See the real Scotland - a land of rugged mountains, breathtaking lochs and heather-covered Highlands marked by fortressed castles, quaint villages and glorious gardens. This fascinating tour makes the most of the warm Scottish welcome, with accommodation and experiences that reflect the rich Celtic culture.

Tour Inclusions
• 5 nights in unique & traditional accommodation
• Driver/Guide companion
• All mini-coach transportation
• Full Scottish cooked breakfast daily
• Three-course evening meals x 3
• Scottish Entertainment
• Ferry crossings to Mull and Iona

Entrance fees as listed:

• Iona Abbey
• Dunvegan Castle or the Museum of Island Life
• Culloden Museum
• Bannockburn

Fri 23 Apr, 2010 - Wed 28 Apr, 2010 (5 nights)Fri 7 May, 2010 - Wed 12 May, 2010 (5 nights)Fri 21 May, 2010 - Wed 26 May, 2010 (5 nights)Fri 4 Jun, 2010 - Wed 9 Jun, 2010 (5 nights)Fri 18 Jun, 2010 - Wed 23 Jun, 2010 (5 nights)Fri 2 Jul, 2010 - Wed 7 Jul, 2010 (5 nights)Fri 16 Jul, 2010 - Wed 21 Jul, 2010 (5 nights)Fri 30 Jul, 2010 - Wed 4 Aug, 2010 (5 nights)Fri 13 Aug, 2010 - Wed 18 Aug, 2010 (5 nights)Fri 27 Aug, 2010 - Wed 1 Sep, 2010 (5 nights)Fri 10 Sep, 2010 - Wed 15 Sep, 2010 (5 nights)Fri 24 Sep, 2010 - Wed 29 Sep, 2010 (5 nights)Fri 8 Oct, 2010 - Wed 13 Oct, 2010 (5 nights)

Itinerary:

Day 1  Oban
From Edinburgh we travel to Paisley, famed for its Abbey and its eponymous patterned fabrics. We then visit the birthplace of William Wallace as we head to Dumbarton and its Robert the Bruce connections. Driving by Loch Lomond and its bonnie banks, we take in the stunning view as we climb over the "Rest and be Thankful". The scenery is breathtaking as we make our way to Inverary with its fairytale castle, and our lunch stop might be the inn Bothwell, Burns and Keats once frequented. Following the shores of Loch Fyne we reach Kilmartin Glen and its ancient stone circles and burial cairns, before heading on to Oban.
(D)

Day 2  Oban
Today we take the ferry across the Firth of Lorne to the Inner Hebridean Isle of Mull giving us fine views as we go, including a sight of Duart Castle, the ancestral home of the Maclean clan. We travel across the island, taking in the untouched landscape, before reaching Fionnphort where we take a short ferry ride to the mystic Island of Iona, home to St Columba some 1400 years ago. We see the ancient ruins of the Nunnery and the Abbey, once the burial site of Scotland's kings. On our way back to the mainland, we might even be able to enjoy breathtaking views of the Outer Hebridean islands before heading back to Oban.
(B)

Day 3  Kintail
Today we travel the back roads through glorious mountain scenery as we pass through the wooded Glen Orchy and desolate Rannoch Moor into the dramatic Highlands and the splendid isolation of the pass of Glen Coe, where the Campbells tragically massacred the MacDonalds. We visit the historic Fort William before turning west along the "Road to the Isles" to Loch Shiel and Glenfinnan, where Bonnie Prince Charlie raised his standard in his ill-fated attempt to restore the Stewarts to the British throne. Following the Caledonian Canal we will view Ben Nevis, Britain's highest mountain, and have time to reflect on the Commandos Memorial near Spean Bridge before making our way to our accommodation at Kintail through Glen Garry.
(B/D)

Day 4  Inverness
Today we cross the sea to Skye, taking the local ferry from Glenelg if the weather is clement. Depending on our route, our island journey will take in either Dunvegan Castle with its 1500 year-old fairy flag, then try and find evidence of dinosaurs on Skye's Jurassic coast. We remember Flora MacDonald, who helped Bonnie Prince Charlie escape to France after his defeat at the Battle of Culloden in 1746. After lunching in Portree, we cross the new Skye bridge to the Kyle of Lochalsh, passing the 3000 feet high hills of the Red and Black Cullins. Travelling northwards we see mountains which were once attached to Newfoundland! As we head to Inverness we turn south through Beauly to the banks of Loch Ness and its elusive monster and then turn to our Inverness accommodation.
(B)

Day 5  Fife 
This morning we see the site of the Battle of Culloden, where Bonnie Prince Charlie's rebel troops were defeated by the English. There is an excellent museum which brings the battle vividly to life. Then, picking up the famous whisky trail, we visit one of the many distilleries in the Strathspey area. Turning south through back roads which are often inaccessible during the snows of winter, we go on to Braemar, famous for its Highland Games and not far from Balmoral, the Queen's summer home. Heading down Glen Shee we regain the Lowlands and the village of Meigle with its mysterious carvings on the Pictish Stones. Then through the City of Dundee and over the Tay Bridge to St Andrews, the home of golf as we arrive in Fife for an Scottish meal.
(B/D)

Day 6  Edinburgh
As we head out of the Kingdom of Fife we visit one of the area's many beautiful harbours and spend a short time in Dunfermline Abbey, the burial place of King Robert the Bruce. Dunfermline, once the capital of Scotland, was the birthplace of many Kings. We continue on to Bannockburn, famous for Bruce's decisive win against the English in 1314. A few miles to the north we reach Stirling, the scene of William Wallace's 1296 victory at Stirling Bridge. You might want to visit the Castle, currently being carefully restored to its former glory, after which we sadly reach the end of our Scottish Sojourn and head back to Edinburgh.
(B)

Price

Pick-up/Drop-off Information:
Tour departs at 08.30am and returns (approx) at 5.30pm from:
 

Edinburgh Hotel TBA