Scottish Highlands & Balmoral

Itinerary

Day 1

Join your comfortable coach this morning and head north with convenient stops, crossing the border into bonnie Scotland and the delightful city of Perth. On arrival take time to settle in to your comfortable hotel ready to sample the best in Scottish hospitality. Maybe take time for a wee dram at the bar before your first delicious dinner, with time to meet fellow travellers and make new friends before your adventure begins.

Days 2 to 4

Enjoy a delicious Scottish breakfast each morning and be prepared to be amazed every day. There will be plenty of time to relax at your hotel, but we know you're here to enjoy the fabulous excursions we have included in your package showcasing this beautiful area. No matter what you get up to during the day, you can always look forward to a warm welcome from your hotel when you return, and every evening you'll enjoy delicious Scottish fayre and even entertainment on some evenings. Snuggle up with a wee dram and look back on your amazing adventures of the day with fellow travellers and new friends.

Your experiences include visits to Balmoral Castle grounds, the Scottish holiday home of the Royal Family. You can also admire the stunning panoramas over Loch Tummel at the Queen’s View Visitor Centre, with time in Pitlochry and Aberfeldy whilst experiencing the beautiful scenery of the Perthshire Tourist Route. You can also discover Dundee, a UNESCO City of Design, plus Scone Palace, the iconic crowning place of Scottish Kings. You're going to love it!

* Please note visit to Balmoral includes the grounds and gardens only. The Ballroom is the only room in the Castle available for viewing, but we have been advised that it is not available for our visit. All other rooms within the Castle are His Majesty The King's private rooms and as such are not open to the public. We have therefore now added a visit and entrance to Scone Palace to this departure.

Day 5

After an amazing few days enjoy a final hearty Scottish breakfast this morning before saying 'bye for noo' and heading homewards with amazing memories, new friends and no doubt a few souvenirs!

Perth

INCLUDED Visitor DestinationPerth was the ancient capital of Scotland for five centuries, and now the country’s newest city. This bustling and compact place on the banks of the River Tay is a sparkling cosmopolitan gem with a few surprises. There are public parks, Georgian townhouses, cobbled streets and medieval spires mixed in with modern art galleries and museums. It is also a great location for shopping.

Braemar

Found in the heart of Royal Deeside, at the gateway to the Cairngorms National Park, Braemar is encircled by mountains, valleys and woodlands. This embracing village remains one of the area’s most popular visitor spots. A cohesive and supportive community of around 450 inhabitants, the village is known around the world for the annual Braemar Gathering. The event attracts around 15,000 people on the first Saturday in September each year and had the patronage of Her Majesty the Queen. Almost all Braemar is now a conservation area. The village is compact with a mix of grand Victorian houses, modest cottages, narrow roads and lanes and retains a unique character. Enjoyed by families and sports enthusiasts all year round, the village is home to the UK’s highest golf course, 17th century Braemar Castle and an abundance of outdoor activities. You can visit Braemar Highland Games Centre and learn all about one of Scotland’s best loved traditions, The Highland Games, through the story of the Braemar Gathering and its royal links. A short distance from the village you will also find Scotland’s largest ski resort, Glenshee.

 

Balmoral Estate Gardens & Grounds

INCLUDED Visitor Destination

Balmoral Estate enjoys a great location amidst the magnificent scenery of Royal Deeside and is located about midway between the villages of Braemar and Ballater. It is easy to understand why it became a favourite holiday retreat of the Royal family. Purchased by Prince Albert in 1852 for Queen Victoria, the Estate has been the Scottish holiday home of the Royal Family ever since and a favourite of the late Queen Elizabeth. The history of the Castle itself is fascinating, as it is not the original building that Prince Albert bought. It was decided that the old building was not adequate for the Royal Family’s needs so another one was built in the grounds nearby. The process took 4 years, and the new Castle was completed in 1856. The old building was demolished, but the location of its front door is marked by a commemorative stone on the grounds of the estate. The grounds are extensive and beautifully maintained, and the stables have a collection of Royal carriages and cars. There is an excellent tearoom and shop, for those looking to take a little bit of royal Scotland home with them...

Admission includes access to the grounds and beautifully maintained gardens, the stables with a collection of Royal carriages and cars. The Castle Ballroom, which is the only room sometimes available for viewing, is not available for viewing on this visit. All others rooms within the Castle are His Majesty The King's private rooms and as such are never open to the public. 

There is an excellent tearoom on the grounds and a shop for you to buy a souvenir to commemorate your royal visit.

Aberfeldy

Aberfeldy is situated on Scotland's longest river, the river Tay, and is home to The Birks of Aberfeldy, made famous by the national bard Robert Burns. Burns wrote a poem about The Birks in 1787 and you can follow the footpaths for 2 miles up to the Falls of Moness, where you will discover spectacular views! The town is also home to Dewar’s Aberfeldy Distillery, which is open throughout the year, why not pop in and take a tour and a dram? The heritage exhibition is well worth a visit where you can learn more about John Dewar & Sons. You can also enjoy the unique experience of Aberfeldy Watermill, a bookshop, café, and gallery housed in a listed former watermill.

