A Scottish Adventure

The Frank Family

Saturday 5th July – Wednesday 16th July 2025

Number of Travellers: 6
Duration: 12 Days / 11 Nights

Overview

On a bespoke, thoughtfully crafted trip, enjoy a wonderful adventure in Scotland. From the historic winds and closes of Edinburgh to the slate blue mountains of the Cairngorms National Park, enjoy spending time together surrounded by beautiful scenery. Accompanied by an expert guide, visit the Highland Folk Museum, discover the evocative beauty of Glencoe, sea-kayak, and discover the ancient history of Kilmartin Glen. In the latter half of your trip, board a little white ferry to explore the beautiful Hebridean island of Islay, the home of your ancestors and one of the most wildlife-rich locations on the west coast of Scotland. Experience the island’s rich diversity of habitats, including dramatic sea cliffs, freshwater lochs, wide-open moors, and fertile grassland. After perfectly paced days, relax in hand-picked accommodations, each unique in character and charm. On an adventure designed just for you, immerse yourself in the history, heritage and distinctive springtime beauty of the Highlands.

Itinerary at a Glance

Day 1 | Saturday 5th July | Welcome to Edinburgh | Overnight: Edinburgh

Day 2 | Sunday 6th July | Edinburgh Castle & Folk Session | Overnight: Edinburgh

Day 3 | Monday 7th July | Explore Edinburgh & Underground Ghost Tour | Overnight: Edinburgh

Day 4 | Tuesday 8th July | Travel to the Cairngorms | Overnight: Kingussie

Day 5 | Wednesday 9th July | Golf & Jewellery Workshop | Overnight: Kingussie

Day 6 | Thursday 10th July | Highland Folk Museum & Glencoe | Overnight: Glencoe

Day 7 | Friday 11th July | Sea Kayaking the West Coast | Overnight: Glencoe

Day 8 | Saturday 12th July | Glencoe Centre & Kilmartin Glen | Overnight: By Oban

Day 9 | Sunday 13th July | Loch Melfort Gardens & Travel to Islay | Overnight: Port Ellen

Day 10 | Monday 14th July | Singing Sands & Distillery Tour | Overnight: Port Ellen

Day 11 | Tuesday 15th July | Return to Edinburgh & Scottish Whisky Society | Overnight: Edinburgh

Day 12 | Wednesday 16th July | Depart

Highlights

  • Enjoy an incredible live fiddle performance in the architecturally stunning city of Edinburgh.
  • Explore the beautiful sea-soaked shores of Islay and connect with the place that your ancestors called home.
  • Relax each evening with meals that focus on locally-sourced, seasonal produce in hand-picked accommodations.

Day by Day

Day 1 - Saturday 5th July - Welcome to Edinburgh

Arrive in the architecturally stunning city of Edinburgh today and settle into your lovely accommodation. Depending on your arrival time, you may wish to head out and explore the winding alleys and cobblestone streets. Wander up the Royal Mile, visit St Giles’ Cathedral, and perhaps spend some time in the National Museum of Scotland, which has a roof terrace providing panoramic views over the city.

Overnight: Edinburgh | Roseate Hotel
Meals Included: None

Day 2 - Sunday 6th July - Edinburgh Castle & Folk Session

Enjoy a self guided day in Edinburgh. The capital is full of history and very accessible on foot. Head up the Royal Mile to the mighty ancient fortress which is Edinburgh Castle, and explore St Margaret’s Chapel, the dungeons, soldiers barracks, and visit the Stone of Destiny and the Scottish Crown Jewels. Make sure to be on the battlements come 1 o’clock so you can enjoy the firing of the gun. Enjoy a relaxed afternoon, and this evening, head to a fantastic traditional music session to hear some brilliant fiddle playing.

Overnight: Edinburgh | Roseate Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 3 - Monday 7th July - Explore Edinburgh & Underground Ghost Tour

After breakfast, enjoy another day of exploring, perhaps taking the opportunity to walk up Arthur’s Seat, an extinct volcano loved by locals and tourists alike. You may also like to visit Edinburgh’s Botanical Gardens or wander around Surgeons’ Hall Museums, which is home to one of the largest and most historic pathology collections in the United Kingdom. This afternoon, meet your ghoulish guide to descend into the city’s fascinating catacombs and underground streets for a guided tour. After an early dinner, head to the Scottish Storytelling Centre for an evening of ancient myth, contemporary storytelling and post-folk music.

