Explore Scotland's cities and Highlands and raise a glass to her finest whiskies

Personalised journeys from start to finish

Every trip helps support Conservation

Every detail taken care of

  • Personalised journeys from start to finish

  • Every trip helps support Conservation

  • Every detail taken care of

Itinerary highlights

  • Winding your way through the cobbled streets of Edinburgh's Old Town
  • Visiting the local distilleries of the Scottish Lowlands
  • Riding the famous Jacobite steam train through stunning landscapes of the West Coast
  • Ballindalloch Estate tour hosted by the Laird and Lady

What's included

  • Luxury accommodation throughout
  • Privately guided tours
  • Internal transfers
  • Full support from your Travel Designer and Concierge before, during and after your trip
Use this itinerary to inspire your bespoke journey

At a glance

If you’re partial to a dram or two of the finest distilled golden liquid, then this luxury trip is perfect for you. Travel across Scotland as you follow whisky’s trail from field to distillery, to bottle to glass.

Your trip begins in Edinburgh where you’ll visit a local branch of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society and enjoy a tailored tasting session. Then take some time to discover Harry Potter author JK Rowling’s Edinburgh. Visit some of the cafes where she used to write and spot the buildings which inspired places in the books.

You’ll also get to see some of Scotland’s historic castles while travelling through different whisky regions. Then head to Speyside where you will get a taste for the grassy or sweet flavours produced by Scotland’s largest concentration of distilleries. Visit Ballindalloch, another historic estate, which boasts its own distillery, and enjoy a tasting.

Your next stop will be Loch Ness where, even if you don’t spot the elusive monster, you’ll get to admire the ruins of Urquhart Castle. Then steam back into the world of Harry Potter with a ride along the West Coast on the Jacobite Steam Train, which stood in for the Hogwart’s Express in the films. Discover the highlights of the Isle of Skye before taking a tour of its oldest working distillery – Talisker.

On the final leg of your trip, you’ll spend time in Glencoe before stopping at Loch Lomond on the way to the thriving city of Glasgow.

Example trip itinerary

Days 1-4

Edinburgh

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Airside meet and greet at Edinburgh airport

Transfer

Private transfer to your hotel in Edinburgh

Accommodation in Edinburgh

calton-hill-edinburgh-dawn
Three nights in Edinburgh Three nights in Edinburgh

Explore Scotland's beautiful capital, winding your way through the cobbled streets of the old town; delving into its history at Edinburgh Castle; exploring the Walter Scott monument; and heading down to the waterside at Leith. Head to Calton Hill or climb Arthur's Seat for the best views of the city.

edinburgh-old-town-scotland
Edinburgh tour Edinburgh tour

Edinburgh is Scotland’s capital city and nicknamed the Athens of the North for its grand Georgian architecture. It’s the New Town that earned the city this sobriquet: its elegant neoclassical terraces were inspired by the buildings of Ancient Greece and though it’s called the New Town, this neighbourhood is already nearly 300 years old.

Edinburgh’s Old Town dominates the city from atop a volcanic outcrop and Edinburgh Castle balances perilously on the edge. The Royal Mile runs down to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official residence of Her Majesty the Queen in Scotland. The Windsor connections can be seen at a hidden location in the district of Leith, where the Queen’s Royal Yacht Britannia is now docked. Explore Edinburgh’s highlights with your expert guide and discover what makes this city perennially popular.

scotch-whisky-society-edinburgh
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society The Scotch Malt Whisky Society

Visit the Society's 28 Queen Street address with your guide for an introduction to Scotland's most famous tipple. Over 132 distilleries are represented at the Society and your guide will help you navigate the vast array on offer. As you sample different type, you'll learn how the properties and the earth and soil in which each whisky is produced influences its taste.

* Harry Potter's Edinburgh * Harry Potter's Edinburgh

J.K. Rowling wrote the original Harry Potter stories while living in Edinburgh, making the Scottish capital truly a place of pilgrimage for Potter fans. With an expert local guide, visit the cafes where Rowling used to write and explore Greyfriars Kirkyard, which inspired Tom Riddle’s graveyard in The Goblet of Fire. Edinburgh’s fine architecture is world-renowned and with your guide you’ll also see some of the places that inspired the design of Hogwart’s and Diagon Alley

Shopping in Edinburgh Shopping in Edinburgh

From high-end department stores to boutiques and exclusive gift shops, spend some time browsing the shops of Edinburgh.

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer to your hotel in the Scottish Lowlands

Days 4-5

Scottish Lowlands

Accommodation in Scottish Lowlands

One night in the Scottish Lowlands One night in the Scottish Lowlands

The Lowlands encompass the southern half of Scotland between the Highlands and the English border, along with Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee and Aberdeen. This string of towns and cities along what’s known as the Central Belt between the Firth of Forth and the Clyde are home to most of Scotland’s population and is a region rich with history, culture and grand old architecture. Alongside traditional country pursuits such as fishing and grouse shooting, to which vast estates and stately homes are dedicated to, walking, rock climbing and mountain biking are increasingly popular in the area, the latter thanks to a fabulous network of forest trails across the region. Some of the most famous golf courses in the world can also be found here.

