Scotland's Highlands, Islands & Cities

Scotland’s Highlands, Islands & Cities ISLE OF SKYE ISLE OF SKYE 1 Iona Isle of Mull

This unforgettable Scottish Highlands trip travels into the far-reaches of Scotland’s rugged countryside. Keep your eyes peeled for Nessie, delve into the history of the kings and warriors and join the Wood family for a Ceilidh and lunch in the ‘presence’ of Rob Roy.

Ullapool Dunrobin Castle

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Culloden

INVERNESS INVERNESS

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Fort William Pitlochry Glamis Castle

OBAN OBAN

Loch Lomond Stirling 1

DUNDEE DUNDEE

St Andrews

GLASGOW GLASGOW 2 3

EDINBURGH

Bannockburn Melrose Jedburgh

SCOTLAND

YOUR MUST-SEE HIGHLIGHTS

EXPLORE Edinburgh with a Local Specialist. DISCOVER Dundee, the Orkney Islands, Stirling and Glasgow. VISIT Edinburgh Castle, Glamis Castle, a Whisky Distillery, the battlefield and Visitor Center of Culloden, Dunrobin Castle, John O’Groats, the Italian Chapel on the Orkney Islands, Skara Brae, Ullapool, the Isle of Skye, the Isle of Mull, the Isle of Iona, St. Mungo’s Cathedral in Glasgow and Stirling Castle. VIEW Jedburgh Abbey, the 18th green at St Andrews, Inverness Castle, Eilean Donan Castle and Glencoe. SEE Loch Ness, Loch Lomond and the Battlefield at Bannockburn.

INCLUDED EXTRAS

Tickets to the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo are included on departures that coincide with performance dates.

Your Itinerary

DAY 1 | WELCOME TO EDINBURGH

Enjoy your day at leisure before joining your fellow travelers and Travel Director for a Welcome Reception to kick-start your tour through an unimaginably beautiful part of the world. (WR)

Hotel: Voco Hotel Haymarket/Marriott

DAY 2 | DISCOVER ENCHANTING EDINBURGH

Let your Local Specialist take you on an informative sightseeing tour of Edinburgh. See the regal Palace of Holyroodhouse, the new Scottish Parliament Building and the arm-width alleyways and staircases of the labyrinth-like Royal Mile before visiting Edinburgh Castle, perched atop Castle Rock. Spend the rest of the day at leisure. Tickets to see the spectacular Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo are included on departures that coincide with performance dates. (B)

DAY 3 | A DAY OF ABBEYS, LANDSCAPES & HISTORY

A scenic day’s excursion brings us to the ruins of the 12th-century Augustinian Jedburgh Abbey, which we will have an opportunity to view. Continue to nearby Melrose Abbey, said to be the final resting place of the embalmed heart of Robert the Bruce. We take the scenic route back to Edinburgh this afternoon, following the lush green landscapes along the Tweed River. (B)

DAY 4 | EXPLORE GLAMIS CASTLE & ON TO CREATIVE DUNDEE

This morning we cross the Firth of Forth to the celebrated home of golf - St Andrews, to view its ancient university and famous golf courses. Shakespeare’s Macbeth takes center stage as we visit Glamis Castle, once the home of the beloved Queen Mother and birthplace of Princess Margaret. Enjoy a guided tour of the castle and explore its beautiful gardens, before we travel to the waterfront city of Dundee, distinguished for its status as the first UNESCO City of Design, and the original home of marmalade. (B) Hotel: Apex City Quay

DAY 5 | VENTURE TO CULLODEN & INVERNESS

Dive Into Culture and learn about the local whisky industry at a distillery, including a tasting of Scotland’s much-loved golden nectar. Hearts warmed, we wind our way to the tragic battlefield and Visitor Center at Culloden, past rugged landscapes and the imposing Cairngorms Mountains. Our final stop for the night is in Inverness. (B) Hotel: Columba Please Note: Hotels in the Scottish Highlands are generally simpler establishments typical of the region.

