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A Scottish Christmas

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7 days Sold out
4.1 stars(26 reviews)
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Experience the magic of a Christmas holiday in Scotland, from historic Edinburgh to festive Inverness, with a Christmas Eve journey on the Kyle Line and traditional Scottish celebrations

Mobility Rating 1

2025 Tour code: SHX26

About the tour

Make it a truly merry Christmas on this festive Scotland holiday. Celebrate in Inverness with hearty food, warming drinks, traditional entertainment and seasonal cheer.

Explore Edinburgh, aglow with Christmas spirit, travel through winter scenery aboard the heritage Kyle Line and visit legendary Loch Ness, home to the mysterious Nessie.

With mulled wine, champagne, and cosy evenings spent celebrating Scottish traditions, this festive getaway promises an enchanting Christmas experience in the stunning Highlands.

Highlights

What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 – Meeting up in Edinburgh

In the Scottish capital today, your festive holiday begins. After meeting the Tour Manager and checking into our hotel, you're free to start exploring.

Edinburgh's Old Town has lots of historic sites including Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile. There are plenty of other attractions well worth visiting too, such as Holyrood Palace, home to the royal residence of the Palace of Holyrood house and the seat of Scotland's new Parliament, Arthur's Seat viewpoint, the Royal Yacht Britannia and the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. Back at the hotel this evening, we relax with festive mulled wine before dinner.

Includes
  • Dinner
Day 2 – Travelling north to Inverness

This morning we board our train for the journey northwards to Inverness. Gaze out of the window as we travel over the iconic Forth Bridge, through the wild and dramatic scenery of the Cairngorms and past the charming Highland towns of Kingussie, Pitlochry and Aviemore, all decked out in their winter finery.

Checking in to our hotel on the banks of the River Ness, there is time to relax with a drinks reception and make the most of the hotel's facilities before this evening's festivities. Regrouping later, a traditional Scottish dinner with live entertainment awaits.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3 - The Kyle Line to Eilean Donan Castle

It's Christmas Eve and we embark on a festive journey along the picturesque Kyle Line, a true embodiment of Scotland's railway heritage. Snaking through the misty lochs and towering mountains of the Highlands, we glide through the Torridon Hills and reach the shores of Loch Alsh.

Just a short drive away the 13th-century Eilean Donan Castle is perched atop a tiny island at the confluence of Loch Duich, Loch Long and Loch Alsh. Take some time to admire and take photos outside this iconic fortress, which has played a role in several films. After, we return to our hotel for dinner with a complimentary bar between 7-10pm.

Live entertainment is provided throughout this special evening, filling us with the joy and spirit of Christmas Eve. For those who would like to attend a Christmas Eve church service, warm soup will be waiting on your return.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 – A Christmas Day filled with festive cheer

Christmas Day morning begins with breakfast, accompanied by a celebratory Bucks Fizz. Afterwards, Santa Claus visits to spread Christmas cheer, after which we are served some warming mulled wine.

This afternoon, you could walk beside the River Ness, before we sit down to a traditional Christmas lunch with champagne at the hotel. With time to relax and socialise, you could toast to the King's Speech with a dram or two before the festivities start up again this evening. We enjoy a festive buffet dinner with a complimentary bar included from 7-10pm. The entertainment tonight features Scottish music and traditional dancing, the perfect way to end this special day.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 - A Boxing Day excursion to legendary Loch Ness

Today we travel by coach to the scenic shores of Loch Ness, part of the Great Glen. This area is a long fault line stretching over 60 miles, from Inverness in the north to Fort William in the south.

We stop off at the Loch Ness Exhibition Centre which details the long history and complex geology of the area, as well as a section dedicated to Nessie herself, the world-famous Loch Ness Monster. We return to Inverness via Fort Augustus and Urquhart Castle, set on a headland looking over the loch. Dinner tonight includes a complimentary bar from 7-10pm.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 – Return to Edinburgh and a Great Scots dinner

We return to Edinburgh this morning, travelling through the spectacular scenery of the Cairngorms once again. After checking into our hotel, you have free time to go sightseeing. Discover famed attractions still decked out in their festive regalia, explore the city's Christmas markets or enjoy a walk through the streets of the Georgian New Town. After, you could enjoy a warming drink in a traditional pub.

