Scottish Splendour with Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo August 2024 13 Days
Enjoy the most enthralling event on planet earth - The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Over 800 participants from professional dancing troupes and army musical bands from many regiments all over the world participate in an evening celebrating Scotttish Highland Dancing, the Bagpipes, Military Tradition, Fireworks, Choreography and British Heritage. Aside from New Years Eve on Sydney Harbour Bridge, it doesn't get better than this. In fact, we'd say it's the Greatest Show on Earth.
We will do the North Coast 500 from Glasgow to Edinburgh visiting Skye and Orkney, returning for 2 nights to Edinburgh at the end of your journey by attending the Tattoo! No stone will be left unturned in learning about Tartan, Clans, visiting Castles, Lochs, Scots Gaelic speaking areas, seeing the Mighty Glens and exploring any Scots Ancestry. Scotland is always a contender for the world's most beautiful and enchanting country and we are sure you'll fall in love with the people, their humour, the beautiful landscape and their culture - not to mention the bagpipes, kilts, whisky and baking.
Slainte Mhaith!
Itinerary and Specifics
Highlights
- Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo at Edinburgh Castle, enjoy the Greatest Show on Earth with excellent seating priority
- See the most beautiful scenery in Scotland, voted by Rough Guides as the world's no.1 Most Beautiful Country
- Hear the bagpipes, taste Haggis, take a selfie with a Heelin Coo (Highland Cow)
- Connect with your inner pagan at places of divine worship from our ancient past - standing stone circles, henges and Neolithic Villages from 2,500 BC
- Return with the best pictures of any trip you've ever been on
- Have a tipple - Scotland has over 150 distilleries making the finest single malt and cream liquers in the world.
- Create a special bond with the land of your ancestors - learn your clan history whether you're a Campbell, McDonald, McPherson, Anderson, Douglas or Armstrong.
- Get yourself some tartan - we are in the land of of plaid, kilts and Highland design.
- See a Scottish Show - bagpipes, Highland dancing, folk songs, traditional dress, sing along.
- Engage the taste buds - Scotland is Europe's best country for freshest ingredients, quality products and amazing seafood, not to mention game and venison. The Scots do it right.
- Visit Castles - Scotland has some of the most idyllic, scenic, enchanting and even haunted Castles in the World. Everything from Highlander, to Outlander to Monthy Python has been filmed in Scotland.
Included:
- 4 Star Accommodation on a Bed and Breakfast Basis
- Meet and Greet at Airport
- Transfers to and from hotel
- Expert driver/guide
- Luxury, electric touring vehicle
- Local knowledge, recommendations and help with any reservations you want to make
- Porterage - 1 piece per person in and out of hotels
- Priority seating in excellent section in Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.
Not included
- Flights - purchase your own flights in and out of destination
- Gratuities minimum recommended $10 per person per day
- Lunches and Dinners - we like our guests to be able to choose their own dining options
- Any entrances to fee-paying museums, attractions and concerts
Itinerary:
Day 1
Land in Glasgow International Airport, we'll Meet and Greet you and whisk you away to a centrally located 4 star hotel for check-in. We're off to explore a historic mansion with important art collection and ample gardens.
Day 2
Today we're doing a panoramic city tour understanding why the Clyde made Glasgow. You're free to explore the Kelvingrove Museum - one of the best museums in the world. We'll bring you to the Cathedral Quarter and Necropolis as well as George Square, West End, and Winter Palace. Even see where Rob Roy McGregor was imprisoned and Harry Potter was filmed.
Day 3
We're off to the natural playground that is the first National Park in Scotland - Loch Lomond and the Trussochs. Today is going to blow your mind in terms of history and natural beauty. We like Luss and we like the soup at our favourite cafe. It's always a pleasure to experience the happiness of our guests here on the Bonnie Bonnie banks of Loch Lomond, especially if you want to do a cruise on the Loch. We continue into the North chasing the best shots of Ben Etive Mor, a Munro and the amazing waterfalls across Rannoch Mor, where the film Skyfall was filmed with Daniel Craig. We're in Fort William at the foot of Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Great Britain, tonight.
Day 4
You're on the Jacobite Steam Train, the most beautiful train trip in the world and we'll pick you up at the end of the line. Overpass the impressive viaduct used in filming the second Harry Potter film and see where Bonnie Prince Charlie raised his highland army in 1744. Sleep on Skye tonight, one of the world's most beautiful islands.
Day 5
We're off to see Kilt Rock, Flora MacDonald's Grave, our favourite brewery in the world and the black Cuillin Mountains. We also like the Black Beach and the Fairy Pools, not to mention the Seafood Shack where one just eats crazily good lobster, crab, shellfish, herring and salmon for next to nothing. Oh it's good to enjoy the fruits of the sea.
Day 6
We're over the Skye Bridge and into Rosshire. We want to take you to the stunning Oilean Donan Castle and then you're really going to experience the Scottish experience, travelling north into the great unknown for most travellers. We're going above and beyond the place Anthony Bourdain went deer stalking. See Loch Maree and overnight in Ullapool. Of course we've got a favourite hotel and bar here. Amazing scenery and a few stories we've picked up over the years.
Day 7
Today is a big day, we're having lunch at the Oasis and doing a little bit of an extra up on Cape Wrath. Overnight in Thurso (a Viking town) and take the first ferry in the morning with a full day on Orkney. Two nights in our favourite hotel in Kirkwall, capital of the island.
Day 8
We'll do the three musts on Orkney and we'll also go to the distillery whether you drink whisky or not. One really needs to hear the local Norse accent when English is spoken. This island was part of a 1000 year old dowry with Norway and they are still not fully Scottish here. They do have Orcas, are completely self-sufficient in renewable energy, were home to Italian POWs during WW2 and of course there's the Churchill Barriers and Italian Chapel.
Day 9
Leave Orkney and we're staying in the Royal Marine hotel in Brora tonight. We like the Sutherland Arms for a bite to eat or a wee dram. Some of our guests have played the golf course here, we've always enjoyed going for a quiet walk along the river and enjoying the peace, calm and happiness of North Sea coastal Scotland. You'll also see Dunrobin Castle today - this is the best Castle in Scotland, hands down. Home do the Dukes of Sutherland. We like the Italianate gardens here.
Day 10
So today we're exploring the lands of the Picts, the first settlers of Scotland post Ice Age. Then we're down to the capital and only city of the Highlands, Inverness where you can see the River Ness and Flora McDonald statue. See the castle, dine well and enjoy an atmosphere all of its own. We just happen to know the best places for you to relax and enjoy. Keep an eye out for Nessie. Overnight in Inverness.
Day 11
Down the A9 we go and we're into St. Andrews, home of Golf and the famous university, and then Edinburgh. This is the world's most enchanting city, nothing compares. We've got you an amazing hotel, you're within walking distance of everything that matters and the best is yet to come - The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo at Edinburgh Castle.
Day 12
Tonight it's the Tattoo. During the day, you've got Holyrood Palace, Edinburgh Castle, the Old Town, the New Town, the Royal Mile, George Street and much much more to visit. Edinburgh only has a population of just over 500,000 people but is has more culture than some places with ten times as many. There is no shortage of things to see and do here. Some of our favourites are the Camera Obscura, John Knox House, St. Giles High Kirk, Writer's Museum, Our Dynamic Earth, climbing Arthur's Seat or visiting the National Musuem of Scotland.
Day 13
You leave on a high, Scotland is truly the greatest country to visit. Nothing compares to the depth of culture, history, clans, dress and cuisine. We're waiting for your return visit after we bring you to Edinburgh International Airport.
Haste ye back!