Queen's View, Highland Perthshire

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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: £2040 per person
Best time to go: April - October
Transport: Rental car included (optional)

Highlights

Edinburgh

Charming and vibrant, 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.

Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park

Enjoy stunning lochside scenery in the picturesque Scottish Lakeland, one of Scotland’s most idyllic and unspoilt areas, with the largest expanse of freshwater in Britain and the backdrop of the mountains looming beyond.

Inveraray Castle

Visit 18th century Inveraray Castle and its beautiful grounds, perched alongside Loch Fyne. Built in a neo-Gothic style, this is the traditional family home of the Dukes of Argyll and its most impressive feature is the armoury hall.

Fresh seafood

Loch Fyne and Tarbert, nestled in Scotland’s west coast, are must-visit destinations for seafood lovers. Our natural larder is bursting with flavour – tuck into fresh oysters, lobster, mussels, scallops, laugustines, crab and salmon.

Inverness

Situated at the edge of the Great Glen, Inverness is known as the Capital of the Highlands. Nearby you will find Culloden Battlefield, site of the last battle of the Jacobite Rising, and the Clava Cairns prehistoric site.

Highland Perthshire

Perthshire is home to historic castles such as Blair Castle and Scone Palace, the picturesque Victorian town of Pitlochry, and world-renowned whisky distilleries such as Edradour and Blair Atholl. Explore the area while enjoying a backdrop of lush forests and rolling hills.

A Luxurious Castle-Hopping Adventure

Discover the highlights of Scotland on this self-drive tour while staying in a wonderful selection of castle hotels. This itinerary is perfect for a magical romantic honeymoon or a special occasion. Experience history with a touch of luxury, as your journey through a land of majestic castles and spectacular scenery.

Explore many scenic, historical and cultural attractions on your journey through the Scottish countryside, and enjoy a unique stay in a variety of castle hotels, each with its own character and history. This tour begins on the banks of the River Esk, a stone’s throw away from Edinburgh. Explore Scotland’s majestic capital city and at the end of the day, escape the crowds and relax in the luxury of a 13th century fortress.

Your journey continues along the stunning coastline of Argyll and the magnificent Scottish Highlands. Enjoy spectacular views over Loch Fyne from your West Coast castle hotel, and enjoy some of the freshest seafood in the country.

Travel along the West Coast to the foot of Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Britain, and along the scenic Great Glen. On route to Inverness, you will pass the picturesque Urquhart Castle and brooding Loch Ness. Stay in a magnificent Highland castle just outside of the Capital of the Highlands, with romantic turrets and ancient battlements.

Journey back south across the Cairngorms National Park, towards the delightful town of Pitlochry in the heart of Highland Perthshire. Treat yourself in a luxury castle hotel, with breathtaking views of Loch Faskally. Experience some of the country’s finest mountain and loch-side scenery as you travel back to Edinburgh.

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 city. Edinburgh is a great place to wander, with its narrow alleys, flights of stairs and hidden courtyards. For a breathtaking panorama, take a hike up Arthur’s Seat, an extinct volcano which looms over the city.

Spend two nights in the luxury of a fascinating 13th century fortress on the banks of the River Esk. This unique accommodation provides a rare blend of tranquillity and city proximity.
Overnight – Edinburgh Area

Day 2: Edinburgh City Sightseeing

Get your bearings with a City Sightseeing bus tour, and visit majestic Edinburgh Castle. Sample a dram at the Scotch Whisky Experience and take a walk through Princes Street Gardens to enjoy the fine views of the castle high above.
Overnight – Edinburgh Area

Day 3: Edinburgh to the West Coast

Travel to the beautiful banks of Loch Lomond and enjoy a wonderfully scenic journey to the stunning west coast of Scotland. On the way, stop for lunch at a famous Oyster Bar and visit 18th century Inveraray Castle, the home of the Duke of Argyll and Chief of the Campbell Clan.

Enjoy two unforgettable nights in an elegant castle which stands high on the Kintyre Peninsula overlooking the sea, close to one of the most attractive fishing villages in Scotland.
Overnight – The West Coast

Day 4: West Coast Sightseeing

Kintyre offers a glimpse of a gentler corner of Scotland. Spend the day discovering stunning beaches, charming shore-side villages and a land rich in history. A short ferry ride takes you across to the Cowal Peninsula, a mouth-watering introduction to the West Highlands.
Overnight – The West Coast

Day 5: West Coast to Inverness

Your tour continues along the west coast of Scotland. Explore Kilmartin Glen, the cradle of ancient Scotland and the popular holiday town of Oban. Pass impregnable Castle Stalker and take a short detour to Glencoe, Scotland’s most famous and atmospheric glen. You will continue you north along the Great Glen and by the shores of brooding Loch Ness to the Capital of the Highlands.

Your destination in the Highlands, situated magnificently overlooking the sea, is a spectacular castle with romantic turrets and ancient battlements. Fully restored and furnished in Jacobean elegance, the bedrooms are named after the clans who fought and died for Bonnie Prince Charlie at the Battle of Culloden and are decorated wonderfully in their individual clan tartans.
Overnight – Inverness Area

Day 6: Inverness Sightseeing

Today you may choose to explore the mysterious waters of Loch Ness, or experience the weight of history at Culloden Battlefield. You are close to Speyside and the Malt Whisky Trail, where you could visit one of the many excellent distilleries in the area and try a wee dram or two.
Overnight – Inverness Area

Day 7: Inverness to Highland Perthshire

Travel from the Highlands to the Lowlands with a drive through the heart of our country, into beautiful Highland Perthshire. En-route you could explore the Cairngorms National Park, scenic Blair Castle and Dalwhinnie Distillery.

The final night of your holiday will be spent in a unique, luxury castle hotel, nestled within breathtaking scenery in Highland Perthshire. Lovingly restored, it draws inspiration from its historic past whilst adding a contemporary twist to tradition.
Overnight – Pitlochry area

Day 8: Depart Edinburgh

After breakfast, it’s less than a two-hour drive back to Edinburgh, where your unforgettable castle-hopping adventure 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
8 days rental of an Economy car (other vehicle categories available) including comprehensive insurance
Tickets for the Edinburgh City Sightseeing Tour
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

Castle Hotel Accommodation

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.

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

How do our Self-Drive Holidays Work?

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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