Day 1 - Arrival - Perthshire
Arrive at Edinburgh/Glasgow Airport and pick up your self-drive car.
Depart for the north of Scotland crossing the Forth Road Bridge if
coming from Edinburgh and continue up the M90 to Perth. Overnight
in Perthshire area.
Day 2 - Perthshire –
Aberdeen
After you Full Scottish Breakfast visit Scone Palace, the family home
of the Earl of Mansfield and also the site of the famous coronation
Stone of Scone, brought there in the 9th century by Kenneth MacAlpine,
King of Scots. Continue to Pitlochry, a small Highland town. Stop
at the Salmon Ladder where you may be lucky enough to see salmon leaping!
From Pitlochry, travel towards Braemar. You will take the very scenic
& dramatic road over the Spittal of Glenshee one of the highest
points in Scotland and also site of one of Scotland’s ski resorts.
Descend into Braemar which sits in the heart of Royal Deeside, the
favoured holiday area for the Royal Family in Scotland. If time allows,
visit Balmoral Castle (open May – July only), home of Royal
Family. Continue towards Aberdeen for overnight in the area.
Day 3 - Aberdeen & Royal
Deeside
Take a trip into Aberdeen, Old Aberdeen is lovely and is where the
university is based. See Kings College, a chapel famous for its rich
woodwork dates from the 16th century. Nearby is St Machar’s
Cathedral, mainly 15th century it is a granite structure of simple
austere grandeur. Two notable features are the West Front with its
twin castellated towers and the painted wooden Heraldic Ceiling in
the nave, dated 1520. Visit Duthie Park and Winter Gardens –
a beautifully laid out 50 acre park with floral displays in all seasons
including a “rose mountain”. There are two boating ponds
and many interesting sculptures and mountains. The Winter Gardens
feature exotic plants, flowers, birds, fish and turtles. Outside Aberdeen,
visit Crathes Castle which has royal historic associations dating
from 1323 when the Land of Leys were granted to the Burnett family
by Robert the Bruce. The castle features some remarkable late 16th
century painted ceilings. There is a large walled garden and the great
yew hedges date from 1702, fascinating examples of topiary. Return
to your accommodation overnight.
Day 4 - Aberdeen – Inverness
Travel northwards towards Inverness. In the morning follow the Whisky
Trail & visit one of the many famous distilleries in the area.
You can visit Glenfiddich, McCallums, Grants, Cardhu and many more.
Each gives an audio-visual show and then a guided tour of the distillery
to learn of the processes and for many the highlight is a tasting
at the end of the tour. The choice of what to see and do in the Speyside
area is huge – there are castles – Brodie, Cawdor (made
famous by the Shakespeare’s Macbeth), and Ballindalloch. Visit
Culloden Moor, site of the last land battle on British soil, wander
around Inverness, capital of the Highlands, take the Strathspey Railway
from Boat of Garten to Aviemore, watch the Ospreys at Loch Garten.
Accommodation in Inverness area.
Day 5 - Inverness –
Inverewe Gardens – Inverness
Enjoy a day visiting the West Coast of Scotland. Journey across to
Ullapool, a quaint fishing village. Then travel down past the dramatic
Corrieshalloch Gorge to the Inverewe Gardens, run by the National
Trust. These magnificent gardens have a famous rhododendron collection
and who would expect to find palm trees in Scotland. Return through
the magnificent scenery of the Torridon area and past Loch Maree.
Return to the Inverness area for overnight.
Day 6 - Inverness –
Edinburgh via Loch Ness & Glencoe
Today travel south again going via Loch Ness. Loch Ness forms part
of the Caledonian Canal a feat of some great engineering by Thomas
Telford linking East Scotland with West by using a series of lochs
linked by a canal system. Make a stop at Urquhart Castle, a very scenic
spot and also the place where the most sightings of “Nessie”
have been. Continue towards Fort William, which nestles beneath the
highest mountain in Great Britain – Ben Nevis. If time allows,
why not take a ride up in a gondola at Anoch Mor which on a good day
will offer stunning views over the west coast. From Fort William,
start travelling south. Travel through the beautiful and mysterious
Glencoe, which is great for walking and climbing and full of nature.
You then travel over Rannoch Moor and into the heart of the Trossachs,
known as the “gateway to the Highlands”. Stop at Stirling
Castle which has played such an important role in much of Scotland’s
vibrant history. The Great Hall has just been refurbished and the
Visitor Centre has a very good audio-visual exhibition explaining
much of the history. Return towards Edinburgh area where you will
overnight.
Day 7 - Edinburgh
Enjoy a full day in Edinburgh. In the morning, go up the Royal Mile
to Edinburgh Castle, which dominates the Edinburgh skyline. The Castle
is site of the oldest building in Edinburgh – St Margaret’s
Chapel and the Crown Jewels of Scotland. Continue down the Royal Mile
– take time to explore the many “closes” which run
off this street and which hold so many secrets. There are many restaurants,
pubs & souvenir shops on the Royal Mile for a lunch stop. In the
afternoon at the foot of the Royal Mile, visit Holyrood Palace, the
official residence of the Queen whilst she is in Scotland. The Palace
has a wonderful ballroom and staterooms to visit.To end the day, go
into the New Town to admire the Georgian architecture and the well-laid
out streets that are in complete contrast to those of the Old Town.
Return to your accommodation overnight.
Day 8 - Departure
Unfortunately it is time to leave Scotland. Return to the airport
and leave your car.
