Jacada Sample - Classic Scotland

April 2025

Number of Travellers: 2
Duration: 10 Days / 9 Nights

Overview

From the towering heights of Glencoe to the jagged rock spires of the Isle of Skye, Scotland’s breathtaking scenery offers an unforgettable journey of discovery. Embark on an adventure that highlights the crown jewels of this untamed and ancient land, revealing the best of its remote beauty. With an expert guide leading the way, journey from Edinburgh’s twinkling city lights to the deep blue peaks of the Cairngorms National Park. Along the way, traverse a landscape rich in variety and charm, and dive into the history, culture, and traditions that make this region so mesmerising.

Highlights

  • Explore beautiful, diverse landscape with an expert and knowledgeable guide.
  • Learn about the folklore of Skye as you hike along stunning, sea-stung cliffs.
  • Join a local ghillie on a foraging workshop, gathering wild island food.

Day by Day

Day 1 - Welcome to Scotland

Today, you’ll be met at Edinburgh Airport with a private transfer, who will whisk you away to your beautiful, centrally located hotel. After checking in, take a moment to unwind as the lively streets of the city hum just outside your window. Depending on when you arrive, you might choose to set off and explore the city’s narrow alleys and cobblestone streets. Steeped in history, Edinburgh is easily explored on foot. Stroll up the Royal Mile and stop by St Giles’ Cathedral, an active place of worship for over 900 years. You could also explore the Scottish National Portrait Gallery or take a step back in time with a visit to the National Museum on Chambers Street. This evening, savour a delightful dinner before settling in for a restful night.
Pricing based on The Bonham – Superior King Room
Alternative hotels: Kimpton Charlotte Square Edinburgh, Gleneagles Townhouse, The Balmoral

Overnight: Edinburgh | The Bonham
Room Type: Superior King Room
Meals Included: None

Day 2 - Exploring Historic Edinburgh

After enjoying breakfast, you will be met by a knowledgeable local guide in the hotel lobby and set off to discover the city’s charming, history-filled streets. You’ll see not only the famous landmarks but also hidden gems that most visitors miss. By midday, your guide will bid you farewell, leaving you free to wander at your leisure. Perhaps stop by a quaint bakery for a coffee and pastry, or pop into local galleries, cheese shops, and bookstores. Later in the afternoon, make your way up to the Royal Mile and visit the iconic Edinburgh Castle, where breathtaking views of the city await.


Optional Evening Activity

This evening you can have a private tour of Edinburgh’s dark underbelly, discovering hidden streets, eerie dwellings and listening to spooky tales of both fact and fiction.

Overnight: Edinburgh | The Bonham
Room Type: Superior King Room
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 3 - Cultural or Culinary Delights

This morning you will be met by your country guide, who will start you on your journey north, taking in the scenery as the landscape transitions from gentle green hills to the dramatic mountains and moorlands of Cairngorms National Park.


Pricing based on Option 1

Option 1

Along the way, make a stop for an exclusive tour of a stunning 16th-century castle, where you’ll delve into its fascinating role in the Highlands’ tumultuous past. The castle, with its distinctive turrets and battlements, has stood for over 700 years and carries the weight of a rich and varied past. Throughout the tour, you’ll encounter artifacts spanning centuries—from 15th-century weapons and armour to rare artworks and period furniture. The castle’s collection of relics tells tales of clan feuds, royal visits, and the Jacobite uprisings, all woven into the fabric of Scottish history. Your private guide will share fascinating stories that bring these objects to life and create an immersive experience of Highland life and heritage.

Option 2

A visit with a Master Chocolatier is a truly indulgent experience. Nestled in a scenic Highland village, surrounded by rolling hills and lush Scottish countryside, this award-winning chocolatier offers a feast for the senses. Begin your visit with a private bespoke tasting session, where you’ll be guided through a selection of their signature chocolates. Each piece is crafted with artistry, blending bold, natural flavours like raspberry, whisky, or hazelnut, creating a perfect harmony with the chocolate. After the tasting, take a behind-the-scenes look at the chocolate-making process in their exhibition, learning how these exquisite treats are made from bean to bar. The chocolatier’s passion for quality and craftsmanship shines through every step.


By late afternoon, you’ll reach the village of Pitlochry, where you can stroll the picturesque High St for the remainder of the day. From here, your guide will take you on to you hotel for a relaxing stay.

