Travel Planning Guide for Edinburgh, Scotland: Tour Packages

Other tour highlights include Glencoe, the Lochaber region around Fort William, Eilean Donan Castle (set of the movie Highlander) and over the sea to Skye, where you'll stay in the picturesque harbor town of Portree.

You'll spend the entire second day on Skye, exploring the wild north of the island, Old Man of Storr, the mountain pass of the Quiraing and Skye's most westerly point at Neist.

On the third day you'll return to the mainland, before traveling through the Five Sisters of Kintail, and on to eerie Loch Ness, the central Highlands and Edinburgh.

With a maximum group size of 16 passengers, you are sure to have a memorable and personal experience on this special trip to the Scottish Highlands. You'll travel in a comfortable air-conditioned minivan and receive individual attention from your expert driver/guide. Traveling in a small group means you can reach out-of-the-way places to discover the real Scotland!

Winner of the Inaugural Scottish Thistle Award for Sustainable Tourism, October 2007.

Highlights of the tour include:

• Views of Stirling Castle
• The wilderness of Glencoe, steeped in its grim history, where you can soak up the atmosphere during an afternoon walk
• Spooky Loch Ness
• Taking a walk in Glen Affric, featured in the TV series The Last of the Mohicans
• The stronghold of Urquhart Castle
• Spending a night in Inverness, capital of the Highlands
• Grampian Mountains

Highlights on your five-day small group excursion include:

• Crossing the Forth Road Bridge
• Cairngorm National Park and the ancient pine forests of the Rothiemurchus Estate
• Loch Insh and taking a short forest walk to the ruins of Loch an Eilean Castle
• Panoramic views of Loch Ness
• Two nights in Inverness
• Far north-west Highlands and the wild mountains of Assynt
• Corrieshalloch Gorge
• Fishing village of Ullapool
• Loch Glencoul, and optional boat trip to Eas a' Chual Aluinn, the highest waterfall in Britain
• Ruins of Ardvreck Castle
• Lunch in Applecross
• Isle of Skye and overnight in Portree
• Poignant Glencoe

Highlights on your five-day island excursion include:

• Loch Lomond
• Inveraray, home to the Campbell Clan and the Duke of Argyll
• Overnight in Oban, gateway to the islands
• Ferry crossings to Mull and Iona
• Iona's historic abbey
• Glencoe, scene of the infamous massacre of the Clan Macdonald in 1692
• Views over Ben Nevis, Britain's highest mountain
• Overnight in the picturesque harbor town of Portree on the Isle of Skye
• Monster-spotting on Loch Ness

Your day trip takes you across the famous Forth Road Bridge, giving you a great view of the spectacular Forth Rail Bridge, until recently the longest cantilever bridge in the world.

Cross the Highland boundary faultline and the scenery changes from the rolling farmland of the Lowlands to the forested hills and mountains of the Scottish Highlands. This thick forest is the very same mentioned in Shakespeare's Macbeth as "Birnam Wood". One part of the wood is especially beautiful - the Hermitage, and this is where you will take a walk. Surrounded by thick forest, the River Braan crashes over spectacular waterfalls. This is a migratory route for Salmon, and they can often be seen trying to leap the falls.

Follow the wide valley of the River Tay, the longest river in Scotland with the greatest flow of water of any river in Britain. Stop in Pitlochry for lunch (own expense) and take the opportunity to visit a Whisky Distillery or the dam where salmon leap in summer.

Continue to Killiecrankie and the Queen's View where on a clear day the view stretches from Loch Tummel to Schiehallion and beyond to the hills of Glencoe. Drive over the hills to Fortingal where the Fortingal Yew tree is the oldest living organism is Europe. The village is the legendary birthplace of Pontius Pilate. Next you'll head along the shores of Loch Tay in the shadow of Ben Lawers. At the head of the loch is Killin, with the wonderful falls of Dochart in the heart of the town.

After a short stop, continue over the Braes of Balquhidder, the final resting place of Highland outlaw Rob Roy MacGregor.

The Scottish Highlands and Islands are Europe's last great wilderness! This personalized tour is as close as you can get to touring in your own car, with the added benefit of gaining intimate knowledge of Scotland. Traveling in a small group means you can take lots of stops and reach "out of the way" places, giving you more time off the bus to discover the real Scotland.

Receive a truly warm welcome at Britannia's Visitor Centre in Ocean Terminal before you step on board. Here you can view displays and historic photographs that detail Britannia's fascinating past.

