Itinerary Details
Day 1: Arrive in Edinburgh
Orange glows from low-lit lamps that dot centuries-old houses, leading the path to a stoned castle on top of the hill. Paths smudged with long forgotten footsteps eager to tell their tale. And an array of locally owned stores that have stood the test of time. Edinburgh is the city that hosts our group meet. You’ll gather with those you’re sharing this journey with, then clink glasses and share stories of our own as we tuck into a welcome meal.
Meal(s): Dinner
Hotel: Malmaison Edinburgh City (4 Star Rating)
Discover luxury and comfort at Malmaison Edinburgh City, perfectly placed in the pulsating core of Scotland's vibrant capital. Just a heartbeat away from landmarks like Edinburgh Castle and the renowned Royal Mile, this hotel nestles amid the historic charm of the Old Town. With quaint cobblestone streets, timeless Scottish architecture, and a smorgasbord of cafes, bars, and eateries surrounding them, they stand as an unbeatable base for both leisure explorers and business wanderers.
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Transfer: Edinburgh Airportto Edinburgh - City Centre
Day 2: Edinburgh to St Andrews and HighlandsThis morning you'll wind northwards, passing through the quaint villages of East Neuk until we reach St Andrews - the city where young royalty meets golf heritage.
There, you'll have free time to explore. Seek the University of St Andrews, where a certain love story began. Polish off your golf facts with a venture around the British Golf Museum - home to a colourful history that spans centuries. Or travel back in time to when St Andrews housed the largest cathedral in all of Scotland, its ruins evoking a sense of age-old nostalgia. As we head northwards to your hotel in the Highlands, bask in the ever-changing scenery filled with rugged glens and dramatic hills.
Hotel: Balmoral Arms (5 Star Rating)
Featuring luxurious rooms and suites, this traditional countryside inn in Ballater features cozy suites and locally inspired cuisine. Enjoy a quaint stay in Royal Deeside, with rooms and suites offering a blend of sizes and styles to suit every stay. Contemporary interiors hint at their Victorian heritage in some rooms, with Highland hues in others. Rooms and suites offer simple comfort and welcome touches for those spending more time outside than in. Family dogs are also made to feel at home.
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Meal(s): Breakfast
Day 3: Explore The HighlandsThat fresh Highland air filling your lungs - there's no feeling like it! You'll begin your day with a visit to one of the treasures Scotland is famed for... a magnificent castle. Prominent and majestic in stature, this piece of history looms over the land like the kings and queens who once lived within its walls reigned over its people - with strength, power and perseverance. With a bounty of castles in the area, you might be wondering which stronghold you'll explore... You'll give the honour of divulging to your local Tour Leader.
Following our stroll into the past, a journey through nature is next! Something to be aware of? The weather - as varied as it is in bonnie Scotland - will dictate the atmosphere you experience. Low cloud over mulls and glens promises an ethereal feeling that raises the hairs on the back of your neck - as though a Gaelic witch is brewing a storm, whilst clear blue skies promise vast scenery. Minds filled with lush landscapes and local tales shared by our Tour Leader, you'll return to your hotel.
Hotel: Balmoral Arms (5 Star Rating)
Featuring luxurious rooms and suites, this traditional countryside inn in Ballater features cozy suites and locally inspired cuisine. Enjoy a quaint stay in Royal Deeside, with rooms and suites offering a blend of sizes and styles to suit every stay. Contemporary interiors hint at their Victorian heritage in some rooms, with Highland hues in others. Rooms and suites offer simple comfort and welcome touches for those spending more time outside than in. Family dogs are also made to feel at home.
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Meal(s): Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4: Highlands to InvernessWake up and breathe in your morning coffee - another day of embracing all that Scotland has to offer is right beneath our noses. First: buckle up in the mini coach and watch a cacophony of green forest trees, imposing mountains and shimmering waters flit by from the comfort of your seat as we travel towards the Highlands’ capital: Inverness.
Before you cross into city lines, let’s take a moment for the Highland Folk Museum. It's Britain's first open-air museum buzzing with direct insight into the past. For guests who have a passion for all things film and TV, this was a location used for Outlander!
Onwards to Inverness. Settle in for dinner with your newfound travel companions as a local bagpiper welcomes you to this evening’s meal, playing traditional notes in a melody that will stir the soul.
