The Ultimate Scottish Adventure

Hop into a taxi at the Edinburgh airport to our accommodation, The Bonham, a 5-star hotel in the coveted West End neighborhood. A stone’s throw from the Old Town, our hotel has incredible views of the Edinburgh skyline.

This afternoon, feel free to explore the area around the hotel or relax and recuperate at the hotel. Our guide will meet us in the bar for pre-dinner drinks and a briefing before a delicious welcome dinner at the Angels Share Restaurant. 

Today, we'll meet up in the lobby in the morning to begin our exploration of this vibrant and historic city. Together we'll walk along the famous Royal Mile, stopping to admire iconic landmarks like St. Giles’ Cathedral and the iconic Edinburgh Castle. Here we'll visit the castle’s Great Hall, the Royal Palace, St Margaret’s Chapel, and Mons Meg – a six-ton siege gun.

After lunching at the Outsider Restaurant, we'll venture out to the port of Leith and explore the Royal Yacht Britannia, the late Queen Elizabeth’s floating palace that transported her all over the world. Tour her bedchamber, discover where state functions took place, and check out the kitchens in the heart of this magnificent ship.

Tonight will be at your leisure. Savor one of the many fine eateries the city has to offer or snuggle up and order room service. We're happy to help with suggestions and reservations. 

Today we'll head to the fabled Isle of Skye through the rolling hills of Perthshire and into the Highlands. The total drive time is about 5.5 hours, but we'll break it up with many stops throughout the day. 

Our first stop will be the pretty village of Dunkeld, with its historic cathedral and charming shops laid out along a traditional high street. Don’t miss the Aran Bakery owned by Flora Shedden, a semi-finalist in the Great British Bake Off. 

We'll stop for lunch at the iconic House of Bruar, with time after lunch to browse its classic Scottish country wear. For over 70 years, the House of Bruar has sold the finest tweeds in Scotland.

As we continue north, the scenery becomes more dramatic by the mile. We'll pause at Eilean Donan Castle to take photos before crossing the famous Skye Bridge, arriving at our country house hotel in the late afternoon. 

We'll check into our home on Skye, the Skeabost House Hotel. Skeabost began in 1871 as a Victorian hunting lodge. The views are to die for as the hotel sits right on the shore of Loch Snizort. 

We’ll have time to explore the grounds before joining up with our fellow travelers for dinner at the hotel’s restaurant set in a charming glass conservatory. 

We'll spend today exploring northern Skye, taking in the Waternish and Trotternish Peninsulas, admiring the beautiful landscapes, and meeting some local crafters who call this region home. 

These peninsulas illustrate Skye's diverse landscape, where every coastal curve and cliff conveys the island's magic. The Trotternish Peninsula boasts rugged cliffs and ancient rocks, while the Waternish Peninsula offers tranquil shores with sandy beaches and sleepy villages that reflect Skye's peaceful essence. 

On Waternish, we’ll visit a local tannery to explore leather-making, witnessing the careful transformation of raw sheepskins into durable leather using traditional methods. The tannery includes a showroom and shop selling quality items, the perfect spot to pick up a souvenir.

Afterward, we’ll have the opportunity to spend time with an award-winning Scottish landscape artist and photographer based on the Isle of Skye, who draws inspiration from Scotland's serene landscapes. Cath's work captures the essence of open spaces, expansive skies, and the unique colors of the Scottish land and sea.

All of this exploring has surely made us hungry. Let's savor lunch and refreshments at Cullin Hills Hotel before taking some time to walk around the stunning Trotternish Peninsula. The abundance of dramatic landscapes will leave you in awe.

After a rest, we’ll meet again for our evening meal at the hotel.

Heading back to the Scottish mainland, we'll stop at the impossibly quaint fishing village of Plockton. Explore the village or enjoy a coffee at a local cafe on your own as you watch the world go by.

We'll continue with a private tour of Attadale Gardens, the recent winner of the Royal Horticultural Society's best regional garden award. Dating back over 250 years, the gardens have been continuously reinvented. Our tour will cover many highlights, including the water and Japanese gardens, followed by coffee at the historic house.

After our garden visit, we’ll transfer to the Black Isle, where our accommodation, Newhall Mains, awaits. Founded in 2020 by Euan Ramsay and his family, this 18th-century property has been beautifully restored into a boutique hotel. After we rest and unpack, we’ll meet for dinner in the dining room.

Today's driving totals just about 3 hours, but like before, we'll have plenty of beautiful stops along the way to break things up. 

After a leisurely morning and breakfast, we'll take off north to Dornoch, arriving before noon, ready to watch the Chieftain’s Parade – the historic march that traditionally opens the famous Highland Games. These games were first invented to crown the clan's strongest and bravest. Musicians and dancers were also encouraged to showcase their talents as a credit to their clan.

The present-day format was derived from Victorian times, with athletes coming from all over the world to compete in the ‘heavy events’ such as ‘Tossing the Caber’ or ‘Stone Putt.’ 

Choose your favorite lunch option from one of the many food stands at the Highland Games. Why not get adventurous and try a few traditional Scottish tastes such as Haggis or Scotch Pies?

We'll spend the afternoon watching the events, admiring the dancers, and enjoying the music at this traditional Scottish day out before we head back to Newhall Mains.

This evening is free to relax and unwind back at the hotel or venture out to discover the local town of Cromarty. Dinner will be on your own or with new friends; it's up to you.

It's time to head south. As we begin our journey, if time allows, we may take the opportunity to nip into Inverness for a short stroll along the river or to explore the city’s charming souvenir shops.

Take in the impressive mountain ranges and epic views on our 2-hour drive through the Cairngorms National Park en route to our final hotel. We'll stop along the way to visit the historic Blair Castle, home to Europe’s only private army and where Mary Queen of Scots once stayed. 

After savoring lunch at Mac & Pinch in Pitlochry, we'll pop into a local chocolatier, famous for hot chocolate and truffles! The perfect treat to round out our meal.

Our final accommodation this evening is the historic Fortingall Hotel, nestled at the foot of one of Scotland's most beautiful glens. Home to the legendary Fortingall Yew - reputedly the oldest living thing in Europe - it is a truly mystical spot where we can raise a glass to our vacation and the memories that will linger long after we leave these ancient lands.

Our journey will come to a close today after breakfast, as we return to Edinburgh Airport for onward connections, arriving around noon after about a 2-hour drive. Here, we bid farewell while cherishing our fond Scottish memories. 

Note: Anyone booking an international flight departing before 3 p.m. today will likely need a private transfer from the hotel at approximately £300. Transfers should be arranged before arriving in Scotland.