01904 521 936
Tour Search



Scotland
ClassicClassic

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo & the Highlands

Save
You are viewing the 2026 itinerary. Select your departure year
202520262027
4 days From £899 £849 per person
4.5 stars(56 reviews)
Gallery
Map

Enjoy the astonishing spectacle of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and the stunning landscapes of the Scottish Highlands

Save up to £200pp

Save up to £200pp on British Isles 2026 holidays, when you book by 31st October 2025.

View terms and conditions

Mobility Rating 2

2026 Tour code: EPE26

About the tour

A fantastic short break culminating in the iconic extravaganza of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, with pipes and drums resonating from the castle's elevated setting.

Based in the charming town of Dunblane, peacefully situated in the Perthshire countryside, this Scottish holiday also includes a visit to historic Stirling Castle and a journey into the Highlands.

Enjoy a heritage steam train journey through the Cairngorms on the Strathspey Railway before a tour of the Kinrara Gin Distillery, followed by a tasting of the award-winning produce.

View Dates & Pricing

Unforgettable experiences

Experiencing the world-famous Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
Experiencing the world-famous Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
Prepare for a spectacle of entertainment, tradition and music set against the stunning backdrop of Edinburgh Castle, as the pipes, drums and performances create a breathtaking experience.
Journeying on the nostalgic Strathspey Steam Railway
Journeying on the nostalgic Strathspey Steam Railway
Travel through picturesque scenes of impressive mountains, dense forests and tranquil lochs on the charming Strathspey Steam Railway in the Cairngorms National Park.
Enjoying a tasting of award-winning gins
Enjoying a tasting of award-winning gins
Savour a guided tasting of award-winning, handcrafted local gins at the family-run Kinrara Gin Distillery, learning how the flavours have been inspired by the beautiful setting of the Cairngorms.
Visiting historic Stirling Castle
Visiting historic Stirling Castle
Embark on a guided tour of one of Scotland’s most significant strongholds, exploring Stirling Castle’s Great Hall and Chapel Royal before free time to stroll among its expansive gardens.

What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrival in the charming wee town of Dunblane

Your holiday begins when you arrive independently in the picturesque town of Dunblane. Once you've checked in to our hotel and met the Tour Manager, there's time to get to know the town at leisure.

Our hotel is just a short walk from the Allan Water River, where you could enjoy a riverside stroll. Next to the river, you'll discover the 11th-century cathedral standing among a cluster of old-world buildings. Among them is Dean's House, a 17th-century structure that now hosts the cathedral museum, showcasing interesting exhibits on local history. Dunblane Cathedral itself is one of Scotland's most impressive medieval churches, with a four-storey tower that was built in the 1100s, an ornate Gothic doorway and rare 15th-century choir stalls.

Returning to our hotel this evening, we gather for our first dinner as a group.

Includes
  • Dinner
Day 2 – The nostalgic Strathspey Steam Railway and gin-tasting

Travelling north to Aviemore after breakfast, we join the nostalgic Strathspey Steam Railway for a trip through the stunning Cairngorms National Park. The beautifully restored carriages have comfortable seats and large windows, providing fantastic opportunities to marvel at the breathtaking scenery enroute to Broomhill.

Snaking our way alongside the bronze waters of the River Spey that play a crucial part in the production of so many world-class whiskies, we enjoy views of rolling hills blanketed by purple heather, the craggy summit of Cairngorm Mountain, and thick pine forests and wooded glens lining the tracks.

After a 20-mile round trip on the railway, we rejoin our coach and set off to the Kinrara Distillery on the edge of the Cairngorms National Park. In these beautiful surroundings, we savour a hosted gin-tasting experience to learn about the local history and ingredients that have inspired the distillery's award-winning craft gins. In the late afternoon, we travel back to our Dunblane hotel with time to relax before dinner this evening.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3 – Stirling Castle & the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

After a relaxing morning, our coach picks us up early this afternoon for another culture-packed day. Our first stop is the impressive Stirling Castle, where we take a guided tour through the Great Hall, Chapel Royal, Great Kitchens and beautiful gardens. There is time to enjoy lunch independently either at the castle café or in the centre of Stirling. Here, you could wander over Stirling Old Bridge and discover its association with William Wallace and the Jacobite Rising.

This afternoon, we continue to Scotland's capital, Edinburgh, where you're at leisure to get some dinner and explore before tonight's main event. The annual spectacle of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo brings together music, entertainment and ceremonial performances. Watching in awe, we see the Scottish regiments' pipers and drummers performing together, the impressive Massed Bands of the Royal Marines, and a fantastic firework show - all with Edinburgh Castle magnificently illuminated behind them.

