Welcome to Glasgow!
Meet your Tour Director and travel companions at 6 pm for a welcome dinner at your hotel. (D)
Sculpted Horses & Scottish Heroines
Your grand tour of Scotland starts with a visit to The Kelpies, the world’s largest equine sculptures. Discover two prominent sites featured in the popular TV series Outlander. Follow your Local Guide through the cobbled streets of the Royal Burgh of Culross, and then visit the stunning ruins of Linlithgow Palace, birthplace of Mary, Queen of Scots. Arrive in Edinburgh, your base for the next three nights. (B) 72 mi / 116 kmTOUR HIGHLIGHT CULTURE & TRADITION The Royal Burgh of Culross is considered one of Scotland’s most picturesque examples of life in the 17th and 18th centuries. No wonder it is the filming location for many film and television productions, as well as an inspiring destination for history lovers. Its well-preserved buildings with red-tiled roofs line steep cobblestone streets from the market cross to the hilltop abbey.
Traditions & Treasures
Morning city sightseeing with a Local Guide introduces you to the 200-year-old “New Town” and the famous scientists, inventors, and novelists who lived there. In the “Old Town,” visit Edinburgh Castle to admire Scotland’s Crown Jewels. The afternoon is free to enjoy the Scottish capital at your own pace. (B)TOUR HIGHLIGHTHISTORIC SPOT Edinburgh Castle, one of the most important historical strongholds in the Kingdom of Scotland, rules with a 1,100-year history as “the most besieged place in Great Britain.” Here, you’ll find the royal regalia and Scotland’s Crown Jewels.
Regal Manors & Royal Music
Today’s excursion introduces you to parts of the Scottish Lowlands and Border Counties. Head to Abbotsford House to enjoy a guided tour of the home of novelist and pt Sir Walter Scott. It contains an impressive collection of historic relics, weapons, and armor, as well as an extensive library with over 9,000 rare volumes. Return to Edinburgh via Melrose. (B)80 mi / 129 kmTOUR HIGHLIGHTTHE ROYAL EDINBURGH MILITARY TATTOO Unpack your plaid! Edinburgh Military Tattoo performances included on departures August 8, 15 and 22. LEGENDARY LIVES The 19th century comes alive with echs of triumph and tragedy at Abbotsford House, where Scottish legend Sir Walter Scott became the biggest-selling author of his day and the fashion for Scots baronial architecture began. Learn how the “Great Scott” popularized tartan, saved the Scottish banknote, and reclaimed his country’s Crown Jewels.
Scottish Highlands & Scenic Drives
Continue your Scottish adventure by traveling over the elegant Forth Road Bridge and on to the university town of St. Andrews, famous also as the home of golf. From there, on to the Victorian mountain resort of Pitlochry. Enjoy time in the picturesque town before a [LF] visit to the Blair Athol whisky distillery. A scenic drive through the Grampian Mountains and Cairngorms National Park brings you to Inverness. (B,D) 200 mi / 325 kmTOUR HIGHLIGHTICONIC FOOTSTEPS See the fairways and greens at the birthplace of golf, where legendary players of the Scottish game made history in the university town of St. Andrews.
Spend your day your way in Inverness
Explore the Highlands this morning with your choice of included Globus Choice excursions.
SCOTTISH STORIES & LORE
See the Bronze-Age chamber tomb site of Clava Cairns, the 4,000-year-old prehistoric cemetery familiar to fans of the Outlander series. Visit the romantic Cawdor Castle, the ancestral home of the Campbells of Cawdor but better known for its literary connection to Shakespeare's "Macbeth."
HIGHLAND HAUNTS
Join your Local Guide for a walking tour of Inverness, known as the Highland Capital. Stroll along the banks of the River Ness and past historical buildings and monuments to hear fascinating historical stories of legends and lore.
Enjoy some free time this afternoon. (B)39 mi / 63 km
Gardens & Grandeur
Visit the Culloden battlefield and visitor center to hear the story of the crushing Hanoverian victory over Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Scottish clans. Continue further north following the coast road to the magnificently situated Dunrobin Castle, one of the great houses of the Highlands. Overnight in Thurso, the most northerly town on Britain’s mainland. (B,D) 120 mi / 193 kmTOUR HIGHLIGHT HISTORIC SPOT Perched in the Northern Highlands overlooking the Moray Firth is Dunrobin Castle, the historic home of the Earls and Dukes of Sutherland. One of the oldest continuously inhabited “Scottish great houses,” the castle evokes images of a French château with towering spires and grand gardens inspired by the Palace of Versailles.
