Scotland from London

Upon arriving at the airport, we will be waiting to transfer you to your hotel. Check the information boards in the hotel reception area for details of the welcome meeting with your guide and fellow travelers.

Get to know London on a locally guided tour featuring style, culture, and history. See the Houses of Parliament, the River Thames, the Tower of London, and Buckingham Palace, where you will be able to watch the famous “Changing of the Guard” (depending on the season). Afternoon at leisure. In the evening, you will take a walk through Leicester Square, China Town, and Soho, with a lively atmosphere, theaters, and entertainment. There are several restaurants to choose from where you can dine. Return to the hotel.

You start the day leaving London towards northern England. Your first stop is Cambridge to admire its beautiful residential colleges. After lunch, you will continue to York where its cathedral, Roman walls, and lively shopping streets will create a charming memory, some free time to stroll around. Afterwards, you will continue north to Durham. Explore this charming medieval town full of life which has a wonderful cathedral right in front of the castle.

Today you will travel to Scotland, stopping in Alnwick, a picturesque town with lovely gardens and a large medieval castle which was used in the Harry Potter films. You will continue to Edinburgh, arriving in the afternoon. This is Scotland’s capital city and one of the most active cities in Northern Europe. Its monumental center has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its castle overlooks the city’s steep streets and parks. You will enjoy a sightseeing tour with a local guide.

With the group, you will learn about the process of making Scotland’s national drink, a whiskey distillery (entrance included), a beautiful liquor made from barley that is drunk not only in Scotland but also all over the world, constituting its largest export. The rest of the day is free to continue enjoying Edinburgh; you can stroll through its lively streets and get to know its rich historical and museum heritage.

After leaving Edinburgh, you make a stop to photograph The Kelpies, enormous sculptures of two horses with water heads from Scottish mythology. They represent the strength and beauty of horses, as well as their connection to water and land. You continue towards Stirling with its impressive historic center dominated by the great castle, one of the most important in Scotland having witnessed numerous historical events, including not only legendary battles but also the coronation of several kings. Reservation and tickets included. You continue your route towards the north. Stop in Pitlochry, a picturesque town in the center of the Scottish region, where the majority of whiskey is produced. You will visit a traditional whiskey distillery in the area (entrance included). Time for lunch. Continuing north, you will make a stop at Culloden, where one of the main battles in Scottish history took place against the British forces with a crushing victory for the English army. The battle had consequences for Scotland as laws and policies were imposed that sought to suppress its culture and traditions. In the evening arrival in Inverness, the “Capital of the Highlands,” where its castle stands out. You may enjoy a walk along the banks of the River Ness and the iconic suspension bridge. Note: depending on the time of year and sunlight, the stop in Culloden might be organized on Monday. Note: due to capacity limitations in traditional distilleries, sometimes the visit can be carried out in a different town/time than in the previously scheduled Pitlochry.

You will have a day full of excitement as you travel along the hauntingly beautiful landscapes, forests, lochs, and plains of northern Scotland. You will visit the fascinating Eilean Donan Castle, probably the most photographed fortress in the entire country (entrance included). Next, you will travel to Fort Augustus where you will visit the sluice gate system. Time to have lunch and a stroll. In the afternoon, you will then travel to Loch Ness and go on a boat tour on the lake’s dark and mysterious waters. After that, you will visit the medieval castle of Urquhart (entrance included). Accommodation in Inverness.

You will continue enjoying a stage with gorgeous landscapes. You will make a brief stop in Spean Bridge to visit a monument that speaks about the Second World War. You will later stop in Fort William, a tourist center at the foot of Ben Nevis, the highest summit in the United Kingdom. You will go by Kilchurn Castle, which displays its beautiful ruins right by a dark lake. Inveraray, a quite picturesque historic village by Loch Fyne with a large castle and quiet streets. Lunchtime. You will return contouring Loch Lomond, one of the most popular lakes in Scotland. Time for a stroll around Balloch, the liveliest town on its banks. Arrival in Glasgow in the evening. Time for a stroll around the center of this lively city.

Departure from Glasgow for LONDON. The trip may be done by coach or on regular transport (bus, train or plane). Arrival in the English capital.

After breakfast, end of services.