Blair Castle in Highland Perthshire

Castle to Castle

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Overview

Suggested Itinerary

What's Included?

Accommodation & Prices

Car Hire

Overview

Self-Drive Holidays

7 Nights

Fully customisable itinerary
Prices from: £1105 per person
Best time to go: April - October
Transport: Rental car included (optional)

Highlights

Dunnottar Castle

Explore the brooding ruins of Dunnottar Castle, the dramatic cliff top fortress once home to one of the most powerful families in Scotland: the Earls Marischal.

Balmoral Castle Estate

Visit the Queen’s stunning Scottish ‘holiday home,’ a royal retreat since the 1850s, where you can enjoy the extensive castle grounds, gardens, and exhibitions of artwork and royal tartans.

Edinburgh

Edinburgh is Scotland’s ancient capital city and a hub for culture and creativity. Attractions include historic Edinburgh Castle, the picturesque Royal Mile and the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the home of Scottish royal history.

Stirling Castle and the Wallace Monument

Perched atop Castle Hill, Stirling Castle is the former home of the Stewart monarchs. Experience the history of Sir William Wallace, Guardian of Scotland, at the site of the Wallace Monument.

13th century Blair Castle

Hidden in the heart of Highland Perthshire, Blair Castle and Gardens was visited by Mary Queen of Scots, Bonnie Prince Charles and Queen Victoria. Explore more than 30 rooms of paintings, portraits and military memorabilia.

Glamis Castle

Glamis Castle has many claims for its impressive reputation, including being the setting for Shakespeare’s Macbeth and the birthplace of HRH Princess Margaret. Its majestic towers and turrets are nestled within beautiful Angus woodland.

An Enthralling Castle Trail

Step back in time on Scotland’s one and only Castle Trail, and become captivated with stories of romance, legends and a ghostly past. This tour explores some of the world’s most unique and splendid castles, in an area that is unparalleled in castle tradition and has superb examples of castellated architecture.

Begin your Castle to Castle Tour in Scotland’s bustling capital city, with Edinburgh Castle proudly towering over the cobbled streets and narrow alleyways. You will never be short of activities in Edinburgh, and the endless traditional pubs and restaurants will guarantee a fantastic start to your holiday.

From here, travel north towards Highland Perthshire to the picturesque Victorian spa town of Pitlochry. On the way, stop off at Stirling’s unmissable medieval Castle and visit the famous Wallace Monument.

As you travel further north through Royal Deeside, castles are hiding around every corner in the beautiful countryside. It is not surprising that this has been a favoured holiday destination of generations of Royals, with its tranquil scenery and splendid unique castles.

The tour now takes a turn for the ghostly as you travel towards the coast to Dunnottar Castle, once an impregnable fortress and now a looming cliff top ruin. As you head south through the Kingdom of Fife, the Castle to Castle Tour comes to an end but will leave a lasting impression.

Suggested Itinerary

The holiday ideas on our website are just examples of the amazing trips we offer. Think of this itinerary as a starting point which can be tailored into something completely unique to you by our award-winning specialists.

We love the opportunity to use our first-hand knowledge and experience to design and deliver the perfect, bespoke holiday experience for you.

Day 1: Arrive in Edinburgh

Arrive in Edinburgh, Scotland’s majestic capital and one of the most beautiful and historic cities in Europe. Explore the narrow alleyways, hidden courtyards and secret gardens, of the Royal Mile and for a spectacular view of the city take a walk up Arthur’s Seat.
Overnight – Edinburgh

Day 2: Edinburgh Sightseeing

Enjoy a City Sightseeing Bus Tour, a visit to Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyrood House and explore the many attractions of this beautiful city.
Overnight – Edinburgh

Day 3: Edinburgh to Pitlochry

Travel past Linlithgow Palace and on to Stirling to visit its medieval castle and the National Wallace Monument. Visit Scone Palace, the ancient crowning place of the Kings of Scots, before continuing on to the pretty Victorian spa town of Pitlochry.
Overnight – Pitlochry