Overnight: Edinburgh | Roseate Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 4 - Tuesday 8th July - Travel to the Cairngorms

After breakfast, head to Waverley Station (the only station in the world to be named after a novel) and catch the train north to Kingussie. Taking just under 3 hours, travel up the western edge of the Cairngorms National Park, a landscape of rolling green hills, shattered mountain peaks and vast tracts of purple moorland. Disembark the train at Kingussie and meet your Wilderness guide. Enjoy a lovely walk to stretch your legs and explore the ruins of Ruthven Barracks, which was built after the 1715 Jacobite uprising and is perched above Insh Marshes. As you walk, keep an eye out for curlew, lapwing, redshank and snipe before returning to Kingussie and relaxing at your lovely accommodation.

Overnight: Kingussie | The Seelies
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 5 - Wednesday 9th July - Golf & Jewellery Workshop

This morning, the golfers can head to Boat of Garten for a round or two of golf. Designed by one of the grand masters of golf course architecture, James Braid, ‘The Boat’ is set alongside the River Spey and offers an enjoyable challenge and lovely views. While the others play golf, the rest of the family can enjoy a jewellery workshop before meeting up all together for lunch. This afternoon, join your guide for a relaxed hike, perhaps exploring Glenfeshie, which is considered one of the most beautiful glens in the whole of Scotland, or to a local farm where you can meet Highland Cows, both wonderful place to stop to paint.

Overnight: Kingussie | The Seelies
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 6 - Thursday 10th July - Highland Folk Museum & Glencoe

Visit the Highland Folk Museum this morning and delve into Scotland’s rich cultural heritage. This mile-long open-air township has an extensive collection of historic buildings and exhibits that showcase traditional rural life in the Highlands dating back to the 1700s. This afternoon travel to to the west coast, along the way, stop to hike up Glen Nevis to Steal Falls, an increible waterfall and try walking the rope bridge to cross the river. Late, continue to the Glencoe – a spectacular glen carved out centuries ago by glaciers and volcanic eruptions – and check into your hotel which offers amazing views across the wild, heathery landscape.

Overnight: Glencoe | Kingshouse Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 7 - Friday 11th July - Sea Kayaking the West Coast

Start your day with a scenic drive from your hotel to the coast, where you’ll embark on a guided sea kayaking experience. Glide across the calm waters, exploring the small islands as you go. After lunch on deserted beach paddle back to the shore keeping an eye out for the curious seals who love to pop up beside the kayaks as well as eagles soaring overhead. Returning to your lovely hotel to relax and enjoy meeting the local deer who wander freely through the hotel grounds.

Overnight: Glencoe | Kingshouse Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 8 - Saturday 12th July - Glencoe Centre & Kilmartin Glen

Begin the day with a visit to the Glencoe Visitor Centre, where you can deepen your understanding of this striking glen’s geological history and the dramatic events that shaped it. Journey south along the coast, stopping briefly in Appin to glimpse Castle Stalker—an iconic tower house set on a tidal islet that’s sure to inspire any painter. Continue to Kilmartin, renowned for its ancient standing stones and burial cairns which would can explore as well as the fascinating exhibits at Kilmartin Museum. As evening approaches, take a tranquil walk around the atmospheric landscape before heading to your accommodation near Loch Melfort for the night.

Overnight: By Oban | Loch Melfort Hotel
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 9 - Sunday 13th July - Loch Melfort Gardens & Travel to Islay

Begin the morning with a peaceful walk through the gardens at Loch Melfort, where coastal plants and sea views offer a serene start to the day. Afterwards, take the mid-morning ferry to Islay, Queen of the Hebrides. On arrival, head to Kilchoman for a salty stroll along the sandy expanse of Machir Bay and enjoy spotting the wonderful flora and fauna that thrive on this wild isle – from pink purslane to peregrines, marsh helleborine to merlin. Afterwards, visit the nearby parish church and graveyard, a place of ancestral importance for you and your family. Settle into your hotel this evening and enjoy a delicious dinner.

