Intimate Scotland: A Luxury Escorted Tour of Scotland

USA-Edinburgh
Depart USA for overnight flight to Scotland.  Dinner is served shortly after take-off.

Day 2
Edinburgh
Arrive at Edinburgh Airport where you will find your way to your accommodation via taxi (approximately 20-minute car ride) at The Macdonald Holyrood Hotel, a city centre boutique hotel situated in the city’s historic old town, a short walk to the Royal Mile. Overnight Macdonald Holyrood Hotel, Edinburgh.

Edinburgh
Spend today exploring the capital. There’s no better way to find out about Edinburgh’s majestic and inspiring history than by a hop-on hop-off bus tour. Each tour is tailor-made to offer a distinctive and entertaining experience and provide a great introduction to Scotland’s Capital City. At the bottom of the famous Royal Mile is the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official residence of the Queen in Scotland. The palace was home to Mary Queen of Scots for six years and houses beautiful tapestries and paintings. Travel up the Royal Mile and through the Old Town past The Scottish Parliament building, stop to visit Greyfriars Bobby, the loyal Skye Terrier who remained by his master’s grave for fourteen years. At the top of the Royal Mile and overlooking Princes Street Gardens and the New Town is Edinburgh Castle, (included). In 1566 Mary Queen of Scots gave birth to James VI in the royal palace within the castle and the tiny bed-closet still survives. Most importantly to Scots, in 1996 the Stone of Destiny, Scotland’s coronation stone, was placed in the Crown Room alongside the nation’s Crown Jewels, (the Honours of Scotland), following its return from Westminster after a space of 800 years. You may wish to visit the National Museum of Scotland to explore the diversity of the natural world, world cultures, art and design, science and technology and Scottish history all under one roof or St Giles’ Cathedral, the historic City Church of Edinburgh with its famed crown spire. Also known as the High Kirk of Edinburgh, it is the Mother Church of Presbyterianism and contains the Chapel of the Order of the Thistle (Scotland’s chivalric company of knights headed by the Queen). You may alternatively wish to spend some time in Edinburgh’s many shops on the Royal Mile or go upmarket at Harvey Nichols, Stella McCartney, Prada and Gucci to name but a few, on St Andrews Square. Just a short walk across St Andrews Square takes you to Jenners, Edinburgh’s original department store – a magnet for fashion lovers since 1838. The obvious choice is Princes Street, the perfect mix of shopping and sightseeing but if you are looking for something unique then try the West End and Stockbridge.  Overnight Macdonald Holyrood Hotel, Edinburgh.

Edinburgh-Inverness.
Today you will depart for your tour of the Highlands. Travel north over the Forth Road Bridge to reach Perth and Scone Palace the crowning place of Scottish Kings, now the cherished family home of the Earl of Mansfield. In the extensive grounds of Scone Palace there is a replica of the Stone of Destiny and the chapel on Moot Hill where the coronations took place. Continue north to Edradour Distillery, the smallest and last of the original farm distilleries in Scotland, for a short tour and tasting. Through the Highland resort town of Pitlochry, built on Victorian tourism and nestled amongst the mountains of Highland Perthshire. Weather dependent, travel a short distance to Queens View, generally believed to be named after Queen Victoria who took tea here in 1866, the viewpoint commemorates Queen Isabella, wife of Robert the Bruce who ruled Scotland between 1306 and 1329. The stunning view across Loch Tummel to the Munro, Schiehallion is one of the most famous in Scotland. The final stop here is the House of Bruar, nestling at the side of the famous Bruar Falls, for a variety of shopping opportunities in Scotland’s most prestigious country store. There is also an extensive range of Scottish foods for the gourmet and a fabulous ‘country kitchen’ restaurant. Your route takes you through the mountains of the Cairngorms National Park and over the Drumochter Pass, (1500ft above sea level), to your overnight accommodation at The New Drumossie Hotel, a stunning listed art deco building, located 10 minutes from the centre of Inverness and positioned in 9 acres of manicured private grounds. You can relax and enjoy dinner in the restaurant which has been awarded 2 prestigious AA Rosettes in recognition of the quality of its food and service and serves the finest Scottish cuisine sourced from the surrounding area.
Overnight Drumossie Hotel, Inverness – Dinner included.

