KEY INFO

  • 9 Day Private Tour
  • Any departure date you want
  • Edinburgh or Glasgow hotel or airport pick up & drop off
  • Tour Castle Leoch with Terry Jones from Monty Python (kind of)
  • Stay in Bonnie Prince Charlie's Culloden HQ
  • Visit and even touch prehistoric standing stones, just like Claire from Outlander
  • Customisable tour & duration – simply call to discuss
  • Visit numerous places of historical & cultural interest & natural beauty
  • Luxury and Heritage properties - from Castles & Stately homes to 5-star hotels
  • Explore Edinburgh & Glasgow
  • Tour flexibility on the ground - Just discuss things with your Driver/Guide

Scotland’s Two Cities & Outlander Tour: Edinburgh, Glasgow and Highlands of Scotland

9 Days from £3245

per person based on 2 Adults sharing

OVERVIEW

On our Two Cities & Outlander tour, you’ll spend some time in Edinburgh taking in the sites, and finish your tour in cosmopolitan Glasgow.  You will be met by your Driver/Guide at your luxury accommodation in the Edinburgh — Scotland’s capital — where your tour around Scotland begins in earnest. Your friendly experienced Driver/Guide is not just there to take you from place to place but to unlock the history and myths of our wee country — to immerse you in the stories of the past and no doubt give you some tales of your own to take home. You may also be interested in our Essential Scotland Tour.

On your travels through Scotland, we will take you to places of cultural interest as well as places used for the sets and backdrops of the Outlander books and TV series.  We will even arrange a 2-night stay in place of huge historical importance: the HQ of Jacobite leader Bonnie Prince Charlie. Book this tour or have a look at the other options on our range of luxury Scottish tours.

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HIGHLIGHTS

Tour the fictional Castle Leoch – home to Colum Mackenzie, there is an option to take an audio tour narrated by Monty Python’s Terry Jones as this castle also features in the hilarious film The Holy Grail

Stay overnight in a now Luxury hotel, which was where the Jacobite leader Bonnie Prince Charlie set up his HQ before the last battle ever to take place on British Soil - Culloden

Explore and tour the site of the last land battle in the UK – Culloden

Tour Black Jacks HQ – tour the old 15th Century Castle that doubles as Fort William, the HQ of Black Jack Randall

Tour a distillery and have a wee dram

Tour Linlithgow Palace – Birth Place of Mary Queen of Scots, the entrance and corridors here are used as a set for Wentworth Prison

Visit the real last resting place of the ‘Old Fox’ Chief of Clan Fraser, the last man to be executed by beheading in the UK

See Cairngorms National Park

Visit & tour Edinburgh Castle

Luxury Hotels & Luxury Heritage accommodation throughout the tour

Visit and even touch Prehistoric standing stones, just like Claire from Outlander

Discover the beautiful Trossachs National Park

Tour the Highland Folk Museum – where actors in period costume (specific dates only) bring the past to life in Scotland's only outdoor museum. (open seasonally)

Visit & tour the set for the Gardens of the Palace of Versailles, the Gardens of a Stately home that have been voted one of Europe’s finest examples of a formal garden

Optional visit Rob Roy MacGregors grave or go for an easy walk in the Trossachs

See the Bonnie Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond

Visit majestic and atmospheric Glencoe and find out about the clan war between the Campbells and McDonalds

Enjoy some free time in Edinburgh & Glasgow to explore both cities

Visit the site where Bonnie Prince Charlie raised his Standard, see the monument to the lone highlander who marks the spot where the Jacobite Standard was raised

Visit the town that substitutes for 1940’s and 1960’s Inverness – it will all seem so familiar

Visit Craigh na Dun or alternatively visit the beautiful village of Dunkeld and take a short but very scenic walk there

Visit Inverness – go on the Ness island river walk or see Loch Ness (Nessie sightings never guaranteed)

Any departure date (excluding Christmas Day & New Years Day)

Visit Beauly Priory, a historic priory literally translated “beautiful place”

Visit Clava Cairns, a prehistoric site of historical importance of over 4000 years old

Day 1 ITINERARY

You will be met at either Glasgow or Edinburgh airport (or other suitable place of your choosing if required) by your Inspiring Travel representative and transferred in a Private Vehicle to your 5-star hotel in Scotland’s capital Edinburgh, where you will stay for 2 nights.  If you arrive before check in time just leave your bags with the concierge and hit the streets, it’s up to you, the rest of the day will be at your leisure.

