Description
A very special small group tour – for a maximum of 6 guests. Together we’ll explore the mainland with Ally then the glorious northern isles of Orkney with superb local guide Inga.
- We’ll begin with a guided walking tour of Edinburgh
- A road trip through the Central Highlands, with a unique visit to a bagpipe workshop
- Ferry to Orkney, and 2 days with a private Orkney guide exploring the UNESCO World Heritage sites.
- Road trip in the North Highlands, sleeping in AN ACTUAL CASTLE
- Visit to Inverness and Loch Ness
- All hotels, travel and experiences included in the price
- Twin/double room discount for couples & friends sharing.
- Private Whisky tastings
Tour requires a minimum of 4 people
Your Scottish Itinerary
Day One in Scotland
Edinburgh

“The most beautiful of all the capitals of Europe.”
* Poet John Betjeman
We will explore the great city of Edinburgh on foot. Alistair lived in Edinburgh for many years so knows the place like a local. We will walk the famous Royal Mile, exploring the secret back courts, hidden gardens and surprising medieval architecture, all the while sharing stories from the city’s present and past.
In our small group, we will visit the Palace of Holyrood House at the foot of the Royal Mile. This palace, and the ancient 12th century Abbey within the Palace grounds, have been at the heart of Scotland’s story since the very beginning. We’ll tour the beautifully appointed rooms, which are still used by the King and Queen today on their Royal Visits and for their famous annual Garden Party.
We will share a lunch together, included in the tour price.
In Edinburgh, you will choose your own hotel. Hotel costs for this part of the tour are not included in the overall tour price. This is to allow flexibility to those who may be extending their stay in Edinburgh or arriving at other airports. Alistair is happy to offer advice on hotel options in Edinburgh, as well as transport from the airport.
This will be an unforgettably rich introduction to one of the finest cities on earth.
Day Two In Scotland
Culross, Loch Leven & Dundee

Alistair will collect you from your accommodation in Edinburgh, before setting off for Dunkeld.
Along the way, we’ll stop at the beautifully preserved village of Culross, exploring the stories of European trade, great innovation and dark superstitions that marked the 1600s in Scotland.
Coffee and scones from Ally’s favourite wee cafe here are a must. We’ll collect freshly made baguettes in Culross for a picnic.
Our next stop is at the iconic Loch Leven Castle – a short boat ride away into a great loch. We’ll picnic amongst the ruins, in the footsteps of Mary Queen of Scots.
We’ll meander onwards, peppering our road trip with historical stops, including some filming locations from Outlander.
Then, on to Dundee, where we’ll take a moment to settle in to our rooms, then gather for a lavish welcome meal in our hotel restaurant.
Day Three
Dunkeld and Glamis Castle mountains

Breakfast will be included at our hotel.
Our day’s drive will take us along old military roads into the beautiful southern reaches of the Scottish highlands. Ally will bring the communities and histories of the landscape to life as the route unravels before us.
In the handsome Victorian era town of Dunkeld, we’ll visit Ally’s cousin who hand makes some of the finest bagpipes in Scotland. This is a totally unique, personal experience which will help us get right inside the ancient musical culture of Scotland.
After our visit, we’ll head to Ally’s home region: Angus. There, we’ll have a tasty locally sourced lunch at a gin distillery, with gin and whisky flights and cocktails for anyone that wants them, all hosted in a 1700s farmhouse.
We’ll visit the best castle in Scotland, Glamis, getting a full guided tour. There’s highland cows to meet too!
Then, we’ll be on our way to meet the ferry to Orkney, sailing from Aberdeen.
You’ll have a personal sleeping pod to relax on the 5 hour sailing to Scotland’s most beautiful and stories archipelago. Your Orkney guide Inga will meet you from the ferry and take you to your accommodation.
Day Four
Orkney with Inga

Breakfast will be provided at your accommodation.
Orkney native and 5-star tour guide Inga will lead you around the great sites, standing stones, wild cliffs, neolithic villages and still-working grain mills that make Orkney such a beloved destination.
Lunch together will be included as part of your tour.
Inga will provide dinner reservation ideas in advance, and guests will dine at your own expense.
Day 5
Orkney day 2

Breakfast will be provided at your accommodation.
Inga will collect you and continue your Orkney adventure, taking in folklore, crafts and culinary traditions.
At 3pm, you’ll sail on the short ferry from Stromness to Scrabster, where Ally will be waiting for you.
We’ll travel down part of the North Coast 500 route, and spend the night in AN ACTUAL CASTLE . The castle is so old that we don’t actually know when it was built – but we know its been there since the 1300s at least. It’s been updated since then, so we’ll enjoy a comfortable stay in a unique spot.
Day Six
The North-East Highlands

We’ll breakfast at the hotel, then head to the Black Isle, climbing aboard a small nature cruise boat to see if we can find some dolphins, sharks and birds in the mighty Cromarty Firth.
We’ll lunch together in Fortrose, then head south, cruising past Loch Ness (with an obligatory picture stop) and exploring historic Inverness on foot. We’ll have free time to enjoy some shopping in Inverness.
In the late afternoon, we’ll travel together to a little village Inn in the mountains, where we will dine together, included in the price of the tour.
Day 7
We’ll breakfast at our accommodation, and enjoy a gentle walk by a mountain loch, taking our time to appreciate the majestic highland scenery.
Then we’ll journey south, stopping at the excellent Highland Folk Museum.
We will lunch at the famous House of Bruar, at our own expense.
In the afternoon we will make our farewells, with drop offs at Edinburgh airport and Edinburgh hotels for those that need.

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