Your own guided tour of the Scottish Highlands, the Isle of Skye, Stirling and St. Andrews
This is an extended ‘Classic Tour’ offering you the chance to visit many ‘ must see’ Scottish destinations as well as getting to know local food, music, folks and ways.
Day One – Castles, History, and Legends: Leave Edinburgh at 8.30am for Blackness Castle, a port for Linlithgow Palace, and for many years a state prison. Straddle the mighty River Forth with a visit to Stirling Bridge, views of the Wallace Monument and Stirling Castle, visit Doune Castle, home of the Duke of Albany ‘Scotland’s Uncrowned King’, a favored dowager residence and Swamp Castle and Castle Anthrax in ‘Monty Python’s Holy Grail’. Lunch in or around Doune.
Saunter in the country of Rob Roy and follow old drovers route through Glen Dochart, a journey across Rannoch Moor and by Glen Etive, we recount the big Scottish storytelling, from Braveheart to Kidnapped to Outlander, drawing on history and legend. Plot out Skyfall locations and delve into the world of Harry Potter. We hear some lesser-known tales before arriving at the Glenfinnan Viaduct, ‘the Harry Potter Bridge’ and the virtual site of Hogwarts School. Tales of Bonnie Prince Charlie, and of fishing, journey along the Road to the Isles to Mallaig before checking in at welcome lodgings in Arisaig.
Day Two – Wonder and Magic: After awaking to the sound of the sea, and a delicious home-cooked breakfast, head to Mallaig to board the ferry to the magical Isle of Skye, travel in the shadow of giants by experiencing the Tolkeinesque landscapes of the Red and Black Cuillin Mountains, walk to an Iron Age Broch (fort), tread lightly at the wonderful and enigmatic Fairy Glen (option of walk up into Castle Ewen), take in the Quirang (part of the Trotternish landslip), Kilt Rock and the Old Man of Storr; this is a day of breathtaking scenery, reading the land, and hearing a local story or two; first of two overnight stays in vibrant and colorful Portree
Day Three – Loch Ness, Highlands, Clans, and Whisky: Eilean Donan Castle, a great Edwardian reconstruction of a medieval castle, along Glen Moriston and by Roderick Mackenzie’s grave, visit Loch Ness and its kaleidoscope of theories and stories, visit Dundreggan, a flagship centre for rewilding in Scotland, and lunch, option of a short walk at Creag Meagaidh, stop for a dram at Dalwhinnie Distillery views of Blair Castle (a great fund of family lore and treasure in an ancient family home), stay at the small highland resort town of Pitlochry in a guest house such as Craigatin House and Courtyard.
Day Four – Saints, Picturesque Places, and Golf: visit the tiny ‘city’ of Dunkeld with its ancient cathedral, a place of spiritual significance and a centre of Christianity for over a thousand years, its’ carefully restored early 18th century village centre with water wynds, fountain and Ell measure, across Thomas Telford’s Bridge over the River Tay to Birnam (of Shakespeare’s Macbeth) and Beatrix Potter Garden, over the Tay Bridge to St. Andrews, home of golf, Scotland’s oldest university, castle and cathedral, beaches, and fine old town with medieval street plan, beautiful houses, cafes and restaurants. A night in the Kingdom of Fife
Day Five – Fishing Villages, Crafts, and Gardens: explore the fine fishing villages of Crail & Anstruther, the history of beautiful Falkland Palace and ancient Falkland itself, which hosted scenes of Outlander and boasts idyllic features, 16th century wedding lintels, fine crafts and picturesque weaving houses. Saunter to a historic garden such as Drummond Castle Gardens or to Castle Campbell Castle Campbell and explore local food & fine gins or whisky enroute. Back to Edinburgh for early evening.
This tour can also be built around bagpipe playing in Portree (Tuesday in summer). The tour can be taken with accommodation and stops serving vegetarian food.
Time will be given also to lesser known places and stories, following in the footsteps of early travel writers, historians, storytellers, missionaries, clansfolk, militias, cattle drovers, fishers and migrants. Evenings can be spent in serene walking, contemplation, conviviality, and dining on fabulous locally sourced food and drink.
