Sights of Scotland Tour

Day 1

Depart for Edinburgh, Scotland:

Your vacation begins as you depart on your transatlantic flight. Overnight in flight.

Day 2

Arrive in Scotland:

If you purchased airline tickets from YMT Vacations, a YMT representative will welcome you and transfer you to your hotel where the balance of the day is at leisure. This evening you’ll get a chance to meet all your fellow travelers and your YMT Tour Director at a welcome dinner. (D)

✦Best Western Plus Keavil House, Dunfermline or similar

Day 3

Edinburgh:

This morning we take the short drive to Edinburgh for an included panoramic tour of Scotland’s capital city which is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sights will include the Royal Scottish Academy, The Georgian House, St. Giles Cathedral, The Scottish Parliament, Palace of Holyroodhouse and Greyfriars Bobby. The highlight and finale of this morning’s tour is the included entrance to Edinburgh Castle where you will see the Scottish Crown Jewels, the Stone of Destiny as well as Edinburgh’s oldest building, St. Margaret’s Chapel. Once the tour ends around lunch time, you are free to remain in the city and explore on your own or you may wish to join our afternoon optional tour to visit the Royal Yacht Britannia docked at Leith, Edinburgh’s official port. (B)

✦Best Western Plus Keavil House, Dunfermline or similar

Day 4

Edinburgh to The Highlands:

First stop at the iconic Scone Palace in the city of Perth. Scone Palace is the home of the Earl of Mansfield and it has been the seat of parliaments and the crowning place of the Kings of Scots. Robert the Bruce was crowned here in 1306 and the last coronation was of Charles II in 1651. Continue to the Victorian spa town of Pitlochry, known as a gateway to the Highlands where you’ll enjoy some free time. Before you reach your hotel, the scenic drive will take you into and through Cairngorms National Park, home to Britain’s highest and most massive mountain range. (B, D)

✦Hotel Nethybridge or similar

Day 5

The Highlands:

In the morning you will visit the historic site of the Battle of Culloden Moor just minutes away from Inverness. Here the scene was set for the big defeat of Bonnie Prince Charlie’s Scottish Clans in the spring of 1746. At the Visitor Center enjoy an innovative and interactive exhibit about the battle and the area’s history. No trip to Scotland would be complete without learning about Scotch Whiskey. After an informative tour of a distillery, you will also be able to taste the final product. (B, D)

✦Hotel Nethybridge or similar

Day 6

Loch Ness and Inverness

Enjoy stunning views of Inverness and the Moray Firth as you make your way into the Great Glen, world famous as the setting for Loch Ness. At up to 755 feet, the lake has plenty of hiding space for the mythical Loch Ness Monster, or “Nessie” as she is referred to locally. You’ll take a short scenic cruise on the loch which finishes at Urquhart Castle, where you will have time to explore the ruins dating back to the 13th century. In the afternoon, you will have time to explore the capital of the Highlands, Inverness. (B)

✦Hotel Nethybridge or similar

Day 7

Isle of Skye & Western Highlands:

Your tour takes you to the Isle of Skye, one of the Inner Hebrides islands. You will visit the Clan Donald Centre, a heritage center for what used to be the biggest clan in Scotland, ruling the western part of the country and the islands. A short ferry crossing will then take you back to the mainland and you continue to Fort William, near the UK’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis (4,409 feet). (B)

✦Hotel Ben Nevis or similar

Day 8

Argyll and Glasgow:

The itinerary takes you farther south along the rugged shoreline and into Argyll. First, you will visit Inveraray Castle, home to the Duke of Argyll, the head of Clan Campbell. An Inveraray Castle has been standing on the shores of Loch Fyne since the 1400’s, although the buildings we see today were rebuilt after a fire in 1877. En route, there will be a short break on the banks of Loch Lomond (the largest loch in Scotland). After leaving the tranquility of the Loch Lomond area, your trip takes you into Glasgow, the biggest city in Scotland. (B)

✦Holiday Inn Express Riverside or similar

Day 9

Glasgow:

During a panoramic morning city tour, you will see the remnants of the monastery at Glasgow Cathedral and the Necropolis, an ancient cemetery in the middle of the city. The tour will also take you to the most popular park in town, the Glasgow Green. You will also visit George Square, named after King George III and the de facto center of Glasgow. Enjoy a free afternoon in this city. This evening there is an included farewell dinner. (B, D)

✦Holiday Inn Express Riverside or similar

Day 10

(Friday) Glasgow

Bid farewell to Scotland and depart for home. On certain tour dates, you may choose to combine our Scotland and Ireland tours. If you choose that option, on your last day you will fly to Dublin to join our Best of Ireland tour. (B)

Important Note: Accommodations used throughout this tour are commonly situated in rural, scenic areas and local amenities may be limited. Any hotels situated outside towns and cities will always have an on-site restaurant.
Please note that this is a proposed itinerary; the actual itinerary may vary due to season, special events, or weather. Because our tour arrangements are often made a year or more in advance, YMT Vacations reserves the right to alter the itinerary. Itinerary changes are made to improve your vacation experience, as well as respond to any unforeseen circumstances that mandate alterations. By their nature, all tours vacations involve a certain level of physical activity. While YMT tours have been designed with our guests in mind and are not physically demanding, this tour does include walking and periods of standing during the sightseeing visits. You will also encounter steps and some uneven ground along the way, particularly at older, historical sights.