2019 Scottish Clans & Castles 11 day/10 night tour

2019 SCOTTISH CLANS & CASTLES 11 DAYS / 10 NIGHTS / 18 MEALS

Day 1: GLASGOW ARRIVAL & DOUNE CASTLE
Tour begins at 2:00 PM at your Drymen hotel, 20 miles north of Glasgow. Visit Doune Castle, which has been featured in “Game of Thrones” and “Outlander.” Enjoy free time in Callander and a drive through the Trossachs region, often called “Scotland in Miniature” as all aspects of delightful Scottish scenery are found here. Enjoy a welcome drink with your group before dinner.
(D)

Day 2: STIRLING CASTLE & BANNOCKBURN VISITOR CENTER
Visit Stirling Castle, a mighty stronghold that dominates the surrounding plain, before some free time on your own for lunch. Tour the Battle of Bannockburn Visitor Centre to learn about medieval weapons and armour, walk the real battlefield where Scottish King Robert the Bruce defeated English troops, and enjoy a thrilling 3D battle show.
(B, D)

Day 3: Glencoe & Eilean Donan Castle
Head into the majestic Highlands and journey by Loch Lomond, across Rannoch Moor and through Glencoe, often considered one of Scotland’s most spectacular and beautiful places. Stop for photo opportunities along the route. Treat yourself to Scottish goods at a woollen mill and continue your journey north to the romantic Eilean Donan Castle.
(B, D)

Day 4: ISLE OF SKYE & DUNVEGAN CASTLE
Explore the Isle of Skye and learn the history of Bonnie Prince Charlie. Travel to Dunvegan Castle, the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland. Admire the Trotternish Peninsula as you travel to Kilt Rock, a 200-foot-high sea cliff with huge, vertical basalt columns. Visit Flora MacDonald’s grave in Kilmuir Graveyard and stop in Portree for free time.
(B, D)

Day 5: CLAN DONALD CENTER & STEAM TRAIN RIDE
Discover the history of the Lords of the Isles at the Clan Donald Centre at Armadale Castle. Embark on a ferry ride to Mallaig and transfer to a steam train for a ride through some of Scotland’s most picturesque scenery. The Jacobite Steam Train crosses the 21-arched Glenfinnan Viaduct, which was featured in some of the Harry Potter movies. Travel from Fort William to your hotel in Inverness.
(B, D)

Day 6: LOCH NESS CRUISE & URQUHART CASTLE
Photo opportunities await as you visit the picturesque ruins of Urquhart Castle, once Scotland’s largest castle, and embark on a cruise of Loch Ness. Stop at the Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre to discover how British Government forces defeated the army of Bonnie Prince Charlie, ending the Jacobite rising. Return to Inverness for dinner and an evening walking tour.
(B, D)

Day 7: WHISKY TASTING & BRODIE CASTLE
See where many Speyside distilleries are based close to the pure water of the River Spey. . Tour Glen Grant Distillery and sample a "wee dram of whisky." Tour Johnstons of Elgin to discover the history and craftsmanship behind their fine woollens. Explore 16th-century Brodie Castle, set in spacious grounds with its fairytale towers and turrets. The house contains fine furnishings, a collection of paintings, and a library with over 6,000 volumes. Return to Inverness and relax before dinner at your hotel.
(B, D)

Day 8: SHEEPDOGS & CULROSS WALK
Immerse yourself in farm life and enjoy a demonstration where dogs obey commands to round up sheep. In Pitlochry, explore and have lunch independently. Continue to Culross for a walking tour around the charming 16th-century town, recently used as a filming location for “Outlander.” Highlights include the Town House, Culross Palace, and the remains of Culross Abbey. Enjoy free time in Culross before heading to Edinburgh for a Scottish evening with a farewell dinner and traditional entertainment.
(B, D)

Day 9: EDINBURGH TOUR & PALACE OF HOLYROODHOUSE
In Edinburgh, see how the medieval townhouses along the Royal Mile in the heart of the Old Town are in stark contrast to the Georgian mansions of the 200-year-old New Town. Tour the impressive Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official Scottish residence of the Queen, and walk through the majestically furnished chambers. The rest of the day is free. July 25 to August 15 departures enjoy the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo at the Castle Esplanade.
(B)

Day 10: INDEPENDENT DAY IN EDINBURGH
Spend the day on an independent hop-on hop-off bus tour of Edinburgh. Enjoy a walking tour around parts of the city’s historic areas where you will have a selection of tours and routes. You will receive a taxi voucher to travel from your hotel to the city center, as well as a voucher to visit Edinburgh Castle where you may explore the historic buildings with great views of the city.
(B)

Day 11: TOUR ENDS IN EDINBURGH
Your program ends after breakfast.
(B)

B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner

Authentic Local Experiences:

• Expect an unforgettable evening of music, ceremony, theatre and dance with reserved seats for the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo on July 25 to August 15 departures.
• Go behind the scenes at one of Scotland’s famous distilleries for a tour and a tasting.
• Experience the stunning scenery of the Highlands during a steam train ride across the Glenfinnan Viaduct

Trip Highlights:

• Brodie Castle

  Brodie Castle

  Step back in time to the castle’s glory days, when the Brodie family were one of Scotland’s most prominent families.
• Clan Donald Centre

  Clan Donald Centre at Armadale Castle

  Armadale Castle is a ruined country house in Armadale, Skye, former home of the MacDonalds. A mansion house was first built here around 1790.
• Culloden Battlefield Visitor centre

  Culloden Battlefield

  This is the site of the last land battle within the UK, in which King George II’s troops defeated Bonnie Prince Charlie and his Jacobite supporters in 1746; around 1200 people were reputedly killed. The Visitor Centre, opened in 2008, includes exhibitions, restaurant, shop and a landscaped roof platform for views over the battlefield.
• Doune Castle

  Doune Castle

  Doune Castle is a medieval stronghold near the village of Doune, in the Stirling district of central Scotland. The castle is sited on a wooded bend where the Ardoch Burn flows into the River Teith.
• Dunvegan Castle

  Dunvegan Castle

  This oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland has been the stronghold of the Chiefs of MacLeod for nearly 800 years, surviving clan battles and profound social and political changes. Within Dunvegan’s stately halls are priceless heirlooms, some of which have descended through the hands of the Chiefs of MacLeod since medieval times.
• Eilean Donan Castle

  Eilean Donan Castle

  This iconic castle is surrounded by majestic scenery. The first fortified castle was built in the mid 13th century and re-built through the centuries. Partially destroyed in a Jacobite uprising in 1719, Eilean Donan lay in ruins for the best part of 200 years. It took 20 years to restore from 1912 until its opening to the public in 1932.
• Isle of Skye

  Isle of Skye

  The Isle of Skye is the largest and most northerly island in Scotland’s Inner Hebrides. The island is dominated by the Cuillin Hills and is often referred to as the “Misty Isle”. It is associated with Bonnie Prince Charlie who fled there after the Battle of Culloden.
• Stirling Castle

  Stirling Castle

  Stirling Castle is a great symbol of Scottish independence and a source of national pride. The Castle's long, turbulent history is associated with great figures from Scotland’s past such as “Braveheart” William Wallace & Mary Queen of Scots.

Dining Experiences:

• 10 breakfasts (B) and 8 dinners (D) including a festive Scottish evening in Edinburgh.

Hotels:

• GB-DRY-WIN | Drymen (2)
• GB-RSS-THE | near Kyle of Lochalsh (2)
• GB-INV-GLN | Inverness (3)
• GB-EDI-NHH | near Edinburgh (3)