The Royal Scotland Car Tour
8 days exploring Scotland with an emphasis on the royal inheritance of Scotland in your own time by car. Covers central Highlands, Loch Ness area and Argyll as well as Fife and Edinburgh. Available all year in either 3 or 4 star accommodation.
Day 1
Arrive Edinburgh Airport and pick up self-drive car. Your first night will be spent in Edinburgh where we would recommend some visits that have a very firm royal connection. Of course there is Holyrood Palace, the official residence of the Queen on her visits to Scotland. There is also the Royal Yacht Britannia which has provided a home on the sea to the Royal Family on their travels. The Yacht is berthed in Leith and gives a great insight into Royal life. Overnight Edinburgh.
Day 2
Enjoy a free day in Edinburgh where you have so much to explore. With its stunning Georgian and Victorian architecture, and winding medieval streets, it’s easy to see why Edinburgh has been listed as a World Heritage Site. The setting is captivating, Edinburgh Castle dominates the urban skyline, perched atop the crags of an ancient volcano right in the centre of the city. Yet Edinburgh is not stuck in the past and the city is not all about bagpipes, shortbread, whisky and tartan. In fact, the city is one of the most vibrant, cos- mopolitan cities in Europe and is regularly voted as one of the most desirable places to live in the world.
Day 3
Leave Edinburgh this morning and head over the Forth Road Bridge which was opened in 1964 by the present Queen, into the ancient Kingdom of Fife. From the bridge you will enjoy views of the Forth Rail Bridge. We recommend that you travel the coastal route to St Andrews, this will take you through some of the beautiful fishing villages. St Andrews has an ancient history - named after the patron saint of Scotland and said to be the final resting place of his remains. It is also widely known as the birthplace of Golf and more recently the location where the young royal couple William and Kate met and fell in love while attending St Andrews University. Where ever your interest lies, there will be a lot to see and do in this charming place.
Later in the day leave St Andrews head north west into Perthshire. Overnight tonight will be in Perthshire area.
Day 4
This morning we would recommend a visit to Glamis Castle. Glamis Castle was the childhood home of Elizabeth Bowes - Lyon, best know as Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. Her second daughter, Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdown, was born in the Castle. Did you know that since 1987 an illustration of the castle has features on the reverse side of the Royal Bank of Scotland’s ten pound notes. Later that day, follow the A93 to Blairgowrie through an area known as ‘Royal Deeside’. The road now climbs steadily through the skiing reigns of Glenshee towards Braemar. You will pass Crathie where you can stop to see the church where the Royal Family attends Sunday service when on holiday at Balmoral Castle. You can also visit Balmoral Castle but check in advance regarding opening times as the Castle is closed to visitors if the Royal Family is in residence. Overnight in the Royal Deeside/ Aberdeenshire area.
Tip: Visit Royal Lochnagar Distillery, just a mile or so along the banks of the River Dee from Balmoral Castle. It earned its royal warrant in 1848, when Queen Victoria selected Balmoral Castle as her holiday residence. Only three days after she had arrived, the distillery manager John Begg made an invitation to Prince Albert to visit his distillery, knowing he was interested in all things mechanical. To his surprise, Queen Victoria, Prince Albert and their three eldest goes, is history.
Day 5
Travel today through the Grampian Mountains, along the A939, passing Tomintoul, the highest village in Great Britain, and onto Grantown on Spey. Here you can visit one of the many whisky distilleries in the area. Continue onto Nairn, a popular seaside resort famous for its golf course and beautiful sandy beaches. Time permitting you may wish to visit to Cawdor Castle. The Castle is best known for its literary connections to William Shakespear’s Scottish Play - Macbeth - the title character of the play was made Thane of Cawdor. The castle itself was built many years after the events of the play. Overnight in the Inverness area.
Day 6
Leave Inverness and drive south. Follow the shores of Loch Ness - the most famous loch in Scotland. You may wish to stop at Urquhart Castle on the shores of the Loch. The castle is where most sightings of the famous Loch Ness Monster “Nessie” are reported. Continue along the A82 along the Caledonian Canal to Fort Augustus. Just before Fort William make a little detour to Glenfinnan along the A830. The Glenfinnan Monument is situated on the scenic “Road to the Isles”. Set amid superb Highland scenery at the head of Loch Sheil, it was erected in 1815 in tribute to the clansmen who fought and died for the Jacobite cause. Despite its inspired beginnings, the 1745 campaign came to a grim conclusion on the Culloden Battlefield in 1746. You can find out more about Bonnie Prince Charlie’s campaign at the Visitor Centre.
Tip: You will also see the 21 arch single track viaduct built between 1897 and 1901 made famous in the Harry Potter films.
