Feeling adventurous? Explore Scotland’s traditional culture along its gorgeous coastline and remote islands.
Authentic Local Experiences
Expect an unforgettable evening of music, ceremony,
theatre and dance with reserved seats for the Royal
Edinburgh Military Tattoo on July 27 – August 12 departures.
Relax and enjoy dinner on board a ferry as you cruise to the Orkney Islands.
Daily itinerary
Day 1: Glasgow Arrival
Tour begins 3:00 PM at your Glasgow hotel.
Take a tour around the city. Enjoy a welcome
drink with your group before dinner. (D)
Day 2: Isle of Bute & Mount Stuart House
Ferry to the Isle of Bute for stunning island
scenery and a guided tour of the 19th-
century Mount Stuart House. Spend some
time in Rothesay, the main town on the
island. Enjoy free time before dinner in your
Glasgow hotel. (B, D)
Day 3: Loch Lomond & Eilean Donan Castle
Travel along the famous Loch Lomond,
renowned for its unsurpassed beauty. Journey
through Glencoe, often considered one of
Scotland’s most beautiful regions. Travel
through Fort William and stop at a woollen
mill for refreshments and shop for Scottish
goods. Visit the romantic Eilean Donan
Castle before heading to your hotel. (B, D)
Day 4: Isle of Skye & Dunvegan Castle
Explore the Isle of Skye and its associations
with Bonnie Prince Charlie. Tour Dunvegan
Castle, the oldest continuously inhabited
castle in Scotland and former stronghold
of the Chiefs of MacLeod. Enjoy a photo
opportunity or two, featuring the spectacular
Kilt Rock. Stop in picturesque Portree with its
brightly painted houses clustered around the
bay. Enjoy free time before dinner. (B, D)
Day 5: Inverewe Gardens & Ullapool
Take in the Highland scenery as you head to
Inverewe Gardens, where a haven of tropical
trees and shrubs has been created. Continue
to Ullapool, an active fishing and ferry port.
Check in to your hotel near the harbor. (B, D)
Day 6: Highland Scenery & Orkney
Admire the rugged mountains, coastline,
and vast areas of open land of the sparsely
populated northernmost section of the
Highlands. Learn about the Highland
Clearances, a tragic period of history when
many peasants were forced off the land and
emigrated to the United States, Australia,
and other countries. Take advantage of the
many photo opportunities along the way.
Continue to Scrabster on the northern coast
of Scotland and take a ferry to Orkney,
enjoying dinner on board. (B, D)
Day 7: Orkney Sights & Skara Brae
Discover Orkney, starting with a drive across
the Churchill Barriers, created during World
War II to deter German submarines. Next,
explore the tiny Italian Chapel, with its
elaborate paintings. Travel on to the Ring of
Brodgar, a Neolithic henge and stone circle
that is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Visit Skara Brae to see the well-preserved
5,000-year-old village dwellings and return
to Kirkwall to see St. Magnus Cathedral.
Enjoy free time in the afternoon and evening
to browse around the town and dine
independently. (B)
Day 8: Dunrobin Castle & Inverness
Board a ferry back to the mainland and
head to Dunrobin Castle, dating to 1275 and
renovated in the mid-1800s. With 189 rooms,
this is the largest castle in northern Scotland.
Stop along the way for photo opportunities
amidst the scenic hills. Continue south
to Inverness, the principal town in the
Highlands. (B, D)
Day 9: Urquhart Castle & Culloden Battlefield
Keep your camera handy as you visit the
picturesque ruins of Urquhart Castle and
cruise on Loch Ness. Stop at the Culloden
Battlefield Visitor Centre to learn about the
conflict that led to the end of the clan system
in Scotland. Walk around the moor and see
monuments to the various regiments who
lost men. Stop at Clava Cairns, a prehistoric
burial place with a circle of standing stones
that inspired the “Outlander” books. Return
to Inverness with time to relax, shop, or walk
alongside the river. (B, D)
Day 10: Sheep Herding & Whisky Tasting
Immerse yourself in farm life and watch as
skilled dogs round up sheep. Enjoy lunch on
your own in the Victorian town of Pitlochry.
Visit Blair Athol Distillery to see how whisky
is produced and enjoy a tasting. Enjoy the
evening at your leisure in Edinburgh. (B)
Day 11: Edinburgh Castle & Traditional Scottish Evening
Discover Edinburgh’s highlights including
the wide streets and elegant mansions of
the 200-year-old Georgian “New Town” and
the Royal Mile, the oldest part of the city.
Tour the imposing Edinburgh Castle to see
the Stone of Scone and the Scottish Crown
Jewels. Enjoy a festive Scottish dinner with
lively, traditional entertainment to follow.
The July 27 to August 12 departures watch
the spectacular Royal Edinburgh Military
Tattoo on the Castle Esplanade. (B)
Day 12: Tour Ends in Edinburgh
Your tour ends after breakfast. (B)
Hotels:
Novotel Glasgow Centre Hotel | Glasgow (2)
Balmacara Hotel | near Kyle of Lochalsh (2)
The Royal Hotel | Ullapool (1)
Ayre Hotel | Kirkwall (2)
Columba Hotel | Inverness (2)
Apex Grassmarket Hotel | Edinburgh (2)
The premier tour operator for Scotland, CIE Tours offers fully inclusive and expertly guided tours from coach tours to small group travel and highly curated private itineraries. Over its 86‐year history, CIE Tours has earned a reputation for excellence rooted in its signature Irish hospitality, the genuine warmth and expertise of its guides and hosts, and a talent for fostering lasting friendships. CIE Tours makes it easy for travelers to immerse themselves with exclusive access, authentic experiences, and in‐depth knowledge that, in the spirit of Celtic heritage, often begins with a story.
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