Experience Overview
Lands so diverse they will leave you spellbound; Scotland is a sight to see. Travel with a small group during this eight-day women-only tour. Appreciate the country’s natural beauty on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at Dundreggan Rewilding Center with a conservation expert. Savor another MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience over morning tea over at Ardgowan House with Sir Ludovic Shaw Stewart. In Edinburgh, meet the Piper to the Lord Provost of Edinburgh since 2006 and Julie Hill, the only woman ever to have won the International Sheepdog Championship. Commemorate your trip making your own Scottish handbag and delve into the history of Scottish royals at Stirling and Edinburgh Castle.
Highlights
Dining Summary
- 1 Dinner (D)
- 7 Breakfast (B)
- 1 Lunch (L)
- 4 Dinner (D)
Choice Highlights
- Choose between two carefully selected activities
- Scottish Highlands: Learn the fascinating process of Scottish whisky production at a local distillery and malting facility. Glen Ord Distillery was founded in 1838 and has been a major distillery since the mid-1960s and is the perfect place to get an in-depth look at this Scottish drop, complete with a ‘wee dram’ to compete your visit.
- Loch Ness: Soak up the scenery and hear intriguing tales of Nessie during a cruise on one of Scotland's most famous lakes.
Additional Included Highlights
- If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport.
- Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.
- Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
- We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.
- Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
- On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilized.
Authentic Dining
- Glasgow: Tonight you'll be greeted with genuine Scottish hospitality. Immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of Glasgow's city center as you indulge in a carefully curated selection of local flavors and traditional delights. Let the evening unfold as you connect with fellow guests and embark on a journey of culinary discovery in this bustling Scottish hub.
- Edinburgh: Enjoy a dinner of modern Scottish cuisine in the heart of Edinburgh.
Brendan Choice
- Scottish Highlands: Learn the fascinating process of Scottish whisky production at a local distillery and malting facility. Glen Ord Distillery was founded in 1838 and has been a major distillery since the mid-1960s and is the perfect place to get an in-depth look at this Scottish drop, complete with a ‘wee dram’ to compete your visit.
- Loch Ness: Soak up the scenery and hear intriguing tales of Nessie during a cruise on one of Scotland's most famous lakes.
Brendan Experiences
- Edinburgh: Get up close and personal with the culture and crafts of Scotland over an Islander Edinburgh Handbag Workshop, creating your very own Islander Harris Tweed® Handbag. Embrace the spirit of Scotland step–by–step as you select the body color of the bag, your favorite Harris Tweed® cloth lid and decorative strap. Once you’ve chosen the different components, construct your bag with a set of tools prepared for you. Take a piece of Edinburgh home with you in your very own bespoke Harris Tweed® Islander Handbag.
- Edinburgh: Full of curiosities, the world of sheepdog training will inspire the mind of any curious traveler. Meet Julie Hill, the first and only woman to have won the Supreme International Sheepdog Championships. Over dinner, learn how Julie trains Border Collies in some of the remotest and most rugged hill terrain in the UK, single-handedly tending to sheep that graze over 600 acres.
- Edinburgh: Meet Louise, Piper to the Lord Provost of Edinburgh since 2006. Louise has played for Queen Elizabeth II and the Pope, and many celebrities to events. She has performed on ITV This Morning, the Olympics, and even provided a bagpipe lesson to legendary Queen guitarist Dr. Brian May. Celebrate the heritage and sounds of Scotland over a demonstration and bagpipe workshop from "Scotland's National Piper."
Make Travel Matter
- Inverness: Over a visit to Dundreggan Rewilding Center, your rewilding expert shares information about the reintroduction of native tree species such as the Caledonian Pine, and animal species such as the lynx, red squirrel and beaver into the wild. Your visit directly contributes to safeguarding one of the most beautiful and ancient landscapes in Europe that is in a critical condition. Your visit directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land.
MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®
- Ardgowan House: Join Sir Ludovic for a tour of his family home, Ardgowan Estate, and savor a traditional Scottish tea made from local ingredients. Your visit directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 7 & 12: Affordable and Clean Energy & Responsible Consumption and Production.
Top Rated Highlights
- Glasgow: See the grand public buildings, including George Square and St. Mungo's Cathedral.
- Stirling Castle: Delve into the insights of Stirling Castle, one of the largest and most important castles in Scotland dating back to the 13th century. Learn how the castle has endured eight sieges and has witnessed the crowning of Scottish Kings and Queens including Mary Queen of Scots.
- Isle of Mull: Embark on a day trip to the Isles of Mull and Iona, an ideal way to explore the sights and insights of the Scottish Highlands. At Iona Abbey, your Travel Director reveals its history, beginning with Columba’s monastery until the end of the 12th century followed by a Benedictine abbey. Iona Abbey Museum also houses Scotland’s finest collection of early medieval carved stones and crosses. Then visit the Reilig Odhrain, a sacred burial ground of 48 Scottish Kings.
- Edinburgh: Explore the city with your Local Expert as you travel along Princes Street to see the Scott Memorial, the neoclassical Adam facades of New Town and the official Scottish residence of the King, Palace of Holyroodhouse.
- Edinburgh: Alternatively known as the Maidens’ Castle until the 16th century, Edinburgh Castle offers dramatic vistas and historic insights. Walk with your Local Expert within the walls of the castle to view the Scottish Crown Jewels, Mons Meg and other artefacts.