The captivating audio handset tour takes you around five decks at a leisurely pace and is a rare glimpse into the public and private lives of the British Royal Family. From Sir Winston Churchill to Boris Yeltsin, Rajiv Gandhi to Nelson Mandela, some of the world's most influential people have been welcomed on board. Now you are free to see what they saw, to stand where they stood.

Every part of Britannia includes rich treasures to enjoy. Almost all the pieces in the State Apartments are on loan from The Royal Collection, with kind permission of Her Majesty The Queen. You will have a chance to see the working side of the ship, from the once sweltering heat of the laundry to the crew's densely packed quarters.

Tour highlights include the State Drawing Room, The Queen's Bedroom, the Sun Lounge and the Admiral's cabin.

Britannia is berthed alongside the stylish Ocean Terminal shopping center which contains a choice of over 80 different boutiques, high-street shops and restaurants with scenic waterfront views. As the Royal Yacht is only 15 minutes away from Edinburgh city center, it is the perfect addition to any trip.

Britannia is owned by The Royal Yacht Britannia Trust, a non-profit making charity, and all proceeds go towards her long-term maintenance.

The Edinburgh Dungeon uses live actors, shows, a spooky ride and interactive special effects to take you on a unique journey through Scotland's most horrible history. Meet the ghosts of the city when you delve into the world of the paranormal in Scotland's haunted capital.

Everything that you see is based on real historical events from the brutal Clan Wars, to Edinburgh's Great Fire and the Anatomy Theatre. With a chilling boat ride into the lair of cannibal Sawney Bean the Edinburgh Dungeon provides a thrilling and fun experience that will leave you screaming for more!

We recommend spending one hour at the Edinburgh Dungeon.

With a maximum group size of 16 passengers, you are sure to have a memorable and personal experience on this special day trip to the Scottish Highlands. Traveling in a small group means you can reach out-of-the-way places to discover the real Scotland!

Leaving Edinburgh, you'll pass Linlithgow Palace (birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots), Stirling Castle and the Wallace Monument, to reach the most dramatic of all Highland glens, Glencoe. This area is steeped in history, and you will hear the truth about the infamous 1692 massacre of Clan MacDonald.

Journeying through Fort William, site of the military post built during the Jacobite Rebellions in the 18th century, you'll continue up the Great Glen, between Fort William and Inverness.

After lunch at Fort Augustus on the shores of Loch Ness, you have the option of taking an hour-long cruise on the loch (not included). The boat has a sonar system, so if Nessie is around you will not miss her! (Operational from Easter to end October.)

Back on the road, you'll stop at Spean Bridge before heading through the Cairngorms National Park, Craig Meagaidh and along the shores of Loch Laggan, where the TV series Monarch of the Glen was filmed. Continuing over the Drummochter Summit, where herds of red deer often graze, you'll visit the Victorian town of Pitlochry, the final stop for the day.

Stirling Castle was Scotland's most important medieval stronghold and is set high on a volcanic outcrop. There has been fortification on the rock since 1000 BC, as it guards the main route north into the Scottish Highlands. You have the option of visiting the castle to see some of the finest Renaissance architecture in Scotland.

Leaving Stirling, you'll travel past Doune Castle, Callander and into the Trossachs, an area popularized by authors such as Sir Walter Scott and Daniel Defoe. This is also the territory of Rob Roy MacGregor, Scotland's Robin Hood. The tour stops for a leisurely lunch (own expense) outside the village of Aberfoyle.

Continuing along the spectacular single track road to Inversnaid, originally an old droving route the Highlanders, you'll pass Lochs Ard, Chon, Arklet and Katrine. Inversnaid, by Loch Lomond, is home to a nature reserve owned by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds.

You will have about 1.5 hours at Loch Lomond, to either join your guide for a walk to the viewpoint overlooking the loch or enjoy a wee dram of whisky in the hotel whilst taking in the views. In the summer, there is also an option to take a one-hour boat cruise to the north end of the loch.

The Scottish Highlands and Islands are Europe's last great wilderness! This personalized tour is as close as you can get to touring in your own car, with the added benefit of gaining intimate knowledge of Scotland. Traveling in a small group means you can take lots of stops and reach "out of the way" places, giving you more time off the bus to discover the real Scotland.

Winner of the Inaugural Scottish Thistle Award for Sustainable Tourism, October 2007.

With great views from the top of the bus, strategically placed stops and an interesting commentary, this truly is the best way to see the sights of Edinburgh. You can hop-on and off as many times as you like aboard this open-top double-decker bus. There are 24 stops and the entire route takes approximately 60 minutes. The bus departs every 20 minutes from each stop. Tickets are valid for 24 hours from first use.

