Day 1

Arrive in Edinburgh

Fly into Edinburgh and enjoy the city. Possibly experience a Ghost Tour or Scottish Banquet in the evening.

Overnight Edinburgh

Day 2

Edinburgh City

Meet your Edinburgh Guide for a walking tour of the city, Edinburgh Castle, The Royal Mile Holyrood Palace, Tales of Body Snatchers: A famous lawyer leading a double life and stories that inspired Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson among others. Edinburgh, famed for its international reputation and annual Festival is a cultural feast.

Overnight Edinburgh

Day 3

Edinburgh to St Andrews

Begin the day by visiting some of the film venues for the “Outlander” series. Midhope Castle, (Lallybroch), Blackness Castle (Fort William) Cross the Firth of Forth by the new Queen’s crossing and head for Culross (Cranesmuir) Falkland Village and Palace before arriving at St. Andrews, the home of golf with its ancient Castle and Cathedral, University Campus and Church. Play the New Course.

Overnight St Andrews

Day 4

St Andrews to Inverness

Leaving the Kingdom of Fife behind we head across the River Tay and along the dual carriageway from Dundee to Perth, the place of the crowning of Kings and Queens at Scone Palace. A few miles from Perth lies Old Tibbermore Church. This was the scene of the filming of the witch trials in the “Outlander” Story. We head North now and into the Highlands and Dalwhinnie Distillery one of Scotland’s most remote and oldest. On arrival at Newtonmore village, we have an opportunity to visit the Highland Folk Museum. A slight diversion after Aviemore brings us to Carrbridge and perhaps a few holes of golf at the local course there. It was originally constructed over 100 years ago, presenting an attractive and challenging 9 holes. Tomatin Distillery is on our road to Inverness where we spend the night.

Overnight Inverness

Day 5

Speyside Whisky Trail and Moray Coast

The proliferation of whisky distilleries in Strathspey owes much to its remoteness from the Customs and Excisemen in the days before legalization. Nestling in some of the most beautiful countrysides in Scotland the choice of distillery visits is huge. Glenfiddich, Aberlour, MacAllan and Glenlivet to name but a few. The winding Spey River is spanned at Craigellachie by a distinctive ornamental iron bridge designed by Thomas Telford. The ruins of Elgin Cathedral are awesome in their destroyed magnificence. A circular trip brings us back to Inverness by the Morayshire coast towns of Forres and Nairn.

Overnight Inverness

Day 6

“Outlander Day” in and around Inverness

Fact, they say, is stranger than fiction. Today is your opportunity to visit the “real-life” places that inspired Diana Gabaldon to write the “Outlander” books. Culloden Battlefield, King’s Stables Station, the 4,000-year-old Clava Stones, Fort George, the Old High Churchyard in Inverness, the Wardlaw Mausoleum and Beauly Priory are all on your agenda. Become a player in the tragic and romantic story of the rebellion that changed the Highland way of life forever. Enter the family tomb of Clan Fraser. Walk in the grounds of Castle Leod ancient home of Clan MacKenzie. Refresh your taste buds with a dram at nearby Gen Ord Distillery or a few holes of Golf at nearby Aigas Golf Club.

Overnight Inverness

Day 7

Highland Capital and Loch Ness

The day begins at Inverness Castle. Built during the aftermath of the Jacobite rebellions the Castle affords great views of the River Ness and St Andrew’s Cathedral. Hear the story of the Highland Heroine, Flora MacDonald, and the Outlander connection to her real-life adventures. For the Golf enthusiast, today is one of many choices. East of the town lies “Castle Stuart Golf Links” a fairly new venue that has been the home of the Scottish Open several times. Further along the coast, two championship courses call the seaside town of Nairn home. “Nairn Dunbar” and “The Nairn” are older and have claims to fame. Perhaps for those in the party less inclined to swing a club, why not live the legend of Loch Ness by way of a boat cruise or a round trip drive around the famous loch. Alternatively, take in the majestic scenery of Glen Affric and the Plodda Falls. 

Overnight Inverness

Day 8

North & Black Isle, “In the Spirit of Things”

We are pleased to give you a day’s experience of visiting, tasting and touring some of the Highland’s best known and loved whisky distilleries together with scenic and historic attractions, all within reach of a day’s travel. We offer a choice of visits to the following distilleries: Dalmore, Glen Ord, Balblair, Glenmorangie, Clynelish and Old Pultney. Please tell us of any distillery preferences you may have when pre-booking your tour. We will compile an itinerary for you which will enable you to focus on your favorite “tipple” and make the maximum use of your day. Because of time restraints we recommend that you limit your visits to no more than two tours (usually an hour and a half each) and two tastings or perhaps one tour and three tastings. (Keep in mind, we carry our clients in an upright sitting position. Sadly, we’ve no capacity for horizontal!)

Mindful of the fact that perhaps not everyone in your party is a whisky connoisseur our day can also feature photo opportunities of many attractions en-route. Visits would depend on how many of these would be possible when combined with distillery visits. These include Struie Hill, Millionaire’s View, Loch Fleet Nature Reserve, Skelbo Castle Ruins, Dornoch Royal Burgh and Cathedral Dunrobin Castle.

Witches, Warlords and Whisky will be your memories of a busy and enthralling day!

Overnight Inverness

Day 9

Royal Dee-side

Today we wind our way back to St. Andrews but by way of Royal Deeside. The opportunity for Golf may be at Boat of Garten, Grantown on Spey or Carnoustie. This part of Scotland enchanted Queen Victoria for its beauty. Prince Albert bought her the Castle at Balmoral, still a favorite holiday venue for the present Queen. A visit to Glamis Castle is worth considering. This is the home of the late Queen Mother who was Lady Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon and spent her childhood there. Soon we once again cross the Tay Bridge and journey to St Andrews to spend the night.

Overnight St Andrews

Day 10

St Andrews

St Andrews is home to one of the oldest seats of learning in the world. The University buildings here dominate the town but nothing overshadows the Old Course for the Golf enthusiast. On weekends, the public is still allowed to walk the course on a thoroughfare through the 1st and 18th holes! There are a plethora of courses within a few miles of St Andrews. The New Course, Kingsbarns, Fairmont and the Castle Course to name but a few.

A wonderful alternative route back to Edinburgh is through the area of East Neuk of Fife, considered one of Scotland’s hidden gems. This picturesque drive takes you through the charming coastal fishing villages of Crail, Anstruther and Pitenweem – each with their own distinctive character. Additionally, a visit to Roslyn Chapel is highly recommended if you have time before departing for home.

Departure

[If you want to play the Old Course of St Andrews you need to book well in advance or join the lottery. Nearly half of Old Course tee times each year are allocated to the ballot to give people who have been unable to book a chance of playing. It is drawn 48 hours in advance of play and golfers should provide their names, home club and handicaps either online, by phone, or at one of the clubhouses before 2 pm, two days before the day they wish to play. To enter there must be a minimum of two and a maximum of four players.]