This tour of Scotland is an activity level 4. Click here for terms, conditions, and cancelation policies.
*Subject to change. Updated January 9, 2024.
October 21, Monday Day 1:
Welcome to Edinburgh and the start of your Small Group Tour of Scotland! I’ll pick you up at the airport and take you to our hotel. Your room will be ready when you get there if you wanna take a nap or freshen up. The rest of the day is all yours.
Meet in the hotel lobby to walk over to The Devil’s Advocate for our Welcome Dinner! Dinner and a drink are on me!
October 22, Tuesday Day 2:
After breakfast (which is included all week), we’ll be heading to the Royal Mile.
Starting at the top, we’ll spend our morning at Edinburgh Castle. Everyone will get an audio guide and I will set you all free to tour at your own speed. We’ll meet back up for Afternoon Tea (included) in the castle restaurant.
Heading down the hill to the bottom of the Royal Mile, next up is Holyrood House Palace. Everyone will have an audio guide again to take in the Palace at their own speed.
The rest of the day is free for your own plans. Personalized suggestions can be made for what to do with your time.
October 23, Wednesday Day 3:
An optional early morning hike to the top of Arthur’s Seat for sunrise is available for anyone interested. We’ll meet up in the lobby later to head out for sightseeing and an Instagram-worthy photo tour of Edinburgh.
Lunch is at your own expense but I can make several suggestions. The evening will be at your leisure.
Add on Excursion: Consider adding on an exceptional evening at The Scotch Whisky Experience. We’ll be heading over to the Scotch Whisky Experience for a whisky pairing dinner after taking their tour of how whisky is made. This will be a very fun night!
October 24, Thursday Day 4:
We’ll be heading out early for a full day on a private tour with Rabbie’s (my favorite tour company…ever).
From their website:
“You leave the cobbled streets of Edinburgh and travel past Linlithgow Palace and Stirling Castle.
This region is soaked in history, so sit back and relax as your driver-guide entertains you with the tales of Mary Queen of Scots, William Wallace, and Scottish folklore.
If you keep a lookout, you can catch a glimpse of the Kelpies. These 30-metre tall horse head sculptures need to be seen to be believed.
Your driver-guide takes you to their favourite stop within the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park where you can grab coffee and enjoy the views.
After this stop, it’s time to get your camera ready. Because as you travel north into the Highlands, the landscapes suddenly become more provocative.
Shimmering lochs, rugged mountains, forest filled glens: it’s all so beautiful that it’s easy to forget these were once battlegrounds for fiercely territorial Highland clans.
You stop in Glencoe, one of the most famous natural landmarks in all of Scotland. This beautiful area boasts steep slopes and photogenic peaks. Your driver-guide may reveal to you the tragic tale that’s haunted this valley for over 300 years.
You then enter the glacial valley known as the Great Glen and pass under the shadow of Ben Nevis, Britain’s tallest mountain.
After this visual feast of mighty inclines, you arrive in Fort Augustus on the banks of Loch Ness. At 23 miles long and over 700ft deep, Loch Ness is the largest loch by volume in Scotland.
You have around one hour and a half here. You can search for the infamous monster on a relaxing boat cruise,* wander around the shores of the loch at your own pace, and grab a bite to eat.
Meals will be at your own expense at various stops throughout the day.
October 25, Friday Day 5:
Another fabulous day out on a private tour with Rabbie’s…this time we will focus on Outlander filming locations. Rest assured though, if you aren’t an Outlander fan…you’re still going to LOVE this tour. I’ve never seen an episode of the show but I’ve been on this tour three times and its incredible!!
From their website:
“You leave Edinburgh and begin following the trail of film locations featured in the Outlander TV Series. First, we travel to the place that needs no introduction: Midhope Castle, known as Jamie’s lovely home Lallybroch.
We then journey through the charming countryside to Blackness Castle. It’s an impressive fortress that’s known as the ‘ship that never sailed’ because it resembles a giant stone boat. You have time to walk along the ramparts and explore the fictional headquarters of Jack Randall.
The next stop is Linlithgow Palace, otherwise known as Wentworth Prison.
Unfortunately, the palace is undergoing some refurbishment and you can’t explore the interior. But you’re still able to admire the structure and enjoy the surrounding settings.
