Tour Inclusions

9 Nights
14 Meals 9 Breakfasts, 1 Lunch, 4 Dinners
Hotel
Driver
Tour Leader

A Scottish Journey

10 days
Scotland
Max 18 Passengers

Overview

Towering mountains and enchanting lochs. Dramatic castles and quaint villages. Infamous battles and gripping legends. This Scottish Journey takes us from coastal cities to Hebridean islands, seeking out one-of-a-kind landscapes, mesmerising history and undeniable charm.

Worth Noting…

Booking an August departure in 2025? You’ll be in Edinburgh during The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo – an unforgettable music festival. Applies to 5, 7, 12, 19 and 21 August departures.

Tour Starts/Ends
1 Overnight Stop
Day Stop

Tour Highlights

Spend days touring the breathtaking Isle of Skye and Isle of Mull
Uncover the intricacies behind Scottish whisky culture with a tasting experience
Immerse yourself in the captivating history of Culloden Battlefield
Savour time exploring the magnificent Cairngorms National Park

Gallery

Tour Itinerary

Expand Full Itinerary

Day 1 - Edinburgh (Scotland)
Majestic landscapes, rich cultural heritage and imagination-firing stories: Scotland delivers on every level. After meeting the group at our hotel, we’ll get to know each other over a delicious welcome meal. Accommodation: Malmaison Edinburgh City (or similar)
- Meals
  - Dinner
Day 2 - Edinburgh – St Andrews – Cairngorms National Park – Cairngorms Region
After breakfast, it's time to board the mini-coach and take to the scenic route. Now the journey begins! We’ll admire the historic fishing villages speckled along the east coast before our first port of call: St Andrews. This small town has a big reputation for world-class golf, as well as a prestigious university – the third oldest in the English-speaking world. Following a spot of lunch, we’ll catch our first glimpse of the otherworldly Cairngorms National Park before settling into our accommodation for the evening. Accommodation: The Lodge on the Loch (or similar)
- Meals
  - Breakfast
Day 3 - Cairngorms Region
Prepare to travel back to the 16th century this morning as we stop in at stately Crathes Castle. Soaring turrets, intricately painted ceilings and enchanting manicured gardens await at this characteristically Scottish tower house. After an included lunch, we’ll follow in the footsteps of Queen Victoria as we explore the Royal Deeside area – said to have captivated the queen during her 1848 visit. Later, we’ll have the evening at our leisure. Accommodation: The Lodge on the Loch (or similar)
- Meals
  - Breakfast
  - Lunch
Day 4 - Cairngorms Region – Cairngorms National Park – Inverness
Our day will begin in dramatic fashion this morning as we explore the stunning surrounds of Cairngorms National Park – heading to viewpoints specially chosen by our in-the-know Tour Leader. Then, truly authentic Scottish experiences await. We’ll stop at the open-air Highland Folk Museum, used as the filming location for the TV series Outlander. Following that, we’ll traverse to Inverness, the welcoming capital of the Highlands. And tonight, we’ll come together to share stories of the day’s adventures over an included meal. Accommodation: The Kingsmills Hotel (or similar)
- Meals
  - Breakfast
  - Dinner
Day 5 - Inverness
After this morning’s orientation tour, a lesson in Scotch whisky awaits. We’ll uncover the centuries-old legends and complex processes behind turning malted barley into ‘liquid gold’ – sampling a dram or two while we’re at it. Later, the city is your oyster. Visit Inverness Cathedral, explore the charming Victorian Market or simply hunt down a good pub to relax in. What you do this afternoon is completely up to you! For dinner tonight, why not take advantage of the array of local eateries filled with character and delicious Scottish fare. Accommodation: The Kingsmills Hotel (or similar)
- Meals
  - Breakfast
Day 6 - Inverness – Culloden, Loch Ness and Plockton – Isle of Skye
Our path will lead us eastwards this morning as we make our way to the atmospheric Culloden Battlefield. Here we’ll immerse ourselves in the fascinating history of the Highlands and gain a unique insight into the battle that took place on this vast moorland. Next, there’s a chance to spot the elusive Nessie in mysterious Loch Ness – binoculars recommended! Following our monster hunt, we’ll pay a visit to the quaint village of Plockton, where painted cottages cluster around a picturesque bay. After strolling the harbour and observing the passing yachts, we’ll continue on to our final destination of the day: the breathtaking Isle of Skye. At our hotel, we’ll share the excitement for tomorrow’s adventures over an included dinner. Accommodation: Duisdale House Hotel (or similar)
- Meals
  - Breakfast
  - Dinner
Day 7 - Isle of Skye
Sensational landscapes, rare wildlife and imagination-firing history – the Isle of Skye delivers on every level. This is North Highland scenery on a grand scale! We’ll spend the day taking in the island’s unique geology and jaw-dropping scenery – including the extraordinary Quiraing, Kilt Rock and Old Man of Storr. After a full day of exploring, we’ll have the evening free to dine at our leisure or relax in our idyllic surrounds. Accommodation: Duisdale House Hotel (or similar)
- Meals
  - Breakfast
Day 8 - Isle of Skye – Isle of Mull
Today we’ll continue our journey through soul-stirring Scottish scenery before taking a short ferry ride over to the breathtaking Isle of Mull. Here, the evening will be yours to spend as you please. Accommodation: Isle of Mull Hotel & Spa (or similar)
- Meals
  - Breakfast
Day 9 - Isle of Mull – Isle of Iona – Isle of Mull
The best way to explore the bewitching Hebrides is by island hopping – so today, we’ll do just that. From Mull’s little village of Fionnphort, we’ll set sail to Iona: where a medieval abbey and revered pilgrimage site await us. After returning to our hotel on Mull, we’ll toast to our Scottish journey with a final dinner together. Accommodation: Isle of Mull Hotel & Spa (or similar)
- Meals
  - Breakfast
  - Dinner
Day 10 - Isle of Mull – Stirling – Edinburgh
Back to the mainland we go. It’s been a tour that’s delved deep into Scotland’s heritage, so it’s only right that we finish with a stop in historic Stirling. A drive through the Old Town will bring us to the magnificent hilltop castle, one of Scotland’s most impressive and significant monuments. Here, we’ll spend some time exploring the castle’s many rooms and soaking up the sweeping views from atop the castle walls. What better way to round off our tour before returning to Edinburgh?
- Meals
  - Breakfast

