Scotland Castles, Loch Ness and Whisky Trails

Welcome to Scotland! You will be meet your driver on arrival at Edinburgh airport and be escorted directly to your city center hotel. After an introduction to the city, the remainder of the day is at leisure.

Your guide will meet you at your hotel for your tour of the highlights of Scotland’s capital city, starting with a visit to Queen Elizabeth’s Palace of Holyrood, once home of Mary Queen of Scots. Continue with a tour of the 1000 year old Edinburgh castle – a World Heritage site which still dominates the city. Enjoy a “Taste of Scotland” lunch before an introduction to the World of Whisky with tastings. Time

Your driver will take you out of town to the home of an award-winning chef for a private, hands-on experience of creating a number of popular, tasty Scottish dishes (not haggis!) in her kitchen. Enjoy your recently made delicacies over lunch around the table. Return to Edinburgh to explore at your leisure.

After breakfast, your tour heads into the mountains for a day of adventure with a Highland Land-Rover safari and a red deer and barn owl encounter. Your kilted safari ranger will share his passion for Scotland’s nature, culture and history. Surrounded by the magnificent wild and mountainous countryside, the rest of the day is spent relaxing with a glass of whisky at a premier Scotch distillery with a private tour and tastings before checking into your castle hotel.

Your day starts with a private tour of the 700 year old Blair Castle, where you will hear tales of adventures, triumphs and disasters which stay at the heart of Scottish history. Afterwards enjoy a light lunch on board of a heritage train, as you steam through the Spey Valley Scotch whisky trail. Continue with a visit to a traditional sheep farm for a demonstration of shepherding skills using local breed dogs.

After breakfast, you will head into the mountains to Loch Ness and join a short lake cruise where you may spot the elusive monster. Pass by Britain’s largest mountain before reaching the west coast and the beautiful town of Fort William.

Your drive today will take you through remote and beautiful Scottish natural countryside. Catch the ferry to the picturesque Isle of Mull and onto the spiritual Isle of Iona. It is said that St. Columba arrived here to bring Christianity to the heathen Scots in AD 563. Visit the Abbey and Nunnery.

Return via ferry to Fort William.

Travel south through Glencoe, across mountains and along the shores of Loch Lomond. You will reach Rob Roy (Highlander) country to visit Stirling Castle and the Bannockburn battlefield of Braveheart legend before returning to Edinburgh.

After breakfast, your private driver will transfer you to Edinburgh airport.