in the world. Dinner this evening will be on your own.
-
Day 4 - Edinburgh / Stirling
After breakfast, depart on a half day guided tour to Stirling Castle, located on a magnificent site, high on a crag dominating the Forth Carselands. It was the royal abode of the House of Stewart. Mary Queen of Scots was crowned in the chapel and her son, James Stewart, was baptized there. There will be free time for independent lunch in the old town of Stirling, before returning to Edinburgh. Dinner and overnight will be at your hotel.
-
Day 5 - Edinburgh / North Berwick
Your full day excursion will take you past Craigmillar Castle, where the plot to kill Mary Queen of Scots' second husband (Lord Darnley) was hatched. Very soon we arrive at Borthwick Castle. Mary fled here from Edinburgh and sought refuge with her third husband, the Earl of Bothwell. The building is one of the best preserved 15th century castles in Scotland. There will be a stop for independent lunch in North Berwick. You will have time to explore the harbour area and admire the spectacular views over the Bass Rock and the Firth of Forth. In the afternoon, visit the Glenkinchie Distillery in the rolling farmland of East Lothian. Fine malt whisky has been produced here since 1840. You will have time for a guided tour of the distillery, to visit the museum and, of course, savour a dram of Scotland's spirit itself. Return to Edinburgh for dinner and the night.
-
Day 6 - Edinburgh / St. Andrews / Dundee
Depart for St. Andrews, where you will have time to explore this beautiful center of learning and/or play a round of Golf! Late afternoon transfer to your hotel located in Dundee. Dinner and overnight will be at your hotel.
-
Day 7 - Dundee / Inverness
After a full Scottish breakfast, visit Glamis Castle, former residence of the Queen Mother (will be seen from outside only). Continue to Balmoral Castle, the Queen's Residence during the hunting Season (if the Royal Family is in residence, visit Craithie Church instead). Continue to Inverness, capital of the Highlands. On arrival, transfer to your hotel for dinner and the night.
-
Day 8 - Inverness
Full Scottish breakfast. Your morning sightseeing tour will take you to the Culloden Battlefield, which saw the end of the Jacobite Rising of 1745 when Prince Charles Edward Stuart's army was defeated by the Duke of Cumberland. In the afternoon, visit the Dallas Dhu Distillery. A guide will explain the ancient art of converting barley, water and yeast into a heart-warming liquor. Dinner and overnight will be at your hotel.
-
Day 9 - Inverness / Loch Ness / Kyle of Lochalsh
After a full Scottish breakfast, enjoy a cruise on the dark waters of Loch Ness, which are the home of the elusive "Nessie". After the cruise, continue to Kyle of Lochalsh, where on arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel. Dinner and overnight will be at your hotel.
-
Day 10 - Kyle of Lochalsh / Isle of Skye
After a full Scottish breakfast, depart on a full day excursion the Isle of Skye. Although treeless and bare, the scenery is an attractive combination of mountain and sea. Visit Dunvegan Castle, famous as the seat of the McLeods. The fortress is set on a rocky platform commanding Loch Dunvegan. The visit reveals a fascinating history, a mixture of personalities, clan legends and mementoes. Late afternoon return to Kyle of Lochalsh. Dinner and overnight at your hotel.
-
Day 11 - Kyle of Lochalsh / Loch Lomond / Glasgow
Today, you will travel through the Scottish highlands...see the high peaks, fine fresh water lochs and great rivers of this beautiful region. Enjoy views of Fort William, pass Glen Coe, where the massacre of the McDonalds by the Campbells took place. Take the route along the west coast of Loch Lomond, to Glasgow, where on arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel. Dinner and overnight will be at your hotel in Glasgow.
-
Day 12 - Glasgow
After breakfast, enjoy a half day guided tour of Glasgow to include the 12th century Gothic Cathedral and its square, Glasgow Green, the Glasgow University buildings and George Square with its floral displays. After the tour, there will be free time to discover this beautiful city at your own pace. We suggest a stroll along Kelvin Walkway, flanking the River Kelvin. This five-mile stroll takes you through parks, business areas, and a wildlife sanctuary. You will see the Botanic Gardens, the Clyde Canal, and the Kelvin Aqueduct. Dinner and overnight will be at your hotel.
-
Day 13 - Day of Return
Depart on your return flight home (own arrangements).
-
Contact Touringhouse
Our Tour Escorts are personable and knowledgeable. Contact us for more information on any of the travel experiences we offer.
Tour costs include:
Transfers between the airports and the hotels
Airfare from Edinburgh and back from Glasgow
11-night accommodations in Superior 3-Star and 4-Star hotels, based on double occupancy, as follows:
- 4 nights in Edinburgh
- 1 night in St. Andrews
- 2 nights in Inverness
- 2 nights in Kyle of Lochalsh
- 2 nights in Glasgow
Full Scottish breakfast every morning
9 dinners at the hotels (two dinners will be on your own)
Deluxe chartered coach transportation throughout the tour
Sightseeing tours and excursions as follows:
- Half day Edinburgh (with a guide)
- Visit to the Royal Botanic Gardens (no guide)
- Half day Stirling Castle (with a guide)
- Full day visit to Borthwick & Glenkinchie Distillery (with a guide)
- Visit to Balmoral Castle or Craithie Church (no guide)
- Full day tour to a Malt Whisky Distillery near Inverness and Culloden Battlefield (with a guide)
- Cruise on Loch Ness (no guide)
- Full day tour to the Isle of Skye
- Half day of Glasgow (with a guide)
Entrance fees to: Edinburgh Castle, Royal Botanic Gardens, Stirling Castle, Borthwick Castle, Glenkinchie Distillery (including tasting), Balmoral Castle, Entrance fees to Dallas Dhu Distillery (including tasting), Loch Ness cruise, Roundtrip Ferry to Isle of Sky
All service charges and taxes
Touringhouse Certifications
ACTA certified
Tico certified
TIDS certified
OBR certified
GST number
Offered by Touringhouse
$5,000,000.00
liability insurance