9 Days in Scotland

Welcome to Scotland! Explore Edinburgh by walking the length of the Royal Mile, one of the most beautiful streets in Scotland. This famous street runs downhill between two significant locations in the history of Scotland, namely Edinburgh Castle and Holyrood Palace. Along the way shops, architecture, and men in kilts playing bagpipes will add to the pleasure of being in Edinburgh. Look for alleys off the side of the Royal Mile. Known as "wynds", they're worth wandering up and down to get a feel for the city's medieval street plan.

If you prefer, a hop-on-hop-off bus tour may help you to get oriented while seeing much of the city.

Image courtesy of VisitScotland / Kenny Lam

Enjoy a 4-hour private walking tour of Edinburgh. Experience the city from a local point of view. You will end the tour at Edinburgh Castle and have the option to tour that on your own. Spend the rest of the day exploring Edinburgh.

Image courtesy of VisitScotland / Kenny Lam

Meet your driver and take a trip to Stirling, a town rich in history and known as the ‘Key To Scotland.’ Stirling Castle sits high upon Castle Rock, which is a vast volcanic rock above the River Forth, at the meeting point between Lowlands and Highlands and was once home to Mary, Queen of Scots. 

Continue north and stop at Blair Castle, a castle dating back to 1269. Set in the dramatic landscape of Perthshire, Blair Castle has been home to 19 generations of Stewarts and Murrays of Atholl. Enjoy a tasting at Blair Atholl Distillery, one of the oldest in Scotland and home of many famous brands. 

Make your way to Pitlochry, a town in the heart of Scotland that offers hospitality, clear sparkling air, beautiful scenery, rich clan history, fine food and plenty of space. There are well-marked trails for walking and cycling. 

Experience something new as you embark on a salmon fishing adventure with a ghillie.

After fishing, head north towards Aviemore and the Cairngorm Mountains. The Cairngorm National Park has a magnificent arctic landscape situated on a granite plateau. Cairn Gorm means “blue hill” in Gaelic. Take the funicular up the mountain or board a funicular railroad which will take you the two kilometers to the top where you can take a guided tour of the summit. There is also a steam train, which offers beautiful views of the Scottish landscapes. It runs from Aviemore, through Boat of Garten to Broomhill.

The Cairngorms National Park is also home to the Cairngorm Brewery and six distilleries. Don't forget to visit The Cairngorm Reindeer Herd: Britain’s only free-ranging herd of reindeer found in the Cairngorm mountains in Scotland.

Take a short hour drive north to Inverness where you can visit Cawdor Castle and Clava Cairns, a burial tomb from the Bronze Age. Don't miss the Culloden Battlefield and the Visitors Centre, the site of the last Jacobite Rebellion that forever changed the Highlander way of life.

Image courtesy of Visit Scotland / Luigi Di Pasquale

Leave Inverness and head to the spectacular Isle of Skye. Make a quick stop at Urquhart Castle ruins just outside Inverness. Take a boat ride on Loch Ness - keep an eye out for Nessie the monster!

Just before the Skye Bridge, visit Eilean Donan Castle, a popular filming location and one of Scotland’s most iconic castles. Travel to Elgol and take a hike to Spar Cave. This is just a short  walk from Glasnakille village. You could also stop in Armadale and visit Clan Donald Skye and walk the lush gardens at Armadale Castle for magnificent views across the Sound of Sleat. The town of Portree is a mere 10-minute walk away, with its colorful harbor and genuine village character, where you can find the perfect handcrafted souvenir for loved ones, or enjoy boat trips out from the harbor across the sound. Head north to Staffin and hike the Quiraing walk where you will see weird and wonderful rock formations.

Image courtesy of Visit Scotland / Kenny Lam

Explore some of the unbridled beauty that the Isle of Skye has to offer.

Hike up to the Old Man of Storr. As part of the Trotternish Ridge, the Storr was created by a massive ancient landside. Don’t miss the Fairy Glen, The Quiraing and Kilt Rock. Drive to the Three Chimneys Restaurant in Colbost or The Old School Restaurant in nearby Dunvegan for a well-earned lunch. Afterwards, head to Neist Point Lighthouse. This is a short, popular hike to a disused lighthouse at the westernmost point on the Isle of Skye. If it's clear, you can see the Outer Hebrides from the lighthouse.

Or, drive south to the Fairy Pools, which are crystal clear pools on the River Brittle located at the foot of the Black Cuillins. Head back to Portree for lunch, then take a boat trip from Portree Harbour. Visit the smaller, neighboring islands of Raasay or Rona and enjoy the wildlife and views.

Image courtesy of Visit Scotland / Richard Elliot

Drive to the Isle of Eriska and pass through Fort William and Ben Nevis, the UK's tallest mountain. Pop into the Glencoe Visitor Centre and grab a bite to eat before you go for a wander in the glen. 

Head to Loch Lomond and Cameron House where you can ride a seaplane over the Kintyre peninsula towards The Sound of Jura with the Islands of Jura, Islay and Gigha often in view. Enjoy the area on your drive to your final destination in Perthshire. 

A driver will bring you to the Edinburgh airport for your flight home.