The capital of Scotland since the 15th Century, Edinburgh stands on 7 hills creating a dramatic skyline. Tour highlights include the Edinburgh Castle, Palace of Holyrood House, the historic Royal Mile and Our Dynamic Earth.

From museums and historic buildings to breath-taking art exhibitions and interactive visitor attractions, fine dining and shopping - you can use the Edinburgh Pass to make the most of your trip to Edinburgh. There is something for everyone!

See more and save more with the Edinburgh Pass, the must-have sightseeing pass in Edinburgh. Enjoy free entry to over 30 top attractions, free return airport transfers, great savings while in Edinburgh plus lots more.

Just visit 3 attractions and you can save £10 on a 1 Day Pass. The Edinburgh Pass contains £220 worth of entrance fees and transport tickets at any one time.

SAVE MONEY WITH THE EDINBURGH PASS OFFERING:

• FREE entry to over 30 of the city's most exciting attractions
• FREE return airport transfer
• 25 Exclusive OFFERS from some of Edinburgh's best retailers, restaurants, festival and leisure providers
• Includes the Edinburgh Pass 100-page color guidebook, listing all participating Attractions and Exclusive Offers. Also includes useful visitor information, area maps and bus routes. (Valued at £3.99)

With a maximum group size of 16 passengers, you are sure to have a memorable and personal experience on this special day trip to Scotland's west Highland lochs and castles. You'll travel in a comfortable air-conditioned minivan, reach out-of-the-way places and receive individual attention from your expert driver/guide.

Highlights include:

• Doune Castle
• Stop for refreshments in Callander or Kilmahog
• Scenic views of Loch Luibnaig, Loch Earn, Glen Ogle and Glen Dochart
• Lunch at the Glenorchy Lodge Hotel (not included), in the shadow of Ben Cruachan
• Scotland's longest loch, Loch Awe, and the spectacular ruins of Kilchurn Castle, a stronghold of the Clan Campbell
• Inveraray, an 18th-century whitewashed village on the shores of Loch Fyne
• Inveraray Castle, the neo-Gothic Scottish baronial home of the Duke of Argyll, chief of the Clan Campbell, with its 19th-century jail, museum ship and bell tower
• Loch Fyne, renowned for its fine seafood and views of oyster beds, salmon and trout farms
• Loch Long, with its history of Viking raiders
• Loch Lomond
• Luss, a conservation village with traditional estate workers cottages
• Photo stop at Stirling Castle

Your day trip takes you across the famous Forth Road Bridge, giving you a great view of the spectacular Forth Rail Bridge, until recently the longest cantilever bridge in the world.

Once over the bridge you'll enter the Kingdom of Fife, an isolated peninsula surrounded by the waters of the Firth of Forth, the Firth of Tay and the North Sea. The highlight is the area known as East Neuk. The small fishing villages hugging the coastline here were infamous as a paradise for smugglers.

You'll then stop in Crail before traveling to the medieval town of St Andrews, the capital of the Scottish Church for almost 1,000 years and home to the oldest university in Scotland (600 years), attended by Prince William.

St Andrews is most famously the home of golf, with the Old Course just off the town center. You will have several hours to explore this famous town.

From St Andrews, you'll take a pleasant drive through central Fife to Falkland. Falkland Palace dominates this old village, and was one of the main residences of the old royal family of Scotland. Returning to Edinburgh you will cross the Lomond Hills and pass Loch Leven, where Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned.

The Scottish Highlands and Islands are Europe's last great wilderness! This personalized tour is as close as you can get to touring in your own car, with the added benefit of gaining intimate knowledge of Scotland. Traveling in a small group means you can take lots of stops and reach "out of the way" places, giving you more time off the bus to discover the real Scotland.

Winner of the Inaugural Scottish Thistle Award for Sustainable Tourism, October 2007.

With a maximum group size of 16 passengers, you are sure to have a memorable and personal experience on this day trip to locations made famous by Dan Brown's best-selling novel The Da Vinci Code. Traveling in a small group means you can reach out-of-the-way places to discover the real Scotland!

Departing Edinburgh, you will head south to the world-famous Scott's View, with stunning views over the Tweed Valley and Eildon Hills. From here, you will travel to Melrose with the opportunity to explore its great Border abbey, founded by the Cistercians in the 12th century. The Cistercian monks had very close connections with the Knights Templar and Melrose Abbey is the burial place of Robert the Bruce's heart, brought back from the crusades in Moorish Spain.
Following lunch in Melrose you will make your way to the stunning 15th-century Rosslyn Chapel, immortalized in The Da Vinci Code and an important site of beauty and history in its own right.