Our last evening together is a fantastic occasion. We are treated to a Great Scots dinner, accompanied by traditional Scottish piping, dancer and storytelling - a wonderful end to our Scottish Christmas holiday.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7 – Homeward Bound

After our final breakfast in Edinburgh, our wonderful Christmas holiday draws to a close. The mountains and lochs of The Highlands have been a breathtaking backdrop as we celebrated the festive period by staying in Inverness, travelling along the heritage Kyle Line and exploring the mysteries of Loch Ness before a grand end back in Edinburgh.

Once you check out of the hotel, you are free to begin your journey home or continue celebrating the season in Edinburgh or the Highlands.

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

Provisional departure and return times, where available, can be found together with our dates and prices by clicking on the 'Prices & Availability' button. We write to all booked customers approximately 10 weeks prior to the start of their tour to advise the exact departure and return time for their particular group.

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.

Hotels

Radisson Collection, Edinburgh

Radisson Collection, Edinburgh

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Best Western Palace Hotel & Spa, Inverness

Best Western Palace Hotel & Spa, Inverness

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Trains

The Kyle Line
Scotrail

Enhance your holiday

Upgrades

UK rail connections
Extending your holiday in Edinburgh

Reviews

4.1 stars4.1 / 5 · 26 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (12)
  2. 4 stars
    (8)
  3. 3 stars
    (4)
  4. 2 stars
    (1)
  5. 1 star
    (1)

Frederick

5 stars

Submitted 4/Jan

Beautiful hotels. A great tour manager, and lovely group of people. Overall a lovely experience.

Collected by Trustpilot

Phil Edwards

5 stars

Submitted 04 Jan 2023

A splendid trip. Beautiful scenery, fantastic hospitality and good company.

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Phil Edwards
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Roger Sawyer

5 stars

Submitted 04 Jan 2023

The holiday went as GR advertised even with the complications of rail strikes and Scot Rail not seeming to understand that the day before Christmas Eve would be one for people to travel home only provided a 3 coach train for probably best part of 300 travellers. Hotels excellent, food likewise. Tour manager was excellent looking after his flock and amking sure that everyone in the party knew what was going to happen and when.

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jinty

5 stars

Submitted 04 Jan 2023

What a great way to spend Christmas! Thoroughly spoiled staying at The Raddison Edinburgh at the beginning and end of break! The hospitality at The Palace Hotel Inverness was amazing, the staff couldnt couldnt do more for us! Copious amounts of good food and drink!! I requested a room wth a view and got it!! 4th floor, at the back, view over Inverness and the mountains beyond! Room was lovely and warm. Bed SO comfortable!! It was a treat being able to go for a swim each morning, especially Christmas morning! Not many people used the pool -so remember your cossie if you go! If facilities are not used then they may close/reduce hours over Christmas holidays!! Despite rail restrictions we managed to get there and The Kyle of Lochalsh trip was amazing! We were very lucky with that one - after our train no service for 4 days!! A coach was arranged for our return to Edinburgh (due to rail restrictions!) - not ideal but it was comfortable and had a loo!! The weather conditions were horrendous but the driver was excellent! The meals at the Radisson were all good, especially breakfast!! Just watch out for the expensive drinks!! All in all a great way to spend Christmas - despite rail disruptions!!

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J Archer

5 stars

Submitted 04 Jan 2023

As this was the first time I have holidayed as a single it was a lovely experience every thing was very well organised.

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Anne

5 stars

Submitted 10 Jan 2022

I was really pleased that I made the decision to take this trip. The group, smaller than it would have been, gelled really well. I think we were let down by ScotRail. The tour manager was very efficient and helpful. The hotel in Edinburgh was much more geared up to deal with my having Coeliac disease and therefore follow a gluten free diet but I was rather disappointed by the attitude of the hotel in Inverness who did not seem to be prepared although I had advised of my special diet on booking and I cannot believe that I was the only guest in the hotel who had this need. I enjoyed the excursions on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day.

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Anne
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