Hotel: Kingsmills Hotel (4 Star Rating)
The Kingsmills Hotel is a luxury hotel in the beautiful Scottish Highlands. Offering extremely luxurious rooms, impeccable dining and old-fashioned Scottish hospitality to all our guests, The Kingsmills is Inverness' leading hotel. Guests can choose one of the 134 spacious bedrooms, many of which have stunning views of the gardens and the adjacent Inverness Golf Club Course via private balconies. Rooms can be located in the 18th Century mansion house hotel while those looking for a special getaway can enjoy a stay in the exclusive Kingsclub within the grounds.
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Meal(s): Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5: Experience InvernessNestled in the heart of the Highlands - where the lingering breath of the Loch Ness monster reaches its streets - Inverness is ours for the taking. During your walking tour with a local guide, you'll stroll along the cobbled streets of Old Town, glance towards the towering structure of Inverness Castle, and listen to ancient tales of the city (you can almost hear the Scottish war drums!).
Later, secrets will be spilled as we experience a whisky tasting at Malt Rooms, a business created by two locals and their love of traditional beverages. More diverse than your usual distillery which proudly houses a signature label, the Malt Rooms is home to a vast array of Scottish whiskies. So, ask yourself... will you prefer a smoked flavour that goes down a treat? Or will it be a sweet, fruity nectar that lifts your spirits? Bellies warmed; the rest of the day is yours to roam the city as you please - perhaps that includes a spot of haggis!
Hotel: Kingsmills Hotel (4 Star Rating)
The Kingsmills Hotel is a luxury hotel in the beautiful Scottish Highlands. Offering extremely luxurious rooms, impeccable dining and old-fashioned Scottish hospitality to all our guests, The Kingsmills is Inverness' leading hotel. Guests can choose one of the 134 spacious bedrooms, many of which have stunning views of the gardens and the adjacent Inverness Golf Club Course via private balconies. Rooms can be located in the 18th Century mansion house hotel while those looking for a special getaway can enjoy a stay in the exclusive Kingsclub within the grounds.
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Meal(s): Breakfast
Day 6: Inverness to Culloden, Loch Ness, Plockton and Isle of SkyeWave a fond "mar sin leat" (farewell in Scottish Gaelic) to the spirited city of Inverness - our next stop is just a short drive away, and it’s laden with the ghosts of a bloody battle from 1796. Embrace the gooseflesh along your arms as you hear tales of the Jacobite Rising’s final, tragic, end. From harrowing history to magical mythology - keep your eyes peeled for Scotland’s favourite monster in the calming waters of Loch Ness. Any slight ripple could be her shyly welcoming you to her home!
Back onto the minicoach for our next stop: Plockton! Or, as it’s lovingly known as to the locals - "The Jewel of the Highlands". Seek out fresh, rose-coloured tulips growing in bunches. Cast your eyes over quaint homes that seem to have tumbled out of an old fairytale. Follow the mountain line under a cloud-filled (or clear blue!) sky.
The journey takes you to your home for the next two nights - the Isle of Skye - where you’ll stay at a family-owned hotel surrounded by fragrant gardens and splendid views just a peek through your window. But first, a group dinner with decadent food awaits our arrival!
Hotel: Duisdale House Hotel (4 Star Rating)
Enjoy a unique highland getaway at the chic and elegant Duisdale House Hotel on the Isle of Skye. Situated on the Sleat peninsula at the South tip of Skye, you will be rewarded with breathtaking views and peaceful, picturesque gardens at this luxurious, contemporary retreat.
Built in 1865 as a Hunting Lodge, Duisdale House was given a new lease of life when it was taken over by Anne Gracie and Ken Gunn, who have delivered an immaculate, stylish boutique hotel, where guests are offered the highest level of service to ensure a memorable stay. This is reflected in the awards won by the hotel, most recently Scotland's Independent Hotel of the Year (Catering in Scotland Awards, 2015).
