Essential Scotland Essential Your Detailed Itinerary Scotland Kirkwall lies to the east by the Day 1/2 Day 5 Day 8 A966. Day 14 From Prestwick Airport, travel north to Go north from the city, on the A81 and Continue north via the Tay Road From Skye return to the mainland, Ardrossan to take the ferry to Arran, a A821, going through the heart of the Bridge for Dundee, to reach the turning south on the A87 to pass holiday-island for generations of Scots. Trossachs at the Duke’s Pass above Moray Firth coast via Aberdeen. Day 11 the iconic Eilean Donan Castle on Enjoy the gardens and the fine Aberfoyle, now part of the Loch On this north-facing coast are a Return to the mainland, retracing Loch Duich. Head east to reach the collections at Brodick Castle. Discover Lomond and Trossachs National good number of wildlife watching your journey down the A9 for Great Glen for Fort William, from the island’s story at the Arran Heritage Park, and the very byword for Scottish places, not just for seabirds but also Dingwall, from where you can go where take the A82 through Museum. The coastal roads right Highland scenery. From the Trossachs to spot the local dolphins, often west (A834/A835) for Garve, then Glencoe and across Rannoch Moor, round the island will also take you to area, go east to join the M9 and the seen from the shore, though boat Achnasheen (A832) and Kyle of simply one of the most atmospheric the Lochranza Distillery in the north. easy journey to Edinburgh. trips are available from the fishing Lochalsh (A890) for Skye. Running scenic areas in Scotland. Continue port of Macduff and many other broadly parallel with the road, the via Loch Lomond to return to places to the west. rail line from Inverness, ‘The Kyle Glasgow. Day 3/4 Day 6 Line’, to the terminus at Kyle of Lochalsh represents one of Returning to the mainland, go north Explore Edinburgh, with the Old Day 9/10 Scotland’s most scenic train east to Glasgow to sample its Town – a UNESCO World Heritage journeys. shopping and nightlife in particular. Site – at its historic heart. An Continue coast-wise via Inverness, You should be able to track down an unrivalled cultural choice is offered turning north to reach Scrabster authentic ceilidh as well, as just one in one of Europe’s great capitals. and the ferry for Stromness, Orkney. aspect of the city’s great nightlife! A These islands have an outstanding Day 12/13 UNESCO City of Music, Glsagow's range of prehistoric sites. Just two Take the bridge for the Isle of Skye at legendary music scene covers the Day 7 of the ‘must sees’ are the Kyle of Lochalsh to enjoy views of the whole spectrum from contemporary extraordinary Neolithic settlement Cuillin Hills from Sligachan. From The information contained in this publication is as supplied to Cross the Firth of Forth northbound VisitScotland and to the best of VisitScotland’s knowledge is and classical to Celtic and country. of Skara Brae and also Maes there, the A863 goes west for the correct at the time of going to press. VisitScotland can accept to reach St Andrews in Fife, via the Scotland’s largest shopping choice, Howe. This prehistoric chambered Talisker Distillery, as well as the little no responsibility for any errors or omissions. April 2015. picturesque East Neuk of Fife VisitScotland is committed to ensuring that our natural