Tour Itinerary

Day 1

Overnight flight from Ottawa.

Day 2

Upon your arrival in Edinburgh, you will be transferred to your hotel in Glasgow where you will be able to check your baggage. Your tour director will provide you with options for morning and afternoon activities.

Dinner at your hotel this evening. (D)

Overnight in Glasgow 3 nights at Ibis Styles Glasgow George Square Hotel (or similar).

Day 3

Begin your day by enjoying a panoramic tour of Glasgow. Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and the third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country’s west-central lowlands. Glasgow grew from the medieval Bishopric of Glasgow and the later establishment of the University of Glasgow, which became a major centre of the Scottish Enlightenment. From the 18th century, the city grew as one of Europe’s main hubs of transatlantic trade with the Americas. With the Industrial Revolution, the city and surrounding region shifted to become one of the world’s pre-eminent centres of engineering and shipbuilding, constructing many innovative and famous vessels. Glasgow was known as the “Second City of the British Empire” for much of the Victorian era and Edwardian period. Today it is one of Europe’s top twenty financial centres and is home to many of Scotland’s leading businesses. Your panoramic tour includes the Merchant City, the regenerated Waterfront and the bohemian West End. Following your city tour, visit the Glasgow Cathedral of St. Mungo. Glasgow’s St Mungo Cathedral stands majestically in the heart of Scotland’s largest city. It is the only medieval cathedral on the Scottish mainland to have survived the Protestant Reformation of 1560 virtually intact. To its south sits a thriving burgh that sprang up under episcopal patronage. That burgh has since expanded into the great metropolis we now see. Finally, visit the Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum. The Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is one of Scotland’s most popular attractions. It has 22 themed, state-of-the-art galleries displaying an astonishing 8000 objects. The collections are extensive, wide-ranging and internationally significant. They include natural history, arms and armour, art from many art movements from different periods of history and much more. (B)

Day 4

Today you will travel south of Glasgow to the historic county of Ayrshire. Located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde, Ayrshire is one of the most agriculturally fertile regions in Scotland known for its breathtaking vistas. Upon arrival in Ayrshire, you will visit the Robert Burns Birthplace Museum.

The Robert Burns Birthplace Museum offers a truly unique encounter with Scotland’s favourite son. The museum comprises the famous Burns Cottage where the poet was born, the historic landmarks where he set his greatest work, the elegant monument, the gardens created in his honour and a modern museum housing the world’s most important collection of his life and works. Next, you will visit Culzean Castle. Standing on a dramatic cliff top overlooking the Firth of Clyde, Culzean Castle has been associated with the Kennedy family since the 14th century. Discover the best features of the castle, including Adam’s masterpiece- the oval staircase- as well as the fine collection of paintings and exquisite furniture. The property is set in nearly 600 acres of stunning countryside and miles of waymarked paths that lead through majestic woodlands. After your visit to Culzean Castle, you will return to Glasgow in time for dinner. (B)

Day 5

This morning you will depart your hotel in Glasgow and will travel to the town of Aviemore. Aviemore is located within the Cairngorms National Park in the Scottish Highlands. Surrounded by beautiful scenery, it is one of the most treasured holiday escapes in Scotland. First visit Stirling Castle. One of Scotland’s grandest castles due to its imposing position and impressive architecture, Stirling Castle commands the countryside. It towers over some of the most important battlefields of Scotland’s past including Stirling Bridge, the site of William Wallace’s victory over the English in 1297 and Bannockburn where Robert the Bruce defeated the same foe in the summer of 1314. Situated on a volcanic outcrop guarding the lowest crossing point of the River Forth, Stirling Castle is a great symbol of Scottish Independence and a source of enduring national pride. The castle’s long, turbulent history is associated with great figures from Scotland’s past, such as William Wallace, Robert the Bruce and Mary Queen of Scots. It has seen many royal dramas and witnessed the lives and deaths of almost every Scottish monarch up to the Union of the Crowns in 1603.

Continue to your hotel and check-in. (B)

Overnight in Inverness 3 nights at Best Western Palace Hotel & Spa (or similar)

Day 6

This morning you will enjoy a cruise on Loch Ness.

Known worldwide for its illustrious sea monster inhabitant Nessie, Loch Ness is a beautiful freshwater loch located in the heart of the Scottish Highlands. Your cruise will take you across the water, offering striking views of the lake and its surrounding mountains. Don’t forget to look out for Nessie!

Following the cruise, you will visit Urquhart Castle. Magnificently situated overlooking Loch Ness, Urquhart is one of the largest castles in Scotland boasting a long and colourful history. Built in the 1230s, seized by the English in 1296, sacked by the MacDonald Lords of the Isles in 1545 and left to fall into decay after 1689, most of the existing buildings date from the 14th century and include the Grant Tower (16th century), the best-preserved part of the complex. Enjoy some free time in Inverness before returning to your hotel. (B)

Day 7

This morning you will visit the Culloden Battlefield.

