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PRIVATE TOUR ITINERARY

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Discover Scotland from coast to coast! On this comprehensive tour, sit back and relax with your very own private driver-guide as you explore the whole of this tantalizing country at your own leisurely pace. Experience Scotland’s beautiful landscapes, colorful history and enchanting culture. Highlights include the Scottish Highlands, Isle of Skye, National Parks and Loch Lomond. You’ll visit some of Scotland’s most fantastic scenery along lovely back roads, and explore Edinburgh, St. Andrews, Dundee, Oban, Glasgow and more. Enjoy private-guided walking tours through Edinburgh’s royal history and Glasgow’s artistic past. You’ll also cherish unique local experiences along the way including learning about how whisky is made while sampling a “wee dram” and the charming Scottish hospitality. Don’t miss this one-of-a-kind private tour of Scotland!

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Day 1: Arrive Edinburgh & Royal Yacht Britannia
Arrive Edinburgh airport where you will be met by your chauffeur-guide. On your way into Edinburgh you’ll visit the Royal Yacht Britannia, the former yacht of the Royal family. From the elegant State Apartments to the gleaming Engine Room. See where Prince William and Prince Harry spent their summer holidays. Discover where kings and queens, world leaders and celebrities were wined and dined; from Frank Sinatra and Liz Taylor to Nelson Mandela and Sir Winston Churchill. Next, arrive at your hotel in central Edinburgh for a 2-night stay. Enjoy some time to relax, and settle into your accommodation before a welcome dinner with some whisky tastings at a local restaurant.
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Day 2: Edinburgh

Today, you'll enjoy a private-guided tour learning about Edinburgh’s long history. You’ll see how the medieval townhouses along the Royal Mile contrast with the fine Georgian architecture of the 200-year old New Town and learn about many prominent Scottish inventors, doctors and writers for whom Edinburgh is famous. You'll visit the imposing Edinburgh Castle, to tour this historic military stronghold, the birthplace of the city, and soak up the dramatic views. You'll wind your way through the medieval streets, ending with a visit to the impressive Palace of Holyrood, the Scottish residence of the Royal family.

 

Day 3: Blackness & Stirling Castles
This morning, you’ll be driven to Blackness Castle, just outside of Edinburgh, on the south shores of the Firth of Forth. Mighty fortifications make this 15th-century castle look like a ‘ship that never sailed.’ Blackness was never just a peaceful lordly residence, its enduring roles were as a garrison fortress. You’ll then arrive at Stirling Castle, the last stronghold of Scotland, besieged by William Wallace and Robert the Bruce, and residence of the Stewart monarchs including Mary Queen of Scots and King James. You’ll tour the castle, including the newly-restored Renaissance Palace. Today ends with an overnight stay in Dundee at a hotel located in the stunning quayside area of the city’s waterfront.
 
Day 4: Dundee & St. Andrews

This morning, you will have opportunity to explore Dundee including the new exciting museums on Dundee’s regenerated Waterfront ­– the newly opened V&A Design Museum and also, the RRS Discovery – the ship that took Scott and Shackleton on their first expedition to Antarctica. This afternoon, cross the Firth of Tay to St. Andrews where you’ll enjoy a private-guided walking tour with a local guide, visiting Scotland’s oldest university (founded in 1413), the ruins of the 12th century cathedral and castle, the historic town, packed with history and charm, as well as the oldest golf course in the world. Continue your journey to the Scottish Highlands for a 2-night stay in Culloden – a 10-minute drive from Inverness.

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​Day 5: Whisky Tasting & The Scottish Highlands


Today, tour the powerfully moving site of the final Jacobite Rising — the Culloden Battlefield, where, in 1746, Bonnie Prince Charlie's defeat ended decades of Scottish rebellion against the British government. Continue to the nearby turreted Cawdor Castle for lunch. Tour the castle and enjoy the gardens. This afternoon, enjoy a scenic journey through the Cairngorms National Park for a visit to the Glenlivet Distillery to learn about how whisky is made and sample a “wee dram”. Next, visit to the Neolithic Clava Cairn Stones, said to have inspired Outlander. Tonight dinner is included in Inverness.

