Classically Scotland: Private/Chauffeur Tour of Scotland

Edinburgh
You will arrive at Edinburgh Airport and make your way via taxi to your overnight accommodation at The Apex Waterloo Place, a luxury city-center boutique hotel situated at the east end of Princes Street. The remainder of the day is at your leisure. Overnight Apex Waterloo Place, Edinburgh.

Day 2
Edinburgh
Spend today exploring the capital on your own. There’s no better way to find out about Edinburgh’s majestic and inspiring history than by a hop-on hop-off bus tour. Each tour is tailor-made to offer a distinctive and entertaining experience and provide a great introduction to Scotland’s Capital City.

At the top of the Royal Mile and overlooking Princes Street Gardens and the New Town is Edinburgh Castle. In 1566 Mary Queen of Scots gave birth to James VI in the royal palace within the castle and the tiny bed-closet still survives. Most importantly to Scots, in 1996 the Stone of Destiny, Scotland’s coronation stone, was placed in the Crown Room alongside the nation’s Crown Jewels, (the Honours of Scotland), following its return from Westminster after a space of 800 years. Travel along the Grassmarket, a paradise of independent merchants and eateries with a rich history.

Stop to visit Greyfriars Bobby, the loyal Skye Terrier who remained by his master’s grave for fourteen years. Travel down the Royal Mile past St Giles Cathedral, the historic City Church of Edinburgh with its famed crown spire. Also known as the High Kirk of Edinburgh, it is the Mother Church of Presbyterianism and contains the Chapel of the Order of the Thistle (Scotland’s chivalric company of knights headed by the Queen).

Continue past The Scottish Parliament building to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official residence of the Queen in Scotland. The palace was home to Mary Queen of Scots for six years and houses beautiful tapestries and paintings.  Overnight Apex Waterloo Place, Edinburgh.

Edinburgh-Inverness
This morning you will pick up your rental car and depart for the Highlands. First stop will be Stirling Castle which overlooks the River Forth where William Wallace defeated the army of Edward I. From the ramparts you can see the Wallace Monument, a 220 foot high tower perched high on the Abbey Craig around where Wallace camped before his heroic battle of Stirling Bridge, built in 1869 to commemorate William “Braveheart” Wallace.

You will now travel north west over Rannoch Moor to the most scenically beautiful of all Highland glens, Glencoe stopping at the visitors centre to view some of the most spectacular mountain scenery anywhere. This area is steeped in history, and at the Visitors Centre you will hear about the infamous 1692 massacre of Clan MacDonald and see the new exhibition which gives a behind-the-scenes glimpse of Glencoe’s starring role in the latest Bond movie Skyfall.

Travel over the Ballachulish Bridge and through Fort William passing Ben Nevis, the UK’s highest mountain. Your next stop is Fort Augustus on the southern tip of the Loch to marvel at Thomas Telford’s feat of engineering. The flight of 5 locks transport sailing vessels and boats from Loch Ness at the north end into the Caledonian Canal.

Continue up the banks of Loch Ness to the Clansman Harbour for a Jacobite Cruise to enjoy the stunning views of the surrounding mountains from the loch and sail the deepest part using the Jacobite sonar then alight at Urquhart Castle, the site of many battles led by the Clan MacDonald, which stands on a rocky promontory on the north shore with stunning views of the glen and a chance to spot the famous Loch Ness Monster. It has a turbulent history: seized by the English in 1296, sacked in 1545 by MacDonald Lord of the Isles and later left to decay after 1689. You will have the chance to explore for an hour before cruising back up the loch to the Clansman Harbour.

Returning to land, travel to your overnight accommodation at The Kingsmills Hotel, built in 1786 for William Inglis who was later to become Provost of Inverness.  The original house is the heart of the hotel, ensuring you can experience a piece of Scottish Heritage, steeped in the elegance and charm of a building of this age and set in four acres of carefully kept gardens and lawns. Overnight Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness.

Inverness
This morning you will travel the short distance to the Clansman Harbor for a 2 hour Jacobite Cruise to enjoy the stunning views of the surrounding mountains from the loch and sail the deepest part using the Jacobite sonar then alight at Urquhart Castle where you will have the chance to explore for an hour before cruising back up the loch to the Clansman Harbour.

Urquhart Castle was the site of many battles led by the Clan MacDonald. It stands on a rocky promontory on the north shore with stunning views of the glen and a chance to spot the famous Loch Ness Monster. It has a turbulent history: seized by the English in 1296, sacked in 1545 by MacDonald Lord of the Isles and later left to decay after 1689.

