scotland.nordicvisitor.com HIDDEN GEMS OF SCOTLAND ITINERARY DAY 1 DAY 1: WELCOME TO EDINBURGH Welcome to Scotland! Relax knowing that a private driver is waiting in the arrivals hall at Edinburgh Airport to assist with your luggage and take you to your deluxe city accommodation in a luxury car. To make the beginning of your holiday even better, you’ll find a selection of gourmet chocolates and a bottle of champagne chilling in your room. Of course, at some point we recommend leaving the comforts of your room to go out and explore the charms of Edinburgh. Whether it’s history, music, art, architecture or lush gardens you’re after, you’ll find it all within the compact city centre. To get a feel for your surroundings you might wish to take a walk down Princes Street or explore the medieval Old Town across Princes St. Gardens. For fine shopping and dining, check out the Multrees Walk by St Andrews Square or the George Street area of the New Town neighbourhood. Spend the night in Edinburgh. Attractions: Edinburgh DAY 2 DAY 2: INTO THE SCOTTISH HIGHLANDS Today we start our journey into the countryside, taking in the magnificent Forth Bridge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as we head north towards Highland Perthshire. Travelling further from the city, the scenery gradually becomes more dramatic, with high rolling mountains and wild landscapes forged by ancient volcanoes and ice ages. On today’s drive we will have the opportunity for a lovely forest walk in the Hermitage to see a stunning waterfall, followed by a coffee break in charming Dunkeld, a city of great significance in ancient times. From there we travel through the wide expanse of the Cairngorms National Park to Newtonmore Highland Folk Museum, then continuing on to the Battlefield of Culloden Moor—the scene of the last battle on British soil in 1746. And moving from more “recent” Scottish history we end the day with a visit to the Clava Cairns, a series of tombs and standing stones which pre-date Stonehenge by 1,000 years. Spend the night in Inverness area. Attractions: Clava Cairns, Culloden Battlefield & Visitor Centre, Dunkeld, Forth Railway Bridge, Highland Folk Museum, The Hermitage 1/3 DAY 3 DAY 3: LOCH NESS & WHITE SANDS OF THE WEST COAST Our journey today takes us to the wilds of Scotland, starting with a visit to the banks of the legendary Loch Ness. Then we enjoy a walk to Rogie Falls before braving the heights of the breathtaking Corrieshalloch Gorge. Next we head to the pretty seaport town of Ullapool, the gateway to the Outer Hebrides. Our drive around the rugged west highland coast offers us stunning views of white sand beaches, and before reaching our hotel for evening we may have time for a walk on the beach around Gairloch. We’ll also stop for a visit to the Inverewe Castle and Gardens. Spend the night in the Rosshire area. Attractions: Corrieshalloch Gorge, Inverewe Gardens and Estate, Rogie Falls, Ullapool DAY 4 DAY 4: MOUNTAIN ROADS, FISHING & EILEAN DONAN Today is full of adventures as we experience the formidable Torridon Mountains and one of the most scenic roads in the Highlands, the Bealach na Bà. At our next destination, Stromeferry, we will sail out on the loch on a fishing boat skippered by local musician, who will show us how to catch and cook our own lunch on the boat —the freshest seafood you’ll ever eat. After the tour we’ll make our way to the iconic Eilean Donan Castle, a sight you will surely recognize from many photographs, films and TV shows. Then we will continue to Isle of Skye, our destination for the next two days. Spend the night on the Isle of Skye. Attractions: Eilean Donan Castle, Isle of Skye, Torridon Hills DAY 5 DAY 5: NORTHERN SKYE & WATERFALL WALKS We have the entire day to explore the magnificent Isle of Skye today. Our focus will be on the northern part of the island, around the breathtaking Trotternish Peninsula, where we’ll find many of the most remarkable landscapes. There we can take a walk to the gorge overlooking Lealt Falls, see waterfalls plunging over the 90- meter Kilt Rock sea cliffs, pass by the needle-like Old Man of Storr and visit the craggy, primordial features of the Quiraing. We’ll also have lunch at the oldest inn on Skye before exploring the mystical Fairy Pools. Spend another night on the Isle of Skye. Attractions: Fairy Pools, Kilt Rock & Mealt Falls, Lealt Falls, Old Man of Storr, Quiraing 2/3 DAY 6 DAY 6: WILDLIFE & LOCH CORUISK Today, we head to the southern part of Skye for a 45-minute boat tour to the most inaccessible part of the isle, Loch Coruisk. Sailing on the ‘Mist Isle’ we’ll have the opportunity to see sharks, minke whales, seals and dolphins as well as giant sea eagles which soar above these parts. A wonderful experience awaits you as you are about to witness one of the best views in Scotland! In the afternoon we’ll head back to the mainland and drive alongside one of the most scenic rail journeys in Europe, the Glenfinnan Railway Viaduct—famous in the Harry Potter films. Then we’ll make our way through historical Glencoe towards Callander. Spend the night in the Callander area. Attractions: Callander, Glen Coe, Glenfinnan, Loch Coruisk DAY 7 DAY 7: THE TROSSACHS, WHISKY & DOUNE CASTLE Today we drive through Trossachs National Park on the Trossachs Trail to the charming village of Aberfoyle on the River Forth. We’ll also enjoy a visit to the Deanston Distillery and have a taste of the “water of life”—as whisky is called in Scotland. Further on we’ll get to immerse ourselves in the history of the iconic Doune Castle, which has been a film location in the TV series Outlander and Game of Thrones as well as the movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail. We’ll also take in the historical highlights of Stirling and see the Kelpies, giant metal horse head sculptures, before heading back to Edinburg. Back in the city, enjoy the rest of the evening, including dinner, at your leisure. Spend the night in Edinburgh. Attractions: Deanston Whisky Distillery, Doune Castle, Stirling & Stirling Castle, The Kelpies, Trossachs Trail DAY 8 DAY 8: DEPARTURE If your flight is in the afternoon, take this last opportunity for some souvenir shopping, a visit to one of Edinburgh’s museums or just relax at a café after your action-packed break. When it’s time to leave, a driver will pick you up from your hotel and drive you to Edinburgh Airport. If you wish to spend more time in Edinburgh or Glasgow before or after the tour, ask your travel consultant about adding extra nights or services. We can also extend your trip with other destinations in the Nordic region such as Iceland or Norway. Contact us for details about customizing your itinerary. Whatever your needs, we are here to help. If you have any questions about our packages or services, please do not hesitate to contact us. Nordic Visitor Tel: +354 578 20 80 [email protected] nordicvisitor.com 3/3.