Country Roads of Scotland - Small Group

10 days
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4.6/5 Excellent
100+ reviews  
97%
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Small Group Tour
Set foot on the stomping grounds of the Military Tattoo in Edinburgh, see the grand Georgian architecture of Glasgow and sail across the sea to the Isle of Skye—the most beautiful island of the Inner Hebrides. Join Local Experts on this grand Gaelic tour as you pass Britain’s northernmost point at John O’Groats and board a ferry to the Orkney Islands. Enjoy a...

Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Wheelchair Accessible
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • Choose between two carefully selected activities
    • Wick: Visit the highly rated Wick Heritage Museum to gain a full picture of this once thriving fishing community and how your visit helps keep the story of this town alive.The Wick Society is committed to preserving and promoting Wick's proud heritage for the inspiration of future generations. They collect, collate and display the many artefacts that tell the history of Wick and their community ethos is one of welcome and sharing.Wick Heritage Museum advances UN Sustainable DevelopmentGoal 11: Sustainable Cities & Communities.Alternatively, visit the Old Pulteney Distillery to taste a wee dram of whisky.
    • Wick: Whiskys are known for their distinctive flavours, often bursting with the power and subtlety of the sea. Share a wee dram with a master distiller who imparts the age-old techniques of whisky production at the Old Pulteney Distillery.
    • : Our Well-Being Directors take a proactive approach to your welfare ensuring all well-being regulations are met (available on tours with 21 or more guests).
    • : Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.
    • : Experience enhanced hygiene protocols to align with the latest guidance following COVID-19.All Travel Directors, Well-Being Directors and Drivers have completed training in enhancedwell-being and hygiene protocols.
    • : We only work with establishments we are confident will consistently adhere to our high well-being standards, which include hotels, restaurants and sight-seeing venues.
    • : Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.
    • : "One food I really love introducing my guests to is haggis because it’s surprisingly really nice and they love hearing about how it’s made. "
    • : "Towering mountains, glittering lochs, beautiful forests, crumbling toothy ancient castles, rushing rivers, grand vistas, clear air... there's nowhere else like the Highlands, in how it looks but also how it feels: strong, bright, impressive and light."

What's this trip about?

    Set foot on the stomping grounds of the Military Tattoo in Edinburgh, see the grand Georgian architecture of Glasgow and sail across the sea to the Isle of Skye—the most beautiful island of the Inner Hebrides. Join Local Experts on this grand Gaelic tour as you pass Britain’s northernmost point at John O’Groats and board a ferry to the Orkney Islands. Enjoy a quieter pace of life on these tranquil isles as you explore the 5000-year-old village of Skara Brae and the mysterious Ring of Brodgar. In Wick, whet your whistle with a wee dram of whisky at the Old Pulteney Distillery or visit the fascinating Heritage Museum on this Insight Choice. After exploring the charming cobbled streets of St. Andrews, take afternoon tea at Blair Castle—the historic home of the Atholl family for over seven centuries.

Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizePrivate - your group only
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportN/A
Start CityEdinburgh
End CityGlasgow

Destinations

Attractions

  • Edinburgh
  • Glasgow
  • Orkney Islands

Trip includes

    • Our highly-skilled Travel Director will ensure your journey is seamless, serving as your expert guide, consummate organiser, and friend overseas.
    • Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.
    • We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.
    • Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
    • From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.
    • If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport.

Popular Trips

Itinerary

Day 1: Welcome to Edinburgh

Welcome to Scotland - land of legends and romance, from the great cultural cities in the south, to the dramatic mountains and misty lochs of the Highlands. On arrival at Edinburgh airport, transfers depart for your hotel at 09:00, 11:00 and 13:00. Then the rest of the...

Day 2: Edinburgh, The Capital of Culture

Join a Local Expert to see the highlights of the city. In the Old Town, see the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official Scottish residence of the Queen. Drive along Princes Street to the ornate Scott Memorial, then see the 18th century New Town with its neoclassical Geo...

Day 3: To St. Andrews and the Highland Capital of Inverness

Cross the Firth of Forth into Fife and journey to St. Andrews, passing the Old Course, home of golf since its creation in the 15th century. Enjoy free time to explore. Perhaps stroll to West Sands Beach where the famous 'Chariots of Fire' scene was filmed? Alternative...

