Itinerary
- Day 1
Edinburgh to Aberdeen
Head north from Edinburgh into Fife and check out Falkland Palace, a former royal hunting lodge where Mary Queen of Scots played tennis on what's considered the world's oldest court. The medieval village of Falkland itself is worth a walk around. After that, you'll reach St Andrews for lunch, then spend time wandering through the cobbled lanes and looking at the university buildings. In the afternoon, drive to the dramatic clifftop Dunnottar Castle before heading into Aberdeen for the night. The whole day moves you through different periods of Scottish history, so it's quite a range of sights.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Admission to Falkland Palace
- Explore Falkland medieval village
- Visit Dunnottar Castle
Optional Activities
- Photography at Dunnottar Castle
Landmarks/POIs Falkland Palace Falkland St Andrews Dunnottar Castle - Day 2
Royal Deeside
This day focuses on the castles of Royal Deeside. Start with Castle Fraser, which has impressive Scottish baronial architecture and an 18th-century walled garden worth exploring. Grab lunch in Ballater, then head to Crathes Castle with its distinctive pinkish color and check out both the interior rooms and the gardens around it. The castle has quite a bit of history attached to it. From there, drive back to Aberdeen for another night, so you're building your knowledge of this particular region's castles and estates.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Admission to Castle Fraser
- Explore Castle Fraser walled garden
- Admission to Crathes Castle
- Explore Crathes Castle gardens
Landmarks/POIs Castle Fraser Ballater Crathes Castle - Day 3
Aberdeen to Nairn
Travel north to see more of Scotland's castle heritage and historical sites. Fyvie Castle, dating back to the 13th century, has collections of arms, armor, and tapestries inside. Have lunch in Elgin, then walk through the ruins of Elgin Cathedral where there are intricate Pictish stone carvings to see. Later in the afternoon, visit Culloden Battlefield, which was the location of the last battle fought on British soil, before continuing to Nairn for the night. This particular day covers more somber historical ground than the earlier ones.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Admission to Fyvie Castle
- Admission to Culloden Visitor Centre, Museum & Battlefield
- Explore Elgin Cathedral grounds and Pictish stone
Landmarks/POIs Fyvie Castle Elgin Cathedral Culloden Battlefield - Day 4
Nairn to Edinburgh
Head south through scenic Scottish landscapes to wrap up the trip. Start at Cardhu Distillery, historically pioneering as the first whisky distillery founded by a woman, and try their whisky there. Pass through Kingussie with a quick photo stop at Ruthven Barracks, then explore Blair Castle, which has connections to Mary Queen of Scots, a ballroom decorated with 175 antlers, and a 9-acre Georgian garden. From there, drive through Perthshire and return to Edinburgh by evening, completing the castle tour loop through Scotland.
Included Activities
- Flavour journey tour and tasting at Cardhu Distillery
- Admission to Blair Castle and Garden
Optional Activities
- Photo stop at Ruthven Barracks
Landmarks/POIs Cardhu Distillery Ruthven Barracks Blair Castle