Tour Inclusions

Accommodation

- 9 nights in hand-picked accommodation

The Crew

- Experienced Tour Leader and Driver

Transport

- Premium mini-coach transportation

Reviews

150 reviews

Reviews Rating

9th September 2024
Review rating

The service was as expected and there was more
8th September 2024
Review rating
7th September 2024
Review rating

Firstly, we would like to thank 'G' Davison for being such a fabulous tour guide. He was the perfect guide. He not only gave us an indepth view of Scottish history but he was also happy to personally socialise with us and give us a more personal view of what it's like living in Scotland. I would like to thank Backroads for choosing such great food venues. We thoroughly enjoyed all our meals. We were also happy with our accommodation. However, I do have a suggestion regarding our accommodation on the Isle of Mull. Instead of organising accommodation for a basic room in the hotel, perhaps the overall price of the Backroads trip could be increased to allow for an upgrade at this particular hotel. Unfortunately all of our rooms were located about 600 or so metres from the main reception, lounge and dining facilities. This not only meant a long walk every time we used these facilities but after a long day travelling, the last thing everyone wanted to do was spend half an hour getting to our rooms. The hotel has lovely rooms with water views closer to reception. I am sure they would be more expensive but I do believe this would allow for a much more enjoyable stay for all members of the tour group. Our tour guide was sympathetic to our complaints and I am sure everyone would enjoy the last nights of their tour on Backroads if they were spent in one of the upgraded rooms. Lastly, we were disappointed that our accommodation was changed from Duisdale House where we were looking forward to staying. Instead we stayed in Toravaig House on the Isle of Skye. Apart from not having the lovely views that Duisdale House offers, the rooms in the hotel were extremely small and the dining area where we all ate was much too small to accommodate the size of our group. The lounge area where we had drinks was too small with not enough seating to accommodate everyone. I am not sure why we didn't stay at Duisdale House as no explanation was given. Overall, we enjoyed our tour with Backroads, however, this will be our first and last trip on a Backroads tour. We really enjoyed the intimacy of the small group but the tour bus was much too small for my husband. The only seats that he could sit in and be comfortable was the front seat or in the middle of the back seat. We were very fortunate that the group were happy to accommodate him but he still felt extremely embarrassed that he had to request these seats on the coach. I do hope you consider my suggestions regarding the accommodation, as I am sure this would make the The Scottish Journey with Backroads a much more enjoyable experience. Regards Julie & Trevor Stretton