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Ring of Brodgar
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4.8
Read 60 reviews

Explore Scotland's coasts and islands

Head a little off the beaten path on this tour of Scotland's rugged Highlands, coastal byways, and the archaeological treasures on Orkney and the Isle of Skye.

Trip details

Tour start Glasgow

trip-destination

Tour end Edinburgh

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Days

11 icon

Nights

18 icon

Meals

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Highlights

Ring of Brodgar

This stone circle is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the Heart of Neolithic Orkney.

Isle of Skye

Admire the rugged coastlines and ancient ruins of this Scottish island.

Orkney Islands

These islands encompass dramatic vistas, Neolithic sites, tall sandstone cliffs and seal colonies.

Inverewe Gardens

Enjoy a garden of Eden in the unlikeliest of places, with 2,000 exotic plant species from around the world, including towering California redwoods, a "Savage Garden" of carnivorous plants, and rhododendrons from China, India, and Nepal.

Loch Ness Cruise

Cruise across this lake known for sightings of the Loch Ness Monster, also known as "Nessie".

Urquhart Castle

Admire the beautiful ruins of a Scottish icon by land — and from the dark waters of Loch Ness.

Skara Brae

Discover the ruins of a 5,000-year-old village, unearthed by the sea more than a century ago.

Mount Stuart House and Gardens
Mount Stuart House and Gardens

This innovative Victorian and Georgian building will enthrall you. With dazzling design inspired by astrology, art, and mythology, it features an early telephone system and a Victorian elevator.

Dunrobin Castle
Dunrobin Castle

Looking like it came out of a fairytale with its magnificent spires, Dunrobin Castle in the Highlands has been continuously inhabited for over 700 years.

Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

Our July 29th to August 14th departures get to enjoy the precision and performance of pipe and drum corps from around the world.

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Itinerary

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slide Day 1Glasgow Arrival
Your tour departs at 2:30 PM from your Glasgow hotel. Enjoy a tour around the city famed for its Victorian and Art Nouveau architecture. A prosperous port city due to international trade and shipbuilding, today it is Scotland's cultural hub. Enjoy a welcome drink with your group and dinner at your hotel. (D)
Take a ferry to the Isle of Bute for stunning island scenery and a guided tour of the 19th-century Mount Stuart House. Spend some time in Rothesay, the main town on the island. Enjoy a free evening in Glasgow and dine independently. (B)
Travel along the famous Loch Lomond, renowned for its unsurpassed beauty. Journey through Glencoe, often considered one of Scotland's most beautiful regions. Travel through Fort William and visit romantic Eilean Donan Castle, spectacularly situated on an island at the meeting of three lochs. (B, D)
Explore the Isle of Skye and its associations with Bonnie Prince Charlie. Tour Dunvegan Castle, the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland and former stronghold of the Chiefs of MacLeod. Enjoy photo opportunities including stunning Kilt Rock. Stop in picturesque Portree with its brightly painted houses clustered around the bay. Enjoy free time before dinner at your hotel. (B, D)
Take in the Highland scenery as you head to Inverewe Gardens, where a haven of tropical trees and shrubs has been created. Continue to Ullapool, an active fishing and ferry port, and check in to your hotel near the harbor. (B, D)
Admire the rugged mountains, coastline, and vast areas of open land of the sparsely populated northernmost section of the Highlands. Learn about the Highland Clearances, a tragic period of history when many peasants were forced off the land and emigrated to the United States, Australia, and other countries. Take advantage of the many photo opportunities along the way. Continue to Gill's Bay on the northern coast of Scotland and take a ferry to the Orkney Islands, where you will spend the next two nights. (B)
Today is an Orcadian adventure, visiting the heart of Neolithic Orkney, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Take a scenic drive around the north of the main island, past the Earl's Palace at Birsay. Visit Skara Brae to see this amazing 5,000-year-old village. Take some free time for lunch in the port town of Stromness. Travel on to the Ring of Brodgar, a ceremonial stone circle. Return to Kirkwall for a visit to St Magnus Cathedral. Your evening is free to explore the town and dine as you wish. (B)
Drive across the Churchill Barriers, causeways created during World War II to deter German submarines. Next explore the tiny Italian Chapel, a beautiful symbol of reconciliation built by Italian prisoners of war. Board a ferry back to the mainland and head to Dunrobin Castle, dating to 1275 and renovated in the mid-1800s. With 189 rooms, this grand castle resembles a French chateau and its gardens were inspired by those at the Palace of Versailles. Continue south to Inverness, the principal town in the Highlands. (B, D)
Keep your camera handy as you visit the picturesque ruins of Urquhart Castle and take a cruise on Loch Ness. Stop at the Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre to learn about the conflict that led to the end of the clan system in Scotland. Walk around the moor and see monuments to the various regiments who lost men. Return to Inverness with time to relax, shop, or walk alongside the river. (B, D)
Immerse yourself in farm life and watch as skilled dogs round up sheep. Spend some free time in the Victorian town of Pitlochry. Visit The Glenturret Distillery to see how whisky is produced and enjoy a tasting. Travel on to Edinburgh and check into your city center hotel. Enjoy a festive Scottish dinner with lively, traditional entertainment. July 29 - August 14 departures will enjoy an evening free to explore and dine independently. (B, D*)
Discover Edinburgh's highlights including the wide streets and elegant mansions of the 200-year-old Georgian “New Town” and the Royal Mile, the oldest part of the city. Tour the imposing Edinburgh Castle to see the Stone of Destiny and the Scottish Crown Jewels. Enjoy an evening free to explore independently. July 29 - August 14 departures attend the spectacular Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo on the Castle Esplanade. (B)
Your tour ends after breakfast. (B) B: Breakfast; L: Lunch; D: Dinner *Meal counts vary on Tattoo departures, as the Scottish Evening is replaced with the Tattoo and an independent dinner. >

