Vacation Highlights

• GLASGOW  – Orientation drive
• THE TROSSACHS – Visit Aberfoyle
• STIRLING – View the castle
• EDINBURGH – Guided sightseeing, visit Edinburgh Castle
• ST. ANDREWS – Visit the home of golf
• PITLOCHRY – Visit the Highland resort
• CULLODEN MOOR – See the battlesite
• ULLAPOOL – Visit the remote fishing harbor
• ISLE OF SKYE – Drive across the Inner Hebridean island
• ARMADALE–MALLAIG – by ferry
• GLENFINNAN – See the famous monument and Harry Potter viaduct
• FORT WILLIAM –
• LOCH LOMOND – Take photographs of the iconic lake

2021 Itinerary (subject to change)

Inside visits and special features are shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description, including admission charges where applicable. Day 1 ARRIVE IN GLASGOW, SCOTLAND (D) Check into your hotel. In the afternoon, there’s time to rest or discover Scotland’s great cultural city. This evening, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for dinner at the hotel. Day 2 GLASGOW–THE TROSSACHS–STIRLING–EDINBURGH (B) Start your day with an orientation drive taking in the fine 12th-century cathedral, imposing university buildings, and elegant Georgian squares. Then, head into The Trossachs National Park and enjoy views of rugged hills and beautiful lochs. Pause in Aberfoyle before continuing on to Stirling where you will have time to admire the castle, a great symbol of Scottish independence and favored residence of Scotland’s kings and queens. After arrival in Edinburgh, why not join an optional excursion: a traditional Scottish night out with Highland dancers, bagpipers, and of course, the Ceremony of the Haggis? Today’s Distance: 82 mi/ 131 km Day 3 EDINBURGH (B) A full day to enjoy the Scottish capital. Morning sightseeing with a Local Guide introduces you to the 200-year-old “New Town”, home to famous scientists, inventors, and novelists. In the “Old Town”, visit EDINBURGH CASTLE to admire Scotland’s Crown Jewels. Afternoon at leisure. Later, a unique optional experience: board the former Royal Yacht Britannia. Tour five decks and see how the Royal Family and crew of 240 lived and worked on board. Dinner rounds out this optional evening. Day 4 EDINBURGH–ST. ANDREWS–PITLOCHRY–CULLODEN MOOR–INVERNESS–STRATHPEFFER (B/D) A day of memorable sightseeing. Take the elegant Forth Road Bridge to St. Andrews, whose Royal and Ancient Golf Club has given us the rules of golfing, then cross the Firth of Tay and head into the Highlands, with a stop in the Victorian mountain resort of Pitlochry. Cross the battlefield of Culloden Moor with its memories of Bonnie Prince Charlie, then via Inverness, proceed to your Highland destination. Today’s Distance: 221 mi/ 355 km Day 5 STRATHPEFFER. WEST COAST EXCURSION (B) More spectacular Scottish scenery: Dornoch Firth, the Kyle of Sutherland, the Falls of Shin, the Mountains of Assynt, and Knockan Crag. Then, follow Strath Oykel for a visit to Ullapool, a remote fishing harbor on Loch Broom, before returning along Loch Glascarnoch. Our recommendation for this afternoon: join the optional Loch Ness Experience, which includes a cruise, followed by supper. Today’s Distance: 123 mi/ 198 km Day 6 STRATHPEFFER–ISLE OF SKYE–GLENFINNAN–FORT WILLIAM–GLASGOW (B/D) More heather-clad moors as you drive through the western Highlands to Lochalsh and the Inner Hebridean Isle of Skye. The route back to the mainland is by FERRY across the Sound of Sleat to Mallaig. Pause at Glenfinnan to see the monument to fallen Jacobite clansmen and the famous viaduct well known to Harry Potter fans before reaching Fort William beneath Ben Nevis. Glen Coe, where the MacDonald Clan was massacred in 1692, and a drive along the “Bonnie Banks” of Loch Lomond are scenic highlights on the way back to Glasgow. Today’s Distance: 234 mi/ 377 km Day 7 GLASGOW (B) Your tour ends with breakfast this morning.  Transfer to the airport for your flight home