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Date(s) - 25/06/2017 - 02/07/2017
All Day

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Past Tour

Scotland Tour: From the Borders to the Highlands

June 25 – July 2, 2017

Scotland is an amazing country, with beauty and history and culture that spans thousands of years. From the windswept moors and rolling hills and quaint villages of the Border region with England to the dizzying metropolis that is shining Edinburgh to the mountains, lochs and broad vistas of the Highlands — Scotland has all this and much more!

This Scotland expedition will take us to the Borders to examine the famed abbeys and byways of this beautiful region. In Edinburgh we will walk the Royal Mile between the Castle and Holyrood Palace and explore the gorgeous surroundings of the capital, including the castle at Roslin (of Da Vince Code fame). Our Scotland tour will continue to the North will take us by way of St Andrews (the birthplace of Golf and an ancient university town) and Pitlochry, the gateway to the Highlands. In the far north we will visit the battlefield at Culloden Moor as well as the sights and sounds of the Highland capital of Inverness. The beauties of Loch Ness, Eilean Donan Castle and the Isle of Skye are also on the itinerary. Next up are Glenfinnan (of Bonnie Prince Charles and Harry Potter fame), and the incredible stark majesty that is Glen Coe. William Wallace and Stirling Castle are also on our journey. As is so much more. Whisky, music, food and literature are all inescapable parts of Scottish heritage.

As we journey across this tremendous land on our Scotland tour, we will come away far richer for the experience!

Activities & Highlights

Day 1

SCOTLAND EXPEDITION ARRIVAL IN EDINBURGH

Welcome! Arrival and check-in at our Edinburgh lodgings
Social Hour and Introductions
Welcome Dinner with an overview of the week’s events

Day 2

The Scottish Borders – Abbeys and Sir Walter Scott

A drive through the gorgeous countryside to visit the ruined abbeys of Dryburgh, Kelso, Melrose and Jedburgh along with the home of Scotland’s greatest novelist – Sir Walter Scott. Small market towns and farm villages dot the landscape. We will complete Day 2 of our Scotland tour at Roslin Castle, home to secrets of the Knights Templar!
Social Hour
Dinner

Day 3

Edinburgh – the Nation’s Capital

Optional hike to the top of Arthur’s Seat, for spectacular views of the city and beyond
A full exploration of the historic city from one end of the Royal Mile to the other, with extended visits of the ancient hilltop Castle and Queen Elizabeth II’s residence at Holyrood Palace. We will also visit the Writer’s Museum (dedicated to Robert Burns, Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson), St Giles Cathedral, and more. We will continue our Scotland tour in the afternoon by climbing Calton Hill for close observation of the City below and the National Monument.
Social Hour
Dinner

Day 4

St Andrews to Pitlochry

Depart hotel enroute to St Andrews
Visit St Andrews, home to Scotland’s oldest university and the home of Golf. Lunch overlooking the famed Old Course links — a necessary stop on any Scotland expedition
Enroute to Pitlochry
Explore Pitlochry (the Gateway to the Highlands) and its vicinity, including the beautiful Queen’s View
Social Hour
Dinner

Day 5

Inverness and Culloden

Depart hotel for Culloden Moor, with visit to gorgeous Blair Castle and lunch enroute
Continue the Scotland tour with a visit to the battlefield at Culloden Moor where, in 1746, the hope of Scottish independence and the renewal of the Stuart kingdom was crushed – an uncommonly majestic battlefield scene, with stones marking the final resting places of the Clans
Explore historic Inverness, the “capital” of the Highlands
Social Hour
Dinner

Day 6

Loch Ness to the Isle of Skye

Depart for ancient Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness
Visit Urquhart Castle and amazing views of the famed Loch
Drive to Carbost, Isle of Skye, with visit to Eilean Donan Castle
Lunch in Carbost at the Old Inn
Visit Talisker Distillery
Hike to the beautiful, mountain stream-fed Fairy Pools on Skye — no Scotland tour is complete without experiencing this gorgeous region of the country
Social Hour at Cuillin Hills hotel in Portree
Dinner

Day 7

Glenfinnan, Glen Coe and Stirling

Depart for Glenfinnan (with ferry across Sound of Sleat)
Visit Glenfinnan – monument to Bonnie Prince Charlie where he landed to begin his rebellion in 1745, and the nearby Glenfinnan rail viaduct of Harry Potter fame
Travel through the Highlands and Glen Coe to Stirling with lunch enroute
Visit Stirling Castle and Bridge, site of William Wallace’s triumph
Social Hour in Stirling hotel
Farewell Dinner for the end of our Scotland tour

Day 8

Edinburgh

Following breakfast, return to Edinburgh International Airport and Waverly Train Station for follow-on travel
Scotland expedition complete

This Tour of Scotland Includes

Seven nights boutique to luxury accommodations
In-depth guided tours with professional historian
Transportation by van or bus throughout trip
Optional opportunity to role-play an important character in Scottish history
Majority of all meals and drinks included with dinner
Social hour each day with one drink included
One bottle of water per day per person
All entrance fees for group activities
Gratuities for docents and restaurants
Personalized tour support
Scotland tour travel insurance through Berkshire Hathaway Travel Protection (click here for more details of coverage)

Not Included

Transportation to Scotland

Ready to Discover History?

This Scotland expedition will be limited to 14 guests.
Down payment: $1,000 per guest due upon registration; see Terms & Conditions for payment schedule and cancellation policy.
Active duty and career retired military, current and career retired educators, and students all receive a 10 percent discount.
All repeat Essential History Expeditions guests receive a 10 percent discount on this expedition.

25/06/2017 - 02/07/2017 All Day Scotland