4 Days / 3 Nights: Scottish Castles Experience - Small Group Tour in Edinburgh

Edinburgh · Small Group Tours · GBP 1128.68

DAY 1 | FALKLAND PALACE AND DUNNOTAR CASTLE Peer beyond the walls of Falkland Palace and find out why Mary Queen of Scots loved it Walk the cobbled streets of the ‘Home of Golf’, St Andrews You depart from Edinburgh, travel north, and cross the Queensferry Crossing into the ancient Kingdom of Fife. Your first visit of the day is Falkland Palace. It started as a hunting lodge for the Scottish kings and was later transformed into a more lavish place. When Mary Queen of Scots stayed here, she would…. play tennis on the world's oldest tennis court, which you can still see in the palace gardens. Follow in the footsteps of this tragic heroine and explore the medieval village of Falkland, which also features in the television show, Outlander. You continue to St Andrews where you have a chance to get lunch and explore the cobbled lanes and ancient university buildings. In the afternoon, you keep travelling north and you visit Dunnottar Castle. This ruined cliff-top fortress is one of Scotland’s megastars and adorns the front covers of travel magazines everywhere. So, it’s a great spot to take in the view and test your photo skills. Accommodation : 3* Hotel or Bed and Breakfast depending on the option selected. Overnight in Aberdeen . DAY 2 | CASTLE FRASER AND CRATHES CASTLE Wander through the beautiful gardens of Castle Fraser Relive the mysterious tales of Crathes Castle Today is spent in the Royal Deeside area, famous for its many castles. Your first visit is Castle Fraser, one of the grandest of the Scottish baronial tower houses. You can round the visit off with a walk through the beautiful 18th-century walled garden. Later, you travel to Ballater for lunch, a charming village with close associations with the British royal family. Crathes Castle provides the highlight for your afternoon. With its pinkish façade, turrets, and a colourful garden, it looks like a fairytale castle, but it’s also haunted by the Green Lady. You’re free to explore the house and stunning gardens at your own pace. Wandering through the outstanding, world-renowned June Borders, beautiful vistas of the castle can be seen through the fusion of colourful flowers. Accommodation : 3* Hotel or Bed and Breakfast depending on the option selected. Overnight in Aberdeen . DAY 3 | FYVIE CASTLE, ELGIN AND CULLODEN BATTLEFIELD Admire the ancient tapestries at Fyvie Castle Learn about Britain’s last land-fought battle at Culloden Your tour heads further north and starts the day with a visit to Fyvie Castle. Fyvie Castle dates back to the 13th century and has a fine collection of arms and armour as well as 17th-century tapestries. You continue, travelling through beautiful scenery to Elgin, where you have lunch. If you are a history lover, make sure to marvel at the intricated carvings of a weathered Pictish stone, standing on the grounds of the ruined Elgin Cathedral. In the afternoon, we continue to Culloden Battlefield, where the final Jacobite Rising came to a harrowing end, bringing on the persecution of the Highland way of life. Walk around this eerie, flat, and tragic landscape and pay tribute to those who lost their lives at the last battle fought on British soil. After the visit, you continue to Nairn for your overnight stay. Accommodation : 3* Hotel or Bed and Breakfast depending on the option selected. Overnight in Nairn. DAY 4 | BLAIR CASTLE AND CARDHU DISTILLERY Sample whisky at the heart of the Speyside Region Step into Scottish history at Blair Castle* You travel south through some of the most stunning scenery Scotland has to offer. First, you can sample the rich and slightly fruity whisky at Cardhu, which is the first distillery pioneered by a woman, Helen Cumming. You pass Kingussie, where you may have an opportunity for a quick photo stop at the Ruthven Barracks. From here, you continue south to Blair Castle. As you explore this historic site, learn about Mary Queen of Scots, discover a ballroom adorned with 175 antlers, roam the 9-acre Georgian garden, and have lunch. Then, you continue your journey through the lush landscapes of Perthshire, home to some of the most remarkable woodlands, and have a break in one of the picturesque towns. You return over the Firth of Forth to Edinburgh in the evening. Itinerary and distillery visits are subject to change. *Please note that Blair Castle will be closed on 6th October 2025. If your tour departs on 3rd October 2025, we will be unable to visit the castle on this day. We apologise for the inconvenience.