| Image: Edinburgh Tattoo |

Everyone loves the famous Edinburgh Tattoo … 

but combine this with iconic Scottish locations such as Glamis Castle, Mary King’s Close, Holyrood Palace and a special historical tour of the Edinburgh vaults under the Royal Mile. 

Plus the Scottish Isles where we explore the wild beauty and fascinating history of two Isles of the inner Hebrides – Mull, and Iona, and the famed Isle of Skye.

In the Highlands immerse yourself in the highland culture, with five nights in the riverside city of Inverness, the gateway to the highlands, with tours of famous highland locations such as Loch Ness and Culloden Moor.

We spend five nights in Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh – a city of culture and beauty, where Scotland’s ancient, medieval, and modern history converge, and attend the world famous Edinburgh Tattoo.

Enjoy Scottish whisky and traditional Scottish cuisine as we tour the country’s distinctive regions, as well as tour s of two of Scotland’s famous whisky distilleries.

Includes

  • Start and finish accommodation: The George Hotel (or similar), Edinburgh.
  • Other accommodation: Four star hotels. The George Hotel or similar, Pitlochry Fonab Castle Hotel or
    similar (3 nights), Inverness, Kingsmills Hotel or similar (5 nights). Skye, Duisdale House Hotel or
    similar (2 nights), Knipoch, Knipoch House Hotel or similar (3 nights).
  • Meals as indicated: B = Breakfast, L= Light lunch, D= Welcome and other dinners as per final itinerary
  • Entry and seat at the Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

Excludes

  • Gratuities
  • Discretionary spending
  • Airfares
  • Other items not specifically stated as included in the final itinerary.

Itinerary

Tour commences and concludes in Edinburgh

Day 1: Edinburgh

Transfer from Edinburgh Airport or rail station to our first hotel. Meeting in the hotel lobby this afternoon, we begin with a visit to the National Museum of Scotland, introducing us to Scotland’s past. The museum houses some of the most important artifacts from the country’s history, including the medieval “Lewis” Chess set.

This evening we enjoy an included welcome dinner. Overnight Edinburgh.(D)

Day 2: Dunfermline Abbey, Stirling Castle

Departing Edinburgh this morning, bound for Pitlochry, our first stop is Dunfermline Abbey which lies at the heart of Scotland’s history. Dunfermline was once the capital of the Kingdom of Scotland and the burial site of the Scottish monarchs after the island of Iona.

Here we find the relics of great Scottish rulers of the past, including the grave of Robert the Bruce, Scotland’s “Braveheart”. Our next stop is Stirling Castle, one of the most historically important castles in Scotland with a history spanning 900 years. After a break for lunch,
there is time to enjoy the castle’s magnificent Great Hall, Chapel Royal, and other historical highlights.

In the afternoon we arrive at our hotel – a stately castle hotel in Pitlochry, nestled in the lush Scottish countryside. After checking in to our hotel, we enjoy an introductory talk followed by dinner in the hotel. Overnight Pitlochry or similar (B,D)

Day 3: Perth

Today we make our way to the nearby city of Perth, which sits along the River Tay and was once the capital of Scotland. We first take a tour of the famed medieval city, before enjoying an exclusive and privately guided tour of Perth Museum. Opened in 2024, Perth Museum
houses some of Scotland’s most important collections, and is now home to the famous Stone of Scone, which has been used in Scottish and English coronations since the 12th century.

Following a break for lunch, we then explore the history of the oldest Highland Regiment in the Black Watch Castle Museum, located in its ancestral home, the historic Balhousie Castle. Returning to Pitlochry, the remainder of the afternoon is at leisure.

Overnight Pitlochry or similar (B)

Day 4: Glamis Castle, Scone

This morning we visit Glamis Castle, where we will receive a special Scottish welcome with apiper accompanying our private entrance into the castle, followed by a guided tour of its centuries of rich history. Once the inspiration for William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Glamis Castle is the ancestral seat of the Earls of Strathmore and was the childhood home of the Queen Mother, Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon.

Our exclusive tour concludes in the 16th-century chambers, where we will enjoy morning refreshments. We then depart for the medieval town
of Scone, where we break for lunch before we tour Scone Palace, built from magnificent red bricked sandstone. The palace is steeped in 1,000 years of Scottish history and has witnessed the Crowning of Scottish Kings, including Macbeth and Robert the Bruce.

Returning to Pitlochry, there is free time before dinner in the hotel this evening.

Overnight Pitlochry or similar (B,D)

Day 5: Ballindalloch Castle, Whisky Distillery

Today we depart for the Speyside region, as famous for its whisky as it for its castles. Our journey takes us deep into the region, visiting Ballindalloch Castle. Built in 1546 and known as the “Pearl of the North”, Ballindalloch Castle is one of the few private castles in Scotland
that is still the home of the family who built it – the Macpherson-Grants.

After a break for lunch in the castle grounds, our next stop is Glenlivet (or similar). The Speyside region is
known as the whisky “golden triangle”, taking its name from the river Spey, as most distilleries draw their water from its tributaries, such as the Fiddich, the Livet and the Avon.

