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Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, and More

Voyage across Scotland and experience deep culture on this once-in-a-lifetime trip

Immerse yourself in Scotland

Spend 15 days immersing yourself in Scottish culture. Taste local cuisine,  explore historic castles, get a breath of fresh air while in the beautiful countryside and national parks. Discover the unexpected, the hidden gems, and enjoy the well-known, must-see attractions such as the Royal Edinburgh Tattoo. 

Old Sod Travel can customize this itinerary based on your own travel needs and desires. Note: dinner reservations will be made at top restaurant's for each night of the trip.

Starting from $7,348 per person

Days 1 - 3: Edinburgh

Accommodation: Intercontinental Edinburgh The George

Royal_Edinburgh_Military_Tattoo__2019_lgDay 1: Welcome to Scotland. Once through arrivals, grab a cab to the city centre. Check into your hotel and begin exploring Edinburgh. Perhaps stretch your legs with a hike up Arthur's Seat (an extinct
volcano) for incredible views of the city. Stroll down the Royal Mile. Enjoy a late afternoon tour of the Blair Street Underground Vaults. After a long day of travel, enjoy some dinner and live music at a restaurant we recommend. 

Day 2: After a good night's rest, enjoy your second day in Edinburgh. Yesterday you may have walked down the Royal Mile but today you will get a more in depth story of this ancient city. Make your way to Mercat Cross for a walking tour of Scotland’s capital. Hear about royalty, writers, philosophers and everyday folk living in Edinburgh through the ages and walk right past the queues into Edinburgh Castle. This tours last about 2-2.5hrs.

Tonight, you will enjoy the Royal Edinburgh Tattoo @ 9.30pm. Set against the backdrop of Edinburgh's imposing castle, The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is one of the most iconic events in Edinburgh's calendar. The Edinburgh Tattoo celebrates the skills and talents of military bands and display teams from throughout the world. 

Day 3: Continue exploring Edinburgh at your own pace today- there is much to explore! A visit to the National Museum of Scotland is highly recommended. For art enthusiasts, the National Portrait Museum and/or the Scottish National Gallery are both worthy of consideration. And of course, don't forget the Palace of Holyrood House if you're a real Outlander fan.

Days 4 - 5: Pitlochry

Accommodation: Atholl Palace Hotel

Stirling-Castle 2-1Day 4: This morning, make your way from Edinburgh in the direction of Pitlochry. You could go via Stirling or St Andrews:

If you choose St. Andrews, visit the University, St. Andrew's Castle & Cathedral and the British Museum of Golf, or explore the charming villages of Culross and Falkland, which were used in Outlanders seasons 1,2 and 4.

If you choose Stirling, we would suggest driving via Blackness Castle, Linlithgow and Sterling and Blackwatch Museum in Perth.

Day 5: Today you could stay in and around the hotel and use the leisure facilities, or lets us arrange a Highland safari, fishing or cycling. Explore some of the Cairngorms National Park: If you did not get time to visit Blair Castle yesterday, do so today. If a whisky tour is a preference then you are in the right place - Blair Athol Speyside and Dalwhinnie Distilleries are great options.

Days 6 - 7: Culloden, Inverness, and the Cairngorms

Accommodation: Culloden House Hotel

Day 6: After breakfast and check out, travel through the Cairngorms. This morning, you have the option to ride the Funicular Railway up Cairngorm Mountain. Both during the ascent and while at the summit, you'll
enjoy stunning views in every direction. Then head on up to Inverness area , explore the town and visit the Cathedral, Botanic Gardens and quirky Leakey's book shop.

When the sun is shining, there is nowhere better to be than Loch Morlich beach. This is the UK’s highest beach near Aviemore, and is a white sandy beach fringed by pine forest and mountains. There are many other ways we can recommend exploring the Cairngorms: horseback riding, taking a hairy coo safari, red deer feeding and quad biking.

Day 7: There are many options for today. Maybe a Culloden Battlefield Tour including a visit to Clava Cairns, an ancient burial site. To the west of Inverness, tour Cawdor Castle which was built as a private fortress by the Thanes of Cawdor, a family made famous by Shakespeare's play "MacBeth". End your day by strolling around Nairn, a pretty coastal village and perhaps visit Benromach Distillery for some more tastings!

Cairngorms

 

Day 8 - 9: Isle of Sky

Accommodation: Skeabost House Hotel

Day 8: Head from Inverness to Isle of Skye, with its lush hills and coastal tracks. On the way you have the option of a slow Loch Ness Cruise or a high speed RIB. Admire Kyle of Lochalsh - the gateway to
Skye, stop enroute at Eilean Donan Castle, and continue into the small village of Portree.

Day 9: Today head out to explore the Fairy Pools, Old Man of Storr, Neist Lighthouse, Portree Harbor, or Dunvegan Castle and Gardens. Fairy Glen is an enchanting natural landscape of miniature
conical hills, rocky towers and a tiny loch. If the weather is good, look for Claigan Coral Beaches.

Days 10 - 11: Mallaig

Accommodation: Ardrhu House

Day 10: Leave Skye early to make the most of the day . Take the ferry from Skye to Mallaig and continue on to Fort William.

Day 11: Today you have return tickets for the Jacobite Steam Train from Fort William to Mallaig. View a beautiful 41-mile ride passing along Loch Eil, Glenfinnan Viaduct, and Arisaig, which is the same route filmed in the Harry Potter movies. You could stroll the Mallaig Circuit walk which has great views over Mallaig harbour and across Loch Nevis to Knoydart, or wander in the Mallaig Heritage Centre nearby which offers stories, films, collections and displays telling the history of West Lochaber people and the area. You will arrive back in Fort William about 4pm.

Days 12 - 13: Glasgow

Accommodation: Voco Grand Central Hotel Glasgow

glasgow-1Day 12: Depart Ardrhu House for Glasgow today. On the way, stop in Glencoe to see the Glencoe Folk Museum, and Loch Lomond for Trossaachs National Park.

Day 13: Today enjoy the city of Glasgow. Options include Glasgow Cathedral, Glasgow Necropolis (great at sunrise or sunset), George Square, Glasgow city Chambers, The Lighthouse, Gallery of Modern Art, Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, The Riverside Museum and Tall ship, Glasgow Botanic Gardens, Peoples Palace.

Day 14: Return to Edinburgh

Accommodation: Intercontinental Edinburgh The George

Day 14: This morning, make your way from Glasgow to Edinburgh. You could visit Rosslyn Chapel on your way there. Check into the hotel and maybe head out to get some last minute gifts for your return home.

Day 15: Fly Home

Fly home out of Edinburgh airport. Make sure to give yourselves plenty of time to drop back the car and clear customs, etc. Bon voyage!

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This itinerary includes 14 nights of accommodations. Activities for each day will be customized based upon traveler preferences. Speak with a trip planner today!