A Scottish Whisky Experience

Upon arrival at Edinburgh airport you are met by your Guardian Angel and privately transferred to your hotel. Your GA assists with check-in and runs through your itinerary. The remainder of today is at leisure to relax and enjoy the hotel’s facilities, or maybe start exploring this wonderful city independently.

Unravel the history of one of the most dramatically situated cities in Europe on a half-day sightseeing tour. The focal point of the city is Edinburgh Castle, a royal fortress that symbolises the Scottish nation and is home to the ‘Honours of Scotland’, the oldest set of Crown Jewels in the UK. From the impressive military installations there are stunning views of the city. The Royal Mile stretches from castle through the ‘Old Town’ of Edinburgh, at the heart of which is St Giles Cathedral. At the foot of the Royal Mile is the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Queen’s Official Residence in Scotland. If no member of the royal family is staying, you can visit the staterooms on your own and explore the historic apartments in which Mary, Queen of Scots resided. The palace’s neighbour is the much more recent Scottish Parliament Building, whose striking contemporary designs are in eye-catching contrast to the classical style of the palace.

Optional extra:
Scotland is the home of whisky and you might want to participate in an optional private tasting session at the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. An expert on Scotch Whisky guides you through a tutored tasting of up to five malt whiskies chosen from distilleries in various regions of Scotland.

Head north out of Edinburgh to visit some of the best-known places in Scotland. Cross the Firth by the brand new Queensferry Crossing – a remarkable construction that runs parallel to the original road bridge and the legendary Victorian railway bridge. The three iconic Forth bridges showcase Scotland’s continued talent for being at the forefront of engineering. Pass Loch Leven Castle, the island prison that once held Mary Queen of Scots prisoner in 1567 before she eventually had to abdicate. Continue past Perth, the historic bridging point over the River Tay, and onwards into the wide rural valley called Strathmore.

Continue to Glamis Castle, a turreted medieval fantasy that was the childhood home of the Queen Mother and is now inhabited by The Earl of Strathmore. The staterooms of the castle, visited during your private tour, display many treasures of the Bowes-Lyon family and, like all Scottish castles, reputedly there are ghosts whose presence is often felt!

On one of the easternmost parts of the coast is St Andrews, the town known throughout the world as the home of golf. Stop outside the iconic Royal and Ancient Clubhouse to see the 1st tee and 18th green of the world-famous Old Course. There is however much more to this historic town; in the Middle Ages, St Andrews was the ecclesiastical and educational capital of Scotland. See the evocative ruins of the largest cathedral ever built in Scotland, which was gradually dismantled following the Reformation, and the oldest university in Scotland, where Prince William first met his wife, Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge. Return to Edinburgh through the agricultural countryside of Fife and back over the Forth Bridge to Edinburgh.

Leaving Edinburgh, head north into the Highlands of Scotland, travelling past Perth, the historic bridging point over the River Tay, and then follow this river upstream to the quaint town of Dunkeld. Your route takes you north passing the town of Pitlochry, a picturesque place that welcomes visitors to the Highlands of Scotland; it lies just south of the scenic Pass of Killiecrankie where Jacobite forces were victorious over troops loyal to King William in a battle fought in 1689. On the other side of the pass is the romantic site of the white-turreted Blair Castle, the home of the Duke of Athol, where you tour its sumptuous rooms at leisure.

The final part of the journey passes through some spectacular countryside taking in the peaks of the Cairngorms before arriving at one of the most important historic sites in Scotland. Discover the battlefield of Culloden Moor, where Bonnie Prince Charlie was defeated in 1746 by government troops when his attempt to regain the throne for the Stuarts ended. At this poignant spot, learn how these events changed a way of life in Scotland dramatically. Afterwards, continue to your nearby hotel. (9 hours, driver-guide)

Your driver-guide will be available for a full day excursion into Speyside, the area to the east of Inverness that is home to half of all the whisky distilleries in Scotland. The pure water of the streams and the superior quality of the mountain peat has given rise to the term ‘Speyside Malt’ to describe the whiskies produced here. Your route will take in part of the fabled Whisky Trail that runs around many of the best-known distilleries in the region. Stop at the romantic Glenlivet distillery for a tour of the installations. At Glenfiddich Distillery, arguably the home of the best known of all single malts, enjoy a tour which includes the on-site bottling plant. Other well-known brands include Macallan and Strathisla; the latter produces much of the spirit for the well-known Chivas Regal blend. If you have a particular interest in a specific whisky then do mention it to your driver-guide who can then adapt the route to try and include a visit.

