Classic Scotland: Edinburgh to the Highlands

Name: Classic Scotland: Edinburgh to the Highlands
Brand: Exodus
Rating: 5 (1 reviews)

1 reviews

Activity

Culture

Overview

Enjoy the quintessential Scottish adventure: ancient castles, majestic landscapes, and a dram or two of whisky

Discover the magic of Scotland on this cultural adventure, from the historic streets of Edinburgh to tranquil lochs, ancient castles and the Highlands. Immerse yourself in Scottish heritage and culture, visiting essential landmarks, including Balmoral, Arthur’s Seat, Stirling Castle, and the Battle of Bannockburn site. Also dive into the world of single malt Scotch whisky on a tasting tour and marvel at the sheer beauty of the landscape on a steam train ride and boat excursion on Loch Lomond. This is Scotland at its very best.

Key Information

Trip Code: ASD
Ways to Travel: Guided Group
Countries: United Kingdom
Carbon Footprint: 14.2kg CO2e per person per day

What's Included

All breakfasts and two dinners
All accommodation
All transport and listed activities
Tour Leader throughout
Group departure transfer available

Highlights

Experience classic Scotland, from historic Edinburgh to the majestic Highlands
Take a walking tour of the capital, climbing Arthur’s Seat for far-reaching views
Board a historic steam train for a scenic journey on the Heritage Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway
Dive into the history and heritage of Scotland at the Balmoral Estate and ancient castles
Enjoy a picturesque boat ride on the tranquil waters of Loch Lomond
Sip single malt Scotch whisky on a tour of Royal Lochnagar Distillery

Itinerary

Classic Scotland: Edinburgh to the Highlands

First Destination: Edinburgh
Next Destination: Edinburgh

Meals included:Dinner

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Meals included:Breakfast

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Meals included:Breakfast

First Destination: Edinburgh
Next Destination: Edinburgh

Begin your adventure in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland and home to the UNESCO-listed Old and New Towns, whose landmarks chart everything from medieval fortifications to Enlightenment-era city planning.

Around 6pm, say hello to your tour leader and fellow travellers in the hotel reception, where we gather as a group for the first time to get to know each other and learn more about the adventures ahead.

If you arrive early, consider heading into the New Town to look around the art galleries or enjoy the varied shopping opportunities of Princes Street.

Your tour leader then ensures a big Scottish welcome by arranging a group dinner.

Want more time in Edinburgh? Secure pre-tour hotel nights through your sales representative.

Accommodation: Radisson Blu, Edinburgh City Centre (or similar)
Upgrade to a superior room today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Meals included:Dinner

Led by our tour leader, an official Edinburgh guide with expert insight into the history of the city, we embark on a walking sightseeing tour. Start outside its most ancient stronghold, Edinburgh Castle, before seeing King Charles’ official residence in Scotland, the Palace of Holyroodhouse. We continue into the Old Town and meander through the many bustling streets that make up the Royal Mile.

We finish by ascending Arthur’s Seat, an extinct volcano and said to be the location of King Arthur’s Camelot. The climb, which you can sit out if you’d prefer to relax, takes around 2hr 30min and you’ll be rewarded with beautiful views over the city from the top.

Accommodation: Radisson Blu, Edinburgh City Centre (or similar)
Upgrade to a superior room today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Meals included:Breakfast

Begin with a visit to the 15^th-century Rosslyn Chapel, where we join a guided tour to learn how it has inspired the imaginations of writers and artists throughout the centuries. This afternoon, visit Midhope Castle, the ancestral home of the fictional Jamie Fraser from the TV series Outlander, where it was known as Lallybroch.

End the day with a scenic 10mi (16km) trip aboard a steam train on the Heritage Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway. Our journey takes us along the Forth Estuary, through woodlands, past waterfalls and over the Avon Viaduct. We then transfer (30 minutes) to our second hotel in Dunblane.

Accommodation: DoubleTree by Hilton Dunblane Hydro (or similar)
Upgrade to a superior suite today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Meals included:Breakfast

Visit Stirling Castle today, one of the most historically significant castles in Scotland. Explore the great hall, chapel, palace vaults and Queen Anne Gardens, plus exhibitions and museums. Then visit Stirling Old Bridge, a medieval stone bridge crossing the River Forth. It’s best known as the spot where Sir William Wallace defeated Edward I’s English army in 1297.