Take a stroll down Princess Street and into the Princess Street Gardens or have a look around the New Town and grab something to eat or drink near St Andrews square. There is also the option of jumping onboard one of the hop on hop off bus tours that can help you orientate yourself and learn about the city.  Perhaps in the evening you may want to take the option of a walking tour of the old town to find out more about the colourful and sometimes unsavoury parts of Edinburgh’s past?

Day 1 HIGHLIGHTS

  • Meet & Greet – Welcome to Scotland, private chauffeur transfer from airport to hotel
  • Luxury accommodation in Edinburgh

Day 2 ITINERARY

Today you will no doubt want to wander the cavernous feeling Medieval Old Town, to get a real sense of the Edinburgh’s history, where you can almost feel the past. Why not walk down the Royal Mile and see Holyrood House, not only is it a backdrop for Outlander it is also an official Royal Residence.  Or Simply relax in the shadow of the castle in Princes Street Gardens and take it all in.  Later continue on to visit & tour Edinburgh Castle and learn about its 1100-year history and the part it played in the Wars of Independence in the 14th Century and perhaps more fittingly for this tour – the Jacobite Rebellions and in particular the rising of 1745.

(Breakfast Included)

(if you prefer we can arrange for a guide for the day and a pre-arranged tour program, just let us know – we would love to talk to you to arrange your ideal trip to Scotland, simply call or click the Tailormade – Customised Tours button)

Day 2 HIGHLIGHTS

  • Full day to explore Edinburgh independently
  • Remember to leave time to visit Edinburgh Castle, entrance fee included.

Day 3 ITINERARY

After a morning pick up from your hotel by your Inspiring Travel Driver/Guide – you will leave beautiful Edinburgh behind and begin your Outlander themed tour of Scotland in earnest, today you will visit 3 of the locales used in the famous series.  The fictional Castle Leoch, home of the Mackenzie Clan, the Castle HQ of Black Jack that doubles as Fort William and a visit to Linlithgow Palace which as well as being a set has its own huge historical significance as the birth place of Mary Queen of Scots.  You can enter each of these sites and tour them at your leisure, your Driver/Guide will discuss options with you before hand so you know how long to spend at each and what would be of more interest to you & your party.

Why not take the optional audio tour of the fictional Castle Leoch, narrated by Terry Jones of Monty Python fame, however your guide will always be on hand too to tell you all about the places you are visiting.  After a busy day of sightseeing you will be dropped off at your traditional Scottish lodgings. Tonight you will enjoy a stay in Perthshire in a 5-star Spa Hotel or Castle.

(Breakfast Included)

Day 3 HIGHLIGHTS

  • Meet your dedicated Driver/Guide for the tour
  • Visit the real castle that doubles as the fictional Castle Leoch and features in some other films and programmes
  • Visit Black Jack’s HQ
  • Optional audio tour (at own expense) of castle narrated by Terry Jones
  • Visit Linlithgow Palace
  • Overnight in a Castle

Day 4 ITINERARY

After breakfast you continue your journey through the beautiful countryside of the Kingdom of Perth, scene of lots of sets and backdrops for Outlander.  Today you will visit a Castle Gardens that doubles as The Gardens of the Palace of Versailles, these particular gardens have been voted one of Europe’s best examples of a formal garden, keep an eye out for Peacocks wandering the lawns, as well as that you will visit the church where Claire stood trial for being a Witch and visit the town that is the set for Inverness in the 40’s and 60’s, we are sure this location will seem very familiar.

You will travel through the spectacularly picturesque Cairngorms today on your way up north, but before that you have the option of either a short walk in beautiful Dunkeld or visiting the fictional Craigh na Dun where Claire from Outlander was transported back in time, simply discuss the options with your Driver/Guide.  After your drive through Cairngorms National Park you will be dropped at Culloden House Hotel, HQ of Bonnie Prince Charlie before the battle of Culloden, where you will stay for 2 nights.