Pricing based on Grandtully Hotel – Superior King

Alternative hotels: Fonab Castle, The Fife Arms

Overnight: Grandtully | Grandtully Hotel
Room Type: Superior King
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 4 - Exploring Perthshire and the Cairngorms

Pricing based on Option 1

Option 1

Spend the day exploring the enchanting trails of Perthshire or the neighbouring Cairngorms National Park, led by your knowledgeable guide. Depending on the weather and your energy, you’ll have plenty of fantastic routes to consider. You might choose to ascend the rugged moorland, where the vast, sweeping landscape unfolds beneath an expansive sky. Alternatively, if the sun is shining, you could meander through the lush valleys, following winding paths to a hidden loch, its deep waters glistening among the towering pines. As the day winds down, return to the cozy comfort of your accommodation, where a slice of cake and a cup of tea await, perfect for unwinding after a day in the glorious Scottish Highlands.

Option 2

Today you will be hosted by the Laird and Lady of a private estate, before enjoying a gourmet picnic in a remote mountain bothy. Set within the stunning landscape of a Perthshire estate, the bothy is a secluded, traditional stone shelter nestled beside a peaceful loch, surrounded by wildflowers, towering trees, and the rolling hills of Perthshire. The journey to the bothy is part of the adventure, whether it’s a leisurely walk through the estate’s scenic trails or a short drive up a winding country track in a traditional Land Rover. The bothy greets you with its simple, rustic beauty—a cozy retreat from the world, with a stone hearth and wooden beams. The picnic is a feast of local delicacies, thoughtfully prepared and beautifully presented, with locally sourced ingredients, reflecting the rich flavours of the Scottish Highlands. To accompany the meal, there’s a choice of fine Scottish whisky or wine, adding a touch of elegance to the rustic setting.

Overnight: Grandtully | Grandtully Hotel
Room Type: Superior King
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 5 -

This morning you will travel north towards Inverness with your guide, passing through Cairngorm National Park, the largest national park in the United Kingdom.

Today you will get to experience an afternoon of wildlife watching, while exploring the Cairngorms National Park on a private estate. Begin your adventure from an all-terrain 4×4 vehicle to access remote and exclusive locations. Traverse through diverse habitats, including Caledonian pine forests, lochs, moors, and rugged mountains, guided by experts knowledgeable about local wildlife and ecosystems. Spot iconic Scottish wildlife like golden eagles, ospreys, red squirrels, and otters. Depending on the season, you might see ptarmigans, black grouse, or deer.

From here you will transfer north to Inverness and settle into your luxurious accommodation. Stroll along the River Ness and enjoy the tranquil scenery of the city.

Overnight: Inverness | Ness Walk
Room Type: Laurel King
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 6 - Visit Culloden Battlefield and Clava Cairns

Begin your day with a journey northward to explore Culloden Battlefield, a site that played a pivotal role in Scotland’s history. Immerse yourself in the detailed exhibits and interactive displays at the visitor centre, which vividly recount the story of the brutal 1746 clash between the Jacobite forces and the Government army. Wander across the windswept moor, reflecting on the poignant events that unfolded here. Afterwards, make your way to Clava Cairns, an exceptionally well-preserved Bronze Age burial site featuring atmospheric passage graves, ring cairns, kerb cairns, and mysterious standing stones.

After lunch, enjoy exploring Cawdor Castle this afternoon, which dates back to the 14th Century. This impressive fortress is steeped in the lore of Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’ and offers a unique glimpse into Scotland’s past.

Overnight: Inverness | Ness Walk
Room Type: Laurel King
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 7 - Loch Ness Adventures to Skye

After a hearty breakfast, your guide will whisk you away to the West Coast, taking in the scenic atmosphere of Loch Ness along the way.

Today’s adventure takes you to the captivating ruins of Urquhart Castle, standing proudly on the edge of Loch Ness. These historic remains offer a vivid window into Scotland’s tumultuous past of feuding clans and ancient conflicts. Stroll through the castle grounds, climb the crumbling towers, and admire the panoramic views of Loch Ness—a loch steeped in mystery and folklore. Conclude your visit with a private cruise on the loch’s tranquil waters, where you can enjoy the breathtaking scenery while keeping an eye out for glimpses of the legendary Nessie.

From here, you will continue on to the Isle of Skye and settle into your accommodation for a peaceful evening.

