Wander on Islands through Highlands and Experience the Rich Scottish Culture
Moderate pace with leisurely intermittent walks up to 2 hours on a variety of terrain, including cobblestones and moderate hills. Must be able to climb at least two flights of stairs, negotiate steps without railings and tolerate periods of standing during guided tours. Some days may include 3–5 km of walking over the course of the day.
We depart for Glasgow (non-stop from Toronto).
We arrive and transfer to our hotel in Edinburgh for time to relax before our Welcome Dinner.
Our welcoming city guide takes us through the “Old” and “New” towns (combined, they now have UNESCO World Heritage status). We will visit the Royal Yacht Britannia – on which the late Queen Elizabeth II and the Royal Family sailed over 1,000,000 miles around the world over a 40-year period. This evening we attend the Edinburgh Tattoo.
Our first stop is St. Andrews, home to the famous golf course and University (where Prince William and Princess Catherine met). During our walking tour we see the ruins of St. Andrews cathedral, the castle and a glimpse into the campus grounds. You will have free time to enjoy the ancient town. This afternoon we travel into the hills of the highlands as we make our way to the city of Inverness.
A day of breathtaking scenery as we make our way to the remote north. We stop at Culloden, where Bonnie Prince Charlie was defeated in 1745. We also visit Dunrobin Castle - perched on a high terrace above walled gardens, with fairy tale spires and turrets rising above the North Sea like a picture from a story book.
We drive to the northernmost tip of Scotland and board a ferry for the short crossing to South Ronaldsay, one of the Orkney Islands. Our local guide will show us the Italian Chapel, the Ring of Brodgar (“Orkney's Stonehenge”) and Kirkwall - the island capital with a Viking flavour and red sandstone cathedral. We ferry back to the mainland. Tonight is an evening of Scottish entertainment.
Few places in the world match the mountains, moors and beaches of Scotland’s northwest coast. We first visit Smoo Caves, Britain’s largest limestone cave, then continue to the picturesque fishing village of Ullapool.
We continue along the coast, taking in the spectacular vistas of the Summer Isles, and arrive at Inverewe Gardens. This world-famous historic garden is a lush, surprisingly-tropical oasis perched on a peninsula on Loch Ewe amid rugged landscape.
Today we cross over the Skye Bridge to explore the magical Isle of Skye, the largest of the Inner Hebrides islands and home to some of Scotland's most iconic landscapes. We travel to the Trotternish Peninsula to view the magnificent Kilt Rock - a 90 metre basalt column that looks like a pleated kilt. Then we enjoy some free time to explore the picture-postcard harbour town of Portree. We cross back to the mainland and the Highland village of Drumnadrochit for a 2-night stay.
Our exploration of Loch Ness begins at Fort Augustus, where we see the ladder locks of the Caledonian Canal. After a visit of the Clansman Centre we take in the spectacular views as we circumnavigate the Loch. A highlight will be our narrated Jacobite Cruise that will take us to the 1,000-year-old Urquhart Castle, considered the greatest castle in the Highlands. Before returning to the hotel, we enjoy a delicious meal at a local inn.
We take the very scenic route along Loch Ness, Loch Oich and Loch Lochy and make a stop at the Commando Memorial Monument - dedicated to the men of the original British Commando Forces raised during World War II. Then we cross the Andnamurchan Peninsula where we board our ferry to the Isle of Mull, where we spend the next 2 nights.
We enjoy the scenic drive past rugged mountains, dramatic sea lochs and small villages before boarding a ferry to the sacred island of Iona. Known as the “cradle of Christianity”, this wee island attracts thousands of pilgrims each year, not only for its religious significance, but also because of the unspoiled nature and tranquil atmosphere.
We sail back to the mainland and make our way through Glen Coe, Scotland’s most famous and scenic glen. We’ll visit Stirling Castle, once a residence of the Stewart Kings and Queens and one of Scotland’s most historically-important sites. After our visit we proceed to our hotel in Glasgow for our final 3 nights.
Glasgow is renowned for its culture, prize-winning Victorian architecture and the open friendliness of its people. Our city tour will show us the City Chambers, Central Station, University of Glasgow, and Glasgow Cathedral. We end at the River Clyde, most notable for shipbuilding, and visit the Clyde Distillery, where we’ll taste their famous Lowland-style Single Malt Whisky and learn about Glasgow's history and its bonds with the whisky industry.
A day at leisure. Glasgow is home to some of Scotland’s best cultural attractions, with many museums, galleries and tempting shops (after London’s West End, Glasgow is considered the 2nd largest retail centre in the UK). This evening, we enjoy our Farewell Dinner and raise a glass to say “slainte” (cheers) to this brilliant tour of Scotland.
We fly non-stop to Toronto.
You may cancel your tour up to 60 days prior to departure (90 days prior for tours requiring a visa, cruises or rail journeys) for any reason, and receive a full refund of your deposit / payment (less the $75 administration fee).
Cancellation & trip interruption insurance included!
Included in the cost of your tour is our Cancellation Insurance Policy, which provides coverage in case of emergency injury or illness (including Covid), right up to your date of departure (terms and conditions apply).
Our Manulife Out-of-Country Health Insurance Plan covers expenses related to Trip Interruption in case of emergency injury or illness. For tours within Canada, Senior Discovery Tours will cover such expenses (terms and conditions apply to all policies).
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