From lowland lochs to indomitable highland hills, centuries-old castles and much more

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

Suggested places to visit

Itinerary highlights

  • First class tickets on the Jacobite steam train
  • Explore the previous royal yacht of Queen Elizabeth II
  • Enjoy a stay at Balmoral Hotel
  • Discover the epic landscapes of the Isle of Skye
  • Visit the home of Stuart kings and queens, Stirling Castle and the picture-perfect Eilean Donan Castle
  • Go behind the scenes at a whisky distillery

What's included

  • Luxury accommodation throughout
  • Private transfers
  • Expert private guides in each location
  • Full support from your travel designer and concierge before, during and after your trip
  • Our help with restaurant recommendations and reservations
Use this itinerary to inspire your bespoke journey

At a glance

This tour will take you on a well-rounded loop through Scotland, starting in the lowlands with a stay at Andy Murray’s Cromlix hotel found on a fabulous Perthshire estate.

Your first excursion will throw you deep into the monumental history of this ancient country with a visit to Stirling Castle, once home to Stuart kings and queens. Next you’ll head to the tranquil Loch Lomond before heading to Fort William for a visit to Glencoe, a hauntingly beautiful Highland glen and the evocative site of the 1692 clan massacre. From here you’ll board the Jacobite steam train after which you’ll wind up in the rugged and unrivaled landscapes of the Isle of Skye.

Next you’ll make your way to Nairn for a whiskey tour and VIP Tour of a Speyside cooperage, to truly get a taste of Scotland. Soon you’ll find yourself in Pitlochery, where the ancient Scone Palace, the coronation site of both Robert the Bruce and Charles II, awaits you.

Your final stop on this whirlwind adventure will take you to the iconic capital city of Edinburgh, where you can take in the grand Georgian architecture, such as the elegant neoclassical terraces that give it the moniker the ‘Athens of the North’.

Example trip itinerary

Days 1 - 3

Perthshire

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Airside meet and greet at Edinburgh airport

Transfer

Private transfer to your hotel

Accommodation in Perthshire

stirling-castle
Stirling Castle Stirling Castle

Stirling Castle is one of Scotland’s premier castles and has an impressive history. Home to a succession of Stuart kings and queens, this historic edifice sits atop a rocky outcrop and rivals Edinburgh Castle in both history and visual impact.

Culross Culross

The village of Culross is a place that time forgot. Nestled along the banks of the River Forth, the Royal Burgh of Culross dates largely from the 16th century and its ancient cottages and the striking mustard-yellow Palace are little changed. Discover a slice of Scottish history on a guided walk around this exceptional place.

loch-lomond
Loch Lomond 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.

Glencoe, Scotland
Glencoe Glencoe

Glencoe is undoubtedly one of the most awe-inspiring sights in the whole of Scotland. Site of the 1692 Massacre of Glencoe, today it is a hauntingly beautiful Highland glen which evokes the spirit of the clans who ruled this land for centuries.

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer to your hotel

Day 3 - 4

Fort William

Accommodation in 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.

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Ferry from Armadale to Mallaig

Transfer

Private transfer to your hotel

Day 4 - 6

Skye

Accommodation in Skye

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

Skye’s rugged landscapes and dramatic mountain scenery are unrivalled among the islands of the West Coast. There are only a few roads crossing the island and its isolated position has ensured it retains a strong and proud Gaelic identity. There is a thriving art 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.

eilean-donan-castle-scotland
Eilean Donan Castle Eilean Donan Castle

Visit the evocative Eilean Donan Castle, perched on a small tidal island at the convergence of three sea lochs. Eilean Donan possesses all the qualities of a romantic castle and is one of the Highland's greatest beauties.

scotland-west-coast-beach
Explore Scotland's West Coast Explore Scotland's West Coast

Applecross is widely considered to be one of the most picturesque locations on the West Coast. Located on a peninsula looking out towards the Isle of Raasay and Isle of Skye, the Applecross Peninsula is home to just a couple of hundred people. A place of peace and tranquility, but also of drama and power in the huge landscapes and variable weather, this is one of Scotland’s most evocative places.

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer to your hotel

Days 6 - 8

Nairn

Accommodation in Nairn

speyside-whisky-distillery-scotland
* Speyside Cooperage * Speyside Cooperage

The Speyside Cooperage stands as one of the last remaining cooperages in Scotland. Still made by hand using traditional methods, the casks are an essential part of the whisky-making process and making them is a skill passed down through generations. An experienced former cooper will guide you through the cooperage and take you down to the workshop floor. The atmosphere here is loud, frantic and full of energy. The coopers are paid for each cask they make and repair, so they're working against the clock. Mind where you step, as this is still a working environment. You'll have the chance to see the vast yard at the back of the cooperage, where casks are piled to the sky, row upon row. It's an awesome sight and sets some context for the scale of Scotland's whisky industry. As well as being a key visit for understanding Scotland's whisky tradition, this is also a fascinating insight into local crafts and how they're kept alive today.

* 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.

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.

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer to your hotel

Days 8 - 9

Pitlochry

Accommodation in Pitlochry

dunkeld-village-perthshire-scotland
Dunkeld village Dunkeld village

The lovely village of Dunkeld sits on the banks of the River Tay. The majestic Dunkeld Cathedral dominates this picturesque Perthshire village and features the tomb of the notorious Wolf of Badenoch. Nearby, walk along Atholl Street's variety of specialist shops or take a walk down by the river, which provides excellent views of Thomas Telford's Dunkeld Bridge. You can't miss the brightly coloured houses of Dunkeld which were built in the early 1700s. Restored to provide homes for local people, they are now in the care of the National Trust For Scotland. Another NTS property is the Ell Shop featuring the original 'ell' measure, just over a metre long, used for measuring cloth in days gone by.

Scone Palace Scone Palace

A castle whose powerful Scottish history is evident in every room. Today a private residence, this ancient home has received royalty throughout the ages and in the grounds, The Moot Hill was the coronation site of both Robert the Bruce and Charles II.

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer to your hotel

Days 9 - 11

Edinburgh

Accommodation in Edinburgh

calton-hill-edinburgh-dawn
Edinburgh walking tour Edinburgh walking 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.

Royal Yacht Britannia visit Royal Yacht Britannia visit

The Royal Yacht Britannia served as the royal yacht of Queen Elizabeth II from 1954 until 1997. It served Her Majesty on innumerable trips around the globe over the course of its career. The yacht was dear to the Queen and she was seen to shed a tear when it was decommissioned. Today, the yacht is docked at Leith, in Edinburgh, and offers a tantalizing insight into some of the former private spaces of the British Royal Family.

Flights & transfers

Transfer

Private transfer to Edinburgh airport

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Every trip helps support Conservation.

From in-depth private tours to restaurant reservations, we take care of every detail so you can make the most of your journey.

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