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Day 6: The Western Highlands & North Coast 500
Depart Culloden across the Moray Firth for the Western Highlands. You’ll cross Scotland from coast to coast and travel along a section of the North Coast 500, a route covering never-ending back roads, wide meandering country tracks and beautiful bends through some of Scotland's finest coastal scenery (see sidebar for more information on NC500). You’ll enjoy spectacular views from south of Ullapool, stopping at Inverewe Garden for lunch, where amazing species that simply shouldn’t grow here are thriving aided by the effects of the Gulf Stream. You’ll then arrive in Shieldaig for an overnight stay at a former hunting lodge, now a luxury hotel set on 26,000 acres of breathtaking coastal land and mountain scenery.

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Day 7: The Applecross Peninsula & Eilean Donan Castle
Travel to the Isle of Skye via the stunning and atmospheric Applecross Peninsula. The peninsula projects westwards from the mainland towards the Isle of Skye and Rasaay – creating the impression that you are at the ‘edge of the world.’ Applecross is made up of various crofting townships — one of the earliest settled parts of Scotland. This afternoon, you’ll visit one of Scotland’s most iconic images, Eilean Donan Castle. From there, cross to the Isle of Skye for a 2-night stay.

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Day 8: Isle of Skye
Today, explore the Isle of Skye. You’ll first have an opportunity to climb to the Old Man of Storr, a large pinnacle of towering rock with views over the Islands of Raasay and Rona and beyond to the mainland. Then continue to Kilt Rock, a sea cliff with huge, vertical basalt columns, and to the top of the spectacular Quiraing mountain pass. Enjoy lunch in Flodigarry, where Flora MacDonald (who aided Bonnie Prince Charlie's escape) once lived. This afternoon, step back in time at the Skye Museum of Island Life, and visit the ruins of Dun Beag iron-age broch, a circular dry-stone tower, large enough to serve as a fortified home.

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Day 9: Glencoe & The West Coast

Say goodbye to the Isle of Skye and leave by ferry from Armadale to Mallaig. Follow the coast south, by the silver sands of Morar, stopping at the Arisaig Land Sea & Island Center and the Glenfinnan Tower Monument, where Bonnie Prince Charles rallied support for the Jacobite Rising of 1746. Continue your journey to Glencoe, site of Scotland's most infamous massacre. Arrive at your accommodation by the shores of Loch Linnhe for an overnight stay.

Day 10: Oban, Inveraray & Loch Lomond
This morning, you’ll visit Dunstaffnage Castle, surrounded on three sides by the sea, guarding a strategic situation and dating back to the 13th century, making it one of Scotland's oldest stone castles. Pause in the historic harbor town of Oban before continuing to Inveraray, on the shores of Loch Fyne, for lunch. Visit Inveraray Castle, the seat of the Dukes of Argyll, chiefs of Clan Campbell since the 18th century. Tour the interiors of this fine country home. From Inveraray, continue by beautiful Loch Lomond ("O ye'll take the high road and I'll take the low road
and I'll be in Scotland afore ye But me and my true love will never meet again On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond") to Glasgow for a two-night stay.
 
​Day 11: Glasgow
Enjoy a private-guided tour of Glasgow, noted for its distinctive 19th-century Victorian architecture and early-20th century "Glasgow Style", as developed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Your tour will explore the history, art and architecture which have made this city so fascinating. You’ll visit Glasgow Cathedral, Provand’s Lordship (one of only four surviving medieval buildings in Glasgow), work of Charles Renee Mackintosh, the fine Victorian boulevards, George Square, and Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. This afternoon, enjoy some time to relax and explore Glasgow on your own.

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Day 12: Glasgow Airport
This morning you’ll be transferred to Glasgow Airport where the tour ends.