MASTER TEMPLATE – Scotland Foodie Exploration

Day 1 - Welcome To Scotland

Your Wilderness guide will meet you at Edinburgh airport and transfer you to your welcoming hotel. Take some time to relax and settle in, enjoying an oasis of calm as the city’s characterful streets buzz and bustle beyond the window. Depending on your arrival time, perhaps head out with your guide for a short walk up Calton Hill. From the top, which is marked by a collection of historical monuments, you can see many of Edinburgh’s famous landmarks, including Arthur’s Seat, the Firth of Forth and the Royal Mile as it climbs its way to the castle. After working up an appetite, enjoy a delicious dinner and a good night’s sleep.

Day 2 - A Food Tour of Edinburgh

After breakfast, meet an expert Edinburgh guide in the foyer of your hotel and head out for a private walking tour of the city. Very accessible on foot, the capital brims with locally sourced culinary delights. As you stroll down cobblestone streets, chat with your guide about the intriguing history of the city, delving deep into the Scottish larder. After lunch, transfer north to the inexhaustible beauty of the wild west coast. There are many places to pause and stretch your legs along the way, so take the opportunity for a short wander with your guide into the salty sea-soaked landscape or around a pretty village. Settle into your accommodation this evening before another day of adventures tomorrow.

Day 3 - Exploring Glencoe

Over hot coffee and tea, chat with your guide about some walking options for today. The spectacular Glencoe, carved out centuries ago by glaciers and volcanic eruptions, offers some wild and scenic hiking. You may wish to summit the iconic Pap of Glencoe, or head up to the Lost Valley where the MacDonald clan used to hide their rustled cattle. As ethereal mists blow over rugged peaks, keep an eye out for the soaring shape of a golden eagle or the silhouette of a stag, learning about the landscape’s captivating and haunting history. This evening, enjoy a well-earned dram, perhaps stepping outside after dinner to look up at a night sky full of the sharpest stars.

Walk Details: 4 km / 3 miles | 335 m / 1,099 ft elevation gain | Approx: 3 hrs

Day 4 - Exploring the Islands on a Private Zodiac

Today, enjoy discovering the evocative west coast on a private zodiac trip. As the rugged coastline unfurls beyond the bow, enjoy exploring with an experienced skipper who knows all the little islands, sandy coves and secret spots. As white gulls fill the sky like windblown confetti, enjoy the symphony of breaking waves, shingle shores and seabirds. Depending on the weather, you may wish to head up to the quirky town of Tobermory with its brightly coloured craft shops and pubs. Or maybe zip out to the archipelago of the remote Treshnish Isles, a haven for birdlife. Travelling back this afternoon, look out for otters, seals and dolphins.

Day 5 - Travelling to Perthshire and an Afternoon Cookery Class

After a hearty breakfast, enjoy the scenic drive back inland to the beautiful region of Perthshire. On the way, stop to stretch your legs with a short walk to a stunning viewpoint. After lunch, enjoy an exclusive cookery class with an award-winning chef. Inspired by the landscape and local, sustainable produce, cook up a storm enjoying the zest of a meal created from the wild region. Continue to your lovely accommodation, enjoying having the latter half of the afternoon to relax. Perhaps curl up with a book, or take a short walk with your guide to explore the area.

Day 6 - Canoeing on Loch Tay and a Falconry Experience

In the soft, whispery light, quietly launch your canoes into the tranquil waters of Loch Tay for a morning spent exploring the glassy beauty of this deep, dark loch. With your expert guide, paddle along the peaceful shores, eventually beaching your boats in the perfect spot for a picnic with breathtaking views of the surrounding hills. After lunch, explore the crannog – which you will have spotted as you paddled past. This roundhouse (perched on stilts in the water) is a reconstructed iron age dwelling. Learn about what life would have been like for people living here over 2500 years ago. Later, enjoy a private falconry experience, getting to know these majestic raptors and having the opportunity to fly them yourself.

Day 7 - Visiting a Scottish Hill Farm and a Landrover Safari

Head north into the hills today to visit a traditional Scottish hill farm. Enjoy meeting the local farmer and gaining an insight into what daily life looks like in rural Scotland. Meet the farm’s friendly herd of swiss goats and hear about how the award-winning cheese is made. Afterwards, continue into the enchanting glen, delving deeper into the wilderness on a private landrover 4×4 tour. As you explore, look out for the russet red coats of red deer and the soaring silhouettes of golden eagles. Listen out for the chattering disapproval of grouse as they flap comically above the heath, chatting to your guide about the land’s topography. Settle into your lovely accommodation this evening, nestled in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park – the largest and wildest National Park in the UK.

Day 8 - Hiking in Balmoral and a Royal Lochnagar Distillery Tour

This morning, head out with your guide for a stunning hike in the beautiful Balmoral Estate. A Highland residence of the Royal Family since it was bought for Queen Victoria in 1852, walk through the ancient Caledonian pine forests, listening out for the white-water rush of a river and the bright sing-song call of a blackbird. Whether you fancy a mellow circular walk or a more demanding high-level stomp, your guide will be able to suggest the perfect option for you. After lunch, enjoy a private tour and tasting at the Royal Lochnagar Distillery, which was issued with a royal warrant by Queen Victoria in 1848. Learn about the history of Scotland’s most famous tipple while also having the chance to indulge in a tasting.

Day 9 - A Relaxed Morning and an Afternoon Foraging Workshop

Wake up feeling refreshed and decide how you would like to spend your morning. Perhaps choose to take it easy, heading out for a wee wander in the gentle breeze or relaxing with a fat mug of tea. You may wish to venture higher for a view, and if so, you can head out with your guide for a woodland wander that breaks out onto the heath which offers swooping panoramic views. After lunch, enjoy a fascinating afternoon with a local ghillie, foraging for wild food and discovering local plants with a myriad of different uses. Take your earthen bounty back to the kitchen and create delicious cocktails with your wild ingredients. Enjoy a hearty dinner basked in the warmth of highland hospitality.

Day 10 - Visiting the V&A Scottish Design Museum and Return to Edinburgh

This morning, bid farewell to the Cairngorms as you enjoy a scenic drive south to visit the V&A Dundee. Scotland’s first design museum, it showcases the best of international design and Scottish creativity. With so much to see, enjoy a private tour, ensuring you see the highlights of both the collection and the stunning architecture. After lunch, you may choose to explore the RRS Discovery (a beautiful tall ship that took Captain Scott to the Antarctic) or continue to Edinburgh. This evening, enjoy a lovely celebratory dinner, toasting your adventures with the traditional Scottish ‘Slainte Mhath’.

Day 11 - Depart Edinburgh

This morning, your guide will transfer you to Edinburgh airport so you may begin your journey home.