8 Day Highlands and Whisky Driving Tour
This 8 day self-drive car tour provides you with the best of the Highlands and a visit to Speyside, Scotland's famous whisky producing area.
Perthshire – Aberdeen – Speyside – Inverness – Wester Ross – Loch Ness - Edinburgh
Day 1 Arrival - Perthshire
Arrive at Edinburgh/Glasgow Airport and pick up your self-drive car. Depart for the north of Scotland crossing the Forth Road Bridge if coming from Edinburgh and continue up the M90 to Perth. Overnight in Perthshire area.
Day 2 Perthshire - Aberdeen
After you Full Scottish Breakfast visit Scone Palace, the family home of the Earl of Mansfield and also the site of the famous coronation Stone of Scone, brought there in the 9th century by Kenneth MacAlpine, King of Scots. Continue to Pitlochry, a small Highland town. Stop at the Salmon Ladder where you may be lucky enough to see salmon leaping! From Pitlochry, travel towards Braemar. You will take the very scenic & dramatic road over the Spittal of Glenshee one of the highest points in Scotland and also site of one of Scotland’s ski resorts. Descend into Braemar which sits in the heart of Royal Deeside, the favoured holiday area for the Royal Family in Scotland. If time allows, visit Balmoral Castle (open May – July only), home of Royal Family. Continue towards Aberdeen for overnight in the area.
Day 3 Aberdeen – Royal Deeside
Take a trip into Aberdeen, Old Aberdeen is lovely and is where the university is based. See Kings College, a chapel famous for its rich woodwork dates from the 16th century. Nearby is St Machar’s Cathedral, mainly 15th century it is a granite structure of simple austere grandeur. Two notable features are the West Front with its twin castellated towers and the painted wooden Heraldic Ceiling in the nave, dated 1520. Visit Duthie Park and Winter Gardens – a beautifully laid out 50 acre park with floral displays in all seasons including a “rose mountain”. There are two boating ponds and many interesting sculptures and mountains. The Winter Gardens feature exotic plants, flowers, birds, fish and turtles.
Outside Aberdeen, visit Crathes Castle which has royal historic associations dating from 1323 when the Land of Leys were granted to the Burnett family by Robert the Bruce. The castle features some remarkable late 16th century painted ceilings. There is a large walled garden and the great yew hedges date from 1702, fascinating examples of topiary. Return to your accommodation overnight.
Day 4 Aberdeen - Inverness
Travel northwards towards Inverness. In the morning follow the Whisky Trail and visit one of the many famous distilleries in the area. You can visit Glenfiddich, McCallan, Grants, Cardhu and many more. Each gives an audio-visual show and then a guided tour of the distillery to learn of the processes and for many the highlight is a tasting at the end of the tour. The choice of what to see and do in the Speyside area is huge – there are castles – Brodie, Cawdor (made famous by the Shakespeare’s Macbeth), and Ballindalloch. Visit Culloden Moor, site of the last land battle on British soil, wander around Inverness, capital of the Highlands, take the Strathspey Railway from Boat of Garten to Aviemore, and watch the Ospreys at Loch Garten. Accommodation in Inverness area.
Day 5 Inverness – Inverewe Gardens - Inverness
Enjoy a day visiting the West Coast of Scotland. Journey across to Ullapool, a quaint fishing village. Then travel down past the dramatic Corrieshalloch Gorge to the Inverewe Gardens, run by the National Trust. These magnificent gardens have a famous rhododendron collection and who would expect to find palm trees in Scotland. Return through the magnificent scenery of the Torridon area and past Loch Maree. Return to the Inverness area for overnight. Possible stop at the iconic Highlander Castle
Day 6 Inverness –Loch Ness – Glencoe – Edinburgh
Today travel south again via Loch Ness. Loch Ness forms part of the Caledonian Canal a feat of some great engineering by Thomas Telford linking East Scotland with West by using a series of lochs linked by a canal system. Make a stop at Urquhart Castle, a very scenic spot and also the place where the most sightings of “Nessie” have been. Continue towards Fort William, which nestles beneath the highest mountain in Great Britain – Ben Nevis. If time allows, why not take a ride up in a gondola at Anoch Mor which on a good day will offer stunning views over the west coast. From Fort William, start travelling south. Travel through the beautiful and mysterious Glencoe, which is great for walking and climbing and full of nature. You then travel over Rannoch Moor and into the heart of the Trossachs, known as the “gateway to the Highlands”. Stop at Stirling Castle which has played such an important role in much of Scotland’s vibrant history. The Great Hall has just been refurbished and the Visitor Centre has a very good audio-visual exhibition explaining much of the history. Return towards Edinburgh area where you will overnight.