Witness the setting of the historic 1746 Battle of Culloden between the Jacobite and British armies. As the last battle fought on British soil, Culloden marks the beginning of the dismantlement of the structures of Highland society. This site also features an interactive exhibition that allows you to immerse yourself in the history of Culloden’s events while you explore the grounds. Following your trip to the Culloden Battlefield you will visit the Glenfiddich Distillery. Set in the heart of the Highlands, Glenfiddich (meaning ‘Valley of the Deer’ in Gaelic) is a place of breathtaking beauty. Glenfiddich is little changed since 1886 when William Grant and his nine children built the distillery. These same silent warehouses and steamy mash rooms produce the world’s favourite single malt Scotch whisky today. Experience one of their traditional warehouses whose earthen floors, stone walls and age-old atmosphere nurture this famous whisky to life. You will be able to sample some whisky before departing for your hotel. (B).

Day 8

Today you will depart your hotel in Inverness and travel to the charming region of Fife. A countryside scattered with beautifully rustic towns; Fife is best known for its impressive ruins – most especially those of St. Andrew’s. Begin your day with a visit to Glamis Castle. Admire the stunning architecture, enjoy the surrounding beauty of the grounds and gardens and explore the fascinating and exciting history of Glamis Castle. It has been the family home of the Earls of Strathmore since 1372 when King Robert II (the first of the Stuart Kings) of Scotland gave the castle to Sir John Lyon. Legends and myths have grown around the castle. King Malcolm II was said to have been murdered here in the 11th century. Lady Janet Douglas, widow of Lord Glamis, was burned at the stake as a witch in 1540 by James V. It is said there is a secret room where a nobleman played cards with the devil himself. Glamis today looks more like a French Chateau than a medieval fortress after it was extensively restored in the 17th and 18th centuries. It has close connections with the present Royal Family, being the childhood home of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, and Her Royal Highness the Princess Margaret was born here in 1930.

After visiting Glamis Castle, you will continue on to the town of St. Andrews. Dating back to the 13th century, St. Andrews Castle is a captivating ruin situated on the coastal Royal Burgh of St. Andrews. Tour the bottle-dungeon and unique mine tunnelled during a siege that followed the murder of Cardinal Beaton in 1546 while exploring the site that was once a bishop’s palace, fortress, and state prison during its 450-year history. Following your visit to St. Andrews Castle you will continue on to St. Andrews Cathedral, the remains of the largest medieval cathedral in Scotland. Climb to the top of St. Rule’s Tower to enjoy spectacular views and enjoy the Cathedral Museum which houses an outstanding collection of early and later medieval sculpture and relics found on site including the magnificent St. Andrew’s Sarcophagus. (B)

Overnight in Dundee 1 night at Hotel Indigo & Staybridge Suites Dundee (or similar).

Day 9

This morning you will depart Dundee and travel to Edinburgh via the renowned Forth Road Bridge, from which you can see the Firth of Forth Bridge. Regarded as an engineering marvel and recognized the world over, the Firth of Forth Bridge is a remarkable cantilever structure built to carry the two tracks of the North British Railway across the Firth of Forth. Before arriving in Edinburgh, you will stop at Rosslyn Chapel located in the village of Roslin. Founded in 1446, Rosslyn Chapel is a magnificent building noted for its ornate carvings and the beauty of its setting. Its stonework and symbolism have inspired artists for centuries, and the many theories, myths and legends associated with the chapel continue to intrigue locals and visitors alike. Following your visit to Rosslyn Chapel, continue to Edinburgh to enjoy a panoramic tour of the city. Perched upon a series of extinct volcanoes and rocky crags, Scotland’s capital city is both historic and cosmopolitan. Edinburgh Castle dominates the skyline and from its ramparts, you can look down onto medieval lanes and elegant, sweeping terraces that hold over a thousand years of history within their structures. Simultaneously modern and dynamic, the many festivals, galleries and restaurants that define Edinburgh create a lively atmosphere with a distinctly Scottish flavour. After your city tour you will check into your hotel in Edinburgh. (B)

Overnight in Edinburgh 3 nights at Ibis Edinburgh Centre Royal Mile – Hunter Square Hotel (or similar).

Day 10

Days 10 and 11 are free days to explore Edinburgh. You may choose to use your Royal Edinburgh Ticket to explore the city. The Royal Edinburgh Ticket gives you unlimited travel on Edinburgh Bus Tours’ four city tours for 48 hours. It also gives you fast-track admission to Edinburgh Castle and The Royal Yacht Britannia. Your Travac Tours Director will also offer suggestions to enhance your experience in Edinburgh. (B)

Day 11

Today is another free day to explore this wonderful town. (B, D)

Day 12

Transfer to Edinburgh Airport for your return flight home.

Itinerary and hotels subject to change.

Hotel Information

Ibis Styles Glasgow George Square Hotel or similar

Hotel website

Hotel Address

Best Western Palace Hotel & Spa Inverness or similar

Hotel website

Hotel Address

Hotel Indigo & Staybridge Suites Dundee or similar

Hotel website

Hotel Address

Ibis Edinburgh Centre Royal Mile – Hunter Square Hotel or similar

Hotel website

Hotel Address