The Long Way Round: Your Ultimate Scotland Tour

Programme

Day 1: Forth Bridges and Stonehaven

Individual arrival in Edinburgh or Glasgow. Your first leg of the journey will take you across the Firth of Forth with view of the iconic Fort Rail Bridge – a symbol of Scotland and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Past rolling hills and fertile fields your journey takes you to the East coast with its small, historic fishing villages, where fresh lobster and crabs are landed daily. You continue to St Andrews, one of the most famous historic cities in Great Britain. The noble university has welcomed many famous faces including Prince William, St Andrews Cathedral used to be one of the biggest churches in the country. The St Andrews of today with its gorgeous sandy beaches is a Mecca for golf fans from all over the world. In the evening you will reach Stonehaven, a pretty harbour town south of Aberdeen, where you will stay the first night. Distance: 120 miles, Driving Time: about 2.5-3 hrs, Accommodation: Stonehaven

Day 2: Aberdeen and  Dunnottar Castle

After a hearty Scottish breakfast, you can visit Aberdeen, the “Silver City by the Sea”. Don’t miss architectural highlights like St Machar Cathedral and Marischal College in the centre of Aberdeen. In the afternoon take a stroll along the cliffs to the ruins of Dunnottar Castle, which sits prominently and dramaticly upon a rocky headland 2 miles south of Stonehaven. Used as movie location for a variety of films, the ruins are home to thousands of seabirds. If you’re lucky you might even spot some of the adorable puffins.     Accommodation: Stonehaven

Day 3: Whisky region Speyside 

Use the day to explore the Speyside, where more than half of all Scottish whisky is produced. The area around the river Spey in Moray and Badenoch and Strathspey in north-eastern Scotland is home to around 50 distilleries, including the two best-selling single malt whiskies in the world, The Glenlivet and Glenfiddich. Visit the Speyside Cooperage and discover the ancient art of Coopering. Watch the Coopers using traditional methods for shaping, shaving and charring casks for the whisky industry. Take a tour through one of the many famous and some lesser known distilleries, most of them just a few miles from each other. Alternatively follow the castle trail through the area or visit one of the picturesque seaside villages up on the North coast – like Pennan and Gardenstown. Accommodation: Stonehaven

Day 4: Balmoral Castle and the Royal Deeside

Today you will head inland and visit the Royal Deeside. Past manicured Victorian villas and along the river Dee – a popular salmon fishing spot – you will reach Balmoral Castle, the summer residence of the Royal Family. Every year Queen Elizabeth spends her summer in the region and the neighbouring town of Braemar hosts one of the most famous Highland Games every September, which is usually attended by some members of the Royal Family. Across one of the highest mountain passes in Scotland you will reach Corgarff Castle. Surrounded by moorland, the castle has withstood the regions infamous storms since the 16^th century. In the afternoon you will reach the well-known winter ski town of Aviemore. Distance: 100 miles, Driving Time: about 2.5-3 hrs, Accommodation: Aviemore

Day 5: Cairngorm National Park

The Cairngorms National Park is the largest national park in the United Kingdom. The Cairngorms themselves are a spectacular landscape and provide a unique alpine tundra moorland habitat, home to many rare plants and animals. Stop at the tranquil Loch an Eilean to enjoy the fresh, clean air and beautiful mountain panoramas. The area is home to the Caledonian Forest with its Scots pines directly descended from the first pines to arrive in Scotland following the late glacial period about 7000 BC. Aviemore is famed for a wide variety of outdoor activities: walks and hikes for every level of fitness, bike treks, a sled dog farm and Britain’s only free-ranging herd of reindeer. Accommodation: Aviemore

Day 6: Culloden, Macbeth & sheep dogs

In the morning you pass the Culloden Battlefield, where the 1745 Jacobite Rising came to a tragic end. The award-winning visitor centre has an interactive exhibition and is well worth a visit. Enjoy Nairn’s white sandy beaches only a short drive away. If you’re lucky, you might spot some of the resident dolphins, the Moray Firth being home to the most northerly dolphin population in the world. Close by you can also visit Cawdor Castle, which is perhaps best known for its literary connection to William Shakespeare’s tragedy Macbeth. Watch a sheepdog demonstration in Kincraig and learn more about how the skilled Border Collies are essential for the sheep farmers in the Highlands of Scotland. Accommodation: Aviemore

Day 7: Loch Ness, Inverness and the East Coast

Discover Inverness, the lively capital of the Highlands. South of the city lies Loch Ness, the world-famous lake. On your way there you will cross the Caledonian Canal, which runs some 60 miles from the Scottish East Coast at Inverness to the West Coast near Fort William. From the grounds of the ruined Urquhart Castle you have a fantastic view over the lake. From here you will head north along the East coast to Dunrobin Castle, home of the Earls and Dukes of Sutherland. Perched on a high terrace above walled gardens and with fairy tale spires and turrets, it rises above the North Sea like an illustration from a storybook. You then carry on to Thurso. Take a walk to the Stacks of Duncansby, the impresive cliffs at Duncansby Head, located at the most northerly point of the Scottish mainland. Distance: 170 miles, Driving Time: about 4 hrs, Accommodation: Thurso

