13 Day Highlands, Islands & Cities

Tour Description

From Jedburgh to the Orkney Islands, explore Scotland’s picturesque castles, grand cities, quaint villages and dramatic landscapes. Sample Scottish whisky and watch the tradition of ‘piping in the haggis’.

Tour Highlights

• Edinburgh: Castle visit, views of Holyrood House, Arthur’s Seat, Princes Street, New Town, Royal Mile and Scottish Parliament.
• North Berwick: Visit the pretty seaside resort.
• Jedburgh: See the Abbey, visit the Woollen shop.
• St. Andrews: See the famous golf course.
• Glamis Castle: Visit the childhood home of the Queen Mother.
• Culloden: See the Battle site of Bonnie Prince Charlie’s defeat.
• Dunrobin Castle: Visit the majestic castle and formal gardens.
• Orkney Islands: Excursion to the remote Isles (subject to weather conditions).
• John O’ Groats: Britain’s most northerly point.
• South Ronaldsay: Visit the Italian Chapel.
• Scara Brae: See the remains of the Neolithic village.
• Ullapool: Visit this pretty village.
• Isle of Skye: See the island of Bonnie Prince Charlie.
• Kyle of Lochalsh: See the Eilean Donan Castle.
• Glencoe: See the site of the famous massacre.
• Mull: Excursion to this once volcanic island.
• Iona: Visit this tiny island, burial place of Scottish Kings and Queens.
• Culzean Castle: Visit the 18th century Robert Adam castle.
• Glasgow: Orientation tour seeing George Square, Clydeside City Chambers and visiting St. Mungo’s Cathedral.

Your Hotels

Stay at the following (or similar):

• Novotel Edinburgh Centre, Edinburgh
• Thistle Aberdeen Altens, Aberdeen
• Macdonald Highland Resort, Aviemore
• Royal Hotel, Thurso
• Tongadale Hotel, Isle of Skye
• Ballachulish Hotel, Ballachulish
• Jurys Inn, Glasgow

First Class Travel Highlights

• First Class hotel accommodation includes twin-bedded rooms with private facilities, all hotel service charges and tips, baggage handling fees and local taxes.
• Touring by luxury air-conditioned coach with reclining seats and a washroom onboard.
• The services of one of Trafalgar’s top professional Tour Directors.
• A qualified local city guide in Edinburgh.
• Tickets are included for the world-famous Tattoo during the Edinburgh Festival.
• A stylish wallet, tour documents and map book journal.
• Airport transfers are provided on Day 1 and Day 13 (conditions apply)

Dining Highlights

• 12 full Scottish breakfasts
• 6 three-course dinners
• Local highlight dinner with whisky in the Scottish Highlands
• Farewell Dinner with wine in Glasgow

Edinburgh Tattoo 6-28 August 2010

• Tickets are included for the world-famous Tattoo during the Festival. Applicable to departures 9-23 August.

Itinerary

Day 1 Arrive Edinburgh (3 nights)

After hotel check-in, time to relax before we get together with our Tour Director and fellow travellers for a Welcome Drink. Stay: Novotel Edinburgh Centre

Day 2 Edinburgh sightseeing and at leisure

Our morning sightseeing tour visits Princes Street, the New Town and the Royal Mile plus a trip to the castle for a guided visit of the apartments and views of Holyrood House, former residence of Mary Queen of Scots, as well as Arthur’s Seat. You may wish to join in an excursion to visit the Rosslyn Chapel – made famous by the ‘Da Vinci Code’. During the Edinburgh Festival, tickets for the spectacular Edinburgh Tattoo are included. (B)

Day 3 Edinburgh – Excursion to the Borders

First along the coast to the seaside resort of North Berwick which is popular for its beaches and golf courses. Then to Jedburgh with its impressive 12th century ruined abbey. We have the chance to visit the woollen mills before continuing to Melrose where we see the abbey which is said to contain the casket wherein lies the heart of Robert the Bruce. Finally, we follow the valley of the River Tweed back to Edinburgh. (B)

Day 4 Edinburgh – St. Andrews – Glamis Castle – Aberdeen

Our Tour Director will reveal a Hidden Treasure to us today! But first we cross the Forth Bridge to St. Andrews’ famous golf course. We take a picture at the 18th hole before continuing via Dundee to visit Glamis Castle – childhood home of the late Queen Mother. Then we head to our hotel at Aberdeen with a late afternoon arrival. This evening, we will enjoy a dinner in our hotel. (B/D) Stay: Thistle Aberdeen Altens

