Scotland Tours

This is Scotland... the haunting skirl of the bagpipes during a private Highlands evening in Inverness... treasured family tartans... wee drams of single malt whiskies on a private distillery tour... a cocktail cruise on fabled Loch Lomond... the strong traditions of the Clans... fascinating history at Stirling, Edinburgh, and Cawdor (the legendary home of Macbeth) castles... dramatic, beautiful, remote scenery in the Highlands and along brooding Loch Ness... Palace of Holyroodhouse (the Queen's residence) a uniquely vibrant culture lovingly preserved in the capital of Edinburgh and along the Royal Mile of pubs, shops, and historical sites... and time well spent in Scotland's major cities, Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Inverness. And then there are the romantic, far-flung Scottish islands of the Shetland and Orkney archipelagos and the Inner and Outer Hebrides where you'll discover timeless windswept seascapes, dramatic mountain ranges, moors, glens, sea cliffs, and rolling hills dotted with farms, villages, castles, and ancient ruins on a small ship odyssey that brings you to the heart of the islands – climb the beehive Iron Age tower at Mousa Broch, explore medieval castles, visit age-old abbeys and prehistoric cairns, hike across wild and diverse landscapes, and cruise on wildlife safaris along some of the most magnificent coastlines in Scotland. Most of all, Scotland is all about the stories – such as the many tales of Bonnie Prince Charlie. You have to wonder what he was thinking when he attempted to capture Stirling Castle with his ragtag army of Jacobites in 1746. But then Stirling Castle, soaring impervious atop lofty cliffs, was a special prize... the romantic heart and soul of Scotland, where kings and queens were coronated. The "siege" was over in a matter of hours when the castle guns opened fire on Charlie's army (the last time the fortress ever saw military action) and the prince retreated into legend. But you only have to walk the castle grounds and feel the grand, turbulent history in its beautifully preserved ramparts, gardens, and great halls to understand why he had to attempt it...  Read Less