Memorable Scotland Tours in 12 DaysScotland tours are always truly memorable and rewarding. Scotland is a land with rich, turbulent history and tradition; a land of sheep in lush green glens, misty crags and lochs; a land of sun, rain, gray skies and perpetual wind; a land of bagpipes, kilts, castles and kings; and a land of honest, practical welcoming people. Thorough Scotland tours are easily accomplished in 12 days as outlined below. On Day 1, arrive at the Glasgow Airport. Pick up your rental car and spend the day in Glasgow. Visit the Cathedral Church of St. Mungo and Provand’s Lordship, a short distance away. Spend any remaining time wandering around this vibrant city. After, make the short drive to Stirling and check into your accommodation. Stirling is your base in the Lowlands. Your Scotland trip continues with Day 2 with a tour of Stirling. This includes a visit to Stirling Castle, the Wallace Monument (in honor of Sir William Wallace, Braveheart) and the Bannockburn Heritage Center. Scotland tours are incomplete without a visit to the capital, Edinburgh. Your Edinburgh travel on Day 3 consists of a walk along the Royal Mile. This includes Edinburgh Castle, The Palace of Holyrude House, Canongate Kirk and the Scottish Parliament. After visiting the Royal Mile take a short bus trip to Roslyn Chapel. Visitors may recognize Roslyn Chapel from the Da Vinci Code. Unfortunately the movie did not do justice to the intricately carved interior of the chapel. Day 4 brings you into the Trossachs region, north of Stirling. Begin at the Rob Roy and Trossachs Visitors Center and view the Rob Roy exhibit. You may wish to review the movie Rob Roy starring Liam Neeson before your visit to Scotland. Continue on to Medieval Doune Castle. Later, enjoy the boat ride to the scenic Inchmahome Priory near the Port of Menteith. On Day 5, visit the Island of Iona by taking the ferry from Oban to the Island of Mull. Cross Mull by bus and then take the ferry to Iona. Arriving on Iona, visit the reconstructed Iona Abbey. Return to Mull and visit the nearby St. Columba Center. Scotland tours are also incomplete without visiting the Highlands. On Day 6, check out of your lodging and drive to Inverness. En route, visit Dunfermline Abbey and the Abbot’s House in the city of Dunfermline. Next, drive to Perth and visit Scone Palace. All Scottish Kings and Queens were crowned at Scone. Seat yourself upon a replica of the Stone of Scone (you already saw the original in Edinburgh Castle) and look out over your own loyal subjects. Continue on to Inverness and check in to your lodging. Day 7 is a tour of the Inverness area. Visit the Culloden and the nearby Clava Cairns (Neolithic stone circles). Begin Day 8 with a trip to Balmoral Castle, where the Royal Family resides at some times during the year. If the Queen resides there are the time of your visit, you will not be admitted to the grounds. Continue to the town of Insch and visit Archaeolink Prehistory Park. You will see exhibits outlining the different ages of human occupation in Scotland. All Scotland tours should include a visit to at least one Scotch distillery. Day 9 is your opportunity to sample Scotland’s most famous drink – single malt Scotch. Tour the Whisky Trail. Incidentally, some of the distilleries can be visited on Day 8 if you have time. Days 10 and 11 take you around Loch Ness and the famous Urquhart Castle ruins. Bring your binoculars and try to spot Nessie, the Loch Ness Monster, swimming around. The nearby town of Drumnadrochit has several museums dedicated to the Loch Ness Monster. At the end of the day, drive 3 hours north to the town of John O’Groats and rent a room for the night. Day 12 begins first thing in the morning as you take ride the ferry over to Orkney and board your tour bus. The guided tour includes such sites as the Scapa Flow, Scara Brae (a Neolithic village occupied from 3100 to 2500 BCE), Kirkwall and the Italianate Chapel. To maximize any free time that you will have to yourself, bring your own picnic lunch and dinner. You will return to John O’Groats that evening to complete your Scotland trip.
1) Purchase your flight, accomodation, transportation and visitor passes through this website. 2) You will require a rental car to visit all the sites listed. 3) Take the train to Edinburgh – car parking is expensive in the city. 4) Take the bus from Edinburgh to Roslyn Chapel – get bus information from the Tourist Information Office near the train station in Edinburgh. 5) Pre-arrange your
tour of Iona
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