August 11, 2026 – August 21, 2026

11 Days – 10 Nights

Embark on an unforgettable journey through the ancient, mystical land of Scotland. This road trip will take you through Scotland’s most stunning landscapes and natural wonders, coupled with beautiful castles and immersive experiences.

ITINERARY

Day 1: Aug 11 – Glasgow

Today, you will fly in and make your way to our hotel in Glasgow. Depending on the time you fly in, we will either have a free walking tour or do the on/off bus. The tour, with its rich and diverse history, splendid architecture, city centre, small alleys, museums, galleries, and Botanical Gardens, will amaze you. You may even choose to explore on your own.  We will meet at a specified time to have a special lunch at the Soul Sisters Place.

Ashton Lane-restaurants, Buchanan Street-shopping, People’s Palace, Tenement House, Hogwarts University, Roslynn Chapel(famous for the Da Vinci Code, ***many free tours and buses

Day 2: Aug 12 – Glasgow to Callander

After breakfast, our guide Brian will pick us up to start our tour. For lunch we will pick up sandwiches, etc. on the go. Or thee is a café at Stirling Castle. We head to the Highlands! We view our second World UNESCO site in the magnificent Forth Bridges . Then we will stop to admire The Kelpes-the largest equine sculptures in the world. The Kelpes name reflects the mythological transforming beasts that possesses the strength and endurance of 100 horses.. We then drive into “Braveheart Country”, to see the Wallace Monument- a 67 meter tower commemorating Sir William Wallace (Braveheart), a 13^th and 14^th century Scottish hero.  Last,  we will go to visit and tour Stirling Castle, one of the largest and most historically and architecturally important castles in Scotland. It is exactly what you would imagine a fairytale medieval castle to be:on top of a hill with walls surrounding it. Movies and shows, such as The Game of Thrones, Outlander and Elizabeth were filmed at the castle. It is also the site of the famous Battle of Stirling Bridge in Braveheart.

We now head into Trossachs National Park, and spend your first 2 nights in the pretty town of Callander. We will be staying in the Abbotsford Hotel/Mansion. We will have an included dinner at our Hotel tonight.

Day 3: Aug 13 – Trossachs Trail

Lunch in Lion and Unicorn, a 16^th century pub. Today, we venture into the amazing Trossachs Trail and all of its treasures, including the wonderful Duke’s Pass mountain drive. This day may be as relaxing or as busy as you wish. There is an optional sheepdog show we can visit, or we can head to Loch Katrine, where you can hire bikes for a very safe ride in a traffic-free zone around the tunning Loch, or take a ride on the Sir Walter Steamship. We will have a quick photo op at  Doune Castle. This castle was also used in TV/Movie productions such as Outlander (Castle Leoch), Game of Thrones (Winterfell), Monty Python and the Holy Grail and Outlaw King and many more. We then head back to Callander. Here, you may wish to partake in a very entertaining “Whisky Tasting Masterclass”. If you don’t like Whisky, it’s just because you haven’t found yours yet. You do not choose the Whisky…the Whisky chooses you! Dinner on your own tonight within walking distance. Suggestions- Roman Camp Bistro, Callander Meadows or Waverly Bar.

Day 4: Aug 14 – Callander to Sky/Plockton

Today we head North into the wild West Highlands  and through the stunning Glencoe, where you have the opportunity for a short hike or just to take photographs within this magnificent scenery.  We will visit the fabulous Visitor Center before lunch in the famous Claghaig Inn. We head north and west through Fort William and subject to weather, ride on the Gondola up 2000 feet on the Nevis range of mountains. The views are spectacular.

We will then pay our respect to the world’s first ever “Special Services” at Spean Bridge, the Royal Marine Commandos. This was their first training ground. We then make our way to sky via the last manually operated turntable ferry in the world. A short but fabulous journey on Skye before we leave the island by bridge to stay in Plockton, known as the “Jewel of the Highlands”. Tonight, we will have an included dinner at the Plockton Inn.

Free time before we get ready for our New Year’s dinner. After dinner we will find a great fireworks viewing location. Enjoy!

Day 5: Aug 15 – Trotternish Peninsula

Today, our guide suggests a packed lunch from the hotel, or we stop to buy sandwiches, etc., on the way.  Today will be an absolutely brilliant day, focusing on some of Sky’s Highlights. We head up the East side of the Isle of Skye. Heading North, there are several optional walks/hikes that we can do, such as the gentle Falls of Lealt.   Next, if fossils are your thing, then this is the place: Jurassic Scotland. We can go hunting for dinosaur footprints (subject to tides) after visiting the beautiful Kilt Rock.  The stunning Qhuirang is next with surely one of the most beautiful views on earth.  This is a gentle walk.  We then head to meet the fairies at their home in the Fairy Glen with another gentle walk.  It is very pretty here and hard to describe. The name has been given for its unusual yet mystical look.  We then head to the pretty town of Portree for some retail therapy and free time.  Portree is the largest town and capital of the Isle of Skye, and there are a few great stores that sell local artisanal items and cafes to enjoy casual food. Recommended-Skye candle company store and Bistro.