plus a huge range of cultural cairn was already thousands of road to Glen Brittle, with superb environment and built heritage, upon which tourism is so fishing villages. Though St Andrews dependent, is safeguarded for future generations to enjoy. attractions, including the Kelvingrove years old when plundering Vikings mountain vistas. If time permits, also is known as the ‘Home of Golf’, the Cover: A traditional ‘ceilidh’ dance, Edinburgh © Paul Tomkins, Art Gallery and Museum, the Gallery left their fascinating graffiti, still visit Elgol (signed from Broadford), VisitScotland/Scottish Viewpoint journey round the coast roads of Additional photography: Glyn Satterley, Nils Schlebusch, of Modern Art and the Burrell seen today! Both sites are easily where some rate the mountain views Fife reveals a big choice of other VisitScotland/Scottish Viewpoint Collection, should also be on every visited from Stromness and well across Loch Scavaig as the finest in all classic links golf courses. visitor’s list. signposted, while the main town of of Scotland. To search over 7,000 quality assured For information, inspiration and more accommodations, from bed and breakfasts itineraries online check out: to castles go to: www.visitscotland.com www.visitscotland.com So many options: scenic splendour, castles, whisky, golf, ceilidhs and lots more, plus the call of the islands – all on a great Scottish menu of experiences. And look out for Highland Games in the summer – the Essential essence of Highland traditions, taking place in many towns and villages from May to September. Scotland 02-ESSENTIAL_SCOTLAND_MAP_FINAL.pdf 1 3/16/2015 12:50:56 PM SANDAY ROUSAY A966 Eday © MFAtech Maps STRONSAY Skara A967 1 www.digital-map.org Brae 7 A986 Kirkwall [email protected] Stromness A965 ORKNEY +44 (0) 207 871 1332 A964 Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2011 A960 St Margaret’s Hope 0 12.5 25 50 Kilometers HOY A961SOUTH Burwick RONALDSAY 0 5 10 20 30 40 Miles Gills Bay abster Durness Scr A836 John o’ Groats ISLE OF ARRAN – With a good range of Melvich activities including walking, golf and Port of Ness Bettyhill Thurso A857 A99 ponytrekking, Arran’s description as ‘Scotland Tongue in Miniature’ refers to the contrasts between A838 A882 Arnol Wick Essential the mountainous north and the island’s Scourie A836 gentler south end. A858 Scotland Stornoway A894 Altnaharra A99 A866 h Callanish c A897 n LEWIS i A894 Dunbeath 2 M Lochinver A859 e Loch h Shin A9 Helmsdale T Lairg A835 A839 A839 Brora Tarbert A837 HARRIS Golspie A868 Ullapool SCALPAY Aultbea A949 c h Dornoch Dolphins in Leverburgh i n A836 BERNERAY M 6 Poolewe Tain the Moray Firth e Otternish t l Gairloch i t t h Lossiemouth CEILIDHS IN GLASGOW – Head to the y L A832 A835 i r Lochmadd Cromarty F Cullen Fraserburgh Grand Ballroom at Sloans, in the heart of A867 a y A941 Buckie Banff Macduff NORTH Uig A855 o r A832 M Forres A990 Glasgow’s city centre, for their famous Friday Achnasheen Dingwall Nairn Elgin A98 Gardenstown UIST A87 Torridon A896 Fochabers A95 night ‘ceilidhs’ (Scottish music and dance). Strathpeffer North A96 A941 A981 A90 BENBECULA A890 Keith A850 Muir of Ord Kessock A940 A97 Turriff Dunvegan Beauly Craigellachie A950 Portree A890 The Kyle Line A948 A865 RAASAY 8 INVERNESS ALLEYA95 A952 Peterhead Lochcarron A82 Daviot A920 Huntly