Scottish Highlands Adventure

8 days, 7 nights

 

 

Starting in Edinburgh, this itinerary touches on all the highlights that you’ll want to see on any tour of Scotland. Walk the streets of the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh, a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, before hitting the high road west to see the magnificent highlands and taking in a famous distillery or two along the way.

 

Highlights

• Experience firsthand the city of two towns: Edinburgh with its dominating fortress and the Royal Mile, the main thoroughfare of the Old Town.
• Marvel at the beautiful Scottish Highland glens, one of the most scenic being Glencoe.
• Visit castles and landmarks instrumental to Scotland’s history.

 

Overnight Stops

7 nights total
Edinburgh (2) – Inverness (2) – Glencoe (2) – Glasgow (1)

Why not extend your stay and spend an extra night or two in Dublin or London?

 

Sample Itinerary

 

Day 1: Arrive in Scotland

Welcome to Scotland! After clearing customs, proceed to the arrivals hall where you will meet your private driver for your short transfer into Edinburgh’s city center and your hotel. Marvel at the city of two towns: the Old Town and the New Town. Take a walk down the famous Royal Mile in the Old Town bookended by the Palace at Holyroodhouse and Edinburgh Castle.

Highlights include: Hop-on/hop-off bus tour, Edinburgh Castle with afternoon tea, The Scotch Whisky Experience,
Optional highlights: Edinburgh Vaults tour, meet a kiltmaker and bagpiper

Overnight in Edinburgh
Tenon Recommends: Intercontinental Hotel The George

 

Day 2: Edinburgh

Fueled for the day after your Scottish breakfast (did you remember to try the haggis?), you’ll set off to discover more of the wonders and secrets of this great city. Tonight an option for dinner is the Spirit of Scotland show, which combines Scottish music and song with history and national fare.

Highlights include: Secrets of the Royal Mile walking tour, Spirit of Scotland dinner and entertainment show
Optional highlights: Royal Yacht Britannia, Palace at Holyroodhouse, Holyrood Distillery

Overnight in Edinburgh
Tenon Recommends: Intercontinental Hotel The George
(Breakfast included)

 

Day 3: Edinburgh to Inverness

Experience the history, beauty and culture of the majestic Scottish Highlands as you continue on your journey. Often portrayed as the romantic part of Scotland, this region also has a darker, more turbulent, history that has left its mark on the landscape both physically and culturally. A line still exists between the highland and lowland culture and language, even though most of the Gaelic-speaking Scots reside in the islands to the west, particularly in the Outer Hebrides.

Highlights include: Scone Palace
Optional highlights: Inverness Botanical Gardens, Tomatin Distillery Visitor Centre

Overnight in Inverness
Tenon Recommends: Kingsmills Hotel
(Breakfast included)

 

Day 4: Inverness

Stroll around Inverness, the gateway to the highlands and islands of Scotland. Take in the view from the castle viewpoint. Be sure to make time to visit the famous battlefield of Culloden, the scene of one of the fiercest battles in Scotland’s history. Experience what it would have been like in the epicenter of that particular battle.

Highlights include: Culloden Battlefield, 2-hour Loch Ness cruise
Optional highlights: Cawdor Castle

Overnight in Inverness
Tenon Recommends: Kingsmills Hotel
(Breakfast included)

 

Day 5: Inverness to Glencoe

Prepare to be dazzled today by the highland scenery on your way to Glencoe. Stop in Glenfinnan where the Jacobite rising began. See the Glenfinnan monument erected to remember the fallen clansmen. For Harry Potter fans, you will enjoy the added attraction of seeing the Glenfinnan Viaduct featured in the movie.

Highlights include: Glencoe Mountain Resort chairlift
Optional highlights: Sea kayak on Loch Leven, walk some of the West Highland Way

Overnight in Inverness
Tenon Recommends: Kingshouse Hotel Glencoe
(Breakfast included)

 

Day 6: Glencoe

Admire the beauty of Glencoe today and learn more about its brutal history. For the Clan MacDonald, Glencoe has a special significance. This was the site of the Massacre of Glencoe on February 13, 1692, but it is famous more for how it was carried out than the numbers involved: The king’s soldiers stayed with and enjoyed the hospitality of the Clan MacDonald before turning on them and killing 38 as revenge for a local clan chief refusing to sign an oath of allegiance to the king.

Highlights include: Glencoe electric bike activity
Optional highlights: Archery or clay pigeon shooting at Glencoe Activity Centre, fishing

Overnight in Glencoe
Tenon Recommends: Kingshouse Hotel Glencoe
(Breakfast included)

 

Day 7: Glencoe to Glasgow

Today you will venture onward to Scotland’s second city, but be sure to leave sometime this morning to take in the last views of the highland glens. For your afternoon stop, learn how to and prepare haggis! Further on, if you have time, visit the beautifully located Glengoyne Distillery and enjoy one of their tasting experiences before moving on to one of the most historically important castles in Scotland.

Highlights include: The Haggis Experience afternoon tour, Stirling Castle
Optional highlights: Glengoyne Distillery

Overnight in Glasgow
Tenon Recommends: Jurys Inn Glasgow
(Breakfast included)

 

Day 8: Departure

Say goodbye to Scotland today. Fly home with memories that will last a lifetime and a desire to return and see more of what Scotland has to offer. As the Scots say, Haste ye back!
(Breakfast included)

 

Pricing

From $1,747 per person based on double occupancy*
*Price shown is an example of what to expect for a self-drive vacation. Each itinerary is customized and can change depending on seasonality, availability, etc.

This trip can be booked as a self-drive tour or chauffeur tour.

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