After this incredible experience, our coach takes us back to our hotel in Dunblane late this evening.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 4 - Homeward bound

This short break to Scotland has revealed incredible views of the Highlands on a charming journey through the Cairngorms on the Strathspey Steam Railway. followed by a tasting of locally made craft gin. A guided tour of Stirling's historic castle preceded a spectacular finale as we marvelled at the sights and sounds of the world-famous Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo - an unforgettable way to round-off our time in Scotland.

It's time to say goodbye to your Scottish adventure today. After a leisurely breakfast, you holiday comes to an end, and you are free to make your way home or continue exploring at your own pace.

Includes
  • Breakfast

Additional information

Classic collection

Our Classic range is what we're known for. Enjoy curated moments with plenty of inclusions. Centrally located hotels, premium travel options and engaging group tours with a seasoned expert are included. You'll be in groups with an average of 20-25 travellers and a maximum of 30*. *Scandinavian and Worldwide tours are on average 30-35 and a maximum of 40.

Departure times

Travel timings in your Holiday Confirmation are provisional and are subject to change. We will confirm your travel times in your final itinerary around 10-14 days before your departure. Eurostar or Flight times will be confirmed to you approximately 30-50 days before departure.

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. If you’d like to discuss any particular holiday with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us.

Hotel

Doubletree by Hilton Dunblane Hydro, Dunblane

Doubletree by Hilton Dunblane Hydro, Dunblane

View hotel

Train

Strathspey Steam Railway

Enhance your holiday

Upgrades

UK Rail Connections
Extending your holiday in Edinburgh

Reviews

4.5 stars4.5 / 5 · 56 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (37)
  2. 4 stars
    (10)
  3. 3 stars
    (7)
  4. 2 stars
    (2)
  5. 1 star
    (0)

Christine Charie

5 stars

Submitted 31/Aug

Good show, well organized and we enjoyed it very much.

from Great Rail Journeys
Hi Christine, Thank you for your review. I'm delighted to hear that you enjoyed your experience of the Tattoo! Best wishes, Richard
1 comment

Collected by Trustpilot

George Thompson

5 stars

Submitted 30/Aug

Wonderful

from Great Rail Journeys
Hi George, Thank you for your review. I'm glad you had such a wonderful holiday up in Scotland! Best wishes, Richard
1 comment

Collected by Trustpilot

Teresa Cuddehay

5 stars

Submitted 29/Aug

Our tour operator Debbie was brilliant nothing was too much trouble for her. She helped anyone who needed helping. Brilliant person.

from Great Rail Journeys
Hi Teresa, Thank you for your review. I'm delighted to hear that Debbie was worthy of such glowing praise, and I will ensure that your kind words are passed on to her. Best wishes, Richard
1 comment

Collected by Trustpilot

nigel sloane

5 stars

Submitted 28/Aug

This iconic venue did not fail to impress. The drama of the experience was astounding from start to finish, all participant performances were excellent.

from Great Rail Journeys
Hi Nigel, Thank you for your review. Incredible views of the Tattoo there! I'm delighted to hear that you had such an enjoyable time up in Scotland. Best wishes, Richard
1 comment

Collected by Trustpilot

nigel sloane
View Gallery

Muriel Simpson

5 stars

Submitted 27/Aug

The Tattoo was amazing and our trip to Stirling Castle and the Falkirk wheel and distillery was really interesting too. The train journey was very short and we did expect a journey through the Cairngorms as advertised. However overall it was a great experience.

from Great Rail Journeys
Hi Muriel, Thank you for your review. I'm delighted to hear that you enjoyed your excursions on The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo & the Highlands tour and that the Tattoo itself met your expectations. I'm sorry that you felt the train journey was shorter than expected, I will forward your comments to our Product Team. Best wishes, Richard
1 comment

Collected by Trustpilot

Norman Guy

5 stars

Submitted 25/Aug

Well organised from initial booking to final departure. A short break full of interest and excitement. Tour guide Ashley Heeley ensured smooth running and provided lots of additional information to enhance the experience. The guided tour of Stirling Castle with Tricia was brilliant and the Tattoo on Saturday night was the finale that couldn’t be surpassed. Amazing ??

from Great Rail Journeys
Hi Norman, Thank you for your review. I'm glad that your pre-tour experience was well organised, and on the tour itself it is brilliant that Ashley ensured that the tour ran smoothly. It is also great to hear that the main event of the Tattoo was such an amazing experience. Best wishes, Richard
This was our first time. It was so well run that we are looking at the Italian Tours for next year. Thank you, Norman Guy and Sue Baldaro
2 comments

Collected by Trustpilot

Show 6 more reviews
Related inspiration from our journey blog