Classic Scotland: Edinburgh to the Highlands
Experience Overview
Discover the magic of Scotland on this cultural adventure, from the historic streets of Edinburgh to tranquil lochs, ancient castles and the Highlands. Immerse yourself in Scottish heritage and culture, visiting essential landmarks, including Balmoral, Arthur’s Seat, Stirling Castle, and the Battle of Bannockburn site. Also dive into the world of single malt Scotch whisky on a tasting tour and marvel at the sheer beauty of the landscape on a steam train ride and boat excursion on Loch Lomond. This is Scotland at its very best.
Profile
— Accommodation: 7 Superior nights (hotels) — Guided visits and sightseeing on foot — Group normally 5 to 16, plus local leader. Minimum age: 16 — Option to travel by train to your adventure
At a Glance
— Accommodation: 7 Superior nights (hotels) — Guided visits and sightseeing on foot — Group normally 5 to 16, plus local leader. Minimum age: 16 — Option to travel by train to your adventure
Trip For You
This trip is rated Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings, visit our Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip, please contact us.
Walks: The walking tour of Edinburgh includes the Old Town, where there are cobbled streets and steps. The 3mi (5km) walk to the top of Arthur’s Seat is an ascent of 915ft (280m), with some steep and rocky sections at the top. This walk is optional but gives fabulous views of the city and in all directions. You also walk along the shore of Loch Lomond up to 4mi (6.5km) in distance but at a leisurely pace.
Eating Drinking
All breakfasts, one lunch, two dinners and one whisky tasting included.
Transportation
We use a private air-conditioned vehicle for all transfers and excursions.
Joining Instructions
Key information
Start hotel: Raddison Blu Hotel, The Royal Mile, 80 High St, Edinburgh, EH1 1TH
Phone: +44 131 557 9797
Recommended arrival time: Meet at the start hotel at 4pm for the welcome briefing
Getting to the start hotel
The start hotel is approximately seven minutes’ walk from Edinburgh Waverley train station. For flights arriving into Edinburgh airport (EDI), we can arrange a private arrival transfer, please speak to your sales representative for details.
Return journey
On the last day, the group is transferred from Pitlochry to Edinburgh airport to arrive by an expected 12pm for anyone requiring onward travel.
If you would like further information on joining this trip or your return journey, please speak to your sales representative.
Weather Information
Temperatures typically rise from around 12C (54F) in April to the low 20Cs (around 70F-75F) or above in September. Rain can fall at any time of year. Like most of the UK in recent years, there have been some hotter days in the middle of summer. Traditionally, Scotland can also have cold days, even in summer, so it is important to pack accordingly.
Spending Money
A typical lunch costs £15, dinner £25, a pint of beer £5, and a glass of wine £4-£7
Tipping
Although optional, a tip for the leader at the end of the trip is greatly appreciated. As a guideline, we recommend a starting point of £50 per person.
Highlights
— Experience classic Scotland, from historic Edinburgh to the majestic Highlands — Take a walking tour of the capital, climbing Arthur’s Seat for stretching views — Board a historic steam train for a scenic journey on the Heritage Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway — Dive into the history and heritage of Scotland at the Balmoral Estate and ancient castles — Enjoy a picturesque boat ride on the tranquil waters of Loch Lomond — Sip single malt Scotch whisky on a tour of Royal Lochnagar Distillery
Trip Details
Product Code: 16947
Tour Type: Small Group
Accommodation: Moderate
Transport: cursions.
Guide Language: English
Tour Operator:
Exodus Travel
Supplier Code: ASD
Starts: Edinburgh, Scotland
Finishes: Edinburgh, Scotland
Duration: 8 days
Departures: Not Guaranteed
Physical Rating:
Unknown
Includes
— Seven nights in four-star hotels — All breakfasts, two dinners — Entry into Rosslyn Chapel, Midhope Castle, Stirling Castle, Bannockburn, Doune Castle, Crannog Centre, Highland Games Museum, Lochnagar Distillery and tasting — Loch Lomond boat ride — Steam train ride — Tour Leader throughout — Minibus throughoutAccommodation
Four-star hotels in the city and a large country houseFor this Scottish adventure, we stay in a trio of hotels, two in the city and one in the Pitlochry countryside. Edinburgh: Radisson Blu, Edinburgh City Centre (nights 1-2) Spend the first two nights at Radisson Blu, which occupies a prime address in the Royal Mile. The four-star property has 238 rooms, which are modern in style and come with rain showers. The hotel is also home to the Itchycoo Bar & Kitchen, which serves Scottish dishes created with local ingredients. There is also a health club with an indoor pool, sauna, steam room and gym. Dunblane: DoubleTree by Hilton Dunblane Hydro (nights 3-5) Taking over what was a Victorian health spa resort, this DoubleTree by Hilton has a long history of hospitality. The traditional rooms have views over the Perthshire countryside, plus there’s The Kailyard by Nick Nairn restaurant, which serves farm-to-fork dishes. The hotel also has an indoor pool, sauna, steam room and fitness room. Pitlochry: Atholl Palace Hotel (nights 6-7) The Atholl Palace has classic Scottish countryside elegance with traditional rooms decorated with original features. The property also has award-winning gardens and, should you wish to treat yourself, a spa. There’s also plenty of food and drink options, including the Verandah Restaurant, which serves Scottish produce with views over the Tummel Valley, and the Stags Head Bar, where you can enjoy malt whiskies and their own Atholl Palace Gin.
