Spring in Scotland

For any traveler that has to travel overnight to Scotland, you'll want to depart on May 19 to arrive on May 20! 
 

Welcome to Edinburgh! With varying arrival times and many of us having traveled for a while to get here, we're taking it easy today.

We recommend taking the bus into the city from the airport, it's a great sustainable and affordable option. We are able to access our rooms after 3PM, so if you arrive before then feel free to drop your bags at the hotel and enjoy some free time. All meals are on our own today, there are lots of options and price points for you to choose from. Tonight we'll gather as a group to go over our itinerary and expectations for traveling together! 

Today it's all about Edinburgh! After breakfast on our own we'll meet in the lobby for a walking tour of the Royal Mile, including Edinburgh Castle. This stretch of street is a "living witness to Scottish history since the Middle Ages". We'll wind our way up and down through the Closes, small alleyways, as we imagine what life here used to be like hundreds of years ago and learn how the area transformed into what we see today. Audio-guides will support our time in Edinburgh Castle, a fortress filled with stories and with panoramic views of the city.

After an included group lunch, the afternoon is yours! A few suggestions: 

• A hike up Calton Hill or Arthur's Seat 
• A whisky tasting at Johnnie Walker Princes Street or The Scotch Whisky Experience
• Take a stroll through the Princes Street Gardens or Deans Village
• Enjoy a whisky or grab a pint at a pub
• A visit to Greyfriars Kirk, this historical cemetery is rumored to have inspired some of the names in Harry Potter 
• Visit the Writer's Museum, National Museum of Scotland, or National Galleries
• Create an Islander Harris Tweed handbag 
• Check out local artisan markets like Tron Kirk & Scottish Design Exchange
• Relax at afternoon tea 
• Browse Edinburgh's boutique bookstores

This evening we'll gather again for our welcome dinner at The Dome! 

Breakfast is on our own as we prepare to depart Edinburgh this morning. Alison will pick-up our private van for the rest of the trip and then collect everyone at the hotel. 

We'll first do a quick photo stop at The Kelpies, the largest equine statues in the world. Then we continue on to Stirling Castle, which is one of the most important in Scotland both historically and architecturally. 

For lunch today we'll enjoy the café at Deanston Distillery. You can try a whisky as well if you like! As we hit the road again, we'll wind our way through the beautiful Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park. We'll take a quick walk to the Kilchurn Castle viewpoint. This picturesque landscape is worth the boggy walk, which takes advantage of Scotland's "right to roam" - which allows responsible public access to all land. 

As we arrive in Oban we'll take in the harbor from above at McCaig's Tower. After checking into our hotel, dinner is on your own. 

Making dinner recommendations in advance while we are in Oban are *highly* recommended. If you prefer takeout there are multiple options as well. 

• Visit the Oban Distillery
• Ferry ride to:
  • Isle of Kerrera
  • Isle of Mull (then take the bus to Tobermory)
• Walk the promenade to Dunollie Castle
• Oban Chocolate Company
• Oban War & Peace Museum
• Local boat trip (if in season) to see things like wildlife, castles, and/or whirlpools
• Sea Kayaking
• Taste test which fish n' chips establishment you think is the best! 

Meals are on our own today, but anyone who went out for the day tour to the islands will be back in time for dinner in case you want to link up with others. Again, it's either takeout or make reservations in advance! 

Enjoy an included breakfast at our hotel before having some free time in Oban. A few suggestions: 

• Tour the Oban Distillery

• Walk the promenade to Dunollie Castle

• Shop at the Oban Chocolate Company

• Visit the Oban War & Peace Museum

• Go Sea Kayaking 

• Take the ferry to the Isle of Kerrera

Grab lunch during your free time and then the group will hit the road in the early afternoon. You have some truly beautiful Highland views to take in today, so make sure your camera is charged! Glens, waterfalls, rivers, moors, and more. Rain or shine, these landscapes are truly awe-inspiring. 

Tonight, you have a one-night hotel stay in Fort William. We recommend packing an overnight bag so you can leave your suitcase in the van. Dinner tonight is included at a local establishment. Two of the well-reviewed restaurants within a few minutes walk from the hotel are The Geographer and the Ben Nevis Bar. 

Breakfast is included today at our hotel and then it is allllll aboard! 

We'll journey from Fort William to Mallaig on The Jacobite steam train**. This stretch of track was completed in 1901, but it wasn't until 1995 that the line's name was changed to The Jacobite, so dubbed because of the many Jacobite historical moments that took place in the area. This is one of the most beautiful train rides, winding past lochs, waterfalls, patches of wildflowers, small villages, and important historical sites. And of course, keep your cameras ready as we approach the Glenfinnan Viaduct, famous in its own right and made even more so after being a backdrop to scenes from the Harry Potter films. This curved Viaduct is the longest concrete railway bridge in Scotland (416 yards / 380m), and sits 100 feet high above the River Finnan.  

With lunch on your own today, you could grab a to-go lunch before getting on the train or get a bite upon arrival in Mallaig. There are not a lot of options in Mallaig as it is a small town, so we recommend a reservation or pre-ordering a picnic box from the Bloom & Graze food truck (they're cute & tasty!). 

Take time to check out the working waterfront, with dozens of large fishing boats, plus the many cute local shops (yes, including Haggard Alley if you're a HP fan). There is also a great art gallery with original pieces, prints, cards, and more in town that is full of treasures. Another idea is to hop on the wildlife boat tour that perfectly aligns with the train times!

After riding the train back to Fort William, we'll drive on to one of the most well-known places in all of Scotland: Loch Ness! Keep your eyes peeled for Nessie when we stop in Fort Augustus, at the southern end of the loch, to take in the views along the shore line. 

Finally, we arrive in Inverness for the last two nights of our trip together. Our hotel is perfectly located right in the city center. 

**Please note - West Coast Railways (WCR) operates the Jacobite Steam Train. While we already have tickets booked, there is a possibility that our departure may be canceled. This is because WCR was relying on a "pass" from the governing body that oversees train safety for years. The historical train cars do not have central locking systems, which is required on all other Scottish trains. They've been pushing back on this and filed another exception request on March 8. On March 20 they emailed everyone with bookings to inform that they aren't sure if and when that exemption will be approved. We have contingency plans for our tour to either take the regular train on the same route or go via our private transportation if this occurs. 

There is so much to see and do in this area, so we're giving you the option to customize today to your liking! Have a bite of breakfast on your own and then enjoy your last full day in Scotland! 

Choose between one (or both) of the optional experiences:

• Morning walk in the magical Reelig Glen, just outside the city
• Tour of Urquarht Castle, located on the bank of Loch Ness, and lunch at a local farm where you'll meet Highland Cows

If you prefer sticking around Inverness or enjoying free time after the optional experiences, here are a few suggestions: 

• Leakey’s Bookshop
• Black Isle Brewery bar
• Afternoon Tea
• Bad Girl Bakery
• Highland Malt Whisky Experience
• The Mustard Seed restaurant
• Take the public bus to get out and tour the Culloden Battlefield

This evening we'll gather together again to enjoy the beautiful River Ness Walk before our farewell dinner at The White House!