Highland Cow, Scotland
Caption: Highland Cow, Scotland
Caption: Edinburgh's skyline
Caption: Scone Palace is a Category A listed historic house and attraction near the village of Scone and the city of Perth Scotland. Credit: VisitScotland/Kenny Lam
Caption: A steam train travels over the famous Glenfinnan Viaduct
Caption: Scenic Loch Lomond
Caption: Tasting a 'wee dram'
Caption: Stirling Castle is one of the largest and most important castles in Scotland, both historically and architecturally. Credit: Visit Scotland/Kenny Lam
Caption: A bagpipe player
Caption: Edinburgh Castle
Caption: The Jacobite Express travelling over the Glenfinnan Viaduct

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Journey Snapshot

Activity level: Level 2 Requires moderate physical activity. You need to be able to participate in physical activities such as longer walking tours, walking over uneven terrain, climbing steps and be comfortable with some periods of standing. Not suitable if you have limited mobility or require a wheelchair/mobility scooter.
Destination: ESSENTIAL SCOTLAND
Duration: 8 days / 7 nights
Flight information: Arrive at Edinburgh Airport [EDI] on Day 1 by 1pm to participate in the afternoon city tour. Please arrange flights to depart from Edinburgh Airport [EDI] on Day 8.
Pickup location: Edinburgh Airport [EDI]

Overview

Choose your own departure date for your group.

An 8 day cultural and historical tour through Scotland's historic towns and cities, seeing iconic attractions and stunning Scottish scenery.

Scotland is a country of contrasts - from mountain wildernesses such as the Cairngorms and Northwest Highlands, interspersed with glacial glens, lochs and islands, to historic towns and bustling cities. It is full of iconic attractions, royal palaces and castles and brimming with traditional food and culture.

Edinburgh, Scotland's capital, with its iconic hilltop castle, is where our tour will start and finish. We will follow in the footsteps of royalty in Edinburgh, Stirling, Perth and Inveraray. We will cruise the famous Loch Lomond, ride one of the most famous steam trains in the world and enjoy a chance to taste one of Scotland's finest exports - whisky. You'll learn about the country's history and culture from our experienced guides on the way, as well as see some of the world's most stunning scenery - you'll get to experience all of this, and more! Och Aye! 

Itinerary

Itinerary summary: DAY 1 - Welcome to Bonnie Scotland
DAY 2 - Royal Tour of Edinburgh
DAY 3 - Exploring Stirling
DAY 4 - Scone Palace & 'The Famous Grouse' Experience
DAY 5 - Loch Lomond and Inveraray Castle
DAY 6 - Jacobite Steam Train, Loch Ness & Highland Dinner
DAY 7 - Cairngorms, Pitlochry & Edinburgh
DAY 8 - A Fond Farewell
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Full Itinerary

DAY 1 - Welcome to Bonnie Scotland

Welcome to Edinburgh, Scotland's historic capital!

This afternoon, please arrive at the hotel in Edinburgh before 1pm to be on time to join us on the first stop of our exciting week - a visit to the Royal Yacht Britannia! For over 40 years, Britannia was Her Majesty The Queen’s floating palace. Follow in the footsteps of royalty to discover the heart and soul of this most special of Royal residences. Explore Britannia’s five decks with your included audio guide, visiting the elegant State Apartments to the gleaming Engine Room. See where Prince William and Prince Harry spent their summer holidays and 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.

We will return to the hotel where the rest of the evening is at leisure.

DAY 2 - Royal Tour of Edinburgh

This morning, we depart after breakfast to discover Edinburgh's royal side. We head for a visit and guided tour of Edinburgh Castle. Perched high on an extinct volcano, it overlooks the city and part of the Old and New Towns' World Heritage Site. It was the scene of some of Scotland's most intriguing history and houses the Honours (Crown Jewels) of Scotland, the Stone of Destiny, the famous 15th century gun Mons Meg, the One O' Clock Gun and the National War Museum of Scotland.

From here we will head down the Royal Mile for a visit and tour of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official residence of the Monarchy in Scotland. We will explore the Palace's close associations with some of Scotland’s most well-known historic figures such as Mary, Queen of Scots and Bonnie Prince Charlie.

After leaving Edinburgh we will drive into Perthshire, which will be our base for the next 3 nights. Dinner will be together this evening in the hotel.

Included meals: Breakfast & Dinner 

DAY 3 - Exploring Stirling

Today, we will visit nearby Stirling, for a tour of its majestic castle. Stirling Castle is one of the largest and most important castles in Scotland, both historically and architecturally. It sits atop Castle Hill, an intrusive crag, which forms part of the Stirling Sill and has witnessed many significant moments in Scottish history. Once home to kings and queens, it has seen many baptisms, coronations and extravagant celebrations, but also imprisonment, murder and intrigue, some of which has only been discovered in recent decades.

We will then have some free time relaxing and browsing the shops and cafes of Stirling, the youngest city in Scotland - it only gained city rights in 2002 at the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. Dinner will be together in the hotel this evening.

Included meals: Breakfast & Dinner 

DAY 4 - Scone Palace & 'The Famous Grouse' Experience

After breakfast, we head to visit and tour Scone Palace. The crowning place of Scottish kings, Macbeth, Robert the Bruce and Charles II were once crowned here. We will see where the Stone of Scone, known as the Stone of Destiny, once stood and which now resides in Edinburgh Castle. We can also admire the needlework skills of Mary, Queen of Scots' bedhangings that she worked on while in prison on Loch Leven. The Palace is also surrounded by beautiful gardens and woodlands. 