(Breakfast Included)

Day 4 HIGHLIGHTS

  • Visit the town that doubles as Inverness in the Outlander series
  • Visit the backdrop set used for Gardens of Palace of Versailles
  • See the place used as Craigh na Dun or take a scenic walk in picturesque Dunkeld
  • See the church were Claire stood trial as a witch
  • Spend 2 nights at Bonnie Prince Charles Culloden HQ now a 5 star hotel and heritage property

Day 5 ITINERARY

After an early breakfast you will leave the Jacobite HQ where you spent the night, to take in the history that is pivotal to Outlander, the battle of Culloden.  Here you will be able to get a feel for the atmosphere and explore the battle site with your Driver/Guide as well as visit the visitors centre to find out more about the last battle to be fought on British soil.  Today you will also visit a prehistoric site, called the Clava Cairns where there are some examples of prehistoric standing stones and you too like Claire will feel the connection with them to the past.  You will also visit Beauly Priory and Wardlaw Mausoleum, resting place of the ‘old fox’ Clan Chief of the Fraser Clan, Jacobite leader and last man to be beheaded in Britain.

After todays program where better to relax and unwind than the luxury Culloden House Hotel.  You will no doubt feel a connection with Scotland and its past in this historic building that served as the Jacobite HQ.  Sit back and discuss today’s touring in your luxury surroundings while completely immersed in the history and the legend.

(Breakfast Included)

Day 5 HIGHLIGHTS

  • Visit  the atmospheric battlefield that is pivotal to the Outlander series – Culloden
  • Visit pre -historic standing stones – you can even touch them like Claire and feel the connection to the past
  • Enjoy the Culloden visitors centre- witness what it was like to be there in the 360 degrees immersive film, view the battlefield from the rooftop & see the battle table.
  • See the resting place of the real ‘old fox’
  • Visit Beauly prior literally ‘the beautiful place’

Day 6 ITINERARY

In the morning after breakfast you will be taken to visit the Highland Folk Museum, where history will come to life.  On a few selected dates in the year actors in period costume show you what life would have been like hundreds of years ago. After which you will visit the real town of Inverness, a town that features heavily in the books and TV series, here you will have the chance to wander along the Ness Islands walk before being taken to a viewpoint of Loch Ness (Nessie sighting is never guaranteed).  We will cross over to the west of Scotland, giving you a chance to marvel at the wonderful scenery on the way to Glenfinnan, made famous by the Harry Potter Railway line scene, here you will recognise the viaduct used on the films.

Glenfinnan is also the site of the raising of the Stewart standard by Charles Edward Stewart otherwise known as Bonnie Prince Charlie, the catalyst to the ill-fated Jacobite rebellion leading to the final battle fought on British soil, Culloden. You will see the spot where that is marked by the statue of the lone Highlander.  Tonight you will stay in Glencoe area in another wonderful Heritage property which was once the home of a laird and is now a luxury 5-star hotel.

Day 6 HIGHLIGHTS

  • See some of Scotland’s most awe inspiring scenery as you follow the Great Glen through to Glen Coe and Glenfinnan
  • Visit the real Inverness
  • Stroll the Ness Island River walk
  • Visit the immersive Highland folk museum, Scotland’s only outdoor museum and get a feeling for what day to day life was like in the Highlands of Scotland
  • See the Harry Potter bridge & railway
  • Visit the place where the Jacobite Standard was raised to start the ’45 rebellion

Day 7 ITINERARY

After breakfast you be driven through Glencoe taking in all its rugged beauty while you find out more about this area and its Clan feuds, as well as the intriguing politics and history that created clan rivalry.  After leaving Glencoe we will enter Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park where you will be able to view the Bonnie Bonnie Banks o’ Loch Lomond.  While in the National Park you have the option to either visit the grave of infamous outlaw Rob Roy MacGregor or take a short walk in the park before finishing your tour, there is also the option to have  a wee dram on a tour of a whiskey distillery.  Afterwards you will be dropped off in the late afternoon by your Driver/Guide at your hotel in Glasgow to end the Driver/Guided part of the tour.

