Duration
Meeting point
Day One
Departing from your hotel we will stop briefly at South Queensferry for a view of the Forth Bridges before driving towards Perthshire, the gateway to the Highlands.
Our first stop of the day will be the charming little village of Dunkeld. Dunkeld was home to fierce fighting during one of the Jacobite rebellions in the late 1600s. Today, many of the buildings have been restored under the National Trust’s “little houses” scheme and you can wander around the town, along the river and around the Cathedral.
Continuing on the A9 our next stop will be the Hermitage situated amongst towering Douglas Fir trees we will enjoy a short walk along the River Braan until we reach the picturesque folly of Ossian’s Hall, built in 1758 by the Duke of Atholl where will have the opportunity of viewing the Black Linn Falls – if we are lucky we may even see some salmon leaping.
We will continue on to the pretty little town of Aberfeldy where there are several options for lunch and a selection of shops.
After lunch – there is a circular walk nearby through mature mixed woodland called “The Birks of Aberfeldy”. The Birks of Aberfeldy were named after a poem of the same name by Scotland’s national bard, Robert Burns, who penned The Birks o’ Aberfeldy in 1787.
There is also the opportunity to visit the “Highland Chocolatier” – Iain Burnett. His Velvet Truffles have earned him world-wide recognition as a Master Chocolatier and Truffle Specialist or why not visit the Aberfeldy Distillery where we can discover how whisky is made and taste their beautifully balanced single malt.
We will continue on to Kenmore which will be your base for one or two nights.
Day Two
Today we have the option of driving northwards into the Highlands of Scotland where we can stop at the charming Victorian town of Pitlochry which is sheltered by the great mountain of Ben Vrackie. Pitlochry is one of the largest highland towns and has a variety of shops, cafes and is famous for its dam and fishing ladder.
We can also visit Blair Castle which has been the home of the Atholl family for over seven centuries. Here you can see their collection of furniture, arms, china, lace and portraits of the family in over 30 rooms. The castle has extensive gardens which were laid out in the 18th century and feature an impressive walled garden, an extensive wooded grove, a ruined kirk, a red deer park and a whimsical gothic folly.
There is also an opportunity to visit the House of Bruar – an upmarket shopping emporium in the Highlands and take a short walk up to Bruar Falls before making our way back to Kenmore for the evening.
Day Three
This morning we will check out of our hotel and wind our way slowly back to the capital city of Edinburgh.
On the way, we will drive through some stunning scenery and have the option of stopping in one of the many quaint little towns along the way. Perhaps one of the most famous towns is Crieff – during Victorian times it was renowned as a spa town and visitors would come here to take in the fresh air and the scenery.
Nearby are the magnificent Drummond Gardens which were recently filmed in the popular TV series ‘Outlander’.
Alternatively, we could drive to the seaside town of St Andrews – famous for its golf courses, home to the oldest university in Scotland and St Andrews Cathedral. Afterwards we can drive through the picturesque fishing villages of Fife, over the Forth Road Bridge and into Edinburgh where your tour will end.
What type of clothing and footwear should I take?
Scotland’s weather is very changeable, we can have 4 seasons in one day! It is important to bring plenty of layers, a waterproof jacket and sturdy footwear.
Is there any whisky distilleries nearby?
Yes, there are several options including: Abefeldy, Ebradour, Glenturret and Blair Atholl are some of the most popular distilleries in the area.