Breathtaking Views & Brews
A fascinating day full of adventure. Head by ferry to the Orkney Islands for a day’s sightseeing including the Old Man of Hoy, Skara Brae and Skaill House, the Ring of Brodgar and Kirkwall. Enjoy a [LF] guided tour of the Orkney Brewery with a light lunch at the Tasting Hall café, before taking the return ferry back to the mainland in the late afternoon. (B,L,D) 47 mi / 76 kmLOCAL FAVORITE LEGENDS & LORE Orcadian water, the best malt, hops, and yeast are the only four ingredients of hand-crafted ales such as Orkney Dark Island, Northern Light and the world-famous Skull Splitter named after a vicious Orkney Earl. Join a guided tour of the brewery and learn the traditions of beer making and a long, long history of brewing quality ales.
Scottish Fish Stories
A day to sit back and enjoy breathtakingly wild and unspoiled scenery, some of the finest in Britain. The northern coast is lined with miles of yellow-sand beaches and pristine estuaries, and the hills and mountains take on a purple hue as the summer progresses. This is Scotland at its best! Drive to the fishing port of Ullapool, where you enjoy a [LF] traditional fish & chips lunch at a local restaurant. Late-afternoon arrival on the Inner Hebridean Isle of Skye. (B,L,D)219 mi / 353 kmLOCAL FAVORITELOCAL TASTES Walk along the whitewashed cottages with views of lovely Loch Broom in the charming harbor town of Ullapool. Feast on traditional fish and chips, a Scottish specialty that never fails to satisfy.
Sea & Skye
Striking landscapes, unusual rock formations, and dramatic waterfalls will capture your attention on your drive around the Trotternish Peninsula. Visit the thatch-roofed cottages at the Museum of Island Life, close to the last resting place of Highland heroine Flora MacDonald. Follow the spectacular coast route, before stopping for free time in the picturesque island capital of Portree. Take in the views of the Cuillin Hills as you return to your hotel. (B,D)100 mi / 161 kmTOUR HIGHLIGHT NATURAL WONDERS Magic abounds on the Isle of Skye, home to some of Scotland's most iconic landscapes to enchant the senses. With magnificent mountain ranges, miles of captivating coastline, and heroic history, Skye casts a spell with its breathtaking beauty and sense of island adventure.
Brave Lads & Bonnie Lands
Start today with a visit to the Museum of the Isles and discover the story of Clan Donald, Scotland’s most powerful clan, before returning by ferry across the Sound of Sleat to the mainland. At Glenfinnan, see the monument to the fallen Jacobite clansmen. A scenic drive via Fort William, the gateway to Ben Nevis, the UK’s highest peak and Glen C, takes you to Oban. (B,D) 109 mi / 175 kmTOUR HIGHLIGHT HISTORIC SPOT Long before it was made famous by the Harry Potter films, the Glenfinnan Viaduct was hailed one of the most visually stunning railways in Scotland. Flanked by rolling green hills that are home to the iconic Scottish red deer, the elevated curves of the longest concrete railway in Scotland traverses through a world of adventure and history.
Highland Isles & Miles
A day’s excursion to the best of Scotland’s western isles. Take a ferry to the Isle of Mull for a scenic drive across the island before another crossing to the fascinating Isle of Iona, and a visit to Iona Abbey before returning to the mainland. (B,D) 75 mi / 121 kmTOUR HIGHLIGHT PICTURE PERFECT Called “Eagle Island” by wildlife watchers, the Isle of Mull is a paradise for birds of prey keeping a watchful eye on the wonderful wild landscapes below. Watch for Scottish red deer, iconic Highland cattle, and rolling hills that paint a picture of quintessential Scotland.
Glasgow Sights & Grand Heights
Take a scenic drive over the mountainous Pass of Brander, then travel from Inveraray to the “Bonnie Banks” of Loch Lomond where there will be the opportunity for a photo stop. Head back to Glasgow and enjoy an orientation drive including the 12th-century cathedral, university buildings, and Georgian Squares. There’s free time before a farewell dinner at your hotel. (B,D) 108 mi / 174 kmTOUR HIGHLIGHTHISTORIC SPOTS In Scotland’s most populous city, Glasgow’s uniquely rich architectural heritage ranges from 19th-century masterpieces to the modern designs of the unique style of Glasgow-born Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Discover exciting experiences around every corner!
Safe travels until we meet again!
Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B)