From here continue via Fort William, situated at the foot of Ben Nevis Britain’s highest mountain and Loch Linnhe before stopping for overnight in the Oban area.
Day 7
Travel south from Oban through Kilmartin Glen. Kilmartin Glen is located between Oban and Lochgilphead. The glen is home to more than 350 ancient monuments within a six metre radius of the village, with 150 of them being prehistoric. Spend time at Lady Glassary Wood - site of standing stones and the Temple Wood stone circle. Find out more about the area in the Kilmartin House Museum of Ancient Culture, located within the town itself. In the south of the glen you will find the remains of the fortress of Dunadd, marking the royal centre of Dalriada where ancient kings were crowned. Later follow the shores of Loch Lomond, the largest and perhaps most beautiful of all Scottish Lochs through the Trossachs region, passing Drymen and Aberfoyle. Overnight in the Trossachs area.
Day 8
Travel to Edinburgh via Stirling and return car at airport before checking-in for departure flight.
Inclusions
- 7 nights accommodation in hotels as per category given, in rooms with private facilities;
- Breakfast daily, Scottish or Continental depending on hotel;
- Entrance voucher to Royal Yacht Britannia;
- Service charge and VAT at 20%;
Exclusions
- Entrances not listed above
- car hire. - can be arranged for you
The Little Details
- Tour Vehicle Type: Self-Driven
- Months of Operation: All Year
Rates & Dates
| Dates | 3 Star | 4 Star | |
|---|---|---|---|
| March-April | 368 | 518.65 | |
| April | 423.2 | 576.15 | |
| May-Sept | 437 | 594.55 | |
| June | 453.1 | 601.45 | |
| July | 456.55 | 601.45 | |
| August | 514.05 | 669.3 | |
| October 2016 - Mar 2017 | 410.55 | 557.75 | |
| Sole Occupancy Fee | 217.35 | 227.7 |
Rates are based on two sharing in either TWIN or Double Rooms.
Prices are quoted in POUNDS STERLING
Booking Notes
You can enquire for this tour by using the enquiry form below. Payment is 20% on confirmation and 80% before arrival. All details are provided on your itinerary proposal
Some Places We Will Visit
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Pittenweem
This is the home of the East Neuk fishing fleet with a thriving fish market and harbour crammed with fishing boats.
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Crail
Three miles northeast of Anstruther and 10 miles from St Andrews is the most ancient and picturesque of all Fife's Royal Burghs. Crail was once the largest fish market in Europe and for centuries its ships returned from the Low Countries and Scandinavia laden with cargo. Today you're more likely to see tourists than fishermen, but you can still buy fresh lobster and shellfish here.
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St Andrews
St Andrews is not just about the golf, the place has a medieval charm with beautiful sights and also an ancient university where the rich and the famous study.
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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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Tomintoul Village
The highest village in the Highlands and close to Lecht skiing with excellent walking nearby. The village is in the Glenlivet Estate.
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Grantown on Spey
This genteel Georgian holiday town is 15 miles northeast of Aviemore and attracts the more mature tourist by the coach-load.
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Loch Ness
Loch Ness is world famous for the wrong reasons: the mythical watery monster than has been subject to repeated scientific investigations without success. Its fame ignores the real attractions of this huge lake framed by mountains and castles that cuts the highlands in two.
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Glenfinnan
Glenfinnan has historical significance because that Bonnie Prince Charlie's fight for the British throne gathered momentum. It was here he raised the Jacobite standard and rallied his clansmen for battle.
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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.
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Kilmartin Glen
Kilmartin Glen is the site of an incredible 350 ancient monuments. These sites - which include 150 prehistoric monuments all lie within a six-mile radius of Kilmartin village itself.
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Kilmartin
Kilmartin village sits in the centre of Kilmartin Glen which is home to an astonishing 350 different monuments all within a few miles. The village includes the trust museum and the church
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Aberfoyle
The sleepy village of Aberfoyle suddenly bursts into life in the summer with the arrival of hordes of tourists. It lies on the edge of the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park and, along with Callander to the east, is one of the main tourist centres for the Trossachs.
Castle Visited
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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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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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Cawdor Castle
14th Century castle that is still inhabited by the original family. Outstanding gardens and very interesting interior make this an excellent day out. Near Nairn.
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Urquhart Castle
Semi ruinous castle in strong position beside Loch Ness controlling the route North. Captured by Robert the Bruce by clever negotiation. Visitor centre open all year.
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Glamis Castle
Family home to the Queen Mother and ancestral home to the Countess of Strathmore and family. It is open to the public throughout the summer. Won Best Attraction in the UK 2015!
Ancient Sites We Visit or Pass
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Clava Cairns
Bronze age circular cemetary beside the battlefield at Culloden and now famous from Outlander series. Probably 4000 years old