The Queens View

The Queen’s View in Highland Perthshire overlooks Loch Tummel and is said to have been named after Queen Victoria, following her visit to the area in 1866. The Queen’s View Visitor Centre lies at the eastern edge of Loch Tummel and is surrounded by part of the Tay Forest Park. As well as a stunning viewpoint overlooking the loch and beyond to the iconic Schiehallion, the area offers a range of woodland walks suitable for all abilities. One of the most photographed areas in Scotland, Queen Victoria is said to have remarked that the spectacular view was named after her, when she visited the area in 1866. However, it has also been suggested that the view was in fact named after King Robert the Bruce’s wife, Queen Isabella of Scotland, over 550 years earlier. The visitor centre includes a café and detailed information about the forests and area surrounding Highland Perthshire.

Pitlochry

Pitlochry is the largest town in Highland Perthshire with a residential population of around 3,000 inhabitants and peaking at over 5,000 people during the tourist season. A popular Victorian town, Pitlochry Scotland was created as the direct result of the first purpose built military roads and later the turn pike roads in the highlands. The military road from Dunkeld to Inverness were built by General Wade’s in 1728, so as to open up the highlands and ‘civilize’ the glens.

The arrival of the railway in 1863 saw an explosion of visitors to the town. Thousands arrived on account of the new form of affordable travel. The style of architecture is known today as Scottish Baronial. It is a style that frequently incorporated towers and adorned by small turrets. The magnificent H plan of the Atholl Palace Hotel was completed in 1878. Today the Atholl Palace dominates the Pitlochry sky line as you approach the town from the south. Many visitors thinking it is a castle, not a hotel.

Pitlochry is best known for its fish ladder and dam. The Pitlochry Dam Visitor Centre overlooking the dam was opened in 2018 and is a short walk from the town centre. The Pitlochry dam was completed in 1950 as part of the ingenious linear amalgamation of power stations in the highlands. The dam’s fish ladder became a tourist attraction. It was designed to allow the migrating salmon to bypass the dam. Each year thousands are counted as they migrate to their spawning grounds up stream.

Dundee

INCLUDED Visitor DestinationDundee is a vibrant city on the east coast of Scotland that seamlessly blends rich history with contemporary charm. Immerse yourself in the cultural tapestry and distinctive offerings of this dynamic destination. Begin your exploration by visiting the iconic V&A Dundee, a waterfront architectural marvel housing world-class exhibitions and design collections. Stroll along the Dundee Contemporary Arts (DCA) district, where creativity thrives in galleries and cafes. Take a leisurely walk through Slessor Gardens, a beautiful green space along the waterfront, or venture to the historic McManus Galleries for a glimpse into Dundee's past. Why not savour local flavours at one of the city's charming eateries.

Scone Palace

INCLUDED Visitor DestinationScone Palace breathes history like nowhere else in Scotland. It is the family home of the Earls of Mansfield and the ancient crowning place of Scottish kings on the Stone of Scone. See where the Stone, known as the Stone of Destiny, once stood. It now resides in Edinburgh Castle. Set on the edge of Perth this was the crowning place of Scottish kings for over 1,000 years, including Robert the Bruce and Charles II. You can wander down the Long Galley where King Charles II strode to his coronation in 1661. During the Jacobite rebellions, the ‘Old Pretender’ spent three weeks at Scone while his son, Bonnie Prince Charlie, visited in 1745. Learn about the Jacobite rebellions, the needlework skills of Mary Queen of Scots, see the State Rooms where Queen Victoria was entertained on visits, and wander the beautiful gardens and woodlands that surround the palace. 

Tour includes

• 4 nights hotel with full Scottish breakfast & evening meals
• Time to relax and unwind in Perth
• Entrance to Balmoral Estate with access to the grounds and gardens only 
• Visit to Braemar
• Visit to Aberfeldy
• Visit to the Queen's View Visitor Centre
• Time to explore Pitlochry
• Visit to Dundee 
• Entrance to Scone Palace
• Direct Coach Travel
• Net Zero Carbon Offset Certificate

*Balmoral visit includes grounds, gardens only. The Ballroom Exhibition is regretably not available for our visit and all other rooms are not open to the public. We have now added a visit and entry to Scone Palace on this departure Back to top

Accommodation

Salutation Hotel

Located in the heart of Perth town centre our hotel not only offers a central location but also easy access to surrounding areas and attractions. The Salutation has been welcoming guests through its doors for some time, 1699 to be precise with the most famous patrons to sample our hospitality being Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1745 (take a look at its history to find out more). Although the Salutation might not look as big as it is, it has 84 comfortably furnished bedrooms and wonderful public areas including the Adam Restaurant and Reid's Bar.

For more information on this hotel, please follow this LINK

Hotel Location

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