Journey Through Time on Steam Trains and Lochs
Moderate pace with leisurely intermittent walks up to 2 hours on a variety of terrain, including cobblestones and moderate hills. Must be able to climb at least two flights of stairs, negotiate steps without railings and tolerate periods of standing during guided tours. Some days may include 3–5 km of walking over the course of the day.
We fly direct from Toronto to Edinburgh.
We arrive in Edinburgh and upon arrival drive to Glasgow. We’ll enjoy a guided walking tour of Glasgow, and later our Welcome Dinner.
We journey east for a cruise along Scotland’s beautiful coast, then head to seaside St. Andrews for a guided walking tour before we end in our hotel right in the centre of the beautiful Victorian town of Pitlochry, Perthshire for the night.
Today we visit the spectacular 700-year-old Blair Castle to learn about its turbulent history as the home of the Atholl Highlanders. We will stop at a distillery to learn how whisky is made and sample a wee dram of the area’s famous single malt. We will continue onto Inverness which will be our home base for the next 6 nights.
Enjoy a dolphin and wildlife watching cruise on the Moray Firth the triangular inlet of the North Sea, north and east of Inverness. In the afternoon we will enjoy a guided walking tour of Inverness.
We drive along the Great Glen to the beloved village of Drumnadrochit, enjoy a cruise on the legendary Loch Ness ending with a visit to the Urquhart Castle with some free time to explore. In the afternoon we travel by coach to the base of Cairngorm Mountain and board the UK’s highest funicular, where we enjoy a cream tea with panoramic views.
We visit Culloden Battlefield for self exploration returning to Inverness for a free afternoon.
Today we take a ride on the Strathspey Steam Train alongside the majestic River Spey. A light lunch will be served as you enjoy the breath-taking views of the Highlands.
Today we visit the Gardens of Balmoral Castle, a favorite home of the late Queen Elizabeth II. In the afternoon we travel to Milton of Crathes to enjoy a train journey on the Royal Deeside Railway including a cream tea.
We travel to Isle of Skye, famous for dramatic cliffs, waterfalls, faeries and feuding clans: our tour takes us to the Old Man of Storr, and the quaint town of Portree. Enjoy a true fish and chip lunch with some free time to explore Portree on your own. On our return we cross the bridge to the mainland, we have a photo stop at the Eilean Donan Castle, built on a tiny island and surrounded by majestic scenery. We continue onto our hotel in the western Highlands for the next 4 nights.
Today we explore Oban with a guided walking tour, the gateway to the Isles, with free time to explore in Oban and enjoy our packed lunch. On our way back we will stop and visit the Glencoe Visitor Centre.
Today we enjoy some free time in Fort William before taking a relaxing boat ride through magnificent Highland scenery and see the Jacobite train as it crosses the Glenfinnan Viaduct.
If this historic train looks familiar, it’s because it appeared in the Harry Potter movies as the Hogwarts Express! We will take a scenic return journey across the spectacular viaduct at Glenfinnan and along the coast to Mallaig, where we will enjoy an afternoon wildlife cruise as we enjoy a boxed afternoon tea.
We visit Inveraray Castle and Gardens, then board a leisurely cruise towards Inchmurrin Island and ancient Lennox Castle, where Robert the Bruce hid before becoming King of Scotland. We journey to Edinburgh for our last 2-nighs.
Edinburgh, famous for The Royal Mile and more. We’ll explore this ancient city on a guided tour in the morning, then you can explore on your own in the afternoon. You may want to visit Holyrood Palace or walk up to Arthur’s Seat for a spectacular view of the city. This evening is our Farewell Dinner.
We fly home to Toronto.
You may cancel your tour up to 60 days prior to departure (90 days prior for tours requiring a visa, cruises or rail journeys) for any reason, and receive a full refund of your deposit / payment (less the $75 administration fee).
Cancellation & trip interruption insurance included!
Included in the cost of your tour is our Cancellation Insurance Policy, which provides coverage in case of emergency injury or illness (including Covid), right up to your date of departure (terms and conditions apply).
Our Manulife Out-of-Country Health Insurance Plan covers expenses related to Trip Interruption in case of emergency injury or illness. For tours within Canada, Senior Discovery Tours will cover such expenses (terms and conditions apply to all policies).