After a lunch break, we will head back to our hotel but not before we stop to learn and taste one of Scotland's most well known exports - whisky. We'll enjoy a 'wee dram' at The Famous Grouse Experience. The Famous Grouse is Scotland's oldest working whisky distillery, established in 1775 and one of the most famous brands. Here, we will see how this single malt is produced and enjoy a tasting of their produce before a chance to purchase some as a souvenir. Afterwards, its back to the hotel where we will have dinner together this evening.

Included meals: Breakfast & Dinner 

DAY 5 - Loch Lomond and Inveraray Castle

We will leave Perthshire this morning and depart for the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond. Located in the Trossachs National Park, the loch is probably best known from the song, but its stunning highland scenery is its real selling point. On a 1-hour relaxing cruise whilst enjoying a cup of tea or coffee, we can admire the stunning setting.

We will make a lunch stop before continuing to Inverarary. Here we will have a visit and tour of Inverary Castle and Gardens, located on the shores of Loch Fyne. It is the ancestral home of the Duke of Argyll and features include the Armoury Hall, State Dining Room and Tapestry Drawing Room. The journey to our hotel will then take us through the famous village of Glencoe, and through some of the best scenery that Scotland has to offer, before dropping down into the Fort William area and our hotel. Dinner will be together in the hotel this evening.

Included meals: Breakfast & Dinner 

DAY 6 - Jacobite Steam Train, Loch Ness & Highland Dinner

After breakfast, we depart for Fort William. Located at the foot of Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the British Isles, here we will board the Jacobite Steam train - aka the Hogwarts Express! - for a once in a lifetime railway journey!

Our 2-2.5 hour journey will take us through some of the Britain's most impressive scenery. We will cross the 21-arched Glenfinnan viaduct, a stunning location made famous around the world in the Harry Potter films, which overlooks the Jacobite monument.

A stop at Glenfinnan station will give you time to stretch your legs before weaving through the spectacular countryside and continuing to our final destination, the port of Mallaig. Here there will be time to get a spot of lunch before boarding our coach for the drive to Inverness, driving along the shores of Loch Ness - remember to look out for Nessie! 

After time to freshen up, we will depart for an evening of Scottish entertaiment and a Scottish-themed dinner, before returning to our hotel with great memories of a thoroughly traditional Scottish day!

Included meals: Breakfast & Dinner 

DAY 7 - Cairngorms, Pitlochry & Edinburgh

The morning is at leisure for you to relax in the hotel, before our late morning departure for the journey south back to Edinburgh.

On the way we will drive via Aviemore and the impressive Cairngorms National Park. We will make a stop at the picturesque town of Pitlochry, where there are plenty of quaint shops to wander around for those last minute gifts as well as bars and cafes. From here we will continue to our hotel in Edinburgh. For our last night we will enjoy a Farewell Dinner together.

Included meals: Breakfast & Dinner 

DAY 8 - A Fond Farewell

Today we say a fond farewell to Scotland. Scheduled transfers have been arranged to Edinburgh Airport. Please let us know if you would like to make use of this service.

Included meals: Breakfast 
Accommodation: none 

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More information

What's includedWhat's not includedImportant information

What's included

  • Return Edinburgh Airport/Edinburgh hotel transfers on Day 1 and Day 8
  • Transportation throughout in an air-conditioned deluxe vehicle
  • 7 nights accommodation as detailed in the itinerary
  • Meals as detailed in the itinerary
  • English speaking tour guides where applicable
  • All activities, visits and excursions as detailed in the itinerary
  • Services of a Big Journey Company Tour Director throughout

What's not included

  • Return flights into Edinburgh Airport [EDI] on Day 1 and departing from Edinburgh Airport [EDI] on Day 8
  • Food and beverage unless otherwise stated
  • Entrance fees to non-stipulated attractions
  • Visas, personal travel or medical insurance
  • Any personal items and anything not mentioned above
  • Any optional activities offered
  • Gratuities 
  • Any COVID tests or related entry & exit requirements

Important information

  • Please arrange your flight to Edinburgh Airport [EDI] to arrive in time to meet us at the hotel by 1:00pm for the afternoon tour on Day 1.
  • Please consult your doctor for advice on vaccinations and innoculations before travel. Please let The Big Journey Company know prior to travelling if you have any medical needs or take any medication that we need to be made aware of to ensure that you have a safe and pleasant tour.
  • Check in is after 2-3pm and check out is before 10am unless otherwise specified in the itinerary.
  • Cancellation 90 – 0 days prior to departure cancellation fee is 100%. It is your responsibility to ensure the correct travel insurance in place to protect you against the need to cancel your holiday. Deposits are non-refundable.
  • Further terms and conditions apply and will be provided upon request or at the time of booking. The Big Journey Company reserves the right to withdraw any offer prior to accepting a reservation request. This does not affect your statutory rights. This offer is subject to availability and space is limited.

The big journey promise

The big journey company was set up with one goal in mind, to share our passion for inspirational cultures, destinations and experiences. Over the last 10 years we have had the privilege to escort thousands of travellers on awe inspiring and sometimes life changing journeys. Our promise to every guest who joins us is that we will do everything possible to make sure your journey not only exceeds expectations but delivers at least one moment of true amazement.

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Holiday tours are operated by The Big Journey Company Limited. Registered in England. Registered office: Marron Bank, Branthwaite, Cumbria, CA14 4SZ. Registered number: 6532140. The Big Journey Company Limited is a member of The Travel Trust Association member number U5675 and holds an Air Travel Organiser’s License number T7282.

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