Day 4: Culloden, Loch Ness and onto Thurso

See Culloden Moor in the morning, where Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Jacobite army was crushed in 1746. Visit the Culloden Visitor Centre before continuing along the shores of Loch Ness. Keep your eyes peeled for the legendary monster! Next, follow the rugged coast north t...

Day 5: A Day in the Orkney Islands

Start the day by driving to the most northern point of the British mainland, John O’Groats. Board the ferry to the beautiful Orkney Islands where the countryside is breathtakingly majestic and the tranquillity supports a quieter pace of life. Here the hardy locals say...

Day 6: Over the Sea to Skye

Travel through stunning, pristine landscapes along the northern coast with its white sandy beaches, and further inland to misty valleys and glens, lochs and rushing waters. Then it’s ‘Over the Sea to Skye,’ the largest and most beautiful island of the Inner Hebrides. ...

Day 7: Through the Scottish Highlands to Glencoe Relaxed Start

Explore this wild and beautiful island on your own, before crossing to the Kyle of Lochalsh. Stop for a photo at remote Eilean Donan Castle, which under a clear sky offers a perfect reflection in its loch. Move on to the WWII Commando Memorial where there is a fine vi...

Day 8: Along the Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond to Glasgow Relaxed Start

Spend time around peaceful Loch Lomond, ‘Queen of Scottish Lochs’ according to Sir Walter Scott and the largest in Great Britain. Perhaps experience the beauty and tranquillity of the loch with an optional cruise before continuing to Glasgow? An orientation drive thro...

Day 9: Depart Glasgow

Your travels come to an end after breakfast. Departure transfers arrive at Glasgow airport at 06:30 and 09:00.

Breakfast

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Dates & Availability

Price From $4,713
Price per day$471
Last Updated: 10/16/2024

Check current availability, prices, specials & more.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

Insight Vacations Reviews & Ratings

4.6/5  Excellent
Excellent
13,426
Great
2,909
Average
933
Disappointing
255
Terrible
215
C

Carey Beamesderfer

Oct 2022

Written on

Country Roads of Scotland

See my comments above. No additional thoughts.

D

Donna Beamesderfer

Oct 2022

Written on

Country Roads of Scotland

I did not care to add several optional tours. Felt they should ...

D

Daniel Beal

Oct 2022

Written on

Country Roads of Scotland

Mal Maison was the only bad part of the trip. They were far from helpful and they certainly were not a 5 star hotel as they thought they were. Customer service went...

J

John Mcconnell

Oct 2022

Written on

Country Roads of Scotland

not an easy one, if we would have had more free time, ...

P

Patricia Dovell

Oct 2022

Written on

Country Roads of Scotland

The trip was an easy one, same language, small country size reduced time on the bus, credit cards readily accepted, so foreign money not a problem. Meals had many c...

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Trusted Customer

Nov 2024

Written on

Lovely Northern Spain with wonderful medieval sights

The coach had generous space and the tour director and coach captain were both attentive and smiley

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Tour Operator

Insight Vacations

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As the global leader in premium tours, Insight Vacations delivers all the sights and insights of destinations up close and personal. Each tour is crafted in true comfort and style with premium 5 and 4 star hotels, small groups and customized coaches with extra leg room. The brand’s category leading dining options including the unique dine-around and dine-at-home experiences means that guests enjoy a culinary journey through the places they visit. An extensive Vegetarian option across all tour series further compliments the elevated dining offering. With a Make Travel Matter Experience®, that creates a positive impact for both the visitor and visited, plus also supports the United Nations sustainable Development Goals, included on each and every trip, Insight Vacations leads the way in immersive responsible travel.

Insight Vacations is part of the family-owned and run The Travel Corporation (TTC), driven by service for over one hundred years.

Why we love this operator
They really care about everyone's individual needs on each tour and they have an incredible attention to detail.
What they’re known for
Premium worldwide tours for curious travelers who want to get closer to the destination in comfort and style.

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Logistics

Accommodation

  • Malmaison Hotel Edinburgh.
  • Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness.
  • The Pentland Hotel, Thurso.
  • The Dunollie Hotel, Broadford.
  • Ballachulish Hotel, Glencoe., Isle of Glencoe Hotel & Leisure Centre.
  • Holiday Inn Glasgow - City Centre Theatreland.
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
Visa requirements vary depending on your country of origin and your country of destination. It is your responsibility to familiarize yourself with the relevant requirements. For a handy tool that can help you quickly find the requirements, please visit this link .
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Additional Information
Trip ID
insightvacations-SB905N17

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