BEST OF SCOTLAND II

DAY 2 WEDNESDAY, Edinburgh

After clearing customs we will meet our West Coast Motors driver who will shuttle us to our hotel. An enchanting, vibrant, and medieval city awaits us. Our hotel is Travelodge Edinburgh Central located very near the Royal Mile. Prior to and after check in (abt. 3:00pm) you are free to explore, visit the castle, shop, check out the pubs and dine on your own.  After check in you are free to explore and have a great Scottish dinner.

It will be early to bed in preparation for our big day tomorrow.

TOP ATTRACTIONS

DINING

DAY 3 THURSDAY, Edinburgh

After breakfast we will do the fabulous Edinburgh city hike.  It is about 8.5 miles and will take a good part of the day.  Highlights include Princess  Gardens, Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, the Grassmarket, a pub stop at Greyfriars Bobby, Cowgate, the Holyrood Castle, Scottish Parliament, Holyrood Park and the breathtaking trail up to Arthur’s Seat, Calton Hill, and back to the theatre district for dinner.

Holyrood Park - Self Guided Tours

DAY 4 FRIDAY, Aberfeldy

 After our hotel breakfast  we will check out then board our bus for the scenic ride to the lovely Trossachs region. Our hike at Ben A’an will take us up a river and through heather to an unforgettable view. Our lodging will be in Aberfeldy at Breadalbane Arms.  (J. K. Rowlings has an estate here.)

ALL TRAILS

ABOUT ABERFELDY

DINING

DAY 5 SATURDAY, Aberfeldy

 After breakfast on your own we will take the short trip to the lovely Pitlochry village.  Believe me it is not the “Pits.”  We will do a hike at Ben Vrackie before enjoying a late lunch in the charming village.  This is my daughter Emily's favorite hike. 

DINING IN ABERFELDY

DAY 6 SUNDAY, Oban 

After breakfast on your own we will check out and take a beautiful two hour drive to the village of Oban on the West Coast.  We will have a cool circular hike that starts and finishes at our lodging,   the Oban Bay Hotel & Spa overlooking Oban Bay.   This would be a great time to visit my favorite distillery – Oban. 

ALL TRAILS

Hotel Dining

DAY 7 MONDAY, Oban

After our hotel breakfast we will take the picturesque drive to Glen Nevis for a very cool hike to the waterfall.  After lunch we will take another short drive to Kingshouse and start a beautiful point to point 10 mile segment of the West Highland Way Trail.

Kingshouse to Kinlochleven

ALL TRAILS

DAY 8 TUESDAY, Tyndum

After our hotel breakfast we will check out and take an hour's drive to Loch Lomond and the Trossach National Park for a scenic hike on the great Ben Lomand Trail. Then we will continue another hour

through this beautiful area to our lodging in Tyndrum, the Mutha Ben Doran hotel. Breakfast and dinner are included at this hotel.

DAY 9 WEDNESDAY, Tyndum

After our hotel breakfast we go back to the Glencoe region and do the iconic Lost Valley hike with a special option to go all the way up Stob Coire Sgreamhach. We'll return for another Scottish dinner provided by our hotel.

DAY 10 THURSDAY, Inverness

After our hotel breakfast we check out then travel to an amazing hike at Beine Eighe  overlooking the most beautiful loch in Scotland -  Loch Maree.  This is my son Jake's favorite hike.  I will host a wine and cheese reception at the finish on the shore of Loch Maree.  Our hotel is in nearby Inverness at the centrally located Leonardo hotel.

 Historic Inverness.

Exploring Inverness

DINING

ALL TRALS

DAY 11 FRIDAY, Stirling

After breakfast we will check out and head to our final lodging the

Travelodge City Centre, conveniently located in Stirling. We will stop en route for a hike at Urguhart Castle for a search for Nessie the Lochness Monster. Then we will enjoy a truly historic hike in Stirling including the (Braveheart) National Wallace Monument and the Stirling Castle beheading stone. 

DINING IN STIRLING

AT OUR HOTEL

DAY 12 SATURDAY, Stirling

After our hotel breakfast  we will depart for the 90 minute ride to the Kingdom of Fife and historic St. Andrews.  En route we will do an awesome hike at Alva Glen. It features five waterfalls and some cool grass trails high up in the glen. Then on to St. Andrews for a beautiful trek including the ruins of

Scotland’s biggest cathedral, the Old Town Gate, Scotland’s oldest

university, the Old Course (the home of golf) and the West Sands Beach where the movie Chariots of Fire was filmed. There will be time for shopping and dining before we return to Stirling.

DAY 13 SUNDAY, RETURN

Early travel day:   Our flight leaves Edinburgh at 9:40AM. We will clear customs in Newark and arrive to Chicago at 4:57PM.  We should be back in Niles at about 8:30PM.   There's no extra charge for the many memories you will carry home with you.