Tour Itinerary:
Day 1: Arrive at Glasgow and head south to Ayrshire for a visit to the birthplace of Robert Burns at Alloway, tour the home of his birth and spend time at the Burns Heritage Center. We have time for lunch at a local pub with more time to explore the Heritage center before heading to our 4-star hotel in Ayrshire for the evening. Meals: (D).
Day 2: After breakfast, we take a drive over the "Electric Brae" and head towards Culzean Castle for a morning visit to this beautiful castle sitting on the shores of the Atlantic with its views of the Ailsa Craig. We have time for lunch before we have a boat trip around the Ailsa Craig, an island made of volcanic rock, which is a bird sanctuary Overnight 4star hotel in Ayrshire. Meals: (B).
Day 3: After our good Scottish breakfast we head south to Kirkcudbright. We tour the ruins of McLellan Castle and Broughton Gardens with some free time to explore this quaint fishing village. Return to our hotel in Ayrshire. Meals: (B).
Day 4: We catch the morning ferry to the Isle of Arran and we have a tour of Brodick Castle and gardens, a beautiful castle overlooking Brodick Bay. After our visit we have some free time in the town to explore the local shops, pubs and restaurants and check into our hotel for the next two nights. Overnight Isle of Arran. Meals: (B) and (D).
Day 5: A day tour around the Island, visiting the first of our Distilleries, Isle of Arran Distillery, where we learn how Single Malts are made in the time honored traditional way they’ve been made for 100’s of years, a visit to the ruins of Lochranza Castle, a walk into the Moors to see the Machrie Standing Stones, and lunch in a quaint Island pub. We return to our hotel after a day exploring Arran. Meals: (D).
Day 6: We depart on the Lochranza ferry that takes us north onto the Kintyre Peninsula and we cross over to the west side to the Kennacraig ferry to the island of Islay. We start with Bunnahabain a wonderful slightly Peaty Single Malt, and we tour the distillery, located on the edge of this beautiful island, with stunning views of the neighboring island of Jura. After the tour and tasting we head to our hotel for the evening. Overnight Islay. Meals: (B) and (D).
Day 7: After breakfast we spend the day touring Ardbeg, Laphroaig and Lagavulin Distilleries with time in between for lunch, and to explore the gift shops in each distillery. We learn about whisky making and the history of the island with our local guide, along with a visit to the Kildalton High Cross. Return to our hotel for the evening. Meals: (B).
Day 8: Morning ferry to Oban, with a short stop at the Island of Colonsay to drop off and pick up more ferry passengers. We arrive in Oban early afternoon and we have a visit to Oban Distillery for a tour, or some free time to shop and explore this beautiful Victorian fishing town. We then take a drive up to McCaig’s Folly high on a hill overlooking the town where we get some wonderful views of the Island of Mull. Overnight on the outskirts of Oban. Meals: (B) and (D).
Day 9: Our first stop: at the ruins of Dunstaffnage Castle. We then head to Fort William where we have some free time to explore the town and have lunch before we continue on through the Great Glen. We stop at Urquhart Castle to tour this once largest of Castles, now in ruins on the banks of Loch Ness, hear the story of the castle and explore the site. Overnight Inverness, Gourmet dinner at our Hotel. Meals: (B) and (D).
Day 10: Today we head to Speyside, the other area with lots of distilleries in Scotland and we visit Strathisla Distillery, a very quaint distillery, then we have a tour of Speyside Cooperage where the whisky barrels are refitted. We continue on to Craigellachie to The Macallan Distillery for our last distillery tour of the day, Overnight Inverness. Meals: (B).
Day 11: After breakfast we head south through the Grampian Mountains and stop in Pitlochry where we visit the smallest Distillery in Scotland, Edradour, which has only 3 employees in a very quaint location overlooking the town. After our tour and tasting we have some free time to explore the town which often wins Scotland in Bloom awards before we continue south to Edinburgh, the capitol of Scotland. Overnight Edinburgh. Meals: (B).
Day 12: Free day in the city to visit one of the many museums, Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace or ride the open top double decker buses around the city, or do some world class shopping. Overnight Edinburgh. Meals: (B).
Day 13: Today we visit St Mathews Collegiate Church, also known as Rosslyn Chapel, mentioned in the novel the Da Vinci Code with its intricate carvings and famous Apprentice’s Pillar. After lunch in a local pub, we head west to Glasgow where we have a tour of the beautiful Glasgow Cathedral, built in 1197. We then visit The Provand’s Lordship, Glasgow’s Oldest House, built in 1471, the only surviving house from Medieval Glasgow. We then head to our hotel for the evening, Hotel du Vin. Final night gourmet dinner in the hotel’s fabulous Bistro. Meals: (B) and (D).
Day 14: Morning transfer after breakfast to Glasgow airport to your return flight home.
Member discount:
10% discount for InfoHub customer. Request a free gift certificate.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- Entry into all sites included
- 12 nights accommodation
- 6 gourmet 3 or 4 course dinners
- 12 breakfasts
- All ferry costs
- 4 star historical hotels
- Experienced driver and tour director.
Price Excludes:
- Flights
- Personal expenses
- Other meals
- Gratuities.
Also see tour packages in:
Europe
Scotland
Local Culture
Food & Wine
Cultural Journey
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