Continue our journey through history and visit the site of the Battle of Bannockburn, where Robert the Bruce, the King of Scots, fought King Edward II’s army for Scottish Independence in 1314. With free time to explore and peruse the visitor centre, you can enjoy the award-winning Battle of Bannockburn Experience, an immersive series of films and exhibits that dives deep into the battle.

Accommodation: DoubleTree by Hilton Dunblane Hydro (or similar)
Upgrade to a superior suite today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Meals included:Breakfast

Take a picturesque one-hour journey to Loch Lomond through Trossachs National Park, home to a small mountain range. Upon arrival, we join a leisurely boat trip around the waters. Over one hour or so, we enjoy scenic views of Ben Lomond mountain and pass several stately homes and castles.

In the afternoon after a cafe lunch, enjoy serene views on a 3mi-4mi (5km-6.5km) walk along the loch shores. We then transfer back to Dunblane for the evening.

Accommodation: DoubleTree by Hilton Dunblane Hydro (or similar)
Upgrade to a superior suite today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Meals included:Breakfast, Lunch

Our first stop today is the medieval stronghold of Doune Castle, a filming location for Outlander, Game of Thrones and Monty Python and the Holy Grail, where we have free time to explore.

Next up is the Trossachs Woollen Mill in Callander, a well-known Scottish shop where you can purchase traditional Scottish tweed, enjoy a coffee, and say hello to Hamish Dubh, Honey and Holly – the resident Highland cows.

After lunch, we journey north to visit the Scottish Crannog Centre on Loch Tay. Here, we join a local specialist for an insight into the lives of the crannog dwellers who lived on the loch 2,500 years ago. We then transfer 30 minutes to Pitlochry and our next hotel.

Accommodation: Atholl Palace Hotel (or similar)
Upgrade to a superior room today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Meals included:Breakfast

Transfer (approximately one hour) to Braemar village in the Cairngorms National Park. Here, we have time to explore and visit the Highland Games Museum before taking a leisurely walk to the Balmoral estate, the Highland home of the Royal Family. We can take the opportunity to visit the gift shop (depending on operating hours) or walk around the awe-inspiring grounds.

Finish the day with a whisky tasting at the Royal Lochnagar Distillery, which occupies a picturesque spot at the bottom of the Cairngorm mountains, beside the River Dee. Led by one of their in-house experts, we take a one-hour tour of the distillery and enjoy two tastings of their single malt Scotch whisky.

We then transfer back to Pitlochry, where we have our farewell dinner at the hotel, an excellent chance to relive the highlights of the trip and, perhaps, order a last dram.

Accommodation: Atholl Palace Hotel (or similar)
Upgrade to a superior room today – speak to your sales representative for more details

Meals included:Breakfast, Dinner

Our adventure together ends today, and we transfer (approximately 1hr 30min) back to Edinburgh to arrive by midday. With so much to see and do in the capital, we recommend adding some extra days after the tour. Speak to your sales representative to book.

Meals included:Breakfast

Dates & Prices

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Accommodation

Four-star hotels in the city and a large country house

For this Scottish adventure, we stay in a trio of hotels, two in the city and one in the Pitlochry countryside.

Superior room upgrades are available throughout the itinerary – speak to your sales representative for more details.

Edinburgh: Radisson Blu, Edinburgh City Centre (nights 1-2)

Classic Scotland: Edinburgh to the Highlands

Spend the first two nights at Radisson Blu, which occupies a prime address in the Royal Mile. The four-star property has 238 rooms, which are modern in style and come with rain showers. The hotel is also home to the Itchycoo Bar & Kitchen, which serves Scottish dishes created with local ingredients. There is also a health club with an indoor pool, sauna, steam room and gym.