Overnight: Port Ellen | The Machrie, Islay
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 10 - Monday 14th July - Singing Sands & Distillery Tour

Start the day with a walk to the Singing Sands beach – a beautiful secluded beach where the sands seem to sing when you walk across them. It’s also a great place to watch the ferries coming into Port Ellen Harbour and spot a variety of seabirds. Later, enjoy a tour of one of Islay’s renowned family-run distilleries, where you’ll learn about traditional whisky-making methods and sample a dram or two. Home to nine working distilleries, it’s unsurprising that Islay is affectionately known as the Whisky Island. Return to your hotel this evening and relax, looking out across a view full of waves, sea and sky.

Overnight: Port Ellen | The Machrie, Islay
Meals Included: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 11 - Tuesday 15th July - Return to Edinburgh & Scottish Whisky Society

After breakfast, catch the ferry back to the mainland, taking in the final views of Islay’s rugged coastline. Travel back east towards Edinburgh, stopping along the way for a walk in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. Arrive back in the city late afternoon and perhaps enjoy a stroll up Carlton Hill before returning to your hotel to relax before an evening at the Scottish Whisky Society, the perfect celebratory dinner to bring your Scottish adventure to a close.

Overnight: Edinburgh | Kimpton Charlotte Square
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 12 - Wednesday 16th July - Depart

After breakfast, head to the airport and arrive relaxed, refreshed and with many lovely memories to cherish for years to come.

Meals Included: Breakfast

Trip Details

Inclusions Read More
  • All accommodation from Day 1 to Day 12
  • Most meals as indicated above
  • Services of an experienced and knowledgeable qualified guide from Day 4 to Day 11
  • Ground transportation from Day 4 to Day 11
  • All guided hikes and activities mentioned in the itinerary including:
    • Edinburgh Castle tickets
    • Tickets to a traditional Folk session
    • Tickets to a storytelling and music performance
    • Walking ghost tour
    • Golf or Jewellery making
    • Guided sea kayaking with all equipment hire
    • Entry to Glencoe Center
    • Entry to Kilmartin Glen
    • Return ferry to Islay
    • Distillery tour
    • Whisky experience and dinner
  • Personalised trip design and delivery
  • Snacks throughout the trip
  • 24-hour in-country support from the Wilderness Team
Exclusions Read More
  • Flights
  • Travel insurance
  • Train travel
  • Airport pick up or drop off
  • Meals not mentioned in the inclusions
  • Activities and entrance fees not mentioned in the inclusions
  • Gratuities for the main driver guide
Pricing Read More

The price of this trip is £5,700 per person and is based on availability at the time of booking.

Terms & Conditions Read More

Please see our booking terms here.

Get in Touch

Tel: +44 (0)1479 420 020

Email Rachael

Accommodation

Roseate Hotel

4 West Coates | Edinburgh |
EH12 5JQ | Scotland
Phone: 07927132696
Web: roseatehotels.com/edinburgh/theroseate/stay

The Seelies

15-17 High Street | Kingussie | Highland |
PH21 1HS | Scotland
Phone: +44 (0) 7745 921431
Web: theseelies.co.uk

Kingshouse Hotel

Glencoe | Ballachulish |
PH49 4HY | Scotland
Phone: +44 (0)1855 851 260
Web: kingshousehotel.co.uk

Loch Melfort Hotel

Arduaine | By Oban | Argyll |
PA34 4XG | Scotland
Phone: +44 (0) 1852 200 233
Web: lochmelfort.co.uk

The Machrie, Islay

Port Ellen | Islay |
PA42 7AN | Scotland
Phone: +44 (0)1496 302 310
Web: themachrie.com

Kimpton Charlotte Square

Charlotte Square | Edinburgh |
EH2 4HQ | Scotland
Phone: 800 44445 566
Web: kimptoncharlottesquare.com

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Cairngorms - Meall a' Bhuachaille - Hiking

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Stag

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A close up photo of bright violet bluebells. The background is blurred, but the colours suggest a lush field of these flowers.

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Glencoe

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Seal

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Trad Music

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A Scottish Adventure – V1

Saturday 5th July – Wednesday 16th July 2025