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Details Bonnie Scotland
Breathtaking Highland scenery awaits you in beautiful Scotland on this nine-day vacation.
From Glasgow, follow the "Bonnie Banks" of Loch Lomond and take the ferry for your overnight stay on
the romantic Isle of Skye. Further into the remote Highlands, visit unique Inverewe Gardens and keep
a look out for the mysterious Loch Ness monster as you make your way to Inverness. Visit a whiskey
distillery and pretty Braemar, then travel to St. Andrews, where you have the opportunity to hit a
few golf balls. At Scone Palace, hear about the crowning of Scottish kings before enjoying two nights
in the Scottish capital of Edinburgh. Visit its mighty castle and the Queen's Holyrood Palace, then
discover this city at your own pace. A return to Glasgow via the New Lanark World Heritage Site
completes your Scottish experience. Tickets for the world-renowned Edinburgh Military Tattoo are
included for tours 0730 through 0820.
Day 1
Arrival in Glasgow, Scotland
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| Check into your hotel. The rest of the day is free for you to relax in Scotland's largest city.
Before tonight's welcome dinner join your Tour Director and traveling companions for a toast to
happy touring with a congenial group. (D)
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Day 2
Glasgow-Isle of Skye
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| Your tour of Bonnie Scotland starts in earnest with a day full of spectacular scenery. Follow
the "Bonnie Banks" of Loch Lomond and enter the Highlands. Wild Rannoch Moor; Glen Coe, where the
MacDonald Clan was treacherously massacred by the Campbells; lovely Loch Linnhe; and Fort William
beneath Ben Nevis, Britain's highest mountain, are on the morning's agenda. Then follow the
"Road to the Isles" passing Glenfinnan, the scene of the raising of the Young Pretender's standard
in 1745. At Mallaig board your ferry and sail across the Sound of Sleat to Armadale on the
romantic Inner Hebridean Isle of Skye where Bonnie Prince Charlie and Flora MacDonald took
refuge. (FB,D)
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Day 3
Isle of Skye-Inverness
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| Cross the new bridge back to the mainland and drive further into the remote Highlands for
another day of breathtaking Scottish scenery. Follow the shores of Loch Maree to INVEREWE GARDENS,
with its subtropical plants encouraged by the warm Gulf Stream. Follow the trails created by
Osgood Mackenzie more than 120 years ago. Loch Glascarnoch and Loch Ness, keeping a lookout
for the mysterious monster, are final highlights on the way into Inverness, the Highland capital.
(FB,D)
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Day 4
Inverness-Dundee
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| A leisurely day with a stop first at CULLODEN VISITOR CENTRE which sets the scene of the
crushing Hanoverian victory over Bonnie Prince Charlie's Scottish clans. Continue through
heather-clad moors for a visit to a WHISKY DISTILLERY, where your guide explains the ancient
art of converting barley, water, and yeast into a heart-warming liquor. Follow the River Dee
through the Grampian Mountains to the area where the Royal Family spends their summer holidays
and pause for a stroll in pretty Braemar, home of the Royal Highland Games for over 900
years. Late afternoon arrival in the city of Dundee overlooking the picturesque
Firth of Tay. (FB,D)
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Day 5
Dundee-Edinburgh
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| A leisurely start to the day with a drive across the Tay Bridge to St. Andrews, whose Royal
and Ancient Golf Club, founded in 1754, has given us the rules of golfing. A fun inclusion is
the opportunity to hit a few balls at the ST. ANDREWS GOLF PRACTICE CENTRE. Continue on to Perth
and a special visit to SCONE PALACE, the stately home of the Earl and Countess of Mansfield.
During your welcome over coffee and shortbread, hear about the crowning of Scottish Kings here,
then join your guide on a private tour of the Murray family home. Plenty of time later to
explore the palace grounds. Cross the mighty Forth Road Bridge to Edinburgh and tonight don't
miss our optional Scottish evening with Highland dancers, bagpipers, and the Ceremony of the
Haggis. (FB)
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Day 6
Edinburgh
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| Morning city sightseeing with a local expert introduces you to the 200-year-old "New Town" and
famous scientists, inventors and novelists. In the "Old Town", drive up the narrow Royal
Mile to EDINBURGH CASTLE to admire Scotland's Crown Jewels. The afternoon is free to enjoy this
"Prince of Cities" at your own pace. Later, a unique optional experience: board the former Royal
Yacht Britannia, which for the Queen was once the perfect royal residence for glittering state
visits and family holidays. Tour five decks and see how the Royal Family and crew of 240 lived
and worked on board. Dinner rounds off this optional evening. For tour numbers 0730 through
0820 the optional Britannia excursion is replaced with included tickets for tonights
performance of the world-renowned MILITARY TATTOO: a vast spectacle of massed Scottish pipe
bands, which takes place in an arena on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle. (FB)
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Day 7
Edinburgh-Glasgow
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| A fascinating visit this morning to NEW LANARK WORLD HERITAGE SITE, which by the late 1700's
was already Britain's largest cotton mill complex. On arrival your specialist guide will
orientate you with the history of the mill and tell you about the social pioneer owner. Then
view the pretty Falls of Clyde whose water powered the mill wheels, see the massive looms in
action, and wander around the village and imagine how people lived and worked here. Back in
vibrant Glasgow a final orientation drive takes in the fine 12th-century cathedral, imposing
university buildings, and elegant Georgian squares built by the wealthy tobacco barons.
Tonight, raise a glass of wine to a successful tour at a private farewell dinner at your
hotel. (FB,D)
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Day 8
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| Tour ends. (FB)
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Additional Information
Meals
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| - 7 full Scottish breakfasts (FB); 5 three-course dinners (D) with choice of menus
and coffee, including a welcome drink & dinner, and a farewell dinner in Glasgow
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City Highlights
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- MALLAIG-ARMADALE Ferry across the Sound of Sleat to the Isle of Skye INVEREWE
Visit the subtropical gardens CULLODEN MOOR Visit the battle site's visitor center
HIGHLANDS Guided tour of a whisky distillery ST. ANDREWS Practise at the Golf Centre
SCONE PALACE Coffee, shortbread, and a private guided tour of the Earl and Countess
of Mansfield's stately home EDINBURGH Guided sightseeing, visit Edinburgh Castle NEW
LANARK Guided tour of the World Heritage Site
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- Please note surcharges may apply due to special events on in the different cities -
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