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Meal(s): Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7: Discover Isle of SkyeDo you know the origins of the word 'Skye'? It’s derived from Old Norse 'skuy' meaning 'cloud island'. That may be an indicator of today’s weather - but don't let that stop you from experiencing the isle's mythic charm. Today's journey begins in Portree - a quaint fishing village, and Skye's capital. Dotted along the harbour is a line of pastel-coloured buildings bright enough to tussle with any cloudy day. Stroll beside calm waters, breathe in that fresh Scottish air and pick up a spot of lunch (including Scottish favourite Irn-Bru!) ready to eat during our travels later.
Then, we'll immerse ourselves in the gentle hum of mountains, lochs and castles as golden eagles circle in the sky and wild dolphins jump in the sea. A taste of the sights we'll see today? The Old Man of Storr - famed for hiking and views, Kilt Rock - a cascading waterfall with plunging depths, and Quiraing - a walking route that takes you to the skies. This evening, enjoy dinner at your own leisure - we suggest embracing the island life with a plate (or two!) of fresh seafood.
Hotel: Duisdale House Hotel (4 Star Rating)
Enjoy a unique highland getaway at the chic and elegant Duisdale House Hotel on the Isle of Skye. Situated on the Sleat peninsula at the South tip of Skye, you will be rewarded with breathtaking views and peaceful, picturesque gardens at this luxurious, contemporary retreat.
Built in 1865 as a Hunting Lodge, Duisdale House was given a new lease of life when it was taken over by Anne Gracie and Ken Gunn, who have delivered an immaculate, stylish boutique hotel, where guests are offered the highest level of service to ensure a memorable stay. This is reflected in the awards won by the hotel, most recently Scotland's Independent Hotel of the Year (Catering in Scotland Awards, 2015).
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Meal(s): Breakfast
Day 8: Isle of Skye to Isle of MullFrom one island to another, our adventure continues. Let's dive into the origins of Scottish Gaelic a little, giving you some food for thought as we pass through languid lochs, gleaming glens and magnificent Munros (mountains to us!). Irish settlers, known as Scoti, brought the language with them during the 4th or 5th century. From then, the language travelled through the land like a rush of water until the 16th century when it began to decline due to the immergence of English. Some words are preserved, and many pockets of the population hope to revive Gaelic culture today.
After a lunch stop in Mallaig (try to find some shortcakes to fill that spot!), our Tour Leader will share more stories and historic anecdotes alongside folklore and fairytales about the enchanted setting we find ourselves in until we settle in our new home for the next two nights: Mull.
Hotel: Western Isles Hotel (3 Star Rating)
The 26-bedroom Western Isles Hotel is beautifully situated on the Isle of Mull on a small hill overlooking the Tobermory Bay. The views are spectacular from the public rooms and many of the bedrooms. Tobermory Bay is a working harbour with ships and boats coming in and out every day of the year. This is the perfect base for a West Coast holiday and the opportunity to sample the unspoilt nature of the Isle of Mull. The Hotel was designed and built specifically as a hotel in 1882. As it is late-Victorian many of the rooms are spacious with high ceilings, but there is no lift.
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Meal(s): Breakfast
Day 9: Isle of Mull to Isle of Iona and Isle of MullDo you believe in fairies? How about mermaids, seal people and sea monsters? Today's stop, the Isle of Iona is a bewitched island, filled with magic, mischief and mystery. Every gale, every scent of seawater, and every patch of glen could hold a tiny glimmer of mystical intrigue if you look close enough. During your meander across Iona, you’ll visit Iona Abbey. Being the oldest Catholic church in the UK (and one of the oldest in Western civilisation), this sacred site holds an unearthly amount of history within its stone walls. If you wander to the edge of the land, you can look out onto the glistening waters and imagine the legends of the deep.
Upon your return to Mull, you’ll toast to y our Scottish journey and the friendships made with a final dinner together.
Hotel: Western Isles Hotel (3 Star Rating)
The 26-bedroom Western Isles Hotel is beautifully situated on the Isle of Mull on a small hill overlooking the Tobermory Bay. The views are spectacular from the public rooms and many of the bedrooms. Tobermory Bay is a working harbour with ships and boats coming in and out every day of the year. This is the perfect base for a West Coast holiday and the opportunity to sample the unspoilt nature of the Isle of Mull. The Hotel was designed and built specifically as a hotel in 1882. As it is late-Victorian many of the rooms are spacious with high ceilings, but there is no lift.
