Scottish Highlands Culture Tour
This tour is designed to allow you to experience Scottish Highland Culture for yourself from castles to scenery to whisky. It truly is the full package.
- Recuperation Day | Reside in The Balmoral Hotel, Edinburgh
- Stirling Castle | Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park | Inveraray Castle | Reside in Airds Hotel and Restaurant, Port Appin
- Glencoe | Fort William | Reside in Kinloch Lodge, Isle of Skye
- Isle of Skye Highland Games (if applicable) | Tour of Skye | Reside in Kinloch Lodge, Isle of Skye
- Singelton Distillery | Inverness | Reside in Ness Walk Hotel, Inverness
- Tomatin Distillery | Aviemore | Pitlochry | Cairngorms National Park | Reside in Kinloch House, Blairgowrie
- Scone Palace | Perth | Reside in The Balmoral Hotel, Edinburgh
- Departure Day
Day One
You will arrive at Edinburgh International Airport where you will be greeted by your Lang Atholl representative who will escort you to the Balmoral Hotel located in the heart of the historical city of Edinburgh. It is a true landmark in the city providing guests with stunning views and warm Scottish hospitality.
Day Two
As you embark on your journey north to the Scottish Highlands, you will stop at Stirling Castle. Stirling punches well above its weight for historic attractions and spectacular scenery. Stirling Castle is one of Scotland’s most historically important sites and was once a favoured residence of the Stewart kings and queens who held grand celebrations at the castle. You will be swept back to 16th century life on your tour meeting costumed characters in the roles of bodyguards, court officials, maids of honour and servants.
You will weave around Loch Lomond and take in the breath taking views and crystal clear water. This is the perfect opportunity for a photo stop.
Your final stop of the day will be Inveraray Castle, the ancestral home of the Duke of Argyll, Chief of the Clan Campbell and the iconic, must-see visitor attraction on the West Coast of Scotland. An Inveraray Castle has been standing on the shores of Loch Fyne since the 1400s, although the impressive castle we know today was inspired by a sketch by Vanbrugh, the architect of Blenheim Palace and Castle Howard in the 1700s.The foundation stone was laid in 1746 and what followed was the construction – to a design by the architects Roger Morris and William Adam – of a truly modern, baroque, Palladian and Gothic-style castle, architecturally before its time.
Set on the shores of Loch Linnhe, The Airds Hotel will be your accommodation for this evening. This Luxury Romantic Boutique Hotel and Fine Dining Restaurant, in Port Appin, near Oban, Argyll is in the heart of the Scottish Highlands and makes it a perfect destination to relax after a long hard day of touring. The restaurant itself has been voted number 1 by the Sunday Times for dinner, bed and breakfast.
Day Three
You will travel through the magnificent figure of Glencoe. This beautiful Scottish Landscape is a joy to drive through, however, despite its breathtaking appearance Glencoe holds a dark history as the site where the McDonald Clan met their gruesome end in 1692.
You will have the opportunity to visit Fort William, a traditional Scottish town which lies under the countries tallest mountain, Ben Nevis. Explore this beautiful town and take in the stunning views of Ben Nevis.
Continuing your journey, you will drive over the Skye Bridge to arrive at your accommodation for the night, Kinloch Lodge. It is a former clan hunting lodge and is now an upmarket hotel located on the Isle of Skye. It actually still remains in the Macdonald family. Most of the rooms come with a loch or hill views and feature a classic Scottish decor which make it great for relaxing and unwinding after a long day of touring.
Day Four
Today you will have the chance to attend the Isle of Skye Highland Games. This is the perfect opportunity to experience Highland culture first hand with a variety of activities from piping competitions to track and field competitions and even rowing and sailing competitions. This event takes place on the first Wednesday of August every year.
Alternatively, you have the opportunity to explore the Isle of Skye. From the Fairy Pools, you will continue onto the town of Portree, The Capital of Skye. You will enjoy some time within this Royal harbour town with many options of lunch on the harbour with beautiful views and fresh seafood. From Portree, you will have the opportunity to travel north once more to take a leisurely hike to the “Old Man of Storr” a natural stack occurring at the base of the Cuillin Mountains.
After your day of experiences, you will return to Kinloch Lodge for your final relaxing evening on the Isle of Skye.
Day Five
You will have the opportunity to visit Singleton Distillery. This distillery is in the heart of the Highlands and is known to be the last single malt scotch whisky distillery on the Black Isle.
From here, you will continue your journey to Inverness. Inverness is considered to be the Capital of the Scottish Highlands. It is the largest city and the cultural capital of the Scottish Highlands. Its Old Town features 19th-century Inverness Cathedral, the mostly 18th-century Old High Church and an indoor Victorian Market selling food, clothing and crafts.
In Inverness, you will reside in the new Ness Walk Hotel. An idyllic 5-star retreat hotel in Inverness, just 10 minutes from Loch Ness. Surrounded by a dramatic canopy of impressive trees, our grand building allows you to experience a secluded atmosphere in the heart of the vibrant city centre. Originally a 19th century house, their lovingly restored Grade B listed building still retains many of its periodic features. But unified with modern design and architecture, it provides a flawless balance between past and present.
Day Six
The first stop of the day will be Tomatin Distillery. You will learn about the unique legacy of Tomatin which, having started in 1897, is the driving force for the company today. Finish up with a taste of three Tomatin Single Malts, each revealing why they are regarded as the ‘softer side of the Highlands’.
You will enjoy your leisurely drive through the Cairngorms National Park. The Cairngorms National Park, in the heart of the Scottish Highlands, is a wonderful landscape comprising of Mountains and Glens to create an outdoor paradise for all to enjoy. The UK’s largest National Park offers spectacular scenery, wildlife watching and our reason for visiting whisky. In the heart of The Cairngorms you will find the Spey River meandering between the peaks. This whisky is the water that provides the Speyside region with the ability to create such a famous single malt with each distillery providing a malt with unique character and that classic subtle, smooth Speyside taste.
You will stop in Aviemore, a quaint Scottish town in the Cairngorms which is most known for its ideal location to explore the lochs, forests and ski runs of the surrounding area.
You will also drive through Pitlochry, another beautiful town in the heart of the Scottish Highlands.
Your accommodation for the evening will be the unique Victorian country house that is Kinloch House Hotel. Located in Blairgowrie, this hotel is set on 25 rural acres and has that certain ‘home from home’ feel to the hotel. It is a great place to relax an enjoy some of Scotlands best food and countryside that the country has to offer.
Day Seven
Scone breathes history like nowhere else in Scotland. It is the family home of the Earls of Mansfield and the ancient crowning place of Scottish kings on the stone of Scone. You will wander down the Long Galley where King Charles II strode to his coronation in 1661. Make sure to visit the perfectly manicured gardens and take in the spectacular scenery.
You will continue your journey back to Edinburgh by travelling through the historic city of Perth. Once the capital of Scotland, this city now boasts stunning architecture, gorgeous views and a past full of royalty.
You will spend your final evening in Scotland in the luxury of the Balmoral, Edinburgh.
Day Eight
Your Lang Atholl representative will meet you for the final time in the lobby of your hotel and transport you to Edinburgh International Airport in leisurely time for departure.
This is sadly where we must say our goodbyes and we send you on your onward journeys with memories of a Scottish experience that will last a life time.
