Today is the first official day full of events! 

Embark on a tour around Glasgow, Scotland's largest city and learn how the history and the people of this great city has shaped it's modern centre.

Hailed as Britain's 'Second city of the Empire', discover how Glasgow went from a small ecclesiastical settlement to the industrial powerhouse of the 19th century.

On this waking tour we'll first explore the centre of the city, discovering the cathedral, the necropolis and get a greater understanding of how Glasgow helped to shape the world as we know it.

Heading into the afternoon we'll jump on the iconically orange Glasgow Subway and head to the west end of the city. Wandering through the university campus and exploring the great Kelvingrove Museum you'll see both sides of the city and getting a better understanding of the catch phrase 'People make Glasgow'.

In the evening we'll have our first group dinner together (included in the tour cost) at the beautiful Stravaigin. After dinner we will have the first private concert of the tour, with local musicians! Get ready to enjoy a dram or two while listening to the sounds of Scotland.

After breakfast we will check out of the hotel and begin our journey north with the ultimate destination being the wee village of Dornie.

The adventure begins. As we depart Glasgow and head north, the next 11 days will be filled with ancient legends and foot tapping ceilidhs. On this thorough tour, we are going to show you the best of the Highlands and Islands have to offer. All you need to do is sit back on our comfortable mini coach, relax and enjoy the ride.

Along the way we will visit iconic sites, some modern and some ancient, such as the Loch Lomond, Glencoe, The Highland Soap Company- with other surprises along the way!

Lunch will be at the Highland Soap Company, afterwards we continue our journey through Kintail and Glenshiel. This rugged, remote estate in the West Highlands is a true wilderness with exceptional mountain scenery. The magnificent ridge of the Five Sisters tower above you as you travel through this wonderful Glen.

Once we arrive to the accommodation, we'll check in and dine (not included in the tour cost) before another private concert with local musicians from the Skye area. 

After breakfast we'll have our first day exploring the Hebrides! We'll make our way over to Skye and take a cruise on one of the beautiful Misty Isle Boat Trips. Isle of Skye Boat Trips from Elgol to Loch Coruisk have been running for many generations.

Seumas Mackinnon is a local skipper, born and bred in the village of Elgol with a lifetime of experience at sea. Sail with Seumas to visit Loch Coruisk in the heart of the Cuillin hills where we guarantee you will enjoy a variety of wildlife and some outstandingly beautiful Highland scenery. We also guarantee you will enjoy some true Highland hospitality!

For lunch we'll stop in the village of Broadford and give you some time to wander and explore the shops on your own. 

After another day of exploring, we have a fantastic evening planned for you. There will be a feast of seafood prepared by a true local, with live music from local legends to add to the ambience, it's sure to be an amazing night! (This is another group dinner included in the tour for you!)

After breakfast we'll check out of our accommodations and journey over to another set of Hebridean Islands - Harris & Lewis. 

Known for it's stunning scenery and white sand beaches, we'll first take a ferry over to the main settlement on the island of Harris - Tarbert, then drive along the iconic coasts and beaches. There will be many photo opportunities on the way to our next accommodation on the Isle of Lewis, and a lovely stop in the afternoon for lunch. 

After we've checked into the hotel, you'll get some time to settle in before dining in the hotel restaurant (not included in the tour cost) and taking some time to relax before another busy day!

Be sure to get a full breakfast, as we have a busy day planned for you!

Today will be about exploring the Isle of Lewis, and some of its ancient landscapes and landmarks. We'll visit sites such as the Butt of Lewis (the most northerly point of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides), Gearranan Blackhouse (a restored and active croft community with authentic settlement homes), Dun Carloway Broch (an excellent cross-section of a broch – a type of structure found only in Scotland. At 9m tall it still stands close to its impressive full height), and of course the Callanish Standing Stones. 

When we return to the hotel for the evening, we will dine separately (not included in the tour cost) before joining back together for a private concert with local island musicians!

Today we depart the Hebridean Islands and return to the mainland. 

After breakfast and check-out, we'll catch an early morning ferry over to Ullapool, in the very northern highlands. We'll visit the Corrieshalloch Gorge and Beauly Priory, stopping for lunch in Beauly, before continuing down to Inverness. 

Once we check into our accommodation in Inverness, you will have the evening free to explore on your own, rest up in your room, or maybe join the group for some optional live music at a pub session in the local hot spot Hootenanny's. 

Today you have a day off! 

Choose to explore the local area, or rest it up in your hotel room - either way enjoy the break. 

After breakfast we'll check out of our accommodation and get back on the bus to head even further north - to the Orkney Islands!

