7 Day Whisky and Castles Tour | Overview
Day 1 is a fabulous introduction to the Scottish landscape, exploring the mountains, glens lochs and rivers or Argyll Forest Park & beautiful Loch Lomond
Day 2 takes in the wonderful lochside village of Inveraray and its famous Castle, a visit to Oban and your first distillery visit, followed by an incredible archaeological treat to see Kilmartin Glen, often referred to as the birthplace of Scotland.
Day 3 we travel to the Isle of Skye via fabulous Glencoe, steeped in history with dramatic scenery. On the way, we stop over in the charming town of Fort Augustus on the shores of Loch Ness before heading for a visit to the iconic 13th century Eilean Donan Castle and onwards to Skye.
Day 4 is a full tour of the Island of Skye, visiting Armadale Castle & Gardens, passing through Broadford and on to the Island capital, Portree. Heading North we take in Uig, Kilt Rock Falls and Dunvegan Castle with other options a possibility
Day 5 we head south via Invergarry, stopping for a tour of Blair Castle followed by a tour of Edradour Distillery which probably houses one of the finest single malts you can find.
Day 6 explores Stirling with a visit to the National Wallace Monument commemorating Scotland's great hero William Wallace; the views from the top are stunning and worth the climb. Stirling Castle is the next stop for a full tour to take in the castle's long and turbulent history.
Day 7 takes us to Edinburgh calling in at Rosslyn Chapel made famous by Dan Brown's book The Da Vinci Code on the way. We visit Edinburgh Castle and then enjoy a walk down the Royal Mile, with its charming mediaeval architecture and the opportunity to do some last minute whisky shopping.
7 Day Whisky and Castles Tour |
Day 1: Argyll Forest Park & Loch Lomond
Your tour begins when your tour driver collects you from the arranged location. Today we head deep into the ancient Argyll Forest Park via the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch lomond.
Loch Lomond is Britain's largest freshwater loch and is also, in the opinion of many, it's most beautiful. The National Park encompasses around 720 sq miles (1,865 sq km) of some of the finest scenery in Scotland. It is an area of contrasts from rolling lowland landscapes in the south to high mountains in the north, and has many lochs and rivers, forests and woodlands. From here we travel over the Rest and Be Thankful and into the rugged Argyll Forest Park.
This magnificent stretch of rugged hill country was the very first Forest Park for public enjoyment to be established in Britain, back in 1935. Many visitors who have come to know the Argyll Forest Park, its mountains, glens, lochs and woodlands, claim that this first park is also the finest of them all. After an exhilarating first day in Scotland we make our way to our chosen hotel for dinner, bed and full scottish breakfast.
7 Day Whisky and Castles Tour |
Day 2: Inveraray, Oban & Kilmartin Glen
After breakfast we travel into Clan Campbell territory visiting Inveraray Castle, home of The Duke & Duchess of Argyll. The Campbells arrived in Argyll as part of a royal expedition in c.1220.
From here we make our way to the coastal town of Oban - The Gateway to the Isles - where we can visit the Oban distillery which produces one of Scotland's oldest sources of single malt whisky. Here you will see the distillers at work crafting a rich, sweet malt whisky with a subtle hint of sea salt and peaty smokiness.
After a walk along Oban's shopping promenade we will travel to Kilmartin for an archaeological treat. The Prehistoric centre of the region is Kilmartin Glen. With its standing stones, burial cairns, rock art, forts, duns and carved stones it is one of the richest archaeological landscapes in Scotland. We finish the day with dinner at our chosen hotel.
7 Day Whisky and Castles Tour |
Day 3: Glencoe and Loch Ness
After a hearty scottish breakfast we travel north this morning to the Isle of Skye via Glencoe. Much of Scotland's early recorded history is full of violence - battles, feuds, murders, treachery. But the incident which to this day still arouses the strongest passions was the massacre of the MacIans (a sept of the clan Donald) in Glen Coe in 1692. Glencoe is also nationally important for its landscape, wildlife, history and geology, as well as being the home of Scottish climbing. The Five Sisters Of Kintail are a high ridge range of some 8 km (5 miles) long rising steeply from Glen Shiel to a maximum height of 1,067 metres (3,501 feet).
We pass through Spean Bridge on our way to Fort Augustus on the shores of Loch Ness where we may take a cruise on this lovely loch - keep your eyes peeled for the legend of Nessie.