Day 7 Edinburgh
Enjoy a full day in Edinburgh. In the morning, go up the Royal Mile to Edinburgh Castle, which dominates the Edinburgh skyline. The Castle is site of the oldest building in Edinburgh – St Margaret’s Chapel and the Crown Jewels of Scotland. Continue down the Royal Mile – take time to explore the many “closes” which run off this street and which hold so many secrets. There are many restaurants, pubs & souvenir shops on the Royal Mile for a lunch stop. In the afternoon at the foot of the Royal Mile, visit the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the official residence of the Queen whilst she is in Scotland. The Palace has a wonderful ballroom and staterooms. To end the day, go into the New Town to admire the Georgian architecture and the well-laid out streets that are in complete contrast to those of the Old Town. Return to your accommodation overnight.
Day 8 Departure
Unfortunately it is time to leave Scotland. Return to the airport and leave your car.
Inclusions
- 7 nights in your chosen style of accommodation sharing a twin/double room with facilities inclusive of Scottish breakfast.
- Please note with the mixed package you will have 3 overnights in B&B, 2 overnights in a Hotel and 2 overnights in a Manor (country house hotel).
- Welcome Pack
Exclusions
- Car Hire
- Evening meals
- Lunches
- Personal expenses
- Entrances detailed in itinerary
The Little Details
- Min Age: NA
- Tour Vehicle Type: Self-Driven
- Months of Operation: April, May, June, July, August, September, October
- Duration of Tour: 8 days
- Departure Point: Edinburgh
- Departure Point: Edinburgh
- Duration of Tour: 8 days
Rates & Dates
| Accommodation Type | April to October | August Supplement | Single Supplement |
|---|---|---|---|
| B&B | £328.00 | £45.00 | £125.00 |
| Inn/2 Star | £426 | £50.00 | £157.00 |
| 3 Star Hotel | £463 | £55.00 | £195.00 |
| Mixed | £439 | £50.00 | £182.00 |
| Manor | £626 | £75.00 | £278.00 |
Please note that with the mixed package you will have 3 overnights in B&Bs, 2 overnights in a hotel and 2 overnights in a Manor (4 star country house hotel).
Simply choose the date you'd like to start the tour and the type of accommodation you'd like, and our partners JAC Travel will book your accommodation for you.
Booking Notes
The Schedule
| Day | Itinerary | Hotel Location |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1 | Glasgow/Edinburgh Arrival - Perth Area | Perthshire Area |
| Day 2 | Pitlochry - Aberdeen Area | Aberdeen Area |
| Day 3 | Aberdeen - Royal Deeside | Aberdeen Area |
| Day 4 | Whisky Trail - Speyside - Royal Deeside | Inverness Area |
| Day 5 | Inverness - Wester Ross | Inverness Area |
| Day 6 | Loch Ness - Glencoe - Trossachs | Edinburgh Area |
| Day 7 | Edinburgh | Edinburgh Area |
| Day 8 | Departure | Edinburgh Area |
Click on the 'Book Now' button for our secure online booking form. Please be aware it can take several days for JAC Travel to book the accommodation for you; we'll then take payment and email you the list of your accommodation.
