Complete Scotland Tour – 9 Days

We will pick you up from your accommodation at 0900 to start your adventure.

Begin your travels by crossing the Firth of Forth with views of the famous Forth Railway Bridge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In Fife, your first stop will be the quaint village of Falkland. It is best known as the site of the 16th-century Falkland Palace, a National Trust of Scotland site that you can visit if you wish to. Falkland also plays host to 1940s and 1960s Inverness in the television series Outlander. Check out the Bruce Fountain and Campbell’s Coffee House and Eatery, both of which feature in the show.

From there, you will head east to the seaside town of St Andrews. Famous for being the home of golf and of the oldest university in Scotland, the town has 3 beautiful beaches, the ruins of a castle sitting atop a cliff and the ruins of the largest medieval cathedral in Scotland.

Continue north, cross the River Tay and pass Dundee, a UNESCO City of Design, where you can find museums and attractions such as the ship RRS Discovery which took Scott and Shackleton on their first voyage to Antarctica.

Then, with your guide, you can decide to take the direct route to Aberdeen or follow the scenic coastal route, which will take you past the St. Cyrus National Nature Reserve and the spectacular Dunnottar Castle, near Stonehaven. The latter, with its dramatic location on a cliff, is a popular photo stop.

Spend the rest of the day exploring Aberdeen. Nicknamed the Granite City because of its sparkling stone architecture, it is better known as the Oil Capital of Europe following the discovery of North Sea Oil in the 1970s.

Start your day by going toward Inverness, also known as the “Capital of the Highlands“. Your guide will first drive you along the “Deeside Tourist Route“, a lovely journey through the Cairngorms National Park, the largest national park in the British Isles.

As Aberdeenshire is known for its quantity of castles (it has 263!), don’t miss the chance to visit a few on the way, especially if you like to discover ancient ruins, stately homes and medieval castles that tell so many stories.

You can ask your guide for recommendations, but We recommend 16th-century Crathes Castle, a turreted castle that offers so much cultural history, and 13th-century Drum Castle, a fascinating castle that has expanded over the centuries. These castles have limited opening days but even if closed they make for great photo stops as you can wander freely around the lovely grounds and parkland. The next castle stop is the famous Balmoral Castle, the Scottish residence of the Royal Family in the Highlands.

Continue along Speyside, the region famous for its whiskies. Speyside is home to over half the distilleries in Scotland, and holds the greatest concentration of malt whisky producers in the country. If you have time and want to learn more about whisky production or even have a wee taster, stop at one of the distilleries for a tour and tasting.

We will visit the historic site Culloden Moor. This is where the famous 1746 Battle of Culloden took place, ending the Jacobite Rising and bringing about the “beginning of the end for the Highlands”. This was also the last battle on British soil. You can tour the visitor centre to learn more about it. 

Nearby you can also roam around the Bronze-age cemetery Clava Cairns. It consists of a series of tombs and standing stones dating back roughly 4,000 years, making it older than Stonehenge.

If you love a good castle, you could also visit the imposing Cawdor Castle located further east towards Nairn. Dating back to the late 14th century, it was built as a fortress by the Thanes of Cawdor.

If time allows, you could also, or instead, choose to hop onto the nearby Black Isle peninsula. This is the ideal location to take in the sights of the Moray Firth, which stretches all the way to Inverness and is known for its dolphin spotting.

Today, we head south along the shores of Loch Ness. You will have the chance to experience some of Scotland‘s most famous attractions during this drive.

Your first stop will be at the famous loch, where you can visit the Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition to learn more about the history and also about its elusive monster, Nessie. Loch Ness is the largest by volume in the British Isles thanks to its great depth. If you want to discover the loch further, you could book an optional boat tour, or go explore the nearby Urquhart Castle ruins on its shores.

You‘ll then continue south to the village of Fort Augustus. Depending on your interests and how much time you have, this is a popular spot to explore nature on the Great Glen Way trail, learn about 17th-century highland weaponry at the Clansman Centre, or simply relax while watching boats navigate the locks of the Caledonian Canal.

From there, you finally head to the breathtaking Isle of Skye. On the way, you may want to make a photo stop at the iconic Eilean Donan Castle, a sight you will surely recognise from many films and TV shows, before taking the Skye Bridge onto the island.

Later, check in at your accommodation near Portree. Then take some time to explore the colourful town.

This morning, you can take some time to explore more of the beautiful Isle of Skye. You might wish to visit the Talisker Distillery to sample some genuine single malt Scotch whisky. Another highlight we recommend is Coral Beach, with its tropical blue waters and magical atmosphere. Or enjoy a walk to the beautiful, crystal-clear Fairy Pools at the foot of the Black Cuillin Hills.