The tour includes a discount card, offering fantastic savings on top Edinburgh and Scotland visitor attractions, restaurants, pubs and shopping.

Winner of the Inaugural Scottish Thistle Award for Sustainable Tourism, October 2007.

Take a look at Edinburgh's dark side, including tales of witchcraft, plague and torture on this Murder and Mystery Walking Tour of Edinburgh. Visit the scenes of many horrific tortures, murders and supernatural happenings as you walk along eerie alleyways an creepy courtyards of the Old Town. Your ghostly guide will blend history with humor and facts with fables, while "jumper-ooters" provide guaranteed ghastly appearances.

Visit the scenes of many horrific tortures, murders and supernatural happenings on this award winning tour of historic Old Town of Edinburgh. Your guide, under the cloak of darkness, is famous Edinburgh character Adam Lyal (deceased), highwayman, who was executed in Edinburgh's Grassmarket on 27th March 1811.

Mr Lyal leads you through the haunted alleyways and dark courtyards of Old Town Edinburgh telling tales of executions and torture, ghosts and witchcraft, and the notorious 19th century trade of body snatching.

Although the subject matter is dark, Mr Lyal's approach is fairly light-hearted. With a ghost as your guide, there will no doubt be a few strange incidents on route, whilst our "jumper-ooters" provide guaranteed ghastly appearances!

Beware! This walking tour takes place in the cobbled streets of Edinburgh in all seasons. In the interests of safety please dress appropriately and wear sensible shoes. You come on this tour at your own risk and it is not for the faint hearted.

Begin your tour at the Mercat Cross which marks the historic heart of Edinburgh. Here merchants gathered to trade: 'Mercat' is simply the Scots word for market. The townspeople met to exchange news and gossip and listen to public pronouncements, and visitors to the city came here to find a guide who was both city grapevine and taxi driver!

Pick up your guide at the Mercat Cross and let him entertain you with stories from Edinburgh's past. Since the earliest times, Edinburgh has been at the forefront of religious and legal matters in Scotland. St Giles Cathedral was founded in 854 AD and has been site of some of the most dramatic events in the nation's history. The Protestant Reformers, the brave Covenanters and the fiery Jenny Geddes who threw her chair at the Bishop - hear about them all.

Home to the earliest skyscrapers in Europe, some famous Edinburgh tenements were 14 stories high. After defeat by the English in 1513 the city fathers build the Flodden Wall around Edinburgh to protect against invasion. As the population grew, the city could not expand outwards, so it grew upwards. It is said that people, ten stories up, could reach out and shake hands with their neighbors in the opposite building!

Your tour ventures down the narrow passageways into courtyards where you learn of tragedy and triumph, marvel at the stunning architecture - and recoil at the cry "gardyloo". The Royal Mile was home to the great, the good - and the not so good - of Edinburgh. Deacon Brodie, locksmith by day and thief by night, inspired Robert Louis Stevenson's famous novel The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Deacon Brodie and many others populate this enthralling and fascinating tour of the Old Town of Edinburgh.

Mr Clapperton takes a light-hearted look at Edinburgh's dark past, telling tales of tortures, punishments, witchcraft and invasion as he leads you through the Old Town's atmospheric closes and courtyards. En route, there will be a demonstration of several authentic torture devices, and ghostly encounters in the form of the notorious Mad Monk of the Cowgate, Agnes Fynnie the terrifying witch, the regal Blue Gowned Beggar, the ghastly Foule Clenger (plague collector) and the fearsome Highlander.

Beware! This walking tour takes place in the cobbled streets of Edinburgh in all seasons. In the interests of safety please dress appropriately and wear sensible shoes. You come on this tour at your own risk and it is not for the faint hearted.

The tour begins at the Mercat Cross, scene of punishment and public executions in Edinburgh's past. You'll hear the tale of the one survivor of Scotland's terrible defeat by the English at Flodden in 1513. How did he secure his safety?

Next, you'll discover what depraved and satanic acts were perpetrated by the Wizard of the West Bow, and no ghost tour is complete without a visit to the haunted underground vaults beneath the South Bridge. You will shiver as you hear of the strange and sinister happenings that took place in these candlelit rooms, where shadows dance on the damp stone walls. Some of the spirits that haunt these vaults are malevolent and resentful of intrusion. Whatever you do, do not wander off alone!

