Sample of a 6 day tour of Scotland

8 Day Chauffeur Driven
Tour of Scotland
Sample 8 Day Tour of Scotland
Day 1
Upon arrival at Glasgow Airport, you will be welcomed by one of our uniformed chauffeur guides to begin your
tour of Scotland. Glasgow, the largest city in Scotland is rich in Victorian architecture, much of which dates
from the time when the city was a wealthy industrial centre and ‘second city of the British Empire’. After
exploring the main attractions and perhaps one of Glasgow’s many museums, you could check in at One
Devonshire Gardens to relax for the remainder of the day and in the evening dining in one of the cities fine
restaurants where you can experience some of the city’s famed hospitality. Glasgow boasts the finest shopping
in the United Kingdom outside London, and the most vibrant and exciting nightlife in Scotland.
Set in a tree-lined Victorian terrace in the fashionable West End of Glasgow, Hotel du Vin Glasgow at One
Devonshire Gardens is a luxury boutique hotel with that little bit more. This luxurious hotel has an enviable
reputation for service and style, with stunning bedrooms and suites, a bistro, bar, cigar shack and whisky room.
Described by one journalist as “hotels with substance and wit”, Hotel du Vin is a wonderful combination of
wines, great cocktails and cigars, serious showers, divine Egyptian linens and classic bistros with a twist.
Overnight: Hotel Du Vin at One Devonshire Gardens, Glasgow
Day 2
Today's trip will take you northwest out of the city into the Highlands. For those who enjoy ‘’a wee dram’’ the
Glengoyne & Auchentoshan distilleries are located a short distance from Glasgow. They offer the opportunity
to discover the processes involved in making Scotland’s most famous export, and of course, sampling the end
result. As you leave the city, very quickly you will pass the shores of Loch Lomond before heading up across
Rannoch Moor. En route there will be opportunities to stop at your leisure to take photgraphs of the most
breath-taking scenery our beautiful country has to offer. After crossing the moor you then descend into the
magnificent and awe-inspiring Glencoe, site of the famous massacre in 1692. From here you head towards
the shore of Loch Linnie and onto Fort William and Inverlochy Castle, both of which lie in the shadow of
Britain's highest mountain, Ben Nevis.
Inverlochy Castle exudes luxury and glamour; it is also a
food lover’s haven. Dinner at Inverlochy is an experience
to savour in any of their three dining rooms, each
decorated with period and elaborate furniture presented
as gifts to Inverlochy Castle from the King of Norway. The
menu features modern British cuisine, which is
internationally recognized by all major guides, having been
awarded AA 3 Red Rosettes and 1 Michelin Star. It
combines excellent food with the very best personal
service; they offer guests and visitors a unique experience,
highly attentive yet unobtrusive. On selected dates guests
can enjoy a cookery demonstration given by Chef Albert
Roux, followed in the evening by a formal 5 course dinner
with wines.
Overnight: Inverlochy Castle Hotel, Fort William
Day 3
Today touring would take in the greater area around Fort William. Heading back down the shore of Loch
Linnie, you could take the short ferry at Corran across to the Moidart and Ardnamurchan Peninsulas, the latter
being the most westerly point on the British Isles. From here you would then head north towards the fishing
port of Mallaig, to catch another ferry and cross ‘over the sea to Skye’, the largest and most dramatic island on
the west coast of Scotland.
For lovers of the outdoors there is deer Stalking and Shooting available on the stunning Clan Donald Estate. Or
for very experienced climbers, guides are on hand, to take you into the Cuillins – Skye’s breath-taking
mountain range. The Isle of Skye’s Coral beaches are perfect for a romantic stroll. A tasting and tour at the
Talisker whisky distillery is just as enjoyable.
Your hosts for the evening will be Lord & Lady
MacDonald at the charming, cosy and
luxurious Kinloch Lodge. A hotel and
restaurant like no other, it holds a truly
unique
magical
setting.
Recognised
internationally, Kinloch was cited as one of
the world’s top 25 small hotels in Conde
Naste Traveller Magazine. Head Michelin
Starred Chef Marcello Tully not only serves
exquisite food but also invites guests to
private cookery demonstrations throughout
the year. Lady Claire MacDonald, Kinloch
Lodge’s proprietor, is an Award-winning cook
and food writer. Claire’s recipes are easy-tofollow, straightforward, and realistic –
quintessentially Scottish in taste, but
international in appeal and if lucky enough
you can secure a place at one of her exclusive
cookery courses.
Overnight: Kinloch Lodge Hotel, Isle of Skye
Day 4
Full day exploring the Isle of Skye, with its magnificent lava landscapes, Gaelic & Norse culture and magnificent
sea cliffs. The north of the island is home to Dunvegan Castle and the world renowned Three Chimneys
restaurant, serving the finest local produce available.
Overnight: Kinloch Lodge Hotel, Isle of Skye
Day 5
Today, leaving Skye you begin to head east, passing through yet more dramatic mountain scenery. Hugging the
shore of Loch Carron and then passing through Glen Carron, the scenery gradually begins to change becoming
less barren than that of Skye and the west coast. Culloden Battlefield, a short distance from Inverness, is
steeped in the history of the Jacobite Uprising and battle of April 1746 between the English and Scottish
armies, and is well worth visiting.
Overnight: The Boath House Hotel, Nairn
Once described as the most beautiful Regency House in Scotland, The
Boath House was recently voted the Good Hotel Guide Scottish Hotel
of the Year 2013. Proprietors Don & Wendy Matheson offer warm
hospitality and boast a Michelin Starred Restaurant & 4 AA rosettes.
