Day 1 - Edinburgh, Holyrood Palace and Edinburgh Castle
Join your tour manager at London Kings Cross Train Station for a beautiful, scenic journey from London to Edinburgh by high speed train. With onboard WiFi (charges apply) and a fully stocked shop, you can enjoy breakfast in England and lunch in Scotland.
On arrival in Edinburgh the day begins with a two hour fully guided coach tour. Discover the adventure and misfortune of Scotland’s tragic queen, Mary Queen of Scots, as we start our tour at Holyrood Palace. This 900 year old Palace was built on the orders of King David after an encounter with a mythical white Stag, and remains today as the official residence of the British monarchy in Scotland.
After a brief stop at the Palace it’s on to one of Edinburgh’s highest points in Holyrood Park before continuing our tour of the ‘Old Town’. The tour will include some of the cities most famous landmarks including Edinburgh Castle, National Museum of Scotland, Grassmarket, Greyfriars Bobby and the Elephant House coffee house where J.K.Rowling first penned Harry Potter.
We depart the Old Town and continue towards the Georgian New Town, home to some of the world’s most famous writers, scholars and inventors. The Scots have long been at the forefront of innovation and discovery from Alexander Fleming’s discovery of penicillin to John Logie Baird’s invention of television; James Simpson and chloroform to Alexander Bell and the telephone. Where would we be today without Scottish scientists and inventors? In the fictional world many characters would not exist were it not for authors born and raised in Edinburgh’s New town including Harry Potter, Long John Silver, Jekyll & Hyde, Peter Pan and Sherlock Holmes.
After a guided drive through the elegant 18th century squares and terraces of the New Town we transfer you to your nearby accommodation, a chance to have a late lunch and visit some of the attractions or sites your guide will have talked about on the tour. Your tour manager will remain available to provide local information, help and advice.
Optional Ghosts and Ghouls evening tour – 20.00pm
A spine tingling evening with ghoulish tales of torture and witchcraft as you learn of Edinburgh’s ghostly past! The guided tour takes place in medieval closes and the haunted Blair Street Underground vaults. Included in the tour is a shot of Dewar’s super Scotch Whisky to keep you warm on this chilling tour!!
Rest of the evening free to enjoy Edinburgh’s atmospheric old inns to sample some local ales and whisky, joined by the tour guide. A great opportunity for you to get to know some other fellow group members on the tour.
Day 2 - Loch Ness and Inverness
Enjoy a full free day in Edinburgh to visit one of the many amazing attractions on offer. Time to explore the Royal Mile, visit the Castle, enter Holyrood Palace or one of the many free museums and galleries in the city.
OR
Loch Ness and Scottish Highlands Upgrade – £59. Prepare to see some amazing scenery on this fully guided day trip, with entry included to the stunning Urquhart Castle on the banks of Loch Ness. Leave city life behind as you head into a land of mountains, lakes (lochs), beauty, mystery and legend!
Depart Edinburgh and travel along the Forth Valley towards Stirling, passing the famous battle site of Bannockburn (1314) and into William Wallace (Braveheart) country. See Stirling Castle and the National Wallace Monument, where the mighty hero defeated the English forces of King Edward I at Stirling Bridge in 1297.
Entering the Trossachs National Park we make our official entrance into the Highlands and the land of the outlaw Rob Roy. After crossing The Rannoch Moor, one of Europe’s most sparsely populated areas, we come across the ‘weeping’ Glen Coe. Brace yourselves for the treacherous tale of Highland rivalries, as the MacDonald clan were betrayed and brutally slaughtered by their bitter enemies, the Campbells.
After a stop for lunch with Scottish specialities Haggis or even Highland Whisky, we enter the Great Glen and follow the Caledonian Canal in the shadow of Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest mountain. The Great Glen is one of the most picturesque parts of the British Isles, filled with perfectly reflecting waters of Loch Lochy, Loch Oich and the most famous of all, Loch Ness. We drive along the entire 23 miles (37km) of Loch Ness as your guide tells you tales of sightings and encounters of this elusive beast.
We stop at the widest point of Loch Ness for an hour to explore Urquhart Castle with entry included. A castle of history and mystery, and the place where the highest numbers of sightings of the Loch Ness Monster have been made. From here you will have the option of taking a boat cruise on the Loch (entry extra, payable on the day), you will never get a better chance to Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster!
After the Castle we continue to our northernmost point at Inverness, the Capital of the Highlands, before turning south past the site of the Battle of Culloden and journey through the Cairngorms and our return to Edinburgh.
Please note: because of the long distances this particular excursion entails (well over 500km a day), which may not make the best suited day tour for infants younger than 3 years of age.
Day 3 - Calton Hill and Edinburgh Castle
Join your tour manager for a morning walk up Calton Hill for views of the City of Edinburgh and the Firth of Forth. From here you can see the 171 metre tower in honour of the great Vice Admiral Horatio Nelson and his victories over Napoleon Bonaparte. Next to the tower is the National Monument of Scotland which commemorates Scottish soldiers and sailors who died during the Napoleonic wars. From here it is clear to see why many refer to Edinburgh as ‘the Athens of the North.’
From Calton Hill the tour manager will accompany you to Edinburgh Castle (entry extra), an impenetrable fortress which has stood overlooking the city for over 1000 years. Learn about the Scottish Monarchy, Scottish heroes such as William Wallace or Robert the Bruce and see the Crown jewels of Scotland.
OR
Whisky Tasting upgrade – £22 – ( only adults over 18s). A transfer and tour of Glenkinchie whisky distillery, the closest to Edinburgh. After experiencing the detailed and highly skilled process of making a bottle of ‘Scotch’ you will have the chance to sample some of the whiskies made here. If you select this day trip you will be dropped back in Edinburgh after the tour in time for the coach departure transfer to the train station.
Our departure transfer coach will collect you from the accommodation at 13:30pm for the transfer to Edinburgh Waverley station, train departing at 14:51pm for the return journey to London Kings Cross. Arrival time in London Kings Cross is shortly after 20:30pm.