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD $5,700 ($712 /day)
Itinerary
This trip starts in historic Edinburgh. Meet your tour leader at 4pm at the hotel reception for the welcome briefing. Then enjoy a welcome dinner at the hotel, in which we get to know each other a little better. If you arrive early, consider heading into the New Town to look around the art galleries or enjoy the varied shopping opportunities of Princes Street. Accommodation: Radisson Blu, Edinburgh City Centre (or similar)
Our Edinburgh city tour begins at its most ancient stronghold: Edinburgh Castle. It was the home of James VI, the king who united the crowns of Scotland and England in 1603. We then head to King Charles’ official residence in Scotland, the Palace of Holyroodhouse. We continue our tour into the Old Town and meander through the many bustling streets that make up the Royal Mile. We finish the tour by ascending Arthur’s Seat, an extinct volcano and said to be the location of King Arthur’s Camelot. The climb, which you can sit out if you’d prefer to relax, takes around 2hr 30min and you’ll be rewarded with beautiful views over the city from the top. Accommodation: Radisson Blu, Edinburgh City Centre (or similar)
Begin with a visit to the 15th-century Rosslyn Chapel, where we join a guided tour to learn how it has inspired the imaginations of writers and artists throughout the centuries. This afternoon, visit Midhope Castle, the ancestral home of the fictional Jamie Fraser from the TV series Outlander, where it was known as Lallybroch. End the day with a scenic 10mi (16km) trip aboard a steam train on the Heritage Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway. Our journey takes us along the Forth Estuary, through woodlands, past waterfalls and over the Avon Viaduct. We then transfer (30 minutes) to our second hotel in Dunblane. Accommodation: DoubleTree by Hilton Dunblane Hydro (or similar)
Visit Stirling Castle today, one of the most historically significant castles in Scotland. Explore the great hall, chapel, palace vaults and Queen Anne Gardens, plus exhibitions and museums. Then visit Stirling Old Bridge, a medieval stone bridge crossing the River Forth. It’s best known as the spot where Sir William Wallace of Scotland defeated Edward I’s English army in 1297. Continue our journey through history and visit the site of the Battle of Bannockburn, where Robert the Bruce, the King of Scots, fought King Edward II’s army for Scottish Independence in 1314. We have free time to explore the site and peruse the visitor centre. Accommodation: DoubleTree by Hilton Dunblane Hydro (or similar)
Take a picturesque one-hour journey to Loch Lomond through Trossachs National Park, home to a small mountain range. Upon arrival, we join a leisurely boat trip around the waters. Over one hour or so, we enjoy scenic views of Ben Lomond mountain and pass several stately homes and castles. In the afternoon after a cafe lunch, enjoy serene views on a 3mi-4mi (5km-6.5km) walk along the loch shores. We then transfer back to Dunblane for the evening. Accommodation: DoubleTree by Hilton Dunblane Hydro (or similar)
Our first stop today is the medieval stronghold of Doune Castle, a filming location for Outlander, Game of Thrones and Monty Python and the Holy Grail, where we have free time to explore. Next up, is the Trossachs Woollen Mill in Callander, a well-known Scottish shop where you can purchase traditional Scottish tweed, enjoy a coffee, and say hello to Hamish Dubh, Honey and Holly – the resident Highland cows. After lunch, we journey north to visit the Scottish Crannog Centre on Loch Tay for an insight into the lives of the crannog dwellers who lived on the loch 2,500 years ago. We then transfer 30 minutes to Pitlochry and our next hotel. Accommodation: Atholl Palace Hotel (or similar)
Transfer (approximately one hour) to Braemar village in the Cairngorms National Park. Here we have time to explore and visit the Highland Games Museum before taking a leisurely walk to the Balmoral estate, home of the late Queen Elizabeth II. We can take the opportunity to visit the gift shop (depending on operating hours) or walk around the awe-inspiring grounds. Finish the day with a whisky tasking at the Royal Lochnagar Distillery, which occupies a picturesque spot at the bottom of the Cairngorm mountains, beside the River Dee. Led by one of their in-house experts, we take a one-hour tour of the distillery and enjoy two tastings of their single malt Scotch whisky. We then transfer back to Pitlochry, where we have our farewell dinner at the hotel, an excellent chance to relive the highlights of the trip and, perhaps, order a last dram. Accommodation: Atholl Palace Hotel (or similar)
Our adventure together ends today, and we transfer (approximately 1hr 30min) back to Edinburgh to arrive by midday. With so much to see and do in the capital, we recommend adding some extra days after the tour. Speak to your sales representative to book.
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Tour Operator
Exodus Travel
It’s all about adventure That is what Exodus was founded upon 50 years ago, and what the company is still all about. Discovering countries, cultures, environments, cities, mountain ranges, deserts, coasts and jungles; exploring this amazing planet we all live on. At Exodus, we know what makes you tick when it comes to holidays. It’s a desire shared by so many others. A yearning to visit new places and come home with a real sense of what they’re all about. This means delving into local traditions, cultures, cuisine, lifestyles – anything that contributes to its unique identity. At the same time, we always remember that we are only guests. So we travel courteously and respectfully, in smaller groups to minimise our impact, to ensure that every Exodus holiday is a beneficial experience for everyone involved. This is a philosophy we take with us around the world, helping you reach some incredible destinations on 500 itineraries across over 90 separate countries. We also strive to provide as much flexibility and choice as we possibly can, making it simple for you to experience a very different holiday. Exodus started life on 4 February 1974 when two friends got together to provide an overland truck to travel to the Minaret of Jam, deep in the heart of the Hindu Kush, the most inaccessible of the world’s great monuments. See our history page for more details about how we began and how we have grown over the past 50 years. Never travelled with Exodus before? Visit our New to Exodus page for some useful, first-timer information.
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