Blair Castle Blair Castle

Blair Castle is unlike any other castle in Scotland. Its baronial architecture and beautiful setting in wooded grounds with mountainous backdrop are typical enough, but a couple of accidents of history have set Blair Castle apart. In 1844 Queen Victoria spent three weeks at Blair and during her stay granted the Duke a private army, the Atholl Highlanders, today the only private army in Europe. In more recent times, the castle passed to a branch of the family currently residing in South Africa.

pitlochry-church-scotland
Visit Pitlochry and Distilleries Visit Pitlochry and Distilleries

Pitlochry is a bustling town is home to many excellent shops but is perhaps most famous for the intriguing salmon ladder, a construction that allows fish to swim upstream during the breeding season. Nearby, local distilleries retain traditional artisanal production methods while introducing the drink to a new generation of connoisseurs.

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer to your hotel near Loch Ness

Days 5-7

Loch Ness

* Whisky Tour of Speyside * Whisky Tour of Speyside

Whisky is one of Scotland’s most successful exports and with good reason: this famous beverage evokes the spirit of Scotland and nowhere is more intrinsically linked to it than the region of Speyside. Barley is distilled in fresh Highland water, and the region in which it is grown gives a different taste to the final product. In Speyside the whiskies have either a light and grassy or rich and sweet palette and the region has no shortage of producers with largest concentration of distilleries in Scotland based here. Join your guide to learn more about one of Scotland’s finest products.

* Ballindalloch Estate tour hosted by the Laird and Lady * Ballindalloch Estate tour hosted by the Laird and Lady

Ballindalloch Castle is set at the heart of a traditional Highland estate, not far from Inverness on Speyside. The 16th century castle itself is picture perfect, often called the ‘Pearl of the North, and it is perhaps the finest surviving examples of a Scottish Baronial Castle with elegant reception rooms and well-tended gardens. You’ll be hosted for an exclusive tour by Laird and Lady Macpherson-Grant, whose family stewardship dates back to the 15th century. After time to explore the grounds, visit the Estate’s private distillery and end with a whisky tasting accompanied by the Ballindalloch Distillery Host.

Urquhart Castle at Loch Ness Scotland Highlands on A82
Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle

Loch Ness is home to the legendary Loch Ness Monster, first reported in 1934. Nessie may have turned out to be fictional, but this corner of Scotland lies at the gateway to some of the country’s most stunning scenery. By volume, it is the largest lake in the British Isles and contains more fresh water than all the lakes in England and Scotland combined. The loch itself is overlooked by the ruins of Urquhart Castle, a medieval fortress that has stood for centuries at the crossroads of Scotland’s history.

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer to your hotel near Fort William

Days 7-9

Fort William

Accommodation near Fort William

Jacobite steam train Jacobite steam train

Enjoy a ride on the Jacobite steam train, made famous as the Hogwart’s Express in the Harry Potter movies. The train is one of the best ways to view the stunning scenery of the West Coast.

sunrise-at-quiraing-isle-of-skye
Highlights of the Isle of Skye Highlights of the Isle of Skye

Skye’s rugged landscapes and dramatic mountain scenery are unrivalled among the islands of the West Coast. There are a only few roads crossing the island and its isolated position has ensured it retains a strong and proud Gaelic identity. There is a thriving arts and crafts tradition on the island and photographers from far and wide are attracted not only for the peaks and valleys but for the extraordinary abundance of wildlife, both on dry land and in the sea, that Skye is famous for.

talisker-distillery-isle-of-skye-scotland
Talisker Distillery tour Talisker Distillery tour

Talisker is the oldest working distillery on the Isle of Skye, set on the shores of Loch Harport in the village of Carbost. Tour of the distillery, seeing its five copper pot stills and the traditional worm tubs that make our Talisker so unique, then take a look at the casks in the warehouse where the Angel’s Share is lost to evaporation during maturation. End with a taste of the-award winning, alluring, sweet, full-bodied single malt.

Glencoe, Scotland
Glencoe Glencoe

Glencoe is undoubtedly one of the most awe-inspiring sights in the whole of Scotland. Site of the 1695 Massacre of Glencoe, today it is a hauntingly beautiful Highland glen which evokes the spirit of the clans who ruled this land for centuries.

loch-lomond
Visit Loch Lomond Visit Loch Lomond

Made famous by the song The Bonnie Banks o’ Loch Lomond, this freshwater loch is one of Scotland’s most evocative sites. The loch marks the beginning of the Highlands and the magnificent scenery of the Trossachs forms the backdrop to this spectacular location.

glasgow-city
* Glasgow city tour * Glasgow city tour

Glasgow is the beating heart of modern Scotland. The country’s sporting, music and financial capital, Glasgow is a hard-working and thriving city. The city packs in a fair amount of culture too, from the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum to Glasgow Cathedral and the historic Provand’s Lordship, the oldest house in the city. The creations of Glasgow’s most famous son, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, can be seen all over the city from the Willow Tea Rooms to the Mackintosh House at the Hunterian Museum.

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer to your hotel in Glasgow

Days 9-10

Glasgow

Accommodation in Glasgow

glasgow-city-skyline
One Night in Glasgow One Night in Glasgow

Scotland's largest city is a thriving metropolis renowned for its culture and style. It is home to world-class museums and galleries, a vibrant arts scene and some of Scotland's best shopping and nightlife. The city itself has a rich and diverse history, reflected in its architecture which ranges from the 18th-century warehouses of Merchant City to the red sandstone Victorian buildings that line its squares and crescents. Then there are the silver space-age constructions of the Glasgow Science Centre and the Clyde Auditorium, affectionately known as the Armadillo.

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer to Edinburgh airport

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