Taste of Scotland

This morning, make your way to your central Glasgow hotel. Your tour begins from 2:30 pm when you meet your tour director and set out on an introductory tour through the heart of this thriving city. Glasgow flourished in the Victorian era as a result of its prominent shipbuilding industry and international trade and we’ll see hallmarks of this prosperous past as we drive around the elegant George Square with its ornate City Chambers amongst other highlights. We’ll visit Provand’s Lordship, Glasgow’s oldest house which dates back almost 600 years but which has been extensively restored and furnished. This evening, join your tour director and travel companions for a welcome drink before dinner.

Overnight: Doubletree by Hilton Glasgow Central, Glasgow

Meals: Dinner included

Departing Glasgow, we pass north along the “bonny banks” of Loch Lomond and through the Trossachs National Park, an area renowned for its unsurpassed beauty. We’ll pass through the deep valley of Glen Coe, notorious for the Campbell massacre of the Clan Macdonald in 1692 before continuing to Fort William. At Spean Bridge we’ll stop at the traditional Woollen Mill, offering a good selection of quality Scottish goods. Now deep within the Great Glen we embark on a short cruise on Loch Ness to hear the legends and keep an eye out for “Nessie” before making our way to the highland town of Nairn for our overnight stay.

Overnight: Newton Hotel, Nairn

Meals: Breakfast and dinner included

Returning South through the Cairngorm countryside, we make our way to the renowned Blair Athol Distillery in Pitlochry to learn the secrets of how whisky is produced and, of course, sample a dram or two. We then continue to St Andrews, renowned as the “Home of Golf” and for its university, Scotland’s oldest, and where Prince William first met Kate Middleton; here you’ll enjoy some time to explore independently. Later we drive south to our gracious manor house hotel, set in the countryside near Edinburgh within 1,000 acres of grounds including two golf courses and spa facilities. Tonight, we attend a traditional Scottish Evening in the heart of the city to enjoy some local cuisine followed by entertainment to include Scottish story-telling, song and traditional dance.

Overnight: Marriott Dalmahoy Hotel, Edinburgh

Meals: Breakfast and dinner (at Scottish evening) included

This morning we enjoy an insight tour of the principal sights of the majestic Scottish capital of Edinburgh; we'll drive along the bustling Princes Street and through the gracious, wide avenues of the 200-year-old Georgian New Town before walking along part of the Royal Mile where rambling medieval houses reach 11 storeys tall. Then we enjoy a visit to Edinburgh Castle, which dominates the city and is home of the Scottish Crown Jewels. The balance of the day is free for you to explore and soak up the sights independently. For selected departures in August you'll also enjoy reserved seats for the spectacular Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

Overnight: Marriott Dalmahoy Hotel, Edinburgh

Meals: Breakfast included

Today our programme ends after taking a leisurely breakfast at the hotel. You are then free to return to the airport for a return flight to your home nation, or to make your way in to central Edinburgh to explore further independently or to embark on your onward travel within Scotland or England. Please let us know if you require onward rail travel to London.

Meals: Breakfast included