Grand Tour of Scotland

Today you arrive in Edinburgh to meet your Tour Manager and fellow travellers in your hotel, the Radisson Blu Hotel. This evening we enjoy dinner together at the hotel.

• Dinner

This morning, we visit the majestic Royal Yacht Britannia, once the official yacht of the Royal Family. We enjoy a guided tour here ahead of an afternoon at leisure.

• Breakfast, Dinner
• Royal Yacht Britannia

Our excursion today takes us to the wonderful Stirling Castle, a 12th century castle and one of the most historically important castles in Britain. Notably. this has previously been the site of many coronations of Scottish monarchs, including the infamous Mary, Queen of Scots, throughout the ages and remains a vital part of Scottish history. Like Edinburgh castle, this fortress is also located overlooking Stirling in a marvellous defensive position on top of Castle Hill. We enjoy a guided tour here before transferring by coach to our hotel in the Trossachs National Park.

• Breakfast, Dinner
• Stirling Castle

Today we begin by travelling from Crianlarich to Fort William on the famed West Highland Line on a scheduled Scotrail service (Standard Class). From Fort William we join the Jacobite Steam Train to Mallaig (First Class). After disembarking the train, we take a ferry to Skye and continue to our hotel, the Skeabost, where we stay for two nights.

Please note: For Departure SHP1903 our Jacobite journey is in Standard Class.

• Breakfast, Dinner
• Jacobite Steam Train
• Armadale Castle and Gardens

Our first stop today is Dunvegan Castle. We take a tour of this history-rich building and its gardens. There's also some time here for lunch before we transfer to Armadale Castle and Gardens, home to the Clan Donald Centre.

• Breakfast, Dinner
• Talisker Distillery
• Dunvegan Castle

Today we visit another spectacular Scottish castle, the Eilean Donan. Set on a tiny island in Loch Duich, joined to the mainland by a small, elegant bridge. The island was part of the Macrae Clan's territory and in the 13th century they built Eilean Donan Castle, which occupies almost all of the land space. It was initially designed to defend the clan's land from invading Vikings, who had previously seen the site - at the meeting point of three sea lochs - as a weak spot. Eventually the castle saw more battles between the warring Scottish clans. Later we take a ride on the historic Kyle Line, first laid down in 1870 and taking twenty-seven years to complete.

Please note: For Departure SHP1903 we stay at the Ness Walk Hotel.

• Breakfast, Dinner
• Eilean Donan Castle
• The Kyle Line

Today, discover mysterious Loch Ness, famous for its prehistoric resident, the Loch Ness Monster. We enjoy a cruise across this shimmering expanse of water, the deepest freshwater lake in the U.K., before visiting the atmospheric ruins of Urqhart Castle that overlooks the loch. We have some time here to discover the Castle before we coach to Glen Ord, a distillery that produces one of Scotland's most favoured drinks - whisky. After enjoying a wee dram, we return to our hotel.

• Breakfast
• Free Day

We travel by rail to Perth where we change to coach for the short transfer to St Andrews today, on arrival we check in to our 5-Star hotel, the Fairmont.

Please note: For Departure SHP1903 we stay at the Macdonald Russacks Hotel in St Andrews.

• Breakfast, Dinner

Glamis Castle is our main stop today, this beautiful castle was the former childhood home of the Queen Mother and proves to be an enjoyable visit with history and fine architecture in abundance. Later you have time to explore St Andrews under your own steam.

• Breakfast, Dinner
• Glamis Castle

Following breakfast, we transfer to Dundee for our rail service to Edinburgh where the tour concludes, and your Tour Manager bids you farewell.

• Breakfast