Heading north, we journey past Stirling Castle and the Wallace Monument to Doune Castle, or as it’s called in Outlander, Castle Leoch. This formidable building represents home to Colum Mackenzie and his clan in the 18th-century episodes.
Travel back in time once more as your driver guide takes you to Culross. This virtually unchanged 16th-century village overlooks the sea and poses as the fictional town of Cranesmuir.
From there, we head back to Edinburgh, where we arrive in the late afternoon.”
Lunch will be at your own expense at various stops throughout the day.
After our day trip, we’ll go to the Old Chain Pier Restaurant for our Farewell Dinner, where we can exchange stories and pictures from our epic stay in Edinburgh! Dinner and a drink are included with my gratitude to you for letting me show you one of my favorite cities in the world.
October 26, Saturday Day 6:
This morning, we’ll be packing up and heading out of Edinburgh. We’ll be making our way to Waverley Station to start our journey north. We’ll then settle in on the train for a four hour long journey watching the gorgeous countryside go by as we head into the Highlands.
Upon arrival, we’ll drop our luggage off at the hotel and I’ll take you on a walking tour of Inverness before giving you the rest of the evening with plenty of recommendations for dinner and things to do.
October 27, Sunday Day 7:
Today, we’ll be going over the sea to Skye (sorry I couldn’t help myself with another epic tour with Rabbies.)
From their website:
“After an early start, you leave the city and travel along the Great Glen Fault Line toward Loch Ness. You’ll continue through dramatic Highland scenery to the west coast and Eilean Donan Castle.
The moment you’ve been waiting for, because it’s over the sea and onto the Isle of Skye. You travel up the island’s east coast through the stunning Red Cuillin Mountains to Sligachan, where you stop for a photo of the clear mountain waters.
You’ll explore some of the most famous scenery of the island at the Trotternish
Peninsula. The Old Man of Storr, Kilt Rock, and the Quiraing are all unforgettably beautiful.
You venture to Kyleakin for a chance to view the dramatic ruin of Castle Moil or the Skye Bridge and Eilean Ban. Traveling over the bridge, you journey back to Inverness. The route you take back is different from the morning, so you get even more opportunities to enjoy the Highland scenery.
This will be a long but PHENOMENAL day. Meals will be at your own expense at various stops throughout the day.
October 28, Monday Day 8:
Sadly, we will all go our separate ways today (unless you’re coming with me to Ireland! 😉) but I can point you in the right direction if you’re going to the airport or back to the train station to go back to Edinburgh and beyond.
Slàinte Mhath (cheers) and safe travels as you head home! Until we meet again!
Included in your small group tour of Scotland
- Airport transfers
- Seven nights in a Premier Inn
- Included Meals
- 7 hot breakfasts at the hotel
- 2 dinners at local restaurants
- 1 entree, a side, and one alcoholic beverage or dessert
- Sharing platters for the table at both restaurants
- 1 afternoon tea
- Tickets and Audio Guides
- Edinburgh Castle
- Holyroodhouse Palace
- Any entry tickets needed on day trips
- Three full-day guided day trips with Rabbie’s Tour Company
- Loch Ness and Glencoe
- Outlander Filming Locations
- Isle of Skye
- Walking photo tour of Edinburgh
- Walking tour of Inverness
- Hike up to the top of Arthur’s Seat for Sunrise
- Cab back to the hotel after Farewell dinner
- One guide who is a text away if you need her (that’s me!)
- Brighter Things Amenity Kit mailed to you before the trip to make your flight more comfortable
- A pre-trip group Zoom call to say hey to everyone and go over any details you may be uncertain about.
- For example: flying internationally if this is your first time.
- A swag bag waiting for you in your hotel room full of fun stuff.
NOT Included in your small group tour of Scotland:
- Flights
- Public transportation or cabs used during free time Meals not included:
- Any meal not listed above
- Meals and snacks during day trips
- Meals and snacks purchased at M&S for the train ride
- Entry tickets to places suggested for free time
- Shopping
- Train ticket back to Edinburgh if you choose round trip flights instead of multi-city.
*Subject to change. Updated January 9, 2024
This tour is an activity level 4. Click here for terms, conditions, and cancelation policies.