Dunblane: DoubleTree by Hilton Dunblane Hydro (nights 3-5)

Classic Scotland: Edinburgh to the Highlands

Taking over what was a Victorian health spa resort, this DoubleTree by Hilton has a long history of hospitality. The traditional rooms have views over the Perthshire countryside, plus there’s The Kailyard by Nick Nairn restaurant, which serves farm-to-fork dishes. The hotel also has an indoor pool, sauna, steam room and fitness room.

Pitlochry: Atholl Palace Hotel (nights 6-7)

Classic Scotland: Edinburgh to the Highlands

The Atholl Palace has classic Scottish countryside elegance with traditional rooms decorated with original features. The property also has award-winning gardens and, should you wish to treat yourself, a spa. There’s also plenty of food and drink options, including the Verandah Restaurant, which serves Scottish produce with views over the Tummel Valley, and the Stags Head Bar, where you can enjoy malt whiskies and their own Atholl Palace Gin.

Essential Information

This trip is rated Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings, visit our Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip, please contact us.

Walks: This tour includes guided visits and sightseeing on foot. The walking tour of Edinburgh includes the Old Town, where there are cobbled streets and steps. The 3mi (5km) walk to the top of Arthur’s Seat is an ascent of 915ft (280m), with some steep and rocky sections at the top. This walk is optional but gives fabulous views of the city and in all directions. You also walk along the shore of Loch Lomond up to 4mi (6.5km) in distance but at a leisurely pace.

Balmoral Estate: On Day 7, we normally visit the Highland home of the Royal Family. However, if the King is in residence, we visit the 17th-century Braemar Castle instead for a guided tour.

Key information

Start hotel: Radisson Blu Hotel, The Royal Mile, 80 High St, Edinburgh, EH1 1TH
Phone: +44 131 557 9797
Recommended arrival time: Our welcome briefing will be held at 6pm at the start hotel.

Getting to the start hotel

The start hotel is approximately seven minutes’ walk from Edinburgh Waverley train station. For flights arriving into Edinburgh airport (EDI), we can arrange a private arrival transfer, please speak to your sales representative for details.

Return journey

On the last day, the group is transferred from Pitlochry to Edinburgh airport to arrive by an expected 12pm for anyone requiring onward travel.

If you would like further information on joining this trip or your return journey, please speak to your sales representative.

United Kingdom

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for polio, tetanus and rabies (bat lyssavirus). Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Scotland

UK passport holders do not need visas for this trip. Other nationalities should check with the relevant embassies.

For further Brexit travel advice please visit https://www.abta.com/tips-and-advice/brexit-advice-for-travellers

United Kingdom

Travellers from the US, Canada, and the EU normally do not need a visa to enter the United Kingdom, but do need an Electronic Travel Authorisation (or ETA), which you can apply for at www.gov.uk/eta/apply.

Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

All breakfasts, one lunch, two dinners and one whisky tasting included.

Temperatures typically rise from around 12C (54F) in April to the low 20Cs (around 70F-75F) or above in September. Rain can fall at any time of year. Like most of the UK in recent years, there have been some hotter days in the middle of summer. Traditionally, Scotland can also have cold days, even in summer, so it is important to pack accordingly.

As a certified B Corp, we’re on a mission to improve our social and environmental impact across all our adventures.

We do this through our innovative Thriving Nature, Thriving People plan.

This ‘nature positive’ approach is designed to help nature and communities thrive in harmony through practical solutions, such as reducing carbon and waste on our trips, supporting conservation projects through the Exodus Adventure Travels Foundation, and rewilding 100 square metres for every Exodus traveller.

Reviews

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Gwendolyn Nachman

Added October 2025

Classic Scotland: Edinburgh to the Highlands

Loved the organization of our Scotland trip! Steven, our guide, was excellent! Some of my favorite trips were Bosnia and Beyond and Baltics in Winter (older version). Great communication with the US office in planning.

Most Inspirational Moment

* All of Edinburgh. * Rosslyn Chapel * Stirling Castle (even in the rain!) * Battle of Bannockburn --extra good multi-media! * All the meals -- cafe day 5, day 7 * Distillery tour *

Thoughts on Group Leader

The BEST we have had! Helped us in every situation! Steven had many experiences in life that helped us to feel a real part of Scotland during the trip!

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Classic Scotland: Edinburgh to the Highlands

Activity Level