Historic Scotland
- Discover Scotland's rich historical heritage on a self-drive tour
- Ancient St Andrews, home to the oldest university in Scotland
- Royal Deeside, where you will discover historic Braemar and Balmoral Castles
- The atmospheric valley of Glencoe, site of the famous Massacre of Glencoe
- Explore the Trossachs, birthplace of Scotland's most famous outlaw, Rob Roy
Gallery
Itinerary
Day 1 Discover ancient St Andrews and Falkland PalaceYour trip starts from Edinburgh, and if you have the time we highly recommend adding on additional nights in our vibrant capital city to make the very most out of your time in Scotland.
The first stop on leaving the historic capital city is Falkland Palace, a royal retreat adored by Mary, Queen of Scots, and which features formal gardens complete with a willow labyrinth. Continue to the ancient town of St Andrews, named after Scotland's patron saint and also home to Scotland's oldest university which was founded in the 15th century. Explore it's Norman cathedral and the castle, dating back to the 13th century, where the famous "bottle dungeon" will give you a taste of medieval Scotland.
Driving Time: Approx 1h 30 min
The Lairg provides charming Georgian townhouse accommodation and friendly service. The Guest House is surrounded by Haymarket’s welcoming bars and restaurant as well as Haymarket Rail Station. The spacious bedrooms each have private bathroom facilities.
This charming B&B is located in the heart of Edinburgh, just a short walk from Waverley Train Station. The various rooms have been thoughtfully decorated and equipped with modern facilities. With its welcoming hosts and delicious breakfast options, this is the perfect base from which to explore the city.
The St. Valery Guest House is a chic Victorian Town House situated in the heart of Edinburgh's West End. It is within walking distance of Princes Street, Edinburgh Castle and all the main shopping and sight-seeing areas, including the Royal Mile.
Head north to Highland Perthshire this morning. Explore the ancient town of Dunkeld, whose origins date back to the 6th century, and which was originally known as the "Fort of the Celts" due to its strategic location guarding one of the main passes between the highlands and the lowlands. Explore the beautiful 13th-century Cathedral on the banks of the River Tay, where you can still see the marks of musket-ball strikes from the Battle of Dunkeld in 1689.
Continue to Royal Deeside, and walk in the footsteps of Queen Victoria who fell in love with this area, and is home to picturesque villages Braemar and Ballater, as well as the famous Balmoral Castle, a holiday home of the Royal family.
Driving Time: Approx 3 hours
The Alexandra Hotel offers a friendly service, comfortable accommodation and excellent meals. All rooms are en-suite with free Wifi, tea and coffee making facilities, satellite television and other essentials that go to make up everything you would expect of a quality family run hotel.
Balmoral Arms is known for its traditional Scottish hospitality and lively music scene as much as it is for its homely lounge, open fires and welcoming bar with quality homemade food. The lovely rooms have complimentary tea and coffee making facilities.
Stay in an early Victorian Scottish Free Church building that is set in the heart of Royal Deeside, within the Cairngorms National Park.
Today's route will take you through the Speyside region, famed for its delicious malt whiskies, and Glenlivet, Glenfiddich & Aberlour are just some of the well-known distilleries you can visit here en-route to Inverness. Continue to the 14th century Cawdor Castle, with it's literary connections to Shakespeare's Macbeth and then stop to explore the Clava Cairns, a bronze age burial site dating back 4000 years. The atmospheric Culloden Battlefield, where the Jacobite rising came to an end in 1746 is a final recommended stop before reaching Inverness.
Driving Time: Approx 2h 30 min
Ballifeary Guest House is an impressive Victorian Villa with many original features. It is ideally located only a matter of yards from Eden Court Theatre and a short walk from the River Ness where you can find many restaurants, Inverness Castle and the cathedral. Rooms have been refurbished to a high standard offering every comfort you would expect.
This guesthouse features accommodations with a front garden, free car parking, motorcycle and bicycles parking garage, super speed Wifi guaranteed, and a true locally sourced Highland breakfast, along with a la carte Chef menu that includes vegetarian and vegan options too.
All rooms come with en-suite bathrooms.
Departing Inverness, enjoy a scenic route on the A82 road alongside the banks of Loch Ness this morning, stopping off to visit the grand ruins of Urquhart Castle, one of Scotland's largest castles. Pass Fort Augustus on the southern tip of Loch Ness and at the top of the Caledonian Canal, where you can enjoy lunch as you watch the canal boats navigate the locks and visit the Caledonian Canal Heritage Centre. We highly recommend a short side trip to the Glenfinnan Monument, built in 1815 in tribute to Jacobite clansmen, before finishing in the historic village of Glencoe, the site of the infamous Massacre of Glencoe.
Driving Time: Approx 2h 45 min
The Isles of Glencoe Hotel is nestled on the side of a peninsula reaching into Loch Leven. The rooms are modern, comfortable and spacious with views of the Loch and the Pap of Glencoe, or the mountains of Morven. The Lochside Restaurant offers great meals in a unique setting with dramatic views.
