STUNNING SCOTLAND

Today you embark on your tour when you board your flight to Edinburgh. On arrival Check-in to your Luxury class hotel . Overnight at Edinburgh.

Departing Edinburgh, we travel through Scotland’s Central Belt to Glasgow, our largest city and former industrial powerhouse of the Empire. Here there is time to visit the magnificent Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, which opened in 1901 and is still one of the top visitor attractions in Scotland. We then cross the Kingston Bridge over the River Clyde and head north for our next stop at the village of Luss on the shores of Loch Lomond. We are now well and truly in the Highlands and on the far bank of the loch, you should catch your first glimpse of Ben Lomond – the most southerly of Scotland’s 282 Munros (mountains over 3000 feet).We continue north to the village of Arrochar which nestles on the edge of Loch Long at the foot of the high peaks of the Arrochar Alps. It’s onwards and upwards over the steep pass of Rest and be Thankful for our lunch stop in the village of Inveraray - seat of the Clan Campbell and Dukes of Argyll. The town is lapped by the sea water of Loch Fyne and is famed for its oysters and seafood. After lunch we follow the course of Loch Fyne to Lochgilphead where we turn north again to our next stop at Dunadd Iron Age Fort. This was the coronation site of kings and queens of Dalriada, the ancient Gaelic speaking kingdom which spanned Ulster in north east Ireland and Argyll. The site is incredibly important today because the people of Dalriada would eventually form the nation we now know as Scotland. You will arrive in Oban by evening. Overnight at Oban.

Departing Oban, we travel up the side of Loch Linnhe through the Great Glen to our first stop of the day in Glencoe. Considered by many to be the most impressive glen (valley) in Scotland, in 1692 the towering peaks of this majestic landscape bore witness to the infamous Massacre of Glencoe. Your driver guide will explain the details of this incident and why it was such a turning point in Highland history - stoking the Jacobite Rebellions for many years to come. There will be time for a short hike and many photographs in Glencoe before we make tracks for our next amazing location – Glenfinnan Monument and Viaduct. Glenfinnan has something for everyone – set on the edge of the fijord-like Loch Shiel, this is one of the prettiest spots in Scotland. It is also the place where on 17th of August 1745 Bonnie Prince Charlie raised the Royal Stuart Standard and set in motion the last Jacobite Rebellion which would come so near to changing history only to end in bitter defeat some 7 months later at the Battle of Culloden. In more recent times, Glenfinnan Viaduct has become very well known to fans of Harry Potter as the magnificent railway bridge crossed by the Hogwarts’ Express. Climb the hill for best views of the Monument to the 1745 Rebellion and the Viaduct. We'll then travel to Fort William where you Wander back in time as you explore the ruined late 13th century Inverlochy Castle (free). You can then check out Neptune’s Staircase, starting point of the Caledonian Canal, opened in 1826 and designed by Thomas Telford to link the Atlantic Ocean on Scotland’s west side and the North Sea on its east. Lunch is in Fort William, the second largest town in the Highlands (after Inverness) where the ruined fort was destroyed by Jacobite forces at the very start of the 1745 Rebellion. Our next stop as at the impressive Commando Memorial statue in memory of commandos who trained near here during the Second World War. Erected in 1951, the statue is a fitting tribute to incredibly brave young men and the site offers fantastic views of the surrounding mountains including Ben Nevis - Scotland and the UK’s tallest. From the Commando Memorial it’s a short drive to the charming village of Fort Augustus. In Fort Augustus you may wish to take a leisurely stroll along part of the Caledonian Canal. However, most visitors to Fort Augustus are drawn to the other side of the village to view Scotland’s most famous loch and maybe spot a monster popping its head through the deep, dark and mysterious waters of Loch Ness. Fort Augustus sits at the very southern tip of Loch Ness and from here you can see the whole 24 mile (38km) length of the loch – there really is no better place for a bit of Nessie spotting. Our route now takes us into some of the most spectacular scenery in all of the Highlands. We pass through Glenshiel and the iconic Five Sisters of Kintail to the meeting point of 3 sea lochs – Loch Duich, Loch Long and Loch Alsh – the wonderful setting for Eilean Donan Castle. Seat of the Clan MacRae, Eilean Donan is possibly the most photographed structures in all of Scotland and also has a starring role in films as diverse as Highlander, Entrapment, Rob Roy, The World Is Not Enough, Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and Made of Honor. There is time for an audio guided tour of the castle (£9 per adult) before the last leg of today’s tour, crossing the Skye Bridge over the sea to Skye and our overnight stay in Portree. The evening is then your own to explore the area or meet up with your fellow travellers and enjoy a meal in a local seafood restaurant or traditional pub. Overnight at Portree.

After breakfast we head north out of Portree to explore the Trotternish Peninsula sit back, relax and marvel as your guide takes you to the Old Man of Storr, Kilt Rock and the Quiraing. As we loop around north Skye, on a clear day take in magnificent views across the sea - east to the Torridon Mountains and west to the Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides. We return to Portree for lunch and maybe the chance for a spot of shopping in the many craft and local gift shops in town.We contineu our journey towards Sligachan River, flows majestically from the Black Cuillin Mountains, a truly magical location for your guide to introduce you to the local folklore of the island’s Faeries and Giants!After lunch we head south over the Cuillin Mountains and bid a fond farewell to Skye as we make our way through Kyle of Lochalsh to Loch Carron and the unbelievably pretty village of Plockton. Wcontineu our journey and arrive Inverness by evening. The evening is then your own to explore the city or meet up with your fellow travellers and enjoy a meal in a local restaurant or traditional Highland pub. Overnight at Inverness.

We depart Inverness and dive headlong into some very ancient history at Clava Cairns. These standing stones and Burial Chambers date from at least 4000 years ago. Their precise purpose is still something of a mystery but what most observers agree on is that they probably inspired Diana Gabaldon when she was writing about Craigh na Dun in her Outlander novels. Our next stop played a very key role in Outlander and is a hugely significant place in the history of the Highlands, Scotland, Britain and the British Empire. Culloden Battlefield is where, on 16th of April 1746, Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Jacobite Army was brutally defeated by a much larger and better equipped Redcoat Army. This was the last battle to be fought on British soil and your guide will explain just how big a turning point in history it was, heralding the end of the traditional Highland way of life and beginning changes which are still felt to this day. The Battlefield is a very moving place, sensitively cared for today by the National Trust For Scotland. From Culloden we make our way south through the Cairngorms National Park for a quick comfort break in the Highland village of Pitlochry and on to our final stop of the tour at the ancient east Fife town of St Andrews. St Andrews is known to many as The Home of Golf – there are 4 courses in town including most famously of all – The Old Course, which has hosted more British Open tournaments than any other.The tour will return back into Edinburgh by evening, Overnight at Edinburg.

Today it’s time to fly back home. Say goodbye to the wonderful new friends you have made on the tour. Check out with pleasant memories of your European trip which you will cherish for a lifetime. (Breakfast)