Well-being
- Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxury, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with onboard washroom. Alternate vehicles without onboard washroom or 40 seats may be used on occasion. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.
- Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.
Trip Details
Product Code: 29941
Tour Type: Group Tour
Accommodation: Deluxe
Transport: Private
Guide Language: English
Travel Styles: Family, 55+, Luxury
Supplier Code: 44.95A
Starts: Glasgow, United Kingdom
Finishes: Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Duration: 8 days
Departures: Not Guaranteed
Physical rating: Easy
Includes
Price
Price per person: (Double Occupancy) CAD 6547 (CAD 818 /day)
Itinerary
Glasgow, the undisputed capital of Scottish culture, offers endless opportunities for the curious traveler. As Scotland’s largest city, Glasgow boasts more than 20 museums and art galleries that may tempt you upon arrival. After you meet your Travel Director and fellow travelers, celebrate your first night of your Scotland women-only tour over dinner.
Accommodation: Voco Grand Central, Glasgow
Meals: Dinner
Embark on an orientation drive with your Travel Director who reveals Glasgow’s grand public buildings including George Square and St. Mungo’s Cathedral. The morning continues with a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at Ardgowan House where Sir Ludovic Shaw Stewart welcomes you to his family castle set on a 10,000-acre coastal estate. Not only will you dine with a Baronet, your host will even be involved in the food preparation. Work up an appetite walking amid the beech trees while learning about the Shaw Stewart family. Then return to the castle for a sumptuous afternoon tea of finger sandwiches made with locally sourced ingredients, freshly baked scones, cream, jam and cakes.
Accommodation: Voco Grand Central, Glasgow
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Centuries old history and a massive structure rising above the River Forth – Stirling Castle, a symbol of Scottish national pride and once home to Scottish royals including Mary, Queen of Scots, awaits your discovery. Explore its halls, chapels and bedrooms, see the famous 'Stirling Heads' and admire the poignant Wallace Monument and battlefield of Stirling Bridge from its 16th-century walls. After a morning exploring the lives of royals, arrive in scenic Scotland’s Loch Lomond for an Optional Cruise and Lunch on the ‘Queen of Scottish Lochs’ according to historian and novelist Sir Walter Scott. The evening finds you in Glencoe, a village located on the banks of Loch Leven.
Accommodation: Ballachulish, Glencoe, Isle of Glencoe Hotel & Leisure Center
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Scenic Scotland conjures up images of green highlands and wind-whipped seas. Encounter them for yourself today on a ferry from Oban to Craignure, the main ferry port on the Isle of Mull, Argyll and Bute, Scotland. Then make your way to the Isle of Iona for a visit to Iona Abbey. Your curiosity will be piqued on this tiny island that has been a vibrant center of Christian worship. It’s even rumoured that the Book of Kells was made at Iona Abbey. Before returning to the mainland, view Rèilig Odhrain, the final resting place of many Scottish kings.
Accommodation: Ballachulish, Glencoe, Isle of Glencoe Hotel & Leisure Center
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Take your Scotland tour to a deeper level at a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience in Dundreggan, home to a pristine and fragile ecosystem, at Dundreggan Rewilding Center. Meet a conservation expert to learn about the ecology of the Highlands and the connection between nature and regenerating the Gaelic cultural heritage. After an illuminating morning, the afternoon finds you tailoring your time with Brendan Choice between a relaxing Loch Ness Cruise and a tour of Glen Ord Distillery.
Accommodation: Dornoch Station Hotel, Hotel B&B, Inverness
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Blair Castle is a treasure trove of history and fine 18th-century interiors. Join an Optional Experience to learn about its seven centuries as home to the Atholl family, through both turbulent and peaceful times. Even the gardens surrounding Blair Castle, featuring a nine-acre walled garden, wooded grove, gothic folly, kirk ruin and extensive deer park, will have you slowing your pace and reflecting on the castle’s past. Continue to Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital city, where you could opt to experience the best of Scottish tradition at Ghillie Dhu Georgian hall for Scottish dining, live music and Ceilidhs, traditional Scottish Barn Dances.
Accommodation: Virgin, Edinburgh
Meals: Breakfast
Edinburgh offers endless possibilities for the curious traveler. Discover the sights and insights of the city with your Local Expert as you travel along Princes Street to see the ornate Scott Memorial, the neoclassical Georgian facades of New Town, and the official Scottish residence of the King, the palace of Holyroodhouse, in the Old Town. Your Local Expert then guides you inside the walls of Edinburgh Castle for sights and insights into the lives of the royals. Discover the local arts and culture over an Islander Edinburgh Handbag Workshop, making your own handbag. Before dinner enjoy a demonstration and bagpipe playing workshop by Louise the Piper, who piped for the Prince and Princess of Wales. To complete your Scotland trip, dine on an unforgettable dinner joined by sheepdog herding champion, Julie Hill.
Accommodation: Virgin, Edinburgh
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
It’s time to close the chapter on a memorable Scotland tour. We bid our newfound friends and Travel Director a fond farewell.
Meals: Breakfast
Similar Experiences
Tour Operator
Brendan Vacations (CA)
In Business Since 1931
Share a personalized trip brochure!
Why book with us?
Best Rate Guarantee
Mytours.Travel makes sure you always have the best available rate
Best Selection
The best operators from around the world
Trusted Payments
Secure payments with Stripe
Expert Advice
Our expert agents will assist you in booking the perfect experience