Where you’ll stay

Novotel Glasgow Centre Hotel

Novotel Glasgow Centre Hotel Glasgow, Scotland

The 4-Star Novotel Glasgow Centre is conveniently located in the heart of the vibrant city. This...
Balmacara Hotel Exterior

Balmacara Hotel Scottish Highlands, Scotland

This traditional Highland hotel is beautifully located on scenic Loch Alsh, with views of the Isle...
The Royal Hotel

The Royal Hotel Ullapool, Scotland

One of the premier luxury hotels in the Scottish Highlands, the Royal will delight the most...
Ayre Hotel

Ayre Hotel Kirkwall, Scotland

The Ayre Hotel is one of Orkney's finest hotels and is situated in the principal town of Kirkwall...
Columba Hotel exterior

Columba Hotel Inverness, Scotland

This grand hotel has a great location in the heart of Inverness, yet in a ...
Bar

Apex Grassmarket Hotel Edinburgh, Scotland

This contemporary hotel is a 7-minute walk from Edinburgh Castle, which can be viewed from some of...
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Inclusive package with no hidden extras

What's included?

  • Full daily breakfast and many meals*
  • An evening of Scottish entertainment
  • Transportation (Buses, shuttles & ferries)
  • Welcome drinks with your group
  • Free Wi-Fi on luxury coaches
  • All entrance fees to attractions
  • Comprehensive travel itinerary

 

*Breakfast is not included on Day 1

Our welcome gift to you

  • A travel backpack
  • Travel adapter
  • Rain poncho
  • Luggage strap and tags
  • Documents wallet

From our travelers

Dunrobin Castle

This holiday tour of Scotland was the second time I traveled with CIE. The best by far! I wouldn’t contemplate booking with any other company. Our brilliant tour guide Graham was so friendly and knowledgeable.

Vanessa
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See what people are saying about this trip

5
Cecilia Brown Thomas
4 months 2 weeks ago
Like living in a fairy tale!

The coach bus was comfortable and pleasant and our driver, Gordon, was absolutely outstanding, especially his impressive handling of those tiny, winding roads! Some hotels were better than others -- the last one was the best. With some of the others we had issues with cold showers, resources running out (like toilet paper) and poor service but the rooms were safe and clean. We wished the survey had been provided each day instead of at the very end of the tour because we could have been more specific about the hotels while fresh in our minds. The breakfast buffets and dinners were wonderful and we appreciated times on our own for some of the lunches and dinners. There simply aren't enough words to describe the breathtaking, educational sightseeing opportunities -- every day was amazing. We cannot imagine ANY tour guide better than our Linda and we would request her in the future. We would definitely use CIE Tours again and recommend them to friends and family!

5
David William Hyser
4 months 3 weeks ago
Would definitely recommend and will consider using again in the future

Our guide Graham was the very best. Scenery was beautiful. Trip was well organized

4
CIE Tours Customer
4 months 4 weeks ago

I loved the Highlands and seeing parts of Scotland that weren't just touristy destinations.

5
CIE Tours Customer
5 months ago

It was a trip of a lifetime that I will continue to have fond memories.

4
CIE Tours Customer
8 months 2 weeks ago
Beautiful scenery but inconsistent food and lodging

After using CIE in 2017, we were excited to travel again with CIE to Scotland and see all the beautiful scenery and explore the culture via a small group tour. The scenery and destinations met our expectations. We expected simple food and lodgings in the Highlands, but our hotel in Inverness, the Columba, was poor; the hotel’s dining room was dirty, the food served from our menu didn’t match the descriptions, the breakfast options were sparse. Our tour group didn’t take advantage of our prepaid dinner the next night based on the prior evening’s experience. CIE needs to change the Inverness hotel given all the options in the city and outskirts. Given our time in the city, there was no benefit to being centrally located. Our Orkney Island substitute bus driver served as a tour guide and was excellent. Our regular guide was average - perhaps the lack of enthusiasm was due to the fact that it was the end of her season. Bottom line - great scenery/destinations, but lodgings/food options can use a revamp.

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