The Glencoe Inn is set in one of the most iconic places in Scotland, Glencoe. This welcoming Inn with its stunning location in the shadow of the Pap of Glencoe overlooking Loch Leven is warm, friendly and full of character. The welcoming staff are all about traditional Scottish hospitality complemented by the beautiful surrounding nature.
Located in the heart of Glencoe amongst the majestic mountains, the Clachaig Inn has been a source of accommodation to walkers for over 300 years. There are 23 modern bedrooms with en-suite facilities and great views of the surrounding landscape. The restaurant’s menu is a blend of modern ideas and fresh produce sourced from local suppliers.
Enjoy breathtaking scenery this morning, as you drive through Glencoe and the great wilderness of Rannoch Moor, passing the historic Kingshouse Hotel, once an old coaching inn but now a striking modern hotel. You soon enter the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park, an area known for its associations with the most famous outlaw of Scotland, Rob Roy Macgregor. Visit his grave in the town of Balquhidder before arriving in the charming Trossachs town of Callander.
Driving Time: Approx 1h 30 min
Lubnaig Guest House is located within the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park within walking distance of the centre of Callander. All bedrooms have modern, en-suite facilities, hospitality tray, luxury toiletries and hairdryers. Wrap yourself in Egyptian cotton linen along with feather and down duvets which will ensure a comfy night's sleep.
A traditional Scottish theme is featured in The Waverley's bar and restaurant with various claymores, swords and targes hanging on the walls and the floor covered with the old favourite tartan carpet. The restaurant offers an appetising menu based on locally sourced food and includes some of Scotland's favourite and classic meals. The guest rooms are appointed to a modern standard, with tea and coffee making facilities, television with Freeview channels, free wi-fi internet connection, en-suite bathroom & complimentary toiletries.
The Dalgair House Hotel in Callander is a comfortable family run hotel. They have eight guest rooms that are all en-suite and have all the amenities you require for a great overnight stay. They have Greg’s Bistro on site which serves great food, wine and cocktails and a lovely place to relax after a hard days walking.
The route back to Edinburgh leads you past the historic town of Stirling, Scotland's heritage capital. Stirling Castle is a must-see attraction with its palace vaults, Great Hall and Royal Chapel, as is the National Wallace Monument, a famous landmark and museum which tells the story of how William Wallace led his troops to victory at the first war of Scottish independence, the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297.
Your historic journey around Scotland finishes in Edinburgh, where we can arrange extra nights for you if required.
Driving Time: Approx 1h 30 min
Other Information
Is it for me?If you are an aspiring history buff, this tour is perfect for you as you can immerse yourself in the rich history of Scotland, focusing on its castles, battlegrounds, clans and ancient towns. Allow our local expertise to guide you on a hassle-free discovery of all the historical highlights and experience Scottish hospitality at it's finest.
Discovery | Think of it as a ‘local’s guide’ to the best of the region. It includes a combination of activity and transportation to give you the freedom to explore and cover more ground at your own pace. We do all the research and organisation for you. All you have to do is turn up and enjoy!
Self Drive | Take the wheel and explore an area at your own pace taking in places and highlights that our travel experts recommend.
Solo Travellers
As a guide, we would suggest that the minimum age of traveller this holiday would be suitable for is: 5 Years
You will stay overnight in hand-picked small hotels, B&B's and guesthouses, all of which have been chosen to ensure you experience warm Scottish hospitality at its best! We regularly use the below properties but may accommodate you elsewhere if these are unavailable.
Single Rooms
This holiday is available to solo travellers but as all our tours are priced per person based on two sharing there is a single supplement payable to cover the additional costs. If you require single rooms within your party we will, of course, try to accommodate your request subject to availability.
Meals
Breakfast is included each morning and normally consists of a continental buffet with tea and coffee, fresh fruits, yoghurt, cereals, eggs and bread with jams. Often also on the menu are cooked options like freshly made porridge, a traditional cooked Scottish breakfast and smoked fish with scrambled eggs.
We don't include lunch and dinner so you are free to choose from the available options. Your information pack includes details and recommendations of convenient lunch stops, cosy cafes and restaurants along the way. A couple of decades ago the food scene in Scotland was somewhat lacking, but now you'll find a range of high quality, varied options with everything from award-winning fish and chips to intimate Michelin-listed dining experiences, and casual restaurant menus showcasing delicious locally-sourced produce.
Additional Nights
You can add on additional nights wherever you please on the route. And of course we highly recommend additional nights in Edinburgh at the start/end of your trip!
Your information pack will include a day-by-day itinerary, with recommended driving routes between overnight stops, as well as recommended detours and must-see sights and attractions. You can use Google maps to navigate the route on your phone, or your car's sat-nav. If you are hiring a car we recommend adding on a sat-nav as internet signal in the Highlands isn't always reliable.