(Breakfast Included)

Day 7 HIGHLIGHTS

  • Find out more about the feudal clan system and the old Highland way of life that Outlander is based on
  • See majestic Glencoe backdrop for many a scene
  • Visit Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park
  • Visit grave of famous outlaw Rob Roy Macgregor, Scotland’s Robin Hood
  • or go on a short walk in the National Park
  • Visit a distillery and have a wee dram

Day 8 ITINERARY

Today you are free to explore Scotland’s largest city, with its abundance of Museums and Parks.  There are many own expense options, perhaps jump on the hop on hop off bus to visit some sites and get your bearings, or visit the Art School designed by famous Glaswegian architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh.  If you want to stick with the Outlander theme why not pay a visit to Glasgow Cathedral, one of the few medieval Scottish churches to have survived the reformation which also doubles as L’Hopital des Anges where Claire volunteers or visit Pollock Country Park once voted best park in UK and Europe, it doubles as the grounds around fictional Castle Leoch and is also the backdrop of the French countryside that the characters travel through.

You will no doubt visit George Square redubbed Freedom square by some during the run up to the Independence Referendum in 2014, from here you can see the statue of Duke of Wellington with his customary cone placed on his head, which has come to symbolise the fun and friendly nature of the inhabitants of Glasgow.  If you have time why not get some last minute gifts for loved ones on Glasgow’s style mile of Buchanan Street.

(Breakfast Included)

(if you prefer we can arrange for a guide for the day in the cities and a pre-arranged tour program, just let us know – we would love to talk to you to arrange your ideal trip to Scotland, simply call or click the Tailormade – Customised Tours button)

Day 8 HIGHLIGHTS

  • Finish the tour in cosmopolitan Glasgow
  • Explore Glasgow at your own leisure
  • Lots of options for site seeing, shopping eating & drinking
  • Accomodation in a luxury hotel

Day 9 ITINERARY

You will be collected from your hotel in Glasgow by an Inspiring Travel representative and transferred to either Glasgow or Edinburgh Airport by Private Transfer.

(Breakfast Included)

Day 9 HIGHLIGHTS

 

  • Private Chauffeur transfer to the airport for your onward flight.

WHAT TO EXPECT

Your friendly Driver/Guide will be on hand to answer any questions you may have about the places you visit and the things you see, unlocking all the secrets and revealing the history and myth behind them giving you a level of immersion and a feeling of connection with Scotland that would otherwise be impossible.  It is the presence of your Driver/Guide that will create real value for your holiday & due to it being a Private Tour that creates flexibility to the schedule on the ground.

During the booking process we would hope to get to know you a little and this will help us pick the right Guide for the job.  You will be met at your hotel by your hand picked friendly Driver/Guide.  Here at Inspiring Travel we only use the best guides, holders of Scottish Tourism badge awards, guides that are educated and vetted and adhere to a code of conduct, giving you the peace of mind that you are in the right hands and they will be able to answer any questions you have on the subjects throughout the tour.  At Inspiring Travel we have little doubt you will arrive a guest but go home as friends.

As this is a Private Tour, the time is yours, the flexibility of the schedule is part of the beauty.  Although we will have prepared a comprehensive tour that we hope you will enjoy, if one part isn’t floating your boat, feel free to tell your guide and move on to the next part, no dancing to anyone else’s tune.  Had enough sightseeing for today and want to chill out at the hotel, your guide will take you straight there, want to explore a little by yourself, go ahead, they will leave you to it, we designed these tours to put you in charge.

WHAT'S INCLUDED

  • Entrance to all sites noted on trip Highlights
  • Private Tour for your party only in A/C Vehicle with dedicated tour Driver/Guide
  • Scottish Tourism Badge Accredited Guide – Your Guide/Driver comes with a coveted badge award which means they have graduated from a multi-year assessment course and trained to a rigorous standard in terms of knowledge & guiding skills, we also aim to use guides with at least 6 years experience, which essentially means they have the ability to make Scotland come alive for you are going to add significant value to your holiday here
  • Visits & entrance fees to parks, museums, castles as indicated on confirmed tour itinerary
  • Any own expense options are mentioned in the tour description & will be clearly highlighted on your confirmed tour itinerary.
  • Return private airport chauffeur transfers
  • Accommodation Luxury Hotels & Luxury Heritage accommodation – for the duration of the tour, price based on accommodation stayed in and/or assessed by the Managing Director of Inspiring Travel
  • More nights can be added if needed we can deliver a bespoke itinerary for any dates – simply call or click the Tailormade – Customised Tours button
  • Meals as indicated
  • Explore Glasgow & Edinburgh independently at your own pace (guide can be arranged if required)
  • Pick up and drop off at hotel in Edinburgh and Glasgow for the beginning and end of Driver/Guided tour

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