7-Day Scottish Highland, Island & Cultural Heritage Private Tour

Experience our 7-day Scottish Highland, Island & Cultural Heritage tour, the most immersive cultural journey through Scotland’s Highlands and islands. From ancient battlefields to mystical islands, from royal palaces to remote Highland glens, this comprehensive week-long adventure showcases Scotland’s magnificent heritage, dramatic landscapes, and authentic traditions.

Your Highland, Island & Cultural Heritage tour can depart from your accommodation in Glasgow or Edinburgh, on any day of the week, subject to availability.

Day 1: The Heart of Scotland

Departing in the morning from your accommodation in Glasgow or Edinburgh, your Scottish Highland cultural journey begins as we travel to our first destination, the Kelpies. These magnificent 100-foot-tall steel horses stand proudly beside the Forth and Clyde Canal in Scotland’s central belt. We continue with a short drive to the historic Stirling Castle, perched above a volcanic crag. This medieval castle was home to the once-powerful Stewart Monarchy of Scotland. Your visit includes a fascinating castle tour with a Historic Scotland guide as part of your entrance fee.

After lunch, we head over to The National Wallace Monument to climb the 246-step spiral staircase, to view the outstanding panoramic scenery from the Abbey Craig.

Our next stop is Doune Castle, built for the Regent Albany, nestled beside the River Teith, Stirlingshire. This fourteenth-century castle will also be recognised as ‘Castle Leoch’ by Outlander fans. It has also been used as a filming location for Game of Thrones (Winterfell) and Monty Python’s ‘Holy Grail’.

We then travel on to the beautiful Scottish Highland town of Callander, where we will spend our first evening and overnight stay.

Day 2: The Trossachs National Park

Departing Callander in the morning, our first stop of the day is at Kilmahog, for a photo opportunity feeding the ‘Hairy Highland Cows’. You can also take the opportunity to browse the Kilmahog Woollen Mill for some fantastic Scottish Souvenirs, often less pricey than some of the larger city shops.

We then take a scenic tour through Scotland’s National Trossachs Park, en route to Luss, on the ‘bonnie bonnie banks’ of Loch Lomond. We will stretch our legs with a stroll through this quaint conservation village, which offers fantastic photo opportunities of the most southern Scottish Highland mountain, Ben Lomond.

Travelling northwards, driving the full 24 miles alongside Loch Lomond, we head for lunch at the reputedly haunted Drovers Inn at Inverarnan. This ancient Inn dates, back to 1705, and was a favourite haunt for cattle drovers and weary travellers. It is thought that the great (or rogue) Scottish Highlander, Rob Roy McGregor, frequented this atmospheric old inn.

Shortly after midday, we journey westwards to the coastal town of Oban, ‘Gateway to the Isles’. You will also have the opportunity to visit the ruins of Kilchurn castle, a stronghold of the Clan Campbells of Glenorchy in the fifteenth century.

Time allowing, we can stop off to visit the historic Conan Kirk, before arriving at Oban for our second overnight stay.

Day 3: Day Trip to the Isle of Mull

On the third day, you have three experience options to choose from on our fun Island hop over to Mull.

A morning visit to Duart Castle, still home to Clan Maclean to this very day. This ancient fourteenth-century castle commands the sea channel between Mull and the mainland.

The castle visit can be combined with a visit to Tobermory (famed for its colourful buildings) in the north of the Island, and made popular in the television series ‘Balamory’. Alternatively, you may wish to visit the historical abbey on the Isle of Iona, where Saint Columba introduced Christianity to the West of Scotland. This is a very popular pilgrimage and is often described as a very spiritual experience for many visitors to our country.

The other tour option, which is subject to availability, is another sea venture to the Isle of Staffa, home to the world-famous Fingal’s Cave. The island is also a haven to a wonderful world of wildlife, and if timed right, you may even see puffins during their breeding season.

After a splendid sightseeing day out, we take the return voyage on the ferry, for another overnight stay in Oban.

Day 4: The Majestic Highlands

Departing from Oban on our fourth day of adventure, we journey north along the scenic coastal road to the atmospheric, eerie mountains of Glencoe. This is an essential highlight of your Scotland experience.

Thousands of visitors flock every year, throughout the year to this magnificent, yet overwhelming historical location. This is a site that has to be experienced, and no words do it real justice in describing, not only it’s breathtaking mountain range, but the atmosphere surrounding it.

Your Highland adventure continues as we journey through the Great Glen, en route to Loch Ness, to search for the mythical (or is it?), Scottish monster ‘Nessie’. You will witness the stunning Scottish Highland Scenery, on this epic road trip, where we will stop for photo opportunities of Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the British Isles along the way.

Our next stop takes us to the picturesque, idyllic town of Fort Augustus, where the Caledonian Canal enters Loch Ness. You will have time to stop for lunch in one of the local inns or cafes in this scenic town.

Keep your eyes peeled for ‘Nessie’, as we head up to the cascading Invermoriston waterfalls, which flow into Loch Ness.

We then have the option to visit Urquhart Castle ruins before our overnight stay in the capital of the Scottish Highlands, Inverness.

Day 5: The Dramatic Snow Road through the Cairngorms

Step back in time as we take the short trip to the fascinating prehistoric standing stones and burial chambers at Clava Cairns, just outside Inverness. These three ancient, well-preserved cairns date back around 4,000 years.

Only a 5-minute drive from Clava, we visit the sacred ground of Culloden Moor, where the last Jacobite rebellion unfolded on the Sixteenth of April 1746. This tragic battle ended the Jacobite hopes of restoring the Stuarts to the Monarchy of Britain. This is another location that is often described as very atmospheric. Having paid our respects to all who lost their lives in the last battle on British Soil, we head over to the stunning Cawdor Castle.

Cawdor Castle, near Nairn, is still owned and lived in by the Thanes of Cawdor. This exceptional fourteenth-century medieval tower is built around the legendary ‘Holly Tree’. The castle gardens are stunning, and the tearoom offers delicious homemade scones to savour.

After lunch, our unforgettable Scottish experience continues as we travel along the highest public road in Britain, taking in the dramatic landscapes of the eastern Cairngorms. We end Day 5 with an overnight stay in the Victorian spa town of Pitlochry, a renowned tourist beauty spot.

Day 6: Scone Palace and St Andrews

Start the morning at the Hermitage near Dunkeld in Perthshire, where we visit the cascading Black Linn Waterfalls. This magical forest was initially designed as a pleasure ground for the Dukes of Atholl.

Touring through Perthshire, our next visit is to the Five-Star rated visitor attraction, Scone Palace. Many famous Scottish Kings, including Macbeth, Robert the Bruce and James the Fourth, were crowned at this iconic location.

On your last evening of your Scottish adventure, we stay in the ancient and world-renowned town of St Andrews.

Day 7: The East Neuk of Fife

We start your final day with a fantastic drive through the coastal villages on the East Neuk of Fife. Travelling through the ancient Kingdom of Fife, we will have time to sample some local delights, such as fish and chips, in the coastal harbour of Anstruther.

Our final destination of the day is the historic town of Culross. This ancient Royal Burgh was a prime film location for various scenes on the Starz hit series ‘Outlander’. You will see why when you walk through the cobbled streets to the Mercat Square, and travel back in time where the town conjures up historical imagery of this era.

We then take the final leg of your journey back to your drop-off location in Glasgow or Edinburgh, where our time together comes to an end. We’re confident you’ll have fantastic lifelong memories from this Highland, Island & Heritage experience.