Once we arrive onto the Orkney Islands, our first stop is The Italian Chapel. A beautiful Roman Catholic chapel in Lamb Holm which was constructed by Italian POWs during the Second World War, it is truly remarkable.

Next, we'll see the Churchill Barriers. Born from a time of conflict, but now serving as vital links between island communities, the Churchill Barriers are remarkable structures that have become as iconic as many of Orkney’s more ancient landmarks.

Once we check into our new accommodation, we'll settle in and have dinner (not included in the tour cost). Time to relax with a dram or two before bed!

Today is a busy day full of ancient and majestic sites! 

You'll be discovering such famous sites as Skara Brae, Standing Stones of Stenness, Ring of Brodgar, and the Cliffs of Yesnaby!

Skara Brae - The Neolithic settlement of Skara Brae is one of the best preserved groups of prehistoric houses in Western Europe. Uncovered by a storm in 1850, Skara Brae gives a remarkable picture of life 5,000 years ago, before Stonehenge was built.

The Standing Stones of Stenness - They may be the oldest henge site in the British Isles and is a truly special place. Various traditions associated with the stones survived into the modern era, and they form part of the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site - a remarkable aspect on our visit to Orkney.

Ring of Brodgar - Walk among the enigmatic stones of one of the most spectacular prehistoric monuments in the British Isles. The Ring of Brodgar Stone Circle and Henge is an enormous ceremonial site dating back to the 3rd millennium BC.

Cliffs of Yesnaby - Often overlooked compared to the famous archaeological sites of Mainland Orkney, the Yesnaby cliffs are an amazing addition to our tour.

Lunch will be at a local brewery, and when we return to the hotel in the evening there will be another private concert with local musicians waiting for us after dinner (not included in the tour cost)!

Another day of exploring what the Orkney Islands have to offer!

We'll be visiting more iconic and incredible sites such as Kirkwall and the Cathedral, Maes Howe Burial Chamber (pending availability), and the Orkneyinga Saga Centre. Sit back, relax and enjoy this spectacular drive throughout the day.

Kirkwall & its Cathedral - Kirkwall is the largest town of Orkney and a great base on our Orkney Islands Tour. Kirkwall’s name comes from the Norse name Kirkjuvágr, which later changed to Kirkvoe, and then Kirkwall.

Maes Howe Burial Chamber - We will be go back in time to 3000-5000 years ago and explore the prehistoric wonders of Orkney. Maes Howe Burial Chamber was probably built around 2800 BC. In the archaeology of Scotland, it gives its name to the Maeshowe type of chambered cairn, which is limited to Orkney.

The Orkneyinga Saga Centre - located in Orphir, it tells the story of the Norse Earls of Orkney using The Orkneyinga Saga and an audiovisual display. The Round Church and the ruins of Norse buildings, believed to be the Earls Bu, are close by.

We'll be having lunch in Kirkwall and return to our accommodation in the evening for free time to explore further and get dinner on your own.

After breakfast we'll be checking out of our hotel and beginning the long journey back south to the Central Belt of Scotland - through the Highlands. This journey will take us 2 days. 

After our ferry back to the mainland, we'll visit Dunrobin Castle. Dunrobin Castle is the most northerly of Scotland's great houses and the largest in the Northern Highlands with 189 rooms. Dunrobin Castle is also one of Britain's oldest continuously inhabited houses dating back to the early 1300s, home to the Earls and later, the Dukes of Sutherland.

Once we check into our accommodation in the village of Golspie, we'll dine together once more (not included in the tour cost) before enjoy the evening of relaxation and good conversation. 

Once again, we'll be checking out of our hotel to continue the journey south. 

Along the way we'll visit the well-known village of Aviemore for coffee. As we continue our way south we'll stop in the lovely village of Dunkeld for lunch. This village is known for its clan history and stunning scenery. The majestic Dunkeld Cathedral dominates this picturesque Perthshire village. Today, part ruin and part parish church, the cathedral features the tomb of the notorious 'Wolf of Badenoch'! Nearby, walk along Atholl Street's variety of specialist shops or take a walk down by the river, which provides excellent views of Thomas Telford's Dunkeld Bridge.

From here it's straight to our final destination - Stirling. We'll have time to check into the hotel and settle a bit before we have our final event - the farewell concert and BBQ. This will be the final group meal (included in the tour costs) and our chance to say our farewells to all! 

Sadly, the time has come to say goodbye!

We will be providing two group transfers to the Glasgow Airport. As we try to catch as many passengers as possible, we do not coordinate this until we have all the return flight times. The transfer times will be an early morning group, and a late morning/early afternoon group. Therefore, if you book a flight between 9am - 3pm, then you are likely to have good timing for the transfers. 

If you aren't able to make the group transfers, we offer to book you your own taxi in the add-ons section.