After this we head for Eilean Donan Castle, sitting where three lochs meet and probably Scotland's most photographed castle. The original castle was built in the early 13th century as a defence against the Vikings. By the late 13th century it had become a stronghold of the Mackenzies of Kintail. In 1511, the Macraes, as protectors of the Mackenzies, became the hereditary Constables of the Castle.
An early 13th century fortified structure would have been a defensive measure, protecting the lands of Kintail against the Vikings who raided, settled and controlled much of the north of Scotland and the Western Isles between 800 and 1266. From here we take the short trip to our chosen hotel in time for dinner
7 Day Whisky and Castles Tour |
Day 4: The Isle of Skye
This morning we wake to the spendid scenery of the Isle of Skye. Commonly known as "The misty Isle", the stark rise of the jagged Cuillin ridge drops to the gentle white of a soft sand beach. Inlets and islands create a complex lacework pattern with the sea and the tiny white crofts that dot the Island are fascinating. A place where time means nothing, and beneath every footstep lies 500 million years of history.
We will do a full tour of the Island, visiting Armadale Castle & Gardens, passing through Broadford and on to the Island capital, Portree, which has an old fashioned appeal with colourful houses and traditional harbour.
Heading further North we visit Uig, Kilt Rock Falls and Dunvegan Castle. On a clear day the views to the Outer Hebrideas are truly spectacular. Time permitting we may even take time out to visit Talisker Distillery. We return to our chosen Hotel for dinner, bed and full Scottish breakfast.
7 Day Whisky and Castles Tour |
Day 5: Blair Castle and Edradour Distillery
After breakfast we head south via Invergarry. The scenery quickly changes from the challenging and rugged mountain terrain of Skye to the gently rolling heather clad hill of Perthshire. Known as the "big county", Perthshire has a wide variety of landscapes, from the rich agricultural straths in the east, to the high mountains of the southern Highlands. We will stop at the House of Bruar for lunch and afterwards take a tour of Blair Castle.
Blair Castle stands in its grounds near the village of Blair Atholl. It is the home of the Clan Murray family, who hold the title of Duke of Atholl and is well worth a visit. If time permits we will also take a tour of Edradour Distillery which probably houses one of the finest single malts you can find. Tonight we will stay in Pitlochry giving us time to enjoy the Town in Bloom.
7 Day Whisky and Castles Tour |
Day 6: Stirling Castle & the Wallace Monument
Today will have a more leisurely pace taking in the colourful history in Stirling. First we shall visit The National Wallace Monument which commemorates Scotland's greatest national hero, Sir William Wallace, who defeated the English at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in the year 1297. The Monument is built on a rocky crag from which Wallace watched the English army gather on the South side of Stirling Bridge. However, after defeat at the Battle of Falkirk in 1298, Wallace was betrayed and captured. He was hanged, drawn and quartered in London in 1305, and has since become a symbol for Scotland and Freedom.
We will also pay a visit to Stirling castle which sits majestically on top of volcanic rock. The castles' long and turbulent history is associated with great figures from Scotland's past, such as William Wallace, Robert the Bruce and Mary Queen of Scots. After a full tour of the castle we will take time out to have lunch.
If time permits we can also visit the Bannockburn Heritage Centre to learn how the fate of the nation of Scotland was decided when Robert the Bruce and his army defeated the army of Edward II of England on 23 and 24 June 1314. We then return to the chosen hotel in time for dinner.
7 Day Whisky and Castles Tour |
Day 7: Edinburgh Castle & Rosslyn Chapel
After an early breakfast, we head for Edinburgh where the Old town and New town have been listed since 1995 as World Heritage Sites. We will visit Rosslyn Chapel made famous by Dan Brown's book The Da Vinci Code before making our way to the spectacular Edinburgh Castle.
Perched on an extinct volcano, Edinburgh Castle is one of Scotland's most important castles. Here we can also view the Honours of Scotland, also known as the Scottish regalia and the Scottish Crown Jewels. Dating from the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries, these are the oldest set of crown jewels in the British Isles.
We shall finish the day with a walk down the Royal Mile, created 325 million years ago by the immense pressure of moving glaciers during an ice age. Today though it is home to places of interest and shops for all things Scottish. This evening we will head for your overnight stay at the hotel nearest your departure.