Speyside boasts some of the most famous whisky distilleries in the world, and we will enjoy a private tour and tasting at Glenlivet Distillery (or similar), learning about the centuries of whisky making in the Speyside hills, from highland clans to 17th century-smugglers.

We then continue to Inverness in the afternoon, our base for the next five nights, with dinner in our
hotel this evening.

Overnight Inverness or similar (B,D)

Day 6: Inverness

Inverness is the gateway to the highlands, and for the next few days, we will be immersed in the heritage and history of the area, from ancient clan wars to Jacobean rebellions and the tragic battle of Culloden Moor.

We begin our day with a walking tour of the city, followed by a visit to Inverness Museum and Art Gallery, delving into the history of the region. After a break for lunch, we then visit Inverness Cathedral, built in 1899 and dedicated to Saint Andrew. There will be some free time to enjoy the city before reconvening for a delightful afternoon tea at the Ness Walk Hotel on the banks of the River Ness.

Overnight Inverness or similar (B,AT)

Day 7: Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle

We begin our day with a visit to one of Scotland’s most iconic locations – Loch Ness.

We first explore the Loch Ness Centre, where we will learn about the ancient history of the region, and the folklore and myths that have developed over the centuries, and of course, the mythical Loch Ness Monster. We then take an exclusive private cruise of part of the Loch,
using sonar to scan its depths as we experience spectacular views of the shoreline.

After breaking for lunch, we spend the afternoon at the beautiful ruins of Urquhart Castle, perched on the shore of Loch Ness, which has seen some of the most dramatic chapters in Scotland’s history. We return to Inverness for an evening at leisure.

Overnight Inverness or similar (B)

Day 8: Culloden Moor, Cawdor Castle

Our first stop today is Culloden Moor, where we explore the history of this powerfully moving location of the final Jacobite Rising to place Bonnie Prince Charlie on the throne of Scotland – and the destruction of the highland way of life. We then depart to the town of Cawdor for a
special lunch in the atmospheric Cawdor Tavern, which boasts traditional Scottish fare.

After lunch we take a private guided tour of the 15th-century Cawdor Castle. Built around an ancient holly tree, and owned by the Thanes of Cawdor, Cawdor Castle was made famous by Shakespeare’s play, Macbeth. Our guided tour will take us through its grand rooms as we learn about the castle’s 600-year-old history.

We return to Inverness in the afternoon with an evening at leisure.

Overnight Inverness or similar (B,L)

Day 9: Clava Cairns, Dunrobin Castle

Today we visit Clava Cairns, one of Scotland’s most evocative bronze age complexes, where we explore the burial cairns, cemetery passages, and standing stones, which date back over 4,000 years. We then make our way to the 13th-century Dunrobin Castle, home to the Earls
and later the Dukes of Sutherland.

One of Scotland’s great houses, and the largest in the Northern Highlands, it was built to resemble a charming French Chateau. After a break for
lunch in the castle grounds, we will tour Dunrobin’s magnificent rooms and centuries of history. Overnight Kyle of Locklash or similar.
(B,D)

Day 10: Isle of Skye

Our destination today is the first of our Hebrides Isles, the Isle of Skye. On arrival, we visit the ruins of Armadale Castle – once the stronghold of the most powerful clan in Scotland, Clan Donald.

In the Museum of the Isles, situated in the grounds of Armadale Castle, we will uncover the history of the Highlands and Islands through the epic story of Clan Donald, from the Lords of the Isles, through the tumult of Jacobite risings and hardship of the highland clearances.

Overnight Kyle of Locklash or similar. (B,D)

Day 11: Isle of Skye

Our first stop this morning is one of the most famous castles of the Isles – Dunvegan Castle, the only Highland fortress to have been continuously occupied by the same clan for 800 years (Clan Macleod).

After touring the castle, we then depart for the charming town of Portree, with its brightly coloured facades along the harbourfront. Here we have a break for lunch and time to explore the town. We then make our way to Talisker, situated on the shores of Loch Harport with spectacular views of the Cuillins mountain range, for a special tour of and tasting of the oldest operating distillery on the Isle of Skye – Talisker distillery.

We return to our hotel in the late afternoon for an evening at leisure. Overnight Kyle of Locklash or similar. (B)

Day 12: Fort William, Ben Nevis, Glencoe

Leaving the Isle of Skye behind today, we continue our journey back into the Highlands, first stopping at Fort William perched on the shores of Loch Linnhe. Fort William is the gateway to Ben Nevis, the U.K.’s highest peak, and Glen Nevis valley, and we enjoy breathtaking views from the town before touring the Highland Museum. 

We’ll also pay a visit to Inverlochy Castle ruins, with free time for lunch in the town. In the afternoon we continue to Glencoe,
one of the most majestic sites in all of Scotland, with a haunting history – the massacre of the MacDonald clan in the 17th century, a shocking act which reverberated through the highlands for decades to come.

We will also get a chance to view the peaks of Aonach Dubh, Beinn Fhada and Gearr Aonach (the Three Sisters of Glencoe). We arrive at our final destination, Knipoch, in the early evening, where we check in to our hotel before dinner.