The Process
The Process
After we have received your enquiry, we will send you the full quotation for your tour. If you choose to proceed, we simply need a reply to that email stating you want to proceed. We will then generate a payment request to send to you.
You will receive your full vouchers after payment. Where bookings are made very late, we send itinerary vouchers to the first hotel of your tour.
Cancellation Charges
Cancellation Charges
Changing Accommodation
Changing Accommodation
We provide accommodation details after booking.
If you wish to change some accommodation, we will always attempt to change it to one that you feel suits you more. However, this may incur an increase tour cost.
If you don't like the tour accommodation and you wish cancel completely, you can do so within 5 days of receiving the accommodation details without incurring any costs
Payments
Payments
Payment is via Paypal in two tranches.
You will receive two invoices:
- the first for your deposit payment which is 20% of the price after which we place bookings.
- the second is payable three weeks before departure and is the balance of the booking.
Illnesses
Illnesses
If you are unable to travel because of sudden last minute illnesses or other circumstances, you should rely on your travel insurance for a refund of travel costs
We are unable to cover those on your behalf
Ipso Facto, we always recommend that travellers take out travel insurance
Some Places We Will Visit
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Aberdeen
Our Visitor guide to Aberdeen, Scotland's granite city. Isolated on Scotland's North East coast, Aberdeen is a city of contradictions, at times windswept and rain wet, in the sunlight it glistens and appeals. Includes what to see and do, hotels and history...
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Pitlochry
Small Highland tour that is a frequent stopping place for coaches travelling along the A9. Somewhat a one road town of shops and cafes.
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Glencoe
Dramatic landscape with a dramatic history. Few who visit the glen are unmoved by its majesty and power.
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Trossachs
Strictly speaking, the Trossachs is the narrow wooded glen between Loch Katrine and Loch Achray, but the name is now used to describe a much larger area between Argyll and Perthshire, stretching north from the Campsies and west from Callander to the eastern shore of Loch Lomond.
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Perth
The heritage of Perth is easy to trace owing to the number of interesting historical sites within walking distance of each other.
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Braemar
Nine miles west of Balmoral, is Braemar, the final town on Deeside, lying at the foot of the awesome, brooding Cairngorm massif, which dominates the Eastern Highlands.
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Aviemore
Aviemore was once a sleepy village which was later developed into a ski and tourism resort and has fallen victim to profiteering developers who have scant regard for the local community here. However, Aviemore is great for the services being offered here for visitors.
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Boat of Garten
Eight miles northeast of Aviemore is the tiny village of Boat of Garten which suddenly shot to fame when a pair of ospreys, which had disappeared from these shores, reappeared on nearby Loch Garten, two miles east of the village. Now these beautiful birds of prey have established themselves here and elsewhere and there are thought be well over 100 pairs throughout the Highlands.
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Ullapool
The attractive little fishing port of Ullapool, on the shores of Loch Broom, is the largest settlement in Wester Ross.
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Loch Maree
Visitor guide to Loch Maree in the Scottish Highlands. Includes info on sleeping options and transport and the Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve.
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Fort William
Fort William is the gateway to the Western Highlands and one of the country's main tourist centres. It stands at the head of Loch Linnhe, with the snow-topped mass of Ben Nevis towering behind.
Castle Visited
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Scone Palace
Original Palace to Scottish kings and now a baronial mansion with excellent gardens. Just north of Perth.
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Balmoral Castle
Eight miles west of Ballater is the area's main attraction, Balmoral Castle. You can visit the gardens and some of the castle between April and July during the year...
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Stirling Castle
Scotland's most strategic castle with a dominating position over the gateway to the North of Scotland.
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Edinburgh Castle
Iconic image of Edinburgh and one of the most perfectly located castles on the planet.
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Holyroodhouse Palace
Official residence of the British monarch in Scotland, Holyrood Palace stands at the bottom of the Royal Mile in Edinburgh. Holyrood Palace is the setting for state ceremonies and official entertaining.
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