Highlights:

 

• See the most beautiful islands in Britain - Inner and Outer Hebrides, Orkneys and Shetland. 
• Discover the coastlines that have it all - sandy beaches, cliffs, caves, sea stacks, columns, pillars, blow holes and a tombola
• Engage with the friendly locals
• Take the best pictures of your life
• Delight in tasting the best seafood in the world for half the price you're used to paying. 
• Discover more about Viking and Celtic history
• Trace your Scottish ancestry
• Learn about Scapa Flow, Neolithic Settlers, see the Standing Stones on Lewis and on Orkney. 
• Taste Highland Park at the Distillery we'll visit outside Kirkwall
• See Maes Howe and the best preserved Neolithic Village in Europe - Skara Brae
• See St. Ninian's Isle and tombola
• Eat Haggis, Neeps and Tatties, you know you want to. 
• Listen to a piper play the best Scottish melodies
• Spend some time in the Athens of the North, the historic UNSECO city of Edinburgh. 
• Trace Outlander and Harry Potter film locations

 

Included:

 

• 4 Star Accommodation on a Bed and Breakfast Basis
• Meet and Greet at Airport
• Transfers to and from hotel
• Expert driver/guide
• Comfortable touring vehicle
• Local knowledge, recommendations and help with any bookings you want to make
• Porterage - 1 piece per person in and out of hotels
• All ferries

 

Not included

 

• Flights - purchase your own flights in and out of destination 
• Gratuities minimum recommended $20 per person per day
• Lunches and Dinners - we like our guests to be able to choose their own dining options
• Any entrances to museums, attractions and concerts - most of what you're looking for will be free entrance anyway. 

 

Detailed Itinerary

 

Day 1

 

Arrive in Glasgow, Meet and Greet, transfer to the centre and overnight in the city centre following a trip to Pollock House that's full of art and beautiful surrounds. The cafe is great here in case you want a really tasty Scottish lunch. 

 

Day 2  

 

Northern drive past Loch Lomond and the Valley of Glencoe to Fort William where we'll do another overnight at the base of Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Scotland. We'll do a cruise on the loch and some scenic photostops to embrace the Scottish landscape and take it all in. 

 

Day 3

 

Take the ferry across to the Isle of Skye from Mallaig, an important fishing village with excellent seafood restaurants and cafes. We'll arrive on the Sleat Peninsula and continue past Sligachan to a famous Skye distillery visit. Onwards for an overnight in a nice hotel perched above the spectacularly beautiful Portree Harbour.

 

Day 4

 

We visit by the Old Man of Storr rock formation, Kilt Rock waterfall , Flora MacDonald's grave (of Bonnie Prince Charlie fame) and finish with a visit to the Isle of Skye Brewery, a truly and incredible place and a top quality producer of local beers. You've got to try Skye Red, one of the finest red ales on the planet. We'll take the ferry this evening to Lewis and Harris, in the Outer Hebrides and spend one night in Tarbet, the port we arrive into. 

 

Day 5

 

Today, it's a chance to explore the town of Tarbet in the south of this wonderful island and visit two important places. Firstly, it's Harris Gin, considered one of the world's finest gins. Scotland has less than 10% of the British Population but produces over 70% of its gin, and some of it is truly excellent.

Secondly, for those into quality garments, throws, or accessories, it's important to understand the history of the only company in the UK with its own act of Parliament - Harris Tweed. Whilst it's not cheap, it's of extremely high quality and is protected by law as a cottage industry on the island. We'll see a weaving demonstration and ask any questions we might think of to the guide. We continue up through the mountains and the peat bogs of the centre of the island to the capital Stornoway where we'll spend two nights. 

