5N/6D – Scotland

05 Nights / 06 Days-Scotland

Scotland is bounded to the west and north by the Atlantic Ocean, to the east by the North Sea, and to the south by England. The initial focus for many visitors to Scotland is the capital, Edinburgh, a dramatically handsome and engaging city famous for its magnificent castle and historic Old Town. Come here in August and you’ll find the city transformed by the Edinburgh Festival, the largest arts festival in the world. An hour’s travel to the west is the country’s biggest city, Glasgow, a place quite different in character from Edinburgh.You don’t have to travel far north of the Glasgow – Edinburgh axis to find the first hints of Highland landscape, a divide marked by the Highland Boundary Fault which cuts across central Scotland.

The lochs, hills and wooded glens of the Trossachs and Loch Lomond are most easily reached, and as a consequence busier than other parts. Further north, Perthshire and the Grampian hills of Angus and Deeside show the Scottish countryside at its richest, with colourful woodlands and long glens rising up to distinctive mountain peaks. South of Inverness the mighty Cairngorm massif offers hints of the raw wilderness Scotland can still provide, an aspect of the country which is at its finest in the lonely north and western Highlands.The summer months of June, July and August are regarded as high season, with local school holidays making July and early August the busiest period. Winter days, from November through to March, occasionally crisp and bright, are more often cold, gloomy and all too brief, although Hogmanay and New Year has traditionally been a time to visit Scotland for partying and warm hospitality – something which improves as the weather worsens.

Destinations Covered

Edinburgh, Glasgow

Itinerary

Day 01: Arrival Edinburgh

On arrival in Edinburgh, you will be met by a chauffeur driven car and transferred to your city centre hotel. The remainder of the day is free to relax and enjoy this magnificent city, which is dominated by a medieval castle on a towering crag and the Royal Mile with its museums and visitor centres on everything from weaving to childhood toys. Overnight in Edinburgh.

Day 02: City Tour

Today, take an open top bus tour of the City. Highlights include Holyrood Palace, Parliament Buildings, Greyfriars Bobby and the domineering Edinburgh Castle (admission to Edinburgh Castle is included). Later today, learn about whisky making on The Scotch Whisky Experience tour. Experience for yourself the varying aromas of our regional whiskies and whether you like fruity, sweet or smoky flavours our experts will help you select your perfect dram. Enter the vault containing the world’s largest collection of Scotch Whiskies and enjoy a special tutored nosing and tasting of your dram. Conclude your visit exploring Scotland’s whisky history from the very beginnings of a cottage industry through to the global success of today. Overnight in Edinburgh.

Day 03: Loch Ness & the Highlands (by coach)

This morning (at 08:00am) you depart from Edinburgh Bus Station on a full day tour to Loch Ness & the Highlands. Our journey northwards takes us through Rob Roy MacGregor country to desolate Rannoch Moor. We’ll travel through haunting Glen Coe, the “Glen of Weeping”. In 1692 40 of the resident MacDonald clan were massacred in cold blood by the Campbells for not forswearing the Jacobite cause. It is said thatyou can still hear their cries! We’ll make a stop in this awe-inspiring place so that you can marvel at the natural beauty of the glen for yourself.

Next we travel to Fort William, which sits in the shadow of Ben Nevis – Britain’s tallest mountain. A real highlight is our drive through the Great Glen which is also the route taken by the Caledonian Canal. We will criss-cross the canal several times as we make our way to Inverness. The Great Glen contains three lochs which will offer us spectacular vistas. Firstly Loch Lochy then Loch Oich and lastly Loch Ness. The pretty little village of Fort Augustus is our gateway to Scotland’s largest and most famous loch. We will tour the entire length of Loch Ness, stopping at Urquhart Castle for a photograph. Here you can visit the Castle and enjoy a cruise on the loch – could that shadow be the monster? Shortly we will arrive in Inverness.

We will make a further stop so that you can discover the Capital of the Highlands for yourself. Later we will start our journey southwards through the Spey Valley then on to the dramatic scenery of Glen Garry. We’ll make a brief stop for refreshments in the rolling Perthshire countryside before we head for Perth then Edinburgh arriving back around 21:00 hrs. Overnight in Edinburgh.

Day 04: Edinburgh – Glasgow

Travel by train from Edinburgh’s Waverly Rail Station to Glasgow’s Queen Street Rail Station. As the journey time is only 60 minutes and trains run very frequently you can select a departure time to suit yourself.

You will be transferred by chauffeur driven car to the Railway Station in Edinburgh and met by a chauffeur drive car in railway Station in Glasgow and transferred to you Glasgow hotel. The remainder of the day is free for some personal sightseeing, shopping or just relaxing in either Edinburghor Glasgow. Overnight in Glasgow.

Day 05: City Tour

Today, explore Glasgow, one of the liveliest and most cosmopolitan destinations in Europe with an open top double-decker bus. See all the main sights as you hop-on and hop-off 21 conveniently located stopsaround the city. With great views from the top of the bus, strategically placed stops and an interesting commentary, this truly is the best way to see the sights of Glasgow. Glasgow is miles better – don’t take our word for it, find out for yourself. The most vibrant and exciting of Scottish cities boasts excellent museums and art galleries as well as beautiful parklands and buildings. To complete your tour of Glasgow a visit to Glasgow Cathedral is included in your package.

Glasgow Cathedral, also called the High Kirk of Glasgow or St Kentigern’s or St Mungo’s Cathederal, is today a congregation of the Church of Scotland in Glasgow. Originally a Roman Catholic cathedral, the building is a superb example of Scottish Gothic architecture. It is also one of the Scottish medieval churches ( and the only medieval cathedral on the Scottish mainland ) to have survived the Reformation unscathed. The rood screen is also a very rare survivor in Scottish churches. Technically, the building is no longer a cathedral, since it has not been the seat of a bishop since 1690. However, like the vast majority of pre-Reformation cathedrals in Scotland, it is still a place of active Christian worship, hosting a Church of Scotland congregation. The building itself is in the ownership of the Crown, is maintained by Historic Scotland and is also a popular destination for tourists. Remainder of the day is free. Overnight in Glasgow.

Day 06: Departure

This morning you say farewell to Glasgow. A chauffeur driven car will pick you up at your hotel and transferyou to Glasgow Airport for return flight home.