Pricing based on Cuillin Hills Hotel

Alternative hotels: Skeabost House Hotel or Kinloch Lodge

 

Overnight: Isle of Skye | Cuillin Hills Hotel
Room Type: Standard Garden View
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 8 - Exploring Skye's Trotternish Peninsula

This morning head out with your guide to explore the dramatic landscapes of the Trotternish Peninsula on the northern end of Skye. Start with a stop at  the Old Man of Storr, a towering rock formation that offers spectacular views over the Sound of Raasay. The best views are reached by hiking to the viewpoint, otherwise the atmospheric scenery can be enjoyed from the comfort of the vehicle. Continuing along the peninsula, pause at Lealt Falls to admire its cascading waters plunging into the sea below, before visiting the iconic Kilt Rock. For a touch of prehistory, visit Staffin Beach, where dinosaur footprints from the Jurassic era can be seen in the rock during low tide, then head to the Quiraing, a surreal landslip with jagged peaks, grassy plateaus, and hidden valleys that are perfect for exploration or photography. Chat with your guide about the geology and history of the area, enjoying the incredible sweeping views of the islands, mountains and sun-clipped shores that stretch in every direction. Finish the afternoon with a stop at the Fairy Glen, a whimsical landscape of grassy, conical hills, and spiral rock formations. The striking rocky outcrop known as “Castle Ewen,” create an enchanting, otherworldly atmosphere.

 


OPTIONAL ACTIVITY

This afternoon, visit Dunvegan Castle, a Hebridean fortress which has been home to the same family for over 800 years. Learn about the family ancestry and stroll around the formal gardens, perhaps pausing for a home baked treat and cup of tea, all the while admiring the stunning views.

 

 

Overnight: Isle of Skye | Cuillin Hills Hotel
Room Type: Standard Garden View
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 9 - Rugged Skye

Today you can choose how you would like to further explore Skye’s rugged beauty.

Pricing based on Option 1

Option 1

This morning you head out to explore the secretive Loch Coruisk with your guide. From the tiny fishing village of Elgol you take a boat trip to the heart of the Black Cuillin mountains which tower above the blue waters of the loch. Along the way you can spot seals and perhaps dolphins in the coastal waters. The boat will drop you at the remote southern end of the loch and you can drink in the atmosphere of this stupendous place as you hike around the loch. Today is sure to be a highlight of the trip with memories to cherish.

 

Option 2

Today you will spend the day foraging in the natural abundance of the Isle of Skye with a local Ghillie. Guided by Mitch, your knowledgeable local expert, you’ll explore woodlands, shorelines, and hillsides to discover a variety of wild edibles such as mushrooms, seaweed, samphire, wild garlic, and even shellfish like mussels. The session goes beyond foraging; you’ll also learn traditional skills like fire-lighting, preparing freshly foraged snacks, and brewing herbal teas, such as Bog Myrtle Tea, over an open fire. This adventure will blend culinary discovery with historical and ecological insights, all set against the stunning landscapes of Skye, allowing you to reconnect with nature and rediscover ancient ways of living sustainably.

Overnight: Isle of Skye | Cuillin Hills Hotel
Room Type: Standard Garden View
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 10 - Depart

Your guide will transfer you today from Skye back towards Inverness and take you to the airport to make your onward connections. Waving farewell for now but taking with you special memories and wonderful stories of your explorations.

*Please note that afternoon or evening flights must be booked to accommodate this transfer from Skye to Inverness airport in the same day.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Trip Details

Inclusions Read More
  • All accommodation from Day 1 to Day 10
  • Most meals as indicated above
  • Services of an experienced and knowledgeable qualified guide from Day 3 to Day 10
  • Ground transportation from Day 1 to Day 10
  • Private airport transfers on arrival and departure days
  • All guided hikes and activities mentioned in the itinerary
  • Activities as follows
  • Day 2 – Local City Guide and Edinburgh Castle general admission
  • Day 3 – Private Tour of Blair Castle
  • Day 5 – Private Wildlife Tour on Highland Estate
  • Day 6 – Entrance to Culloden Battlefield & Cawdor Castle
  • Day 7 – Entrance to Urquhart Castle and 1 hour Private Loch Ness Boat Cruise
  • Day 9 – Return ferry to Loch Coruisk
  • Personalised trip design and delivery
  • Snacks throughout the trip
  • 24 hour in-country support from the Wilderness Team
Exclusions Read More
  • Flights
  • Travel insurance
  • Meals not mentioned in the inclusions
  • Activities and entrance fees not mentioned in the inclusions
  • Gratuities for the main driver guide
Notes Read More
  • All suggested accommodations and services are subject to availability at the time of booking
  • A 20% deposit is required before any accommodation and services will be confirmed
  • This quote is valid for 14 days from the date quoted, after this time pricing may be subject to revision
Pricing Read More

The NET FROM price for this itinerary, for activities as per the listed inclusions (which are based on the Option 1 choices in the daily descriptions) and based on 2 clients on a twin-share basis, starts from:

  • £ GBP per person

Conservation ContributionPlease note that the above pricing includes a voluntary donation of £12 per person, which goes towards conservation projects in the locations we operate.  If you would like to opt out just let your trip designer know. Click here for more information.

Terms & Conditions Read More

Please see our booking terms here.