Day 5 Aberdeen – Scottish Highlands

Today’s drive takes us through classic Scottish landscapes along the valley of the River Dee. From here we drive past Ballater and along Royal Deeside then through the rugged Cairngorm Mountains to Speyside. This area around the River Spey in Moray, Badenoch and Strathspey is renowned for the production of some of the best-selling malt whiskies in the world. Next we head to our hotel in the heart of the Scottish Highlands where we enjoy a traditional Highlight Dinner including ‘piping
in the haggis’! (B/HD) Stay: Macdonalds Highland Resort

Day 6 Scottish Highlands – Loch Ness – Thurso (2 nights)

This morning we’re off to Culloden battlefield, scene of the 1746 defeat of the Stuarts. Then via Inverness we drive along the shores of Loch Ness before heading north to Dunrobin Castle, ancestral home of the Dukes of Sutherland. Time to stroll in the formal gardens before heading to our hotel in Thurso for dinner. (B/D) Stay: Royal

Day 7 Orkney Islands excursion

We board a ferry today, weather permitting, from John O’Groats to South Ronaldsay where we overlook Scapa Flow and visit the Italian Chapel. We move on to Scara Brae to see the remains of a Neolithic village before passing the pre-historic Ring of Brodgar to Viking Kirkwall. Late afternoon, we reboard our ferry back to the mainland and Thurso. (B/D)

Day 8 Thurso – Isle of Skye

We enjoy a drive through stunning and unspoilt landscapes along the northern coastline with its sandy beaches. Then further inland to misty valleys and glens, lochs and rushing waters before our arrival in Ullapool on Loch Broom. More scenic wonders as we head to the Kyle of Lochalsh where we cross over the sea to Skye. (B/D) Stay: Tongadale

Day 9 Isle of Skye – Eilean Donan Castle – Loch Ness – Ballachulish

We have some leisure time in Portree before driving past Eilean Donan castle, through Glen Sheil and along the shores of Loch Cluanie. Over the mountains to view Loch Garry on the way to Fort William glimpsing Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest mountain. Next to beautiful Ballachulish. (B/D) Stay: Ballachulish (2 nights)

Day 10 Mull and Iona excursion

After a short drive this morning we will board our ferry at Oban and cruise across the mouth of Loch Linnhe to Craignure on the Isle of Mull. This island is the fourth largest Scottish island with a population of 2,667 and the capital is the town of Tobermory. From here we drive to Fionnphort for a short sea crossing to the island of Iona. On arrival we visit the abbey before returning to Ballachulish. (B/D)

Day 11

Today we travel through stunning Glencoe, site of the infamous 1692 massacre and on via Tyndrum to the beautiful scenery of Loch Lomond. Here there’s time for a picture stop or maybe take a cruise on the Loch. Later we arrive in Glasgow for two nights. We enjoy an orientation tour of the largest Scottish city including George Square, the impressive City Chambers and a visit to St. Mungo’s Cathedral. Then time for leisure or shopping. (B) Stay: Jurys Inn

Day 12 Robert Burns excursion

Today we head into Robbie Burns country to visit Culzean Castle and enjoy its beautiful grounds. Next on to Alloway to view the Burns Monument and Burns Cottage before returning to Glasgow. Tonight, we enjoy a Farewell Dinner together with our Tour Director. (B/D)

Day 13 Depart Glasgow

Time to bid a fond farewell to Bonnie Scotland and its isles and our Tour Director and new-found friends as our tour comes to an end this morning. (B)

Free Airport Transfers

Transfers on arrival at XXXX Airport will operate at 09.30, 12.30, 15.30 and 18.45. Passengers arriving later should make their own way to the first hotel. Return transfers on the last touring day will arrive at XXXX Airport at 07.00 and 09.30. Read more on the ‘General Info’ tab.

Dates and Prices for 2012

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Accommodation rating Represents the standard of hotel used most frequently throughout this tour

Extras Represents the individual operators suggested budget to pay for additional activities on tour (dinners,entertainment,excursions etc) NOT included in base tour price

Hotel legend:
D deluxe | SF superior first | F first | MF moderate first | ST superior tourist | T Tourist