Dinner on own-we will give suggestions for pubs with music.

Day 6: Aug 16 – Isle of Skye to Inverness

Lunch today will be a the Shieldaig Café. We head off to Skye, via the bridge, and our first stop is the most recognized castle in Scotland-the stunning Eilean Donan Castle (backdrop for 27 movies). We head up to the Bealach Na Ba, the steepest road in Scotland, before stopping for a break in the beautiful village of Shieldaig.  Travelling east, we head on the most beautiful roads in wild “Wester Ross”, through the 4 billion year old Torridon Mountains (give or take a year or two). Considered by many to embody the North Highland landscape of Scotland, Torridon is an ancient and enchanting wilderness of water and rock. A stunning ride South, and a short hike to the lovely Rogie Falls, through some of Scotland’s ancient and rare pine forests, before heading to Inverness for the night.

Tonight, we will give dinner suggestions

Day 7: Aug 17 – Loch Ness  and Urquhart Castle

Lunch today will be somewhere in Fort Augustus. Today, we will circumnavigate the world’s most famous lake, Loch Ness. First, we will journey down the Southern Shore where we can visit some of the small beaches of the loch, and meet the resident: Nessie Hunter. At Foyers, we can visit the falls of Foyers (lots of steps but really worth the effort). Continuing South, we will visit Fort Augustus and take an hour-long boat trip on the loch if you wish. We then turn North and travel the North Shore. At Invermorriston, we can take a lovely riverside walk along the River Morriston. Next is the magnificent ruins of Urquhart Castle, once the most important castle in the country. Following the castle, you may wish to take in the Loch Ness Exhibition, before we head back to Inverness.

Dinner tonight will be on our own at Hootenanny, Highlander or MacGregors.  All have live music.

Day 8: Aug 18 – Inverness to Edinburgh

Lunch today will be at Pitlochry at the House of Bruar. Our first stop today is Culloden Battlefield….last stand for the Jacobites, and the defeat for Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1746. Ancient history now with a visit to the amazing tombs and standing stones of Clava Cairns (4500-5000 years old). Then we will go into the beautiful Cairngorms National Park, where the Ruthven Barracks were built by George I’s government between 1719 and 1721 following the Jacobite rising of 1715. They were to house Garrison infantry to police the area and enforce the Disarming Act of 1716. Heading down country, we stop at the Newtonmore reconstructed village from the 1700s (Outlander filmed here). At the Highland Folk Museum, you can step back in time and experience life in the highlands from the 1700s to the 1950s. An optional visit to Scotland’s highest distillery- Dalwhinnie, for a tour and tasting.  We now head south into Perthshire, a stop at the Hermitage–walk through towering Douglas firs to the folly of Ossian’s Hall and glaze over the beautiful falls. We can have a lunch break in Pitlochry before continuing back to Edinburgh. Tonight, we will get dropped off at the Dalhousie Castle- our home for the night. We will have a special included dinner in the dungeons. Dalhousie Castle is a classic 12^th century castle located outside of Edinburgh. It has been perfectly preserved and was designed as a family home. A stay at the Dalhousie will give us an idea of what life in Scotland was like then.

Day 9: Aug 19 – Edinburgh

Today is a full day in the city on a historical tour. We will start at the Edinburgh Castle with a guided visit and free time to explore on our own.  Lunch and dinner on our own, but we can discuss and make reservations.  Restaurants need to be booked, but gourmet pubs do not take bookings. Maybe Italian or Chinese for a change!   We will leave this morning for Edinburgh City Center.  Your luggage will be deposited at your new hotel before we have a two-hour walk in the fabulous old town for familiarisation. We will end up at the Castle, where you will be booked to tour at your leisure at 2 PM. The rest of your day will be free to explore the Royal Mile to get acquainted with the old town, a series of cobblestone streets. Tonight, we will check into our 2-night stay at another hotel in downtown Edinburgh. There is an option to see the “ Edinburgh Military Tattoo show “ tonight starting at 9 pm and ending at 10:30 pm You will have to decide if you want to go as soon as you book, since they sell out almost a year in advance. You can walk back to your hotel from here.

Another option this afternoon, which sounds wonderful (I would have to book in advance), is Mary King’s Close.  It is one of the many narrow alleys and mesh of underground streets where Edinburgh’s residents used to live 400 years ago. During this tour, you will get to explore the labyrinthine passageways and rooms of its inhabitants and learn all about the plague and the living conditions of the locals during that infamous period. This part of the city is hidden under the surface and behind tourist stores.

Day 10: Aug 20 – Edinburgh International Music Festival

Today is a free day to explore the city and the many free acts in the  Edinburgh Festival.  An option is to do afternoon tea at the city’s most glamorous location, the Balmoral Hotel Palm Court. It is the most upscale tea experience in the city.