Inverness
This morning you will travel the short distance to the Clansman Harbor for 1000hrs for a 2-hour Jacobite Freedom Cruise, (included), to enjoy the stunning views of the surrounding mountains from the loch and sail the deepest part using the Jacobite sonar then alight at Urquhart Castle where you will have the chance to explore for an hour before cruising back up the loch to the Clansman Harbour. Returning to land travel through Inverness towards Nairn to visit Cawdor Castle which dates from the late 14th century and was built as a private fortress by the Thanes of Cawdor. The ancient medieval tower was built around the legendary holly-tree and is not another cold monument, but a splendid house and the home of the Campbell family to this day. You may enjoy afternoon tea with some home baking in the Courtyard Café. Round off today with a visit to Culloden Battlefield where the last hand-to-hand battle was fought on British soil which takes on a whole new meaning with the opening of an exciting new visitor centre and interactive exhibition. The battlefield itself is now restored to as close as possible that marched on by the two sides on that fateful day. Overnight Drumossie Hotel, Inverness

Inverness-Loch Lomond
This morning you will travel down the Great Glen to Fort Augustus on the southern tip of Loch Ness, stopping to marvel at Thomas Telford’s feat of engineering. The flight of 5 locks transport sailing vessels and boats from Loch Ness at the north end into the Caledonian Canal. Continue south stopping briefly at The Commando Memorial dedicated to the men of the original British Commando Forces raised during World War II. It overlooks the training areas of the Commando Training Depot established in 1942 at Achnacarry Castle. Unveiled in 1952 by the Queen Mother, it has become one of Scotland’s best-known monuments, both as a war memorial and for its stunning views of Ben Nevis and Aonach Mòr. Travel through Fort William and over the Ballachulish Bridge to reach the most scenically beautiful of all Highland glens, Glencoe, stopping at the visitors centre to view some of the most spectacular mountain scenery anywhere. This area is steeped in history, and at the Visitors Centre you will hear about the infamous 1692 massacre of Clan MacDonald and see the new exhibition which gives a behind-the-scenes glimpse of Glencoe’s starring role in the latest Bond movie Skyfall. Travel across Rannoch Moor and south through Crianlarich to reach Stirling Castle. For centuries this was the most important castle in Scotland and the views from the top make it easy to see why. Stirling Castle played an important role in the life of Mary Queen of Scots. She spent her childhood in the castle and Mary’s coronation took place in the Chapel Royal in 1543. Your final stunning destination on your tour is the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond and Cameron House Hotel on the world-renowned loch with its legendary Scottish hospitality, luxurious contemporary accommodation and true fine dining.  Overnight Macdonald Forest Hills & Spa

Loch Lomond-Glasgow
Today you will travel into Glasgow where you will enjoy a panoramic tour. This afternoon you can visit the sights and attractions of Scotland’s second city. We suggest an optional Hop on Hop Off Bust tour of Glasgow.  The West End of Glasgow houses Glasgow University, the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland’s four ancient universities. Byres Road is the hub of this vibrant area with many unique shops, restaurants and cafes. You may wish to stop in Ashton Lane for some refreshments before continuing to the Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery houses one of Europe’s great civic art collections and is the most popular free to enter visitor attraction in Scotland, and the most visited museum in the United Kingdom outside London. Travelling towards the city centre stop to admire The Glasgow School of Arts building designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh and built from 1897 – 1909. The school has produced most of Scotland’s leading contemporary artists including, since 2005, 30% of Turner Prize nominees and three recent Turner Prize winners. George Square: considered by many to be Glasgow’s City Centre. It’s a great place to start seeing the sights. The Square was designed and built in the late 19th century at the height of Glasgow’s prosperity. The Victorian buildings, including the splendid City Chambers, are a grand reminder of yesteryear and are a point of pride for the city. Pass through the bustling Merchant City to The Peoples Palace and Winter Gardens situated in Glasgow Green, a glasshouse and a museum of social history for the city of Glasgow since the 1940s and tell the story of the people and the city from 1750 to the present day. Lastly visit Glasgow Cathedral, also called the High Kirk of Glasgow, St. Kentigern’s or St Mungo’s Cathedral, where the patron saint of Glasgow, Saint Mungo, allegedly built his church. The tomb of the saint is in the lower crypt. In the shadow of Glasgow Cathedral is the Provand’s Lordship, built in 1471, which stands as a medieval-period historic house museum located at the top of Castle Street and is the oldest remaining house in Glasgow, the cathedral itself being the oldest building. Overnight Apex City Hotel.

Day 8

Glasgow-Glasgow Airport
This morning we make our way to Glasgow Airport for our flight onwards. In the true Scottish tradition, we wish you a “Safe Home”