Family Tour of Scotland
08 Days / 07 Nights
Arrival Edinburgh. The Old Town in particular is great fun to explore, with all the alleyways leading off the Royal Mile and onward to the lofty perch of Edinburgh Castle. The children will love the Horrible Histories” commentary on the red bus route. This afternoon, we recommend visiting Dynamic Earth, where you can journey through galactic space and time, all in an afternoon! Next day to Pitlochry and Blair Drummond Safari Park to get up close and personal with the exotic animals. Also visit the Beatrix Potter Exhibition to step back in time into a Victorian classroom and put on your own puppet show featuring Peter Rabbit and friends!
Then to the great outdoors and Cairngorm National Park and the funicular train to the top for spectacular views across the wilds of Scotland. Bring the children on a boat RIB ride across Loch Ness to find the hidden monster! To conclude, we have options for Harry Potter fans, you could go on the Jacobite Steam Train or Hogwarts Express. In addition to aquarium options or further outdoor escapades. Tour ends in Glasgow or Edinburgh.
The Itinerary
DAY 1 – ARRIVAL IN EDINBURGH
Arrive into Scotland and transfer to your hotel. Depending on when your flight lands, you may have the time to explore Edinburgh on foot this afternoon.
Overnight: Edinburgh area
DAY 2 – SPEND THE DAY IN EDINBURGH
Discover Edinburgh with our private tour of this ancient city. The Old Town in particular is great fun to explore, with all the closes and winds leading off the Royal Mile. Wer will visit to Edinburgh Castle, perched on an extinct volcano high above the city. We must say hello to Greyfriar’s Bobby, the statue of a loyal dog, buried in Greyfriar’s Kirkyard.
This afternoon, you may choose to visit Dynamic Earth, where you can journey through space and time, and explore what created this earth that we live on.
Overnight: Edinburgh area
DAY 3 – FROM EDINBURGH TO PITLOCHRY
We start your journey north to Inverness. You may want to stop at Blair Drummond Safari Park for the chance to get up close and personal with exotic animals, like giraffes, tigers and meerkats. You can also stop in Birnam to visit the Beatrix Potter Exhibition - step back in time into a Victorian classroom and put on your own puppet show featuring Peter Rabbit and friends! Continue to Pitlochry and check in to your next hotel or B&B.
Overnight: Pitlochry area
DAY 4 – FROM PITLOCHRY TO INVERNESS
Continue your drive north to Inverness. You may choose to stop at the Highland Wildlife Park along the way to see polar bears and snow leopards, as well as Scottish animals like snowy owls and wildcats. You can catch the Cairngorm Mountain funicular train to the top of the Cairngorm National Park for spectacular views. Or why not stop at the Highland Folk Museum, a free open-air museum with buildings dating back hundreds of years to explore. Arrive into Inverness where you will stay tonight.
Overnight: Inverness area
DAY 5 – FROM INVERNESS TO FORT WILLIAM
Depart Inverness and drive along the shores of Loch Ness to Drumnadrochit to visit the Loch Ness Exhibition. Learn more about the monster that lurks under the surface of the loch and collect stickers as you go along. You may be asked at the end, if you think the monster exists or not. Stop to visit Urquhart Castle and climb up into one of the towers to see if you can spot Nessie. This afternoon, you may choose to take the family on an exhilarating RIB ride on the loch from Fort Augustus before continuing to your hotel in the Fort William area.
Overnight: Fort William area
DAY 6 – ON BOARD THE HARRY POTTER
You have a choice of several day trips today. If you are Harry Potter fans, you could go on the Jacobite Steam Train – or Hogwarts Express as you would know it as – to the seaside port of Mallaig, before returning to Fort William. Or you may want to head down the coast to the Scottish Sea Life Sanctuary to explore the Aquariums and experience the range of marine wildlife in Scotland, face-to-face in some cases. There are many indoor activities ideal for a day when the weather is less than great, but with plenty to do out of doors as well. Return to your hotel in Fort William.
DAY 7 – GLASGOW
Depart Fort William and start your drive south, through Glencoe and across Rannoch Moor. At Loch Lomond, take a cruise on the loch, or continue to Glasgow to explore the many free attractions on offer in the city – for example the Transport Museum to discover all modes of historical forms of transport, or Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum to see Sir Roger, the Asian elephant, and a spitfire plane hanging from the ceiling.
Overnight: Glasgow area
DAY 8 – DEPARTURE
Depending on your flight departure time, you may have the time this morning to visit the Science Centre, with their hands-on displays of science and technology, which makes it fun to learn! Also the Glasgow Transport Museum on the waterside.
Depart Glasgow or Edinburgh Airport.