Returning to land, travel through Inverness towards Nairn to visit Cawdor Castle which dates from the late 14th century and was built as a private fortress by the Thanes of Cawdor. The ancient medieval tower was built around the legendary holly-tree and is not another cold monument, but a splendid house and the home of the Campbell family to this day. You may enjoy afternoon tea with some home baking in the Courtyard Café.

Round off today with a visit to Culloden Battlefield where the last hand-to-hand battle was fought on British soil which takes on a whole new meaning with the opening of an exciting new visitor centre and interactive exhibition. The battlefield itself is now restored to as close as possible that marched on by the two sides on that fateful day.

Travelling back in time a little further visit Clava Cairns, or more correctly, Bulnaraun of Clava, one of the best preserved Bronze Age burial sites in Scotland and Culloden Viaduct, Scotland’s longest masonry viaduct which was opened in 1898 and crosses the river Nairn at this point. Overnight Kingsmills Hotel, Inverness

Inverness-Pitlochry
After breakfast travel south through the mountains of the Cairngorms National Park. Your route takes you over the Drumochter Pass (1500ft above sea level). Your first stop is House of Bruar, nestling at the side of the famous Bruar Falls, for a variety of shopping opportunities in Scotland’s most prestigious country store. There is also a fabulous ‘country kitchen’ restaurant if you wish some refreshments.

Towards the little village of Blair Athol and you will reach Blair Castle home of the Clan Murray family, who hold the title of Duke of Atholl. The Castle commands a strategic position on the main route through the Central Scottish Highlands. Lowland Clan Agnew held Blair Castle against the Jacobites who laid siege to the castle during the Jacobite uprising of 1745-1746. Travel through beautiful Blair Atholl to Queens View, generally believed to be named after Queen Victoria who took tea here in 1866, the viewpoint actually commemorates Queen Isabella, wife of Robert the Bruce who ruled Scotland between 1306 and 1329. The stunning view across Loch Tummel to the Munro, Schiehallion is one of the most famous in Scotland.

Travel into the Highland resort town of Pitlochry where you can take a wander around the town, visit Heathergems, where you can see the jewelry crafted from the heather on the hills, enjoy refreshments at the Melt Gallery before taking the opportunity to try our ‘uisge beatha’ at Edradour Distillery (optional), the smallest and last of the original farm distilleries in Scotland, for a short tour and a dram! This beautiful little distillery will give you a very up-close experience of the whisky making process. Your accommodation is in the heart of the town at The Old Mill Inn, the original corm mill now a family owned and run hotel, recently renovated and offering excellent accommodation, food and service. Overnight The Old Mill Inn, Pitlochry.

Pitlochry-Bonnyrigg
Depart Pitlochry to the beautiful town of Dunkeld where you can see Dunkeld Cathedral which stands on the north bank of the River Tay. The cathedral was begun in 1260 and completed in 1501. Because of the long construction period, the cathedral shows mixed Gothic and Norman architecture. Although partly in ruins, the cathedral is in regular use today and is open to the public. The small Chapter House Museum offers a collection of relics from monastic and medieval times and local history exhibits.

We then stop at The Falkirk Wheel, an amazing feat of engineering set in beautiful scenery.  You may wish to travel on the gondola. The journey starts by sailing into the bottom gondola of The Wheel, which then makes a graceful sweep, lifting the boat up to join the Union Canal 35m above. The ascent takes approximately 15 minutes, allowing plenty of time to enjoy the stunning views of the spectacular surrounding scenery. Once lifted, the boat sails smoothly from The Wheel onto the Union Canal. This passes along the aqueduct, through the 180 meter Roughcastle Tunnel and under the historic – World Heritage site – Antonine Wall. The boat then returns to the Visitor Centre.

A little south of the city is the fascinating Rosslyn Chapel where the Da Vinci code was filmed. It took 40 years to build and the stone carvings are stunning masterpieces of the stonemasons craft and make the church unique as practically every surface of the Chapel is covered. People travel from all over the world to see the intricate carvings, and there are many different interpretations of their meanings. Myths, legends and Hollywood fiction writing have given Rosslyn a unique sense of mystery and wonder. Your accommodation is at Dalhousie Castle a magnificent 13^th century fortress set within acres of wooded parkland on the picturesque banks of the River Esk. Overnight Dalhousie Castle, Bonnyrigg.

Day 7
Bonnyrigg-Edinburgh
On own to Airport via taxi