A947 A863 A833 A939 Dufftown SKYE Sconser Kyle of A9 SPEY V Carbost A831 Grantown- A920 Ellon SOUTH Lochalsh Drumnadrochit on-Spey A95 A941 A975 A87 Urquhart A96 A920 3 UIST Glenelg Castle A938 Inverurie Talisker 9 Broadford Carrbridge A97 A90 Lochboisdale Kylerhea Shiel Bridge Loch Alford C Distillery Boat ofTomintoul A851 10 A87 A887 Ness Aviemore Garten A939 Isle of Eriskay Canna Elgol Fort Augustus A944 A944 ABERDEEN Kincraig A9 Cairngorms A980 M Armadale Eilean A888 Donan Newtonmore Aboyne Rum Invergarry Kingussie National Park Castlebay BARRA Mallaig Castle Ballater Banchory Y Ralia Braemar Crathie A90 A86 A889 A957 Eigg Arisaig Spean Bridge Stonehaven CM Muck A830 A82 Loch Glenshee A90 LOCH LOMOND AND TROSSACHS Ardnamurchan A861 Loch A93 Fort William Ericht Blair MY Shiel Edzell NATIONAL PARK – Scotland’s first Acharacle Atholl Spittal of Corran Kinloch Glenshee national park takes in 1865 sq km and Coll Laga Bruar A924 A937 Kilchoan Glencoe Rannoch Brechin includes Scotland’s largest loch by surfaceCY Strontian Pitlochry Kirriemuir Montrose Tobermory Drimnin Ballachulish A934 area. Walking choice for all abilities. A884 Aberfeldy A926 A848 A828 Forfar CMY Tiree Lochaline A826 A923 Glamis A933 Fishnish A827 Dunkeld A928 Loch Tay Blairgowrie Arbroath A15 K MULL Craignure Lismore Tyndrum Killin A923 DUNDEE A822 A94 Carnoustie A849 Oban A930 4 A85 h A85 Lochearnhead PERTH Iona Crianlaric A85 Scone Golf at St Andrews Loch A85 A919 5 Fionnphort A816 Awe Loch LLochomond Lomondand the Tandrossachs Crieff Seil Loch Earn A822 A913 St Andrews Luing A819 The TrossachsNational National Park Park A917 Auchterarder Cupar Inveraray A83 A82 Callander A9 A816 A823 A916 Crail 3 A821 A84 M90 Glenrothes Ardgartan Dunblane A917 Anstruther A83 Tarbet A81 Kinross A814 Aberfoyle M9 A91 Leven Colonsay JURA Crinan A815 Loch Lomond A811 Alva A92 r t h o Fi f Fo A886 Drymen Dunfermline Kirkcaldy r t h Lochgilphead A817 A875 Burntisland North Berwick Helensburgh STIRLINGBo'nessRosyth A880 Balloch A198 Dunbar EDINBURGH’S OLD TOWN – Discover the ISLAY Dunoon Gourock EDINBURGH A846 Colintraive Dumbarton Falkirk M9 A1087 Greenock M80 Linlithgow Haddington legends of Edinburgh’s Old Town – unbeatable Port Askaig Rhubodach M8 M8 Feolin Tarbert Portavadie Wemyss Bay Old Craighall A1 for sheer atmosphere and a place of magic and M8 M8 Coatbridge DalkeithEdinburgh’s Kennacraig A78 Paisley Penicuik 4Newtongrange Eyemouth mystery, where the alleys or ‘closes’ leading off Rothesay Old Town A6112 A847 Bowmore Claonaig A844 Largs GLASGOW Roslin A1 the Royal Mile invite exploration. Motherwell A68 A846 Bute A760 A702 Millport HamiltonCeilidhsA706 A6105 Berwick-upon-Tweed Gigha A83 Lochranza A737 M77 2 A703 A7 A78 A701 A698 Port Ellen Tayinloan Ardrossan A721 ARRAN Kilmarnock A71 M74 Lanark A6089 Galashiels Irvine Peebles A72 A698 Coldstream Carradale Brodick Biggar Melrose A699 5 1 Troon Kelso A1 A841 Mauchline A701 A699 Isle of Prestwick Abington Selkirk Ayr A70 Arran A70 A698 Jedburgh A697 Campbeltown A76 Wanlockhead A708 Hawick A719 A77 A74(M) Sanquhar A6088 Maybole A76 A702 A7 A1 A77 Moffat A68 Girvan A1068 Ballycastle A713 Thornhill A702 A76 A701 M74 Langholm E N G L A N D A68 A696 GOLF AT ST ANDREWS – St Andrews Links A714 A709 Lockerbie A77 New Galloway A712 Dumfries A7 is the Home of Golf, where the game evolved.