07D6N Highlights of Scotland by G Adventures

We recommend arriving a few days early to explore Scotland’s compact, hilly capital.

Meet Your CEO and Group activity
Your opportunity to meet your CEO and fellow travellers, and learn more about your tour. Opt to join the group for a local meal afterwards. Don’t forget to see the notice in the lobby (or ask reception) for the official time and place to meet up with the group.

Hotel
Stay City Edinburgh West End (or similar)

Enjoy an orientation walk of Edinburgh ending in the heart of the city, the Royal Mile. Opt to visit Edinburgh Castle, or explore the city on your own. In the afternoon, hop on a private transfer to the Highlands.

Edinburgh Orientation Walk
Enjoy a brief walk with your CEO. He/she will give you some tips on finding things like supermarkets, main squares, and ATMs. For more specific or in-depth information, an official guided tour is recommended.

Hotel
Glen Mhor Hotel Inverness (or similar)

Welcome to the Highlands of Scotland. This morning, opt to visit Cairngorms National Park and enjoy a CEO-led hike in Glenmore Forest, ending in Loch Morlich Beach. Or, consider a kayaking excursion or a visit to a reindeer farm with a ranger.

After lunch, board a cruise towards Loch Ness. Experience the infamous “loch” by boat and learn about the history (and legend) surrounding its mysterious lake creature. Explore Urquhart Castle before returning to Inverness. En route, visit Culloden Moor, famous for the Jacobite rising of 1745.

Loch Ness Cruise & Urquhart Castle Visit
Enjoy a relaxing cruise along Loch Ness lake. This freshwater loch in the Scottish Highlands is best known for alleged sightings of Nessie, the fabled Loch Ness Monster. Visit Urquhart Castle, one of Scotland’s largest castles at the centre of great conflict during its 500 years as a medieval fortress. Explore the history of this strategic fortress and the stories revolving around the power struggles between the Scots and English amidst the Wars of Independence.

Culloden Moor Visit
Visit the infamous Culloden battlefield, site of the Battle of Culloden, known as the final confrontation of the Jacobite rising of 1745. Here, Jacobite forces of Charles Edward Stuart were decisively defeated by Hanoverian forces commanded by William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland which therefore put an end the Jacobite rising. Explore the battlefield and moor at your own pace, or opt to join a guided tour.

Hotel
Glen Mhor Hotel Inverness (or similar)

Discover the beautiful Isle of Skye. Enjoy a scenic drive to the Isle, stopping at the iconic Eilean Castle while en route for a snap of the old fortress. Once on the Isle, visit Sligachan, where you can spot the Black Cullin mountains in the background. Head north to visit Dunvegan Castle and its Gardens. In the evening, take a Ferry Armadale to Mallaig and enjoy some free time in Fort William.

Dunvegan Castle and Gardens Visit
Dunvegan Castle is the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland and has been the ancestral home of the Chiefs of clan MacLeod for 800 years. Visit this castle originally designed as a defence fortress and learn the history behind Scotland’s clan system. Afterwards explore the five acres of the Castle’s formal gardens on property. Explore the stark contrast to the barren moor land and mountains that dominate Skye’s landscape by getting lost in a hidden oasis of an eclectic mix of plants, woodland glades and shimmering pools fed by waterfalls and streams flowing down to the sea.

Hotel
Muthu Fort William Hotel (or similar)

Visit the famous Glenfinnan Viaduct made famous by Harry Potter. Settle back at the viewpoint in time to see the Jacobite Steam train cross over the viaduct. Afterwards, stretch your legs with a forest walk in Ben Nevis followed by a distillery tour and whisky tasting at Ben Nevis Distillery. Continue on to explore Glencoe and learn about this key valley and its importance in Scotland’s history.

Glenfinnan Viaduct Viewpoint
Glenfinnan attracts many thousands of visitors from around the world to experience the stunning scenery but also to catch a glimpse of the famous Jacobite steam train, also known as the Hogwart’s Express in the Harry Potter novels and films, travel across the Glenfinnan viaduct. The viaduct carries the railway to Glenfinnan Station across an impressive 1,000 ft (305m) span, 100 ft (30m) above the ground.

Ben Nevis Forest Walk
Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in the British Isles. Standing at 1,345 metres (4,412 feet 8¾ inches) above sea level, it is at the western end of the Grampian Mountains in the Lochaber area of the Scottish Highlands. Set off an easy hike through Achriabhach Forest beginning initially uphill and then continuing through tree-lined paths, passing a waterfall and reaching superb views across Glen Nevis.

Ben Nevis Distillery Tour and Whisky Tasting
Visit Ben Nevis Distillery, known for its location at the base of Ben Nevis, the tallest mountain in the British Isles, and for its exceptional whisky. Tour the distillery and enjoy a whisky tasting.

Glencoe Visit
Scotland’s most famous and most scenic Highland glen, Glencoe is also steeped in history. Also known as the weeping valley, it was the site of the 1692 massacre of the MacDonald clan. Visit Rannoch Moor and the Black Mount and learn about the intricate history of this natural paradise.

Hotel
Muthu Fort William Hotel (or similar)

Head south towards Glasgow. Enjoy some free time to explore Scotland’s largest city. Take time to explore this port city by visiting its museums, joining a brewery tour or jumping on a bike tour of the city.

Free time
Glasgow is a port city on the River Clyde in Scotland’s western Lowlands. It’s famed for its Victorian and art nouveau architecture, a rich legacy of the city’s 18th–20th-century prosperity due to trade and shipbuilding. Today it’s a national cultural hub, home to institutions including the Scottish Opera, Scottish Ballet and National Theatre of Scotland, as well as acclaimed museums and a thriving music scene.

Hotel
Ibis Styles Glasgow Centre George Square (or similar)

Depart at any time.