Your tour focuses on the findings of the Edinburgh Ghost Project that was part of the Edinburgh International Science Festival. So extensive was this study that it made an entry into The Guinness Book of Records. The vaults have been described by the UK's BBC News as "probably the most haunted place in Britain".

The Project confirmed what visitors had known for some time, both visitors and guides have witnessed the spirits of former vault residents, from a little boy to a dreaded malevolent male who stalks groups as they pass through his chambers. Paranormal experiences have taken different forms - touch, sight, sound, smell: all have been provoked. Guests regularly report their experiences, from the eerie to the terrifying, the strange to the inexplicable. Others prefer to forget ...

The late 18th century was a time of great expansion and innovation in Edinburgh. To improve access from the Old Town to the new developments two enormous structures were built, the North and South Bridges. By 1790 there were almost one hundred businesses active on the South Bridge with their workshops in the underground Vaults below.

As well as lack of natural light, the Vaults suffered from water seeping from the South Bridge above, stalactites are evidence of this.

But, there was a darker side too. To the immediate south stands Infirmary Street, where Edinburgh's medical school used to be. It was here that the notorious pair, Burke and Hare, sold the bodies of their murdered victims. Could the vaults have stored a different sort of merchandise?

Paranormal studies have been conducted on the vaults and have indicated a high level of poltergeist activity. Several cases have been reported by tour participants who have experienced punching, bruising, scratching, hair-pulling and ankle-grabbing. If you're lucky you may even feel an icy breath on the back of your neck. An experience to remember!

Famous for heather-covered highlands, peaceful lochs and men in skirts, Scotland appeals to those looking for something a little different. So leave your bagpipe at the door and check out all the other monster instruments rockers around the world have used throughout the ages to enchant their fans (perhaps surprisingly, kilts only seem to do the trick in Scotland). Once you've feasted your eyes on our entire fabulous collection of memorabilia, be sure to feast properly on our varied menu items served in monstrous portions. Moor is more at the Hard Rock Cafe Edinburgh!

Leaving Edinburgh, head north to the Highlands and the forested mountains of Perthshire. Visit the Georgian follies and gardens of The Hermitage then enter ‘Monarch of the Glen’ country, and the captivating scenery of the Cairngorms National Park. Visit one of the most romantic castles in the region, Eilean Donan Castle, before traveling to your hotel on the magical Isle of Skye.

Day 2 is spent exploring the scenery, history and natural beauty of the legendary Isle of Skye. Hear tales of Bonnie Prince Charlie and his failed rebellion, see evocative ruined castles and the eerie scenery of the rugged Cuillin Mountains. Stroll through the scenic capital, Portree, then travel to the island's north past the cliffs and rock formations of Trotternish Ridge, including the Old Man of Storr.

Day 3 begins with a tour of the island's south, named 'the garden of Skye', before taking the ferry to Mallaig. Explore this busy west coast fishing village, then ride the famous Hogwarts Express steam train to Fort William, on one of the most spectacular railway journeys in the world. Along the way, you'll cross the famous Glenfinnan viaduct, featured in the Harry Potter films and the location where Bonnie Prince Charlie raised his standard at the start of the failed Jacobite campaign.

The return journey from Fort William takes in the mysterious beauty of Glencoe and Rannoch Moor, skirting The Trossachs and Rob Roy country before arriving back in Edinburgh at around 8pm.

You can choose to stay in hotel accommodation throughout the tour for traditional style accommodation, or you may prefer to opt for cosy B&B accommodation for that more personal, local experience.

See 'Itinerary' below for full details of your 5-day Isle of Skye, Loch Ness and the Scottish West Coast Tour.

Here you will find the mountains and picturesque villages that inspired authors such as Beatrix Potter and offer the perfect setting to relax. With the group size not exceeding 16 people you are assured of a high level of attention from your expert guide as well as the intimate atmosphere only a small group can provide.
You will experience the stunning scenery of the Scottish Borders and visit the statue of Scotland's most famous son, William Wallace. At Hadrian's Wall, built by the Emperor Hadrian in the Second Century AD to keep the Scottish tribes out of the Roman Empire, you have the opportunity to explore some of the Roman remains and walk in the footsteps of the Roman Centurians.

Your base in the English Lake District is the picturesque market town of Keswick, where you will stay in a charming B&B for two nights. From here you will  visit beauty spots such as Ullswater, Lake Windermere and the village of Grasmere, described by poet William Wordsworth as 'the loveliest spot that man hath found'. There is also ample free time to relax and explore this beautiful region at your leisure.