The property is set in 20 acres including well tended lawns, walled
gardens, woodland and streams. An ornamental lake in the grounds is
stocked with brown and rainbow trout and is also home to swans, wild
geese and ducks. A series of well-kept paths connect with the house to
enable guests to explore the gardens and rest and relax at secluded
seating areas or on sunny terraces. The Matheson’s love of art has
resulted in the house being designated an art gallery in 1997 and it is
now home to works of art of up to 30 talented artists from Scotland’s
Highlands and Islands.
Day 6
On leaving the Inverness area you could pay a brief visit to the Clava Cairns - pre historic burial cairns which
have survived for over 1000 years. Cawdor Castle, home of the Thane of Cawdor (from Shakespeare’s
Macbeth), is close by and well worth a visit. From here you could head across the Dava Moor towards
Grantown on Spey and Speyside, Scotland’s famous whisky producing area and partake in some whisky tours &
sampling. The mountain village of Tomintoul is the highest village in the United Kingdom and after passing
through it you head into Royal Deeside, the area of Scotland where the Royal family’s holiday home of
Balmoral Castle is situated. Ballater, the local town, is interesting in that many of the shops are "by Royal
Appointment" and bare crests of the various members of the Royal Family on the walls outside. Continuing
west from here you will arrive on the outskirts of Aberdeen, the oil capital of Europe and Scotland’s third
largest city, famed for is sparkling granite architecture.
A warm Scottish welcome will be awaiting
you at the Marcliffe Hotel Spa and
Restaurant - a prestigious and intimate fivestar luxury hotel set in 11 acres of beautiful
wooded grounds. The wine cellar boasts
more than 400 choice wines and the
distinctive, comfortable Drawing Room Bar is
stocked with over 150 exquisite malt
whiskies and a scintillating selection of
Cognac, Armagnacs and rare European
brandies. The focal point of the splendid
drawing room is the baby grand piano which
is festooned with a pictorial record of some
of the many VIPs and celebrities who have
visited and stayed in the hotel since it
opened in 1993. With a real log fire burning
invitingly, guests and visitors will find the
Drawing Room an ultra-relaxing retreat. An
intrinsic part of the Marcliffe experience, is
the Spa where you will be cosseted and
pampered with an intriguing selection of
massages, aroma therapy, and facial and
body treatments.
Overnight: The Marcliffe Hotel & Spa, Aberdeen
Day 7
In the morning, you could spend some time exploring Old Aberdeen and the university before heading
towards Crathes Castle & Gardens at Banchory. The castle, built in the second half of the 16th century, is a
superb example of a tower house of the period. Some of the rooms retain their original painted ceilings and
collections of family portraits and furniture. A visit to this property is enhanced by the walled garden, which
incorporates herbaceous borders and many unusual plants. From here you could then head south towards
Glamis Castle, Scone Palace and Perth before continuing to Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland. Described
as ‘the Athens of the North’, Edinburgh is full of places to explore, including Edinburgh Castle, the Palace of
Holyrood and wonderful Botanic Gardens.
Built in 1687 as the grand baroque home of Edinburgh's
Lord Provost, Prestonfield is now one of Edinburgh's most
luxurious 5-star hotels with 23 stylishly opulent rooms
and suites. In addition to the dramatic bedrooms and
sumptuous suites, there is a collection of stunning private
dining rooms, opulent salons and historic public rooms.
Described by Time Out as "Edinburgh's star restaurateur"
James Thompson’s destination restaurant ‘’Rhubarb’’
offers excellent dining. Situated a short drive from
Edinburgh's finest shopping streets and the historic
attractions of the Royal Mile, yet, surrounded by twenty
acres of gardens and parkland, it provides the privacy and
seclusion of a country estate.
Built in 1905 and located at Edinburgh's historic North
Bridge, the five star Scotsman Hotel resides in the former
baronial offices of The Scotsman Newspaper. In 2001 this
magnificent listed building was transformed into one of
the most stylish luxury boutique hotels in the heart of
Edinburgh's city centre. It is the only hotel in Edinburgh
that can boast views towards Edinburgh Castle, The Firth
of Forth, Leith, Princes Street and Carlton Hill.
By the celebrated shops of Princes Street and the elegant
Georgian architecture of the New Town, The Sheraton
Grand offers commanding views of the magnificent Castle
and the medieval streets of the Old Town are just
moments away.
Overnight: Rocpool Reserve Apartments, Sheraton Grand
or The Scotsman Hotel, Edinburgh
Day 8 (optional use of car and chauffeur / guide)
Today, we would suggest enjoying Edinburgh at your leisure. The cobbled streets of the Royal Mile descend
though centuries of history from the Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. From world-class museums and
galleries to international Festivals, excellent shopping and Michelin Starred restaurants, you'll be spoilt for
choice in this lively and cosmopolitan city, with a distinctly Scottish twist.
Overnight : Sheraton Grand or The Scotsman Hotel, Edinburgh
Day 9
Transfer to the airport & a fond farewell prior to your flight home or to your next destination.
*Please note that all itineraries are simply a starting point to create something totally unique for your
individual clients. We recognise that every client has their own personal ‘wish list’ and therefore we will
always tailor the route, activities and hotels whether they are golf or whisky enthusiasts, lovers of outdoor
pursuits or simply want to enjoy Scotland at their leisure.
To find out more contact us on +44 (0) 141 883 2111 or email [email protected]