- Overnight in 3 and 4* B&B's, guesthouses and small hotels
- Breakfasts
- Detailed information pack brimming with our local knowledge
- Our daily recommendations for places to see and visit
- Our daily recommendations for top places to eat and drink
- 24/7 Emergency support from our UK office
- Car hire (available as an optional extra)
- Lunches, dinners, snacks and drinks
- Travel Insurance
- Personal equipment
- Accommodation in Edinburgh before and after tour
- Entrance Fees
- Car hire
- Additional nights
You can start this tour on any day of the week from March to October, subject to availability. The busiest times of the year are around Easter and May when accommodations fill up quickly, so book as early as possible if you are planning to travel then. If you travel before Easter, and after mid-October it is worth noting that some attractions may either be closed, have limited access (i.e. castle interiors may be closed but the gardens open), or may open later and close a little earlier in the day. We always recommend checking the links in our information pack for up-to-date opening times to avoid disappointment.
During the shoulder season - March to early April and after mid-October - the Scottish weather tends to be more unpredictable and is often colder and rainier. However, attractions and popular viewpoints will generally be quieter.
Your trip begins in the well-connected city of Edinburgh. If traveling in your own car from across the UK, or western Europe via the Channel Tunnel, you'll find the city is easily accessible and well-connected by the M8, M77, M74 and M6 motorways. If you are driving or traveling from further afield we recommend and extra night in Edinburgh at the start of your trip so you can make the most of your first day of sight-seeing.
By Road: Edinburgh is served by an excellent motorway network. It's a 1h 15m drive from Glasgow to Edinburgh on the M8 motorway. Newcastle is approximately a 2.5 hour drive from Edinburgh, and Manchester and Birmingham, 4 and 6 hours respectively. London is 7.5 hr (via the M1 and A1), and if arriving in Folkestone from France (via the Channel Tunnel) it's an 8-8.5 hour drive via the M20, M11, and A1 roads.
Alternatively, if arriving in Edinburgh by public transport and renting a car please see the excellent Traveline Scotland website for timetables and fares and more information regarding public transport in Scotland. Edinburgh is well-linked across the UK, Europe and beyond by flying into either Glasgow or Edinburgh international airports. Glasgow and Edinburgh are just over an hour apart by road and it doesn't take much longer to travel between the two by an express bus or train service.
By Air: Located 8 miles east of the city of Edinburgh, the international airport is served by routes from around the UK and the world. There are regular shuttle bus and tram services running from the airport into the city centre, with a journey time of around 30 minutes. There's also a taxi rank outside the airport to take people into the city centre.
By Rail: Edinburgh is also connected to central Scotland and England by good rail links. See the Scot Rail website for Scottish locations and National Rail for UK-wide locations.
By Bus: Services from UK destinations are operated by National Express. Services from Scottish destinations are operated by Scottish Citylink.
Car Rental
We don't include car rental in the cost of our discovery tours to keep things flexible as we realise many people may wish to use their own car. If you decide to arrange car rental through us, we have a partnership with Europcar and can arrange this easily for you. As standard we would book an Economy category car (suitable for up to 4 people) with included comprehensive insurance and sat-nav. Prices are on a request basis, so please just add this on as an option if you would like to book car hire, and we will confirm the cost.
On confirmation of your booking, you will receive a personalised itinerary and comprehensive information pack. This carefully curated pack, designed with our own local knowledge and expertise, will include recommended driving routes, the must-see places and attractions to stop at en route, and our suggestions for the best places to eat and drink.
Car Rental
We don't include car rental in the cost of our discovery tours to keep things flexible as we realise many people may wish to use their own car. If you decide to arrange car rental through us, we have a partnership with Europcar and can arrange this easily for you. As standard we book an Economy category car (suitable for up to 4 people) with included comprehensive insurance, prices are on a request basis. Please just let us know if you would like to upgrade your car.
It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity and emergency evacuation and hospital care.
Your information pack will include a day-by-day itinerary, with recommended driving routes between overnight stops, as well as recommended detours and must-see sights and attractions. You can use Google maps to navigate the route on your phone, or we recommend using your car's sat-nav. If you are hiring a car we recommend adding on a sat-nav as internet signal in the Highlands isn't always reliable.
WHY MACS?
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Around Since 2003
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Positive Impact
At Macs, we don’t do tour buses, groups, or guides. Instead, we give you the freedom and confidence to have your own self-guided walking or cycling adventure.
This is active travel led by you.
You choose your departure date and who you travel with, we do the rest.
We sort accommodation and luggage transfers and provide your route in an easy-to-use app.
We give you everything you need to travel independently but we're here 24/7 if you need us.
Getting from A to B under your own steam is intensely rewarding. With Macs, you'll see the world, and yourself, differently.
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