Day 4: Pitlochry Sightseeing

Spend the day in Highland Perthshire amidst some of the most beautiful scenery in Europe. Visit 13th century Blair Castle, traditional home of the Dukes and Earls of Atholl and the headquarters for the the Atholl Highlanders, Europe’s only remaining private army.
Overnight – Pitlochry

Day 5: Pitlochry to Royal Deeside

Your self-drive tour takes you to the famous castle country of Royal Deeside, home to some of the world’s most unique castles. You won’t miss the close associations that this area has with the Royal Family. Balmoral Castle is the Queen’s official “holiday home” and its grounds and an exhibition of paintings, artwork and royal tartans are open to the public.
Overnight – Royal Deeside

Day 6: Royal Deeside Sightseeing

A full day to explore Royal Deeside and some of the most splendid examples of castellated architecture on a clearly sign-posted tourist trail. One moment you will be in Norman Scotland, the next in Renaissance Scotland – let your imagination run riot in dark romantic ruins or in magnificently furnished castles.
Overnight – Royal Deeside

Day 7: Royal Deeside to St Andrews

The castle trail continues to visit the dramatic ruins of Dunnottar Castle, an evocative cliff-top fortress in a truly stunning setting. Continue on to Glamis Castle, the childhood home of the late Queen Mother, before arriving in the Kingdom of Fife for your final night in St Andrews.

Explore the remains of the huge Norman cathedral, take a stroll through the historic buildings of the 600 year old University, or practice your swing at the home of golf.
Overnight – St Andrews

Day 8: St Andrews to Edinburgh

After breakfast it is less than a 90 minute journey to Edinburgh.

What's Included?

Your holiday includes:

Carefully selected en-suite accommodation for 7 nights including traditional Scottish breakfast
Comprehensive information pack
Personalised itinerary with our recommendations for the best places to eat and drink and sightseeing suggestions
Map of Scotland with our recommended driving route
6 days rental of an Economy car (other vehicle categories available) including comprehensive insurance
Tickets for the Edinburgh City Sightseeing Tour
24-hour emergency contact number
Full financial protection

Your holiday doesn't include:

Travel insurance
Flights
Lunches and evening meals

Accommodation & Prices

Special Places to Stay

Premium

Standard

We know that after a busy day of sightseeing an exceptional place to stay makes all the difference. That’s why all of the accommodation we select is hand-picked using our first-hand knowledge of the best places to stay.

Our discerning team has a wealth of experience, and we extensively research and regularly review all of the accommodation we select for our clients.

Please choose from one of our accommodation categories below. If you wish to combine these categories or perhaps upgrade for a special occasion let us know in your enquiry.

Car Hire

Our packages include car rental and comprehensive insurance for the duration of your holiday. Absolute Escapes has an excellent relationship with a number of car hire operators and we are able to offer quality vehicles and great value for money.

If you plan to bring your own vehicle, we are also able to offer this itinerary without a rental car.

All our packages include:

Collision Damage Waiver
Super Damage Excess Waiver
Third Party Insurance
Theft Waiver
Tax

Economy

Vauxhall Corsa or similar

Good for 2 people
Maximum of 4 passengers
2 large suitcases
Manual or automatic transmission

Compact

Ford Focus or similar

Good for 2 – 4 people
Maximum of 5 passengers
2 large suitcases
Manual or automatic transmission

Intermediate

Volkswagen Passat or similar

Good for up to 4 people
Maximum of 5 passengers
3 large suitcases
Manual or automatic transmission

Fullsize

VW Sharan or similar

Good for 5 people
Maximum of 7 passengers
3 – 4 large suitcases
Manual or automatic transmission

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Since 2004, we've led the way in planning remarkable road trips in the UK. Like a perfectly tailored suit, each itinerary is crafted around you. Learn more about us and our self-drive holidays in our new guide. Read more

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