Overnight Knipoch or similar. (B,D)

Day 13: Isles of Mull, Iona

This morning we board the ferry to our second Hebrides Isle – Mull, famous for its majestic wild coastal scenery. After a scenic trip across the island, we continue to Fionnphort to catch the ferry to one of the most enchanting Isles in Scotland: Iona.

Despite its small size, only 5km in length, Iona is an integral part of Scottish identity. Iona’s history began when St Columba arrived in 563 CE and built his first Celtic Isle of Iona Dunvegan Castle church and established a monastery. From Iona, the monks who followed St Columba converted mostly pagan Scotland and northern England to the Christian faith, and Iona thus became the sacred isle, where 48 Kings of Scotland, four Kings of Ireland and eight Kings of Norway were buried.

Over the centuries monks of Iona produced countless elaborate carvings, manuscripts and Celtic crosses, including the celebrated Book of Kells, dating from 800 CE. Iona’s history is also deeply influenced by Norse culture, as Vikings from Norway and Denmark began raiding the Hebrides in the late 9th century, leaving their own cultural mark.

After touring its landmark Abbey, we will then have free time to explore the island and admire
its coastline before our return to Mull, and the scenic journey back across the strait.

Overnight Knipoch (B)

Day 14: Kilmartin, Oban

We begin today with an exploration of Scotland’s Celtic and Bronze Age history, visiting Kilmartin Museum and touring the majestic standing stones in the area, which still tell the story of this ancient landscape. We then depart for the charming seaside town of Oban, where we will have free time for lunch before our walking tour of the town.

Returning to Knipoch, the afternoon is at leisure where you might like to explore the grounds around our hotel. This evening we enjoy dinner together.

Overnight Knipoch (B,D)

Day 15: Inveraray Castle, Loch Lomond, Edinburgh

Returning to Edinburgh today, the first stop on our journey is at Inveraray Castle, the historic seat of the Dukes of Argyll, chiefs of Clan Campbell, which is a wonderful example of Gothic Revival architecture.

After a break for lunch and time to explore the grounds, we then continue to the banks of the glorious Loch Lomond, nestled in the rolling countryside of the Scottish Lowlands, where we have some free time to stretch our legs and enjoy the tranquility of the Loch. In the late afternoon we arrive in Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital and our home for the next few days. We enjoy a short orientation stroll around our hotel, before dinner this evening in a local restaurant.

Overnight Edinburgh (B,D)

Day 16: Edinburgh Castle, St Giles, The Vaults

Nestled between volcanic ridges and hollows, gorges and lush green plains, Edinburgh is a city of breath-taking wilderness and mysterious beauty, with its ancient, medieval, and modern history intertwined. From Edinburgh Castle, which dominates the skyline, down the
famous medieval cobblestoned Royal Mile, with its sloping wynds and closes, punctuated by abbeys, kirks and graveyards, to Holyrood House and Arthur’s Seat, every part of the city has a story.

We begin our morning with a walking tour of Edinburgh old town and a visit to Edinburgh Castle, perched on an ancient volcano, overlooking the city, with an extraordinary history spanning almost a thousand years, is one of the oldest fortification in Europe.

We then make our way down the mile to St Giles’ Cathedral, for almost 900 years a backdrop to Scotland’s tumultuous religious history. After a break for lunch, we then delve into more of the city’s extraordinary and turbulent history, with a special historical tour of the Edinburgh
vaults that run underneath the length of the Royal Mile. The evening is at leisure.

Overnight Edinburgh (B)

Day 17: Mary King’s Close, Holyrood Palace

We begin our day with a guided tour of Mary King’s Close, a historic close located under the Edinburgh City Chambers building on the Royal Mile. The close takes its name from a woman named Mary King, a merchant burgess who resided on the Close in the 17th century.
Learn about life here in 17th century as we tour this unique time capsule, perfectly preserved.

We then pay a visit to the Writers’ Museum, which presents the lives of three famous Scottish writers: Robert Burns, Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson. Following our included farewell lunch in a local restaurant, the early afternoon is free to explore the city, before we reconvene in the late afternoon for a guided tour of The Palace of Holyrood, at the bottom of the Royal Mile. Holyrood has been the seat of Scottish Kings for centuries, and even today it remains Charles III’s official royal residence in Scotland.

Overnight Edinburgh. (B,L)

Day 18: Edinburgh Tattoo

Today is free time until we attend the world famous Edinburgh Tattoo. This year the world famous Tattoo has a mix of nostalgia with a modern twist. Celebrating the “Heroes Who Made Us”, featuring the heroes of the Tattoo and greatest hits from the last seven decades as they celebrate 75 years of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. (B)

Day 19: Edinburgh

The tour ends after breakfast at our hotel. Individual transfers to Edinburgh Airport will be arranged. (B)

THIS ITINERARY IS THE PROPERTY OF THE TOUR COMPANY AND IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE.

Available dates:

July / August

Pricing:

Email info@travlink.net or within NZ
call 0800 99 77 88 for more
about this unique tour