 

Day 6

 

Today is about history as we visit the Callanish Standing Stones which go back around 3,000 years - a place of much mistique, significance and prehistoric civilisation on the north of the island. We'll see a broch - a Scotttish round tower - and we'll head to the black houses, a type of long house not built in other parts of the UK. Stornoway also produces the best black pudding in the world if you want to sample it and it has good restaurants. We might also have the time to see some of the Lewis Chessmen - Viking chess pieces made out of walrus ivory over 1,000 years ago and housed in Stornoway Castle. 

 

Day 7

 

We leave the island and take a new ferry route back from Stornoway directly to Ullapool on the mainland. We'll have fish and chips in Ullapool and maybe something to wash it down. Now, our journey begins on one of the world's most beautiful and enchanting drives - the North Coast 500. We'll pass many small towns and villages and stop for lake views, mountain scenery and to take it all in. Tonight we'll overnight near to Cape Wrath, an area of particularly stunning natural beauty. 

 

Day 8

 

We take the ferry to Orkney, spending two nights in the capital of the main island,  Kirkwall. With time to enjoy the geological formations and cliffs from the ferry, it's a beautiful crossing and truly brings us to a unique culture, unlike anything found on the mainland. 

 

Day 9

 

We'll experience the best preserved Neolithic Village in Europe, Skara Brae, dating from 4,000 BC. Today we'll also visit standing stones as well as a stone circle, immersing ourselves in our ancient past, with the lives of the first settlers to the islands on our minds. We'll also visit Churchill's Barriers built by Italian POWs during WW2 to stop the German fleet sending in submarines to destroy the Royal Navy stationed at Scapa Flow. We'll finish the day with a visit to the Italian Chapel built and adorned by the Italian POWs on the island who produced great beauty and art with very little as raw material. Finally, a chance to go to Magnus Cathedral, built in honour of the leader of Norway when the island was once ruled by the Vikings. 

 

Day 10

 

Today we take Northlink ferries to Lerwick on Shetland, this is a 10 hour overnight sailing and everyone will have a cabin to sleep and relax, as well as an upgraded ticket to the Magnus Lounge with a complimentary drink, premium unlimited WiFi and comfortable armchairs, as well as a variety of complimentary snacks, fruits and reading materials.

 

Day 11

 

This morning we arrive in Lerwick, capital of the main Shetland island. We'll go directly to our accommodation and head south to the area of Sumburgh, at the southerly point so we can see the lighthouse and Jarlshof, the Viking leader's dwelling. We'll also visit St. Ninian's isle and learn of his treasure, chapel and the tombolo, the best example in Great Britain of two bays dissected by sand linking two bodies of land. It's a stunning beautiful area as famous for its early Christianity as it is for its natual environment. 

 

Day 12

 

We head north to Eschaness to see some incredible cliff formations, having some tasty fish and chips along the way at Brae and then we're on to island hopping at Yell and Unst in the very north, getting really off the beaten track to spot Shetland ponies and some of the world's best scenery. Shetland truly is one of the world's most photogenic islands and anyone into photography is really going to have a celebration, as every bay, cliff, mountain and land formation is a fantastic opportunity to take great shots. 

 

Day 13

 

We take the ferry from Lerwick to Aberdeen following a few hours to explore the excellent local history musuem. We arrive back on the mainland and continue our drive south. 

 

Day 14

 

Today we'll see Dundee, St. Andrews and then arrive in Edinburgh for an overnight on the last evening of the trip together. There will be a farewell dinner included at one of the city's excellent restaurants and we'll throw in a glass of Scotch or local beer, chosing only the best ones.

 

Day 15

 

This morning and afternoon are yours following a panoramic city tour with a local guide starting at 8am. At 11am you can choose to see some of the other highlights of the city or wait for the transfer to Edinburgh Airport in the late afternoon, so at least you get time to explore the city, which is all within walking distance of your hotel.

If you want to extend your stay in Edinburgh you can and we can also help in arranging this for you. 

Departure from Edinburgh International Airport and end of journey. We are sure this will have been one of, if not the very best trips you've ever experienced. Scotland leaves you wanting to come back for more.