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Meal(s): Breakfast, Dinner
Day 10: Isle of Mull to Stirling and EdinburghOne final adventure for the road? Before we head back to the point where our tale began, let’s create a few more memories for the postcards we send back home. We’ll briefly stop in Oban for some free time after we arrive at the mainland. The seafood capital of Scotland boasts a bustling port, crashing waves that rival the anger of the old gods, and all the colours of the rainbow dotted along the harbour.
Our second-to-last stop takes us to Stirling where its magnificent hilltop castle will raise the hairs on the back of your necks as it presides over the city and all who wander there. Once we’re inside its gleaming walls adorned with immaculately painted crests, high ceilings and rich, decadent materials, we’ll soak up sweeping views, gasp at the enormity of it all, and wonder what whispers haunt the rooms. Our final journey aboard the mini coach is now upon us, so settle in, swap your favourite memories, and follow the back roads to Edinburgh with a heart full of Scottish stories.
Meal(s): Breakfast
Hotel: Ten Hill Place Hotel, BW Premier Collection (4 Star Rating)
Ten Hill Place, BW Premier Collection was opened in November 2006. The hotel is one of Edinburgh's premier City Centre hotels. From airy public places to each of the 77 smart bedrooms, the mood of Ten Hill Place, BW Premier Collection is one of quiet sophistication, and one they believe sets them apart from other Edinburgh hotels. They have four fully equipped accessible rooms with an elevator from street level to all floors.
This innovative Edinburgh hotel is within easy walking distance of Princes Street, the historic Old Town, and the City Centres main tourist, shopping, and business districts; yet peacefully situated away from the main thoroughfares. The best of Edinburgh opens up before you right outside our front door. The Festival Theatre is across the road, the National Museums are around the corner and the Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle, and Holyrood Palace are just a stone's throw away. Whether on business or a short city break in Edinburgh, make Ten Hill Place, BW Premier Collection your first choice.
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Day 11: Full Day Private Edinburgh Tour with Lunch & Edinburgh Walking Tour - Evening of Ghosts and GhoulsEdinburgh is an incredibly historic city, and you will have an exciting and unique experience while in town. Appreciating that you may be short on time to see and do everything Edinburgh has to offer, this Mini Mack adventure visits a host of notable UNESCO sites and hidden gems while you snap away on your cameras and phones. Led by one of two local brothers, Rowan and Andy Mackie, you will have the opportunity to see and do more than what is listed in guide books. While Rowan and Andy may not be licensed historians, their local knowledge of Edinburgh and inside scoops on what's fun and interesting to do in the city is second-to-none, making for the perfect day out. After discovering a range of Edinburgh's top highlights including Calton Hill and Arthurs Seat - among many others - you will then settle in for a tasty meal in a charming local pub that features fresh, locally-sourced cuisine before being returned to your hotel. The perfect half-day sightseeing experience in Edinburgh, an additional treat is that your transportation between sites is in a well-maintained and comfortable Mini Cooper.A light-hearted, entertaining look at our ghoulish past, and ghostly present to see the famous haunted Blair Street Underground Vaults.
The evening begins with a stroll through the dark closes and wynds of Old Town Edinburgh, before descending into the haunted Blair Street Underground Vaults. Finally, you'll retire to a candlelit cellar for a dram of Scotch whisky and an intimate evening of ghostly storytelling.
The air filled with cries and taunts, and a crowd of thousands baying for the blood of two men. Take your place as a member of the "Edinburgh mob", which once surged in riot past the Mercat Cross (your meeting point for the evening).
Hear grisly tales of witchcraft, torture and restless spirits as you venture down medieval closes and descend into the haunted Blair Street Underground Vaults of Edinburgh on this ghost tour. Your cloaked Storyteller will lead you through the dimly lit caverns, recounting stories that you would swear are too horrific to be true and yet, they all are.
A ghost tour to remember. Stories of blood, guts, and gore. And a whisky to warm the heart. As night thickens, you'll gather in Megget's cellar for a whisky or a glass of locally made lager or soft drink if you're not fond of a dram. In the warmth of candlelight, your Storyteller will conjure more tales of Edinburgh's ghoulish past, and the tortured souls that stalk the city's streets.
Day 12: Depart from EdinburghTransfer: Edinburgh - City Centre to Edinburgh Airport