Day 8: Day trip to the Orkney Isles

Today you have time for a day trip to the Orkney Isles. Join an organised tour and take the small passenger ferry over to Mainland, the largest isle in the archipelago. Here a bus will take you around the island past Scapa Flow, a body of sheltered water which played an important role in WWI. You will discover Skara Brae, a more than 4000 years old stone-built settlement, Europe’s most complete Neolithic village.  Together with the Ring of Brodgar, a neolithic henge and stone circle, as well as Maes Howe, a unique chambered cairn and passage grave, they are part of the “Heart of Neolithic Orkney” UNESCO World Heritage Site. Accommodation: Thurso

Day 9: North Coast 500

The North coast of Scotland is Europe’s “last great wilderness”. Only an average of 8 people per square kilometre live in the region. Unspoilt, naturally stunning landscapes and seascapes, with stretches of sand to rival those abroad, and dramatic mountain scenery awaits you. The North Coast 500, `Scotland’s Route 66‘, was named one of the top coastal road trips in the world and covers as a single trek road the stretch from Thurso via Durness to Ullapool. Past high cliffs, deep fjords and ragged inlets you will finally reach Durness, a small village on the North-west coast of the Scottish mainland. Distance: 70 miles, Driving Time: about 2 hrs, Accommodation: Durness

 Day 10: Durness, Cape Wrath & Smoo Cave

Be adventurous today and explore the Smoo Cave, a dramatic and spectacular sea and freshwater cave with a 66 ft high waterfall. The main attractions of this sparsely populated region are unspoiled beaches and cliffs, seabird colonies, seals, dolphins and mink whales. The Clo Mor Cliffs are the highest on the British mainland and a colony of puffins lives in the dunes north of Durness. At Loch Balnakeil, 1.5 miles south of Durness, a former RAF base has been transformed into a craft village, where eccentric characters sell their wares and where you can get the best hot chocolate in the country. Accommodation: Durness

Day 11: Inverpolly Natur Reserve and Ullapool

Highly recommended is Inverpolly Nature Reserve, a remote area of 11000 hectares of moors, woodlands and mountains like Stac Polly and Suilven, best known as Scotland’s most easily identified mountains. Lunchtime should bbe spent in picturesque Ullapool, where whitewashed cottages hug the coastline around Loch Broom and its small fishing harbour. Despite its small size it is the largest settlement for many miles around and an important port and tourist destination. Ferries sail to Stornoway in the Outer Hebrides. The village is known for its lively folk music scene and is a centre for Gaelic music, art and language. In the afternoon you continue on to Gairloch, a typical highland village with its own identity and a rich Gaelic heritage. Distance: 120 miles, Driving Time: about 3-3.5 hrs, Accommodation: Gairloch

Day 12: Dolphins, Whales & Shellfish Safari

The surrounding area offers a lot to discover: Gairloch bay, beaches, dunes and golf courses. You can go hiking, cycling, play golf or just relax and unwind. The area offers a multitude of walks for all abilities and experiences. Take a boat trip to look for dolphins and whales, watch playful seals and colourful puffins. Or join one of the local fishermen for a trip out to sea to catch lobster and crabs. In the evening enjoy some typical Scottish dishes at the “Old Inn” in Gairloch. Accommodation: Gairloch

Day 13: Inverewe Gardens

A short drive away, on the shores of Loch Ewe, blooms the prettiest and most northerly botanic garden Scotland’s – Inverewe Gardens. Created from barren land in 1862 by Osgood Mackenzie, the garden boasts many exotic plants from all over the world which grow here thanks to the influence of the North Atlantic current. Since 1952 the garden and estate are managed by the National Trust for Scotland. Accommodation: Gairloch

 Day 14: Applecross & Eilean Donan Castle

Today you will pass the fantastic Applecross Peninsula, home to just a couple of hundred people and accessed by only two roads. The area offers a real escape from the noise and stress of modern-day life and is one of the last insider tips on the West Coast. Over the Bealach na Bà pass at 2054ft, with the steepest ascent of any road climb in the UK, you carry on to Eilean Donan Castle. Being one of the most photographed castles in the world, the site has also been used as setting in a variety of movies, most famously the 1986 film “Highlander”. After a short stop in Plockton, a small Highland village with stunning views overlooking Loch Carron and popular with local artists you will reach the Isle of Skye, the largest and best known of the Inner Hebrides. Distance: 95 miles, Driving Time: about 3-4 hrs, Accommodation: Isle of Skye

Day 15: The Isle of Skye

Explore the magical Isle of Skye, its mountainous interior often draped in mist and clouds! The Cuillin mountain range, picturesque fishing villages, waterfalls and thatched cottages – every view is a great view! The basalt columns of the famous Kilt Rock sea cliff resemble a kilt, here the Mealt Waterfall plunges 200 feet into the sea. Visit the truly spectacular Quiraing Massive, with its distinctive landscape an icon of Scotland. In the afternoon step back in time at the “Museum of Island Life” in the north of the island. Here, traditional thatched blackhouses have been restored and offer visitors a unique experience and a true insight into island life 100 years ago. Accommodation: Isle of Skye

