Edinburgh Castle

Historic Scotland

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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: £1230 per person
Best time to go: April - October
Transport: Rental car included (optional)

Highlights

Edinburgh

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

Historic castles

Perched atop Castle Hill, Stirling Castle is the former home of the Stewart monarchs. Further north, Urquhart Castle overlooks mysterious Loch Ness and on the shores of Loch Duich, Eilean Donan must be Scotland’s most beautiful & photogenic castle.

Atmospheric Glencoe

Glencoe is Scotland’s most famous and mystical glen, site of the infamous massacre of Clan Macdonald. Enjoy the great outdoors and spectacular views of the mountains of Glencoe.

Culloden Battlefield

Visit the site of the last battle to be fought on British soil, where the Jacobite rising of 1745 came to its dramatic and harrowing conclusion.

St Andrews

The historic University town of St Andrews lies in the Kingdom of Fife, and is widely considered to be the spiritual home of golf.

Malt Whisky Trail

Speyside is home to the world famous 70-mile Malt Whisky Trail. This area is the heart of the whisky industry, and concentrated within a few miles are more distilleries than any other area in Scotland.

A Tour of Scotland’s Enthralling History

Scotland is bursting at the seams with thrilling history, and this self-drive tour explores a selection of the country’s finest historic landmarks, castles, and battlegrounds. From the 1745 Jacobite Rising to the story of the tragic Mary Queen of Scots, experience every last bit of this country’s remarkable past.

Your holiday begins in Edinburgh, Scotland’s majestic capital and explores the many historical highlights of this beautiful city. Boasting one of Europe’s oldest fortified castles, the city has a thrilling history of underground vaults and narrow alleyways.

Travelling north to Stirling, the sites of the Battle of Bannockburn and the National Wallace Monument await, followed by the gruesome history of the massacre of the Clan MacDonald upon reaching Glencoe. While travelling along the Road to the Isles, the history of Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Jacobite Rising are brought to life at the Glenfinnan Monument.

This is not to mention the stunning castles which can be found along the way, for which Scotland is so widely recognised. Eilean Donan Castle, Urquhart Castle and Cawdor Castle all have their own enthralling history to delve into, and provide phenomenal views.

Continuing on to the Kingdom of Fife, the historic town of St Andrews is your final destination, with its 600 year old University and impressive Norman Cathedral. Scotland’s enchanting and tumultuous past will truly shine through in this historical tour.

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 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

Get your bearings with a City Sightseeing bus tour, and visit historic Edinburgh Castle – a majestic landmark which dominates the city’s skyline just as it has dominated Scotland’s long and turbulent history. Follow in the footsteps of tragic Mary Queen of Scots at Holyrood Palace and discover the many attractions of this beautiful city.
Overnight – Edinburgh

Day 3: Edinburgh to Fort William

Travel north to Stirling to visit the medieval Castle, the National Wallace Monument and the evocative site of the Battle of Bannockburn. A wonderfully scenic journey takes you through spectacular Glencoe and into the heart of the Scottish Highlands. Your destination for the night is on the western sea-board at the foot of Ben Nevis – the UK’s highest mountain.
Overnight – Fort William

Day 4: Fort William Sightseeing

Spend the day around the magnificent West Coast. Visit Glencoe village and learn of the infamous massacre of the Clan MacDonald in 1692. Travel on the wonderful Road to the Isles, a route steeped in our dramatic past and visit the Glenfinnan Monument where Bonnie Prince Charlie raised the Jacobite standard in 1745.

Eilean Donan Castle, the most recognisable and photographed of Scotland’s castles, is just over an hour’s drive away.
Overnight – Fort William

Day 5: Fort William to Inverness

Your tour continues north, passing the famous Commando Memorial high above Spean Bridge where three gigantic bronze figures stand proud in battledress, woollen caps and climbing boots looking across the Great Glen. Continue along the shores of brooding Loch Ness past historic Urquhart Castle and on to the Capital of the Highlands.
Overnight – Inverness

Day 6: Inverness Sightseeing

A full day to explore Inverness, visit 14th century Cawdor Castle, Culloden Battlefield where in 1746 the last battle took place on British soil, or tour the Speyside Malt Whisky Trail.
Overnight – Inverness

Day 7: Inverness to St Andrews

Travel from the Highlands to the Lowlands into beautiful Highland Perthshire. En-route visit Blair Castle or Dalwhinnie Distillery, the highest distillery in the Highlands. Your journey will take you into the Kingdom of Fife for your final night in St Andrews.

Here you can explore the remains of the huge Norman Cathedral, take a stroll through 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, where your unforgettable tour of Historic Scotland will come to an end.

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
Historic Scotland passes which include admission to Edinburgh, Stirling and Urquhart Castles
All ferry crossings (as per your itinerary)
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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