Classic Tour of Scotland

• Stirling Castle and Bridge
• Doune Castle
• Bannockburn
• Glen Coe
• The Isle of Skye
• Eilean Donan Castle
• Loch Ness

Going beyond the usual Scottish tropes, this tour is a ‘Classic Classic’ whisking you away from city life on an epic journey through Scottish heritage, culture and abundant wilderness and scenery. Learn about kingship, nobility, commonality, clanship, land rights and transmigration, woven in and out of history and stories. Iconic names are included: Stirling Castle and Bridge, Doune Castle, Bannockburn, Glen Coe, The Isle of Skye, Eilean Donan Castle, Loch Ness, and also gardens, waterfalls, lesser known glens, local encounters, tales of life on the land and the sea. Evenings can be spent in serene walking, and dining on fabulous locally sourced food and drink.

DAY ONE: Leave Edinburgh at 8.30am for Stirling and the West Highlands; plenty of opportunities for sightseeing on this private tour and first off we visit the Old Town of Stirling with its castle and Renaissance palace, and the Holy Rude Church; view Stirling Bridge and the Wallace Monument.

We recount the big Scottish stories, drawing on history and legend, from Braveheart to Bannockburn, and have a closer look at how these have had an impact on the Scots and on people outside Scotland. View Doune Castle, a film location for 'Monty Python's Holy Grail' and 'Outlander'.

Along the old drovers route of Glen Dochart, and through the country of Rob Roy, we take a light lunch at the ethically aware The Real Food Cafe.Journey across Rannoch Moor and by Glen Etive, a location for the 2012 Bond movie, Skyfall, to Glen Coe (Harry Potter, Monty Python...) to view its epic splendour and hear some well-known and lesser-known tales, stay for the evening at the hideaway Pierhouse Hotel and Restaurant in Port Appin with its fine fresh seafood (including shellfish such as lobster and scallops) or via the Glenfinnan Viaduct (commonly known these days as the "Harry Potter Bridge") to the beautiful West Coast village of Arisaig with its pristine beaches nearby.

DAY TWO: After awaking to the sound of the sea, and a delicious home-cooked breakfast, saunter along the Road to the Isles to Mallaig to take the ferry to the magical Isle of Skye, travel in the shadow of giants by experiencing the Tolkeinesque landscapes of the Red and Black Cuillin Mountains, walk to an Iron Age Broch (fort), tread lightly at the wonderful and enigmatic Fairy Glen (option of walk up into Castle Ewen), take in the Quirang (part of the Trotternish landslip), Kilt Rock and the Old Man of Storr; this is a day of breathtaking scenery, reading the land, and hearing a local story or two; night in Portree.

DAY THREE: Visit Eilean Donan Castle, a great Edwardian reconstruction of a medieval castle, along Glen Moriston and by Roderick Mackenzie's grave, visit Loch Ness and its kaleidoscope of theories and stories, option of going out onto Loch Ness for the folklore, history, geology and the special tranquility at the centre of this loch, lunch stop at the crafty Pottery Bunkhouse with its unmissable tartan scones, views of Blair Castle (a great fund of family lore and treasure in an ancient family home), stay at the small highland resort town of Pitlochry at: Wellwood House or Poplars Guest House.

DAY FOUR: visit the tiny 'city' of Dunkeld with its ancient cathedral, a place of spiritual significance and a centre of Christianity for over a thousand years, its' carefully restored early 18th century village centre with water wynds, fountain and Ell measure, across Thomas Telford's Bridge over the River Tay to Birnam (of Shakespeare's Macbeth) and Beatrix Potter Garden, over the Tay Bridge to St. Andrews, home of golf, Scotland's oldest university, castle and cathedral, beaches, and fine old town with medieval street plan, beautiful houses, cafes and restaurants.

Back to Edinburgh for early evening. This tour can also be built around bagpipe playing in Portree (Tuesday in summer). The tour can be taken with accommodation and stops serving vegetarian food.