In the afternoon, your guide will take you south to the unique Sleat Peninsula. You can take in the beautiful scenery along the way, characterised by beaches, lochs and forests. From Armadale, you will take a ferry to Mallaig on the mainland.

You’ll then continue east. With your guide, you can pick where to stop enroute to Fort William. We recommend a stop at the glorious Camusdarach Beach, a stunning sight with its white sands and clear blue waters. There’s Glenfinnan, where you can visit the Glenfinnan Monument, a tribute to the Jacobite clansmen, overlooking the mysterious and beautiful Loch Shiel. If you look up, you may recognise the Victorian Glenfinnan Viaduct. This is where the Jacobite Steam Train, also known as the “Harry Potter train” passes twice a day.

Ferry duration: 30 minutes.

Start the morning going past Scotland’s most famous valley, Glen Coe, which offers world-famous scenery. You may recognise it from films such as Harry Potter and James Bond’s Skyfall. Here you can ask your guide if you’d like to go on a short walk along the Lochan trail. You can also just enjoy the majestic scenery from one of the many roadside viewpoints or visit the famous Clachaig Inn pub for lunch.

You will then travel through Rannoch Moor, a mysterious and boggy moorland often reminding travellers of otherworldly landscapes. Other worthwhile sights on the route include the beautiful Falls of Dochart in the village of Killin and the grave of Rob Roy in Balquhidder, a famous folk hero, often referred to as the Scottish Robin Hood. Further along, the drive takes you to the east shore of Loch Lubnaig, a popular spot for photos.

Today you journey through the lush Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park all the way back to Glasgow.

This is Scotland’s first national park, and it is formed of 4 distinctive areas, all of them featuring different habitats and therefore a huge variety of wildlife. If you like the outdoors, talk to your guide about going on a nature walk from the Lodge Forest Visitor Centre. The trail looks across the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park and you may spot Scottish wildlife.

You could also enjoy an optional boat tour on the tranquil Loch Katrine. Your guide might stop in Callander, a charming town at the foot of the Ben Ledi Mountain. There are many lovely walks to take in the area, including to some beautiful waterfalls.

The small town of Doune is also worth the stop. Doune Castle is now famous, and you may recognise it from movies and TV shows, such as Monty Python & the Holy Grail, Outlander, Game of Thrones, and Outlaw King.

Another great stop if you want one last castle to visit is Stirling. Stirling Castle sits atop the city hill so you can’t miss it. It is one of Scotland’s most popular attractions and worth a visit if you have the time. In the north-east of the city, you will see the monument to William Wallace, the rebellious Scottish knight subject of the film Braveheart.

If time allows, you could also stop at the Kelpies to see these giant 30-metre horse-head sculptures from up close. Nearby you will also find the Falkirk Wheel, the only rotating boat lift in the world. 

Upon your arrival in Glasgow, we will drop you off at your accommodation. You can enjoy the rest of the day at your leisure, perhaps with a fine dinner to top off your amazing journey.

Today you have a full day to explore Glasgow, Scotland’s largest city, at your leisure. It is a thriving cultural centre that boasts great shopping and a wealth of art galleries, museums, and fabulous architecture for all interests.

You may wish to explore the city centre in more depth. We recommend strolling around the beautiful George Square. The square is dotted with many statues and monuments, including a statue of poet Robert Burns and the only known equestrian statue of Queen Victoria.

Nearby you’ll also find the Gallery of Modern Art (also called GOMA), a free museum with interesting exhibitions from artists from Scotland and abroad. You may also want to visit the Lighthouse, Scotland’s Centre for Design and Architecture, located just off Buchanan Street. If you head to the top of the circular staircase, you’ll be rewarded by a magnificent view over Glasgow.

Later, head east, a short 15-minutes’ walk from the centre, where you can visit the medieval Glasgow Cathedral. The cathedral, which is free to visit, is an active place of worship that dates back to the 12th century. Nearby, you can also walk up the hill that makes up the Glasgow Necropolis, a Victorian cemetery full of sculptures and graves telling the stories of many Glaswegians and families.

If you then head south toward the banks of the River Clyde, you’ll find yourself in the Glasgow Green, the city’s oldest park dating back to the 15th century. It is full of monuments and is home to the People’s Palace, a free museum about the city’s social history.

In the evening, you may wish to treat yourself to a nice meal and drink at one of the many local restaurants or bars, enjoying the warm Scottish hospitality, and not to mention a taste of the local whisky.

This day can also be changed to drop you off in Edinburgh.