Day 16: Elgol and Loch Coruisk

Catch a boat to magical Loch Coruisk, a stunning freshwater loch surrounded by the Cuillin Hills. Famously described by Sir Walter Scott in the 1800s, a visit to the loch with its resident seal colony and Azur blue waters is definitely a highlight of the trip. The Cuillin mountains rise up dramatically from the sea, with the absence of foothills enhancing their vast scale. In the afternoon visit the Talisker distillery, which produces the famous island whisky. Enjoy a pint in front of the fire at the Sligachan Hotel nestled among the Red and Black Cuillins with the sparkling waters of Loch Sligachan to its front. Accommodation: Isle of Skye

Day 17: Fort William, the Westhighlands and Oban

Through the beautiful Glen Garry and past the majestic mountain rage of the „Fife Sisters of Kintail“ you will reach Fort William, the hiking capital of Scotland at the base of Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Great Britain. Take the gondola up the mountain or take a short walk to Glen Nevis. You can watch seals on a local boat trip or visit the Ben Nevis Distillery. In the afternoon you will follow the coastal road south to the resort town of Oban where you can end the day in one of the fantastic local seafood restaurants by the harbour. Distance: 150 miles, Driving Time: about 3.5-4 hrs, Accommodation: Oban

Day 18: Oban and Kilmartin Glen

Take a walk along the harbour and up to the Scottish “Colosseum”, with fantastic views over Oban bay and the island off the West Coast, or visit Oban Distillery. The town, also known as the “gateway to the isles“, offers day trips to the Isles of Mull and Iona as well as boat trips to the Isle of Staffa, with its impressive basalt columns and its teaming wildlife. If you’re in luck, you might spot dolphins and whales and thousands of seabirds, including charming puffins, on your way. Or head south into Kilmartin Glen, one of the world’s most significant archaeological landscapes. Sites include stone circles, standing stones and rock art, there are thousands of years of history and natural history to explore in this beautiful landscape. Visit Kilmartin Museum, which has been caring for and sharing stories of artefacts from this special place for 20 years. Accommodation: Oban

 Day 19: Glencoe and the Trossachs National Park

Today another highlight of the West Highlands is waiting for you: the spectacular Glencoe, one of Scotland’s most scenic and most historic glens. Made famous by the bloody massacre at the MacDonald clan in 1692, Glencoe is a place of towering mountains and deep valleys shaped by violent volcanic eruptions and sculpted by massive glaciers. Beyond the glen the countryside suddenly gets desolate. One of the last remaining wildernesses in Europe, the Great Moor of Rannoch is a vast expanse of boggy moorland, lochans, rivers and rocky outcrops. When you are heading south on the only road through this empty stretch of land watch out for the stags and red deer on the hills. You continue through the picturesque Trossachs National Park and finally reach Edinburgh.  Distance: 135 miles, Driving Time: about 3 hrs, Accommodation: Edinburgh

Day 20: The capital Edinburgh

The capital of Scotland, is said to be built on seven hills, in an allusion to the seven hills of Rome. Take a walk through the Old and New Town (UNESCO World Heritage Sites), discover Holyrood Palace, the Royal Mile and Edinburgh Castle, and enjoy the view over town from Carlton Hill. In the evening fantastic restaurants and cosy pubs invite you to linger and soak in the lively atmosphere. If you’re brave enough you can join one of the many ghost tours through to discover Edinburgh’s dark past. Accommodation: Edinburgh

Day 21: Departure 

Today you have to say goodbye to a wonderful, welcoming country. Take a last stroll through the streets of Edinburgh, buy a few last souvenirs or visit one of the many galleries and museums before starting your journey home.

Services

Tour includes

• 20 overnight stays in 3*-4* en-suite accommodation
• Scottish breakfast
• hire car for 20 days from/to airport including insurance and Sat Nav
• Scotland road map
• comprehensive info-pack
• 24/7 emergency hotline

Not included

• flights
• lunch and dinner
• fuel
• admissions
• additional driver

Optional add-ons

• £69 pp additional night in Edinburgh/Glasgow, double/twin room in B&B accommodation (+ £41 pp single supplement)
• £89 pp additional night in Edinburgh/Glasgow, double/twin room in hotel accommodation (+ £61 pp single supplement)

Additional Information

Duration: 21 Tage
Participants: from 2 pax
Start: Edinburgh/Glasgow Airport
Finish: Edinburgh/Glasgow Airport

When deciding on your travel dates, please bear in mind that we require at least 6 weeks to prepare. Every trip is meticulously planned and organised, and the information pack is compiled with great care and attention. We also have to allow time for the information pack to be delivered (postal delivery can take on average 4 weeks in Europe). If you do want to travel at short notice, please contact us by email. Thank you for your cooperation!

Dates & Prices

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