From smart Georgian townhouses and world-class art galleries to wild beaches and remote lochs, Scotland is a country of contrasts.
The capital, Edinburgh, is the cultural heart of the nation, home to the Royal Mile, Palace of Holyroodhouse and Edinburgh Castle, plus hip restaurants and bars hidden down cobblestone alleys. Dig into traditional haggis with neeps and tatties (mashed swede and potatoes), washed down with whisky from centuries-old distillers.
Venture just a few hours outside Edinburgh and you’ll experience the wild side of Scotland. Our adventurous trips – led by our Local Insiders – not only cover the major cities, but the wilderness too.
Head northwest to discover the emerald glens and pine forests of the Highlands, best explored on foot. Lace up your hiking boots and follow the West Highland Way to Loch Lomond, the largest lake in Scotland, immortalised in the popular folk song. Alternatively, in the winter, go further north to the Glencoe Mountain Resort, where you can snowshoe past mountain peaks and test yourself in the largest indoor ice climbing centre on the planet.
On our small-group tours, you’ll enjoy hassle-free travel to off-the-beaten-track destinations, like the Inner and Outer Hebrides, an archipelago of windswept islands, fringed with turquoise water and white-sand beaches. Highlights include visiting a 5,000-year-old stone circle, admiring the sea views from mountain ridge tops and learning about the Celtic-speaking culture that has existed here for thousands of years.