Your driver-guide takes you on an excursion to the north of Inverness, home of some of the finest Highlands whisky distilleries. You follow the coastline of the Moray Firth to Tain, where you stop to visit the Glenmorangie Distillery, where one of the best regarded single malt whiskies is produced. You also pay a visit to the Clynelish Distillery in Brora, one of the most northerly distilleries on the Scottish mainland.

Continue to Dunrobin Castle, the fairytale home of the Earls of Sutherland. Built to look like a French chateau, this castle is one of the most impressive examples of Scottish baronial architecture. Return to Inverness from here

Making your way to Fort William today, start with a visit the Battlefield of Culloden Moor, site of the last battle ever fought on British soil. Here the Jacobite armies of Bonnie Prince Charlie were routed by government forces after the attempt to seize the throne had failed. Drive through the town of Inverness as you head southwest of the city to visit Loch Ness, one of the largest bodies of water in Great Britain and reputedly home to the celebrated monster! Stop to visit the impressive ruins of Urquhart Castle, which dominates the part of the lake where the majority of monster sightings are said to have taken place. Continue to your hotel from here.

Set out on a full-day excursion that unveils some of the most iconic places and best-loved landscapes of the Scottish Highlands. Leaving Fort William behind, begin your journey with a drive along the ‘Road to the Isles’, which leads to the West Coast port of Mallaig. En route, you pass the Glenfinnan Monument, which stands at the head of picturesque Loch Shiel in commemoration of the Highlanders. Learn how they rose in support of Bonnie Prince Charlie in the 1745 Jacobite uprising.

From Mallaig, take the ferry over to the stunning Isle of Skye, the second largest of Scotland’s islands, where you can still spot road signs in the Gaelic language. Pause to obtain a flavour of the island’s Gaelic heritage at the Clan Donald Centre. During the day, your driver-guide gives you a concise history of Skye and you have time to explore the island, including its largest town Portree. Weather permitting, take in the idyllic views of the isle with its immense sea cliffs and the distinct peaks of the Cullin Hills, which rise sharply from the surrounding terrain.

Later today, return to the mainland by bridge, and travel to Loch Duich, with great views of the romantic Eilean Donan Castle, used as a setting in the James Bond film The World is Not Enough, for a picturesque photograph. Sit back and marvel at the scenery for the remainder of your journey today, arriving back at your hotel in the early evening. (9 hours, driver-guide)

With hills and forests, the landscapes of Argyll make this one of the gentlest areas of the Scottish Highlands while still representing the grandeur of the region, which you discover on a full day of touring. Drive through the Pass of Brander in the shadow of Ben Cruachan, a mountain that has been hollowed out to house a hydro-electric power station to the west coast near Oban. Cross over to Loch Fyne, a long inlet of the sea, for a private tour of Inveraray Castle. Home to the Duke of Argyll, the chief of the Campbells, this fairy-tale castle sits near the shore and retains some impressive interiors that are the most richly decorated in Scotland.

Later, travel around the head of Loch Fyne and then up and over the high mountain pass known as ‘Rest and Be Thankful’; from the summit viewpoint there is a panoramic view down the steepsided valley Glen Croe and the road that leads down to Tarbet. Here the waters of Loch Lomond appear and stretch into the distance. Follow the ‘Bonnie Banks’ of this fabled stretch of water, the largest inland loch in Great Britain, as it extends out of the Highlands and spills onto the plain of the Central Lowlands where it is peppered with many islands. Continue through the Trossachs, an area of wooded glens and braes before passing through the fascinating city of Stirling, a place steeped in rich and bloody history. From here, head south-eastwards to your hotel in Edinburgh. (9 hours, driver-guide)

Transfer privately to the airport to board your homebound flight.