DAY 6 | JOURNEY TO LOCH NESS & THURSO

The mystical haunt of Nessie is our first stop today en route to Dunrobin Castle. Spend your afternoon exploring the castle’s château-like structure and surrounds that were once home to the Clan Sutherland. Arriving in Thurso, our home for the next two nights, we enjoy dinner at our hotel. (B,D) Hotel: Pentland/Norseman

Italian Chapel, Orkney Islands

This trip is an encounter with ancient and recent history. On the Orkney Islands, see the Churchill Barriers and Italian chapel from WWII before being enthralled by the prehistoric Ring of Brodgar.

VACATION PLANNER

13 DAYS | 18 MEALS

START: Edinburgh END: Glasgow CODE: BHLD

2023 Departures May 01,08,15,22 Jun 05,12,19,26 Jul 10,24,29, 31●◆ Aug 05 ● ,07● ,12● ,14 ● ,19 ● ,21● ,28 Sep 02,04,09,16,23, 30 Oct 07

● Edinburgh Tattoo 4-26 August 2023: We’ve included Tattoo tickets when you’re in Edinburgh during these dates. See the

Edinburgh Military Tattoo panel on page 102 for further details. ◆ Reversed Itinerary: The departure marked will operate in reverse and may stay in alternative hotels to those listed.

All sightseeing and inclusions will remain as described.

WANT TO TRAVEL IN 2024?

If you’re looking even further ahead, this trip departs every Monday from May to October 2024. Visit our website for dates and prices.

Isle of Mull

DAY 7 | A DAY ON THE ORKNEY ISLANDS

After stopping at John O’Groats, board a ferry to South Ronaldsay in the Orkney Islands. Visit the ornate Italian Chapel, built by Italian prisoners of war. See the prehistoric free-standing stones of the Ring of Brodgar before visiting Skara Brae and delving into the stories of the Neolithic village. We stop at beautiful Kirkwall Cathedral for a photo opportunity before returning to our hotel for dinner. (B,D)

DAY 8 | OVER THE SEA TO SKYE

Dramatic landscapes accompany our scenic drive along the rugged northern coastline of the Scottish Highlands to remote Ullapool on the shores of Loch Broom. We journey to the 13th-century Eilean Donan Castle then continue to the Isle of Skye where we’ll stay overnight and enjoy a dinner in our hotel. (B,D)

Hotel: Kings Arms

Please Note: Hotels on the Isle of Skye are generally simpler establishments typical of the region and may be substituted with accommodations on the mainland. All sightseeing will remain as per the itinerary.

DAY 9 | ONWARDS TO OBAN

We return to the mainland, following a beautiful route that takes us past the Glenfinnan Viaduct which Harry Potter’s ‘Hogwarts Express’ once crossed to his beloved school of magic. We pass Fort William, renowned as the gateway to Ben Nevis, before continuing to Oban. (B) Hotel: Royal

DAY 10 | SAIL TO THE ISLES OF MULL & IONA

Set sail from Oban to the Isle of Mull. Cross the pretty island countryside to catch a ferry from Fionnphort to the island of Iona. Before our journey back to Oban, we’ll have the chance to view Rèilig Odhrain, the final resting place of many Scottish kings. (B,D)

DAY 11 | OFF TO GLASGOW

A solemn reminder of the MacDonald clansmen, who were massacred at the ‘Glen of Weeping’ marks our journey south to Glasgow. Enjoy a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience during a wildlife cruise on Loch Lomond before arriving in Glasgow for an orientation tour visiting St. Mungo’s Cathedral and viewing George Square. (B)

Hotel: AC by Marriott

DAY 12 | UNCOVER STIRLING CASTLE’S SECRETS

Enjoy a visit to Stirling Castle’s grounds. Then, visit the splendidly decorated Royal Palace of King James V and view the renowned Stirling Heads before embarking on an excursion to Bannockburn. Connect With Locals this afternoon, joining the Wood family for a memorable Be My Guest experience at their 15th-century farm on the shores of Loch Ard, amidst tales of Rob Roy. (B,BMG)

DAY 13 | FAREWELL GLASGOW

It’s time to say a fond farewell to our travel companions and Travel Director as our memorable vacation comes to an end. Find out more about your free airport transfer at brendanvacations.com/transfers. (B)