Scottish Castles & Manor Houses Experience
Scotland in splendor
History, breathtaking natural beauty, and convenient stays in charming Scottish castles and manor house - see and experience it all on this 7-night adventure!
What's Included
- Round-trip economy class airfare to Edinburgh (EDI)
- Manual economy rental car for the duration Enterprise UK
- Accommodations in hotels listed, or similar:
- 1 night in Edinburgh at Macdonald Houstoun House or similar
- 1 night in the Grampians at Norwood Hall Hotel or similar
- 2 nights in the Scottish Highlands at Mansfield Castle or similar
- 2 nights in Argyll at Loch Melfort House or similar
- 1 night in Edinburgh at Macdonald Houstoun House or similar
- Breakfast daily
- Scottish Heritage Pass, granting free entrance to Scotland’s most outstanding historic attractions, such as Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle and much more (available only for travel April through September; those traveling from October to March will receive the Scottish Explorer Pass, which also offers admissions to such historic properties as Edinburgh Castle and Stirling Castle)
- Service charges and 20% VAT
Please Note: While we always do our best to ensure that at least one or more castle-style property is included in your confirmed accommodation, we, unfortunately, cannot guarantee this as castle hotels are limited throughout Scotland. Please note that you will have plenty of opportunities to visit various historic castles during this trip with the use of your included Heritage or Explorer Pass.
Great Ways to Explore
-
Explore Scotland at your own pace with this comprehensive 7-night getaway.
- Experience the beautiful countryside, bustling city life and everything in between during your self-drive vacation.
-
Includes the Scottish Heritage Pass which gives you access to over 120 of Scotland's top visitor attractions.
-
You'll enjoy stays in traditional manor homes, castles and charming hotels along the way!
-
Indulge in traditional Scottish dishes such as fish and chips, haggis, the Arbroath Smokie, salmon, and so much more!
Experience Scotland while staying in Scottish castles and manor houses for seven nights! Start your adventure in Edinburgh, where you will be immersed in the vibrant atmosphere and exciting environment of this capital city.
From there, hop in your rental car and drive to the areas of Aberdeen, the Scottish Highlands, and Argyll. Pass by breathtaking natural wonders, iconic castles, and and maybe even a historic ruin or two along the way. Scotland has so much to offer its visitors and with this trip you will be able to experience the beautiful countryside, bustling city life, and everything in between. Along your journey you will have the Scottish Heritage Pass which gives you access to over 120 of Scotland’s top visitor attractions!
Please note that some recommendations in the following suggested itinerary may not be included in your package. Check What's Included above for full details on inclusions.
- Round-trip economy class airfare to Edinburgh (EDI)
- Manual economy rental car for the duration Enterprise UK
- Accommodations in hotels listed, or similar:
- 1 night in Edinburgh at Macdonald Houstoun House or similar
- 1 night in the Grampians at Norwood Hall Hotel or similar
- 2 nights in the Scottish Highlands at Mansfield Castle or similar
- 2 nights in Argyll at Loch Melfort House or similar
- 1 night in Edinburgh at Macdonald Houstoun House or similar
- Breakfast daily
- Scottish Heritage Pass, granting free entrance to Scotland’s most outstanding historic attractions, such as Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle and much more (available only for travel April through September; those traveling from October to March will receive the Scottish Explorer Pass, which also offers admissions to such historic properties as Edinburgh Castle and Stirling Castle)
- Service charges and 20% VAT
Please Note: While we always do our best to ensure that at least one or more castle-style property is included in your confirmed accommodation, we, unfortunately, cannot guarantee this as castle hotels are limited throughout Scotland. Please note that you will have plenty of opportunities to visit various historic castles during this trip with the use of your included Heritage or Explorer Pass.
-
Explore Scotland at your own pace with this comprehensive 7-night getaway.
- Experience the beautiful countryside, bustling city life and everything in between during your self-drive vacation.
-
Includes the Scottish Heritage Pass which gives you access to over 120 of Scotland's top visitor attractions.
-
You'll enjoy stays in traditional manor homes, castles and charming hotels along the way!
-
Indulge in traditional Scottish dishes such as fish and chips, haggis, the Arbroath Smokie, salmon, and so much more!
Experience Scotland while staying in Scottish castles and manor houses for seven nights! Start your adventure in Edinburgh, where you will be immersed in the vibrant atmosphere and exciting environment of this capital city.
From there, hop in your rental car and drive to the areas of Aberdeen, the Scottish Highlands, and Argyll. Pass by breathtaking natural wonders, iconic castles, and and maybe even a historic ruin or two along the way. Scotland has so much to offer its visitors and with this trip you will be able to experience the beautiful countryside, bustling city life, and everything in between. Along your journey you will have the Scottish Heritage Pass which gives you access to over 120 of Scotland’s top visitor attractions!
Please note that some recommendations in the following suggested itinerary may not be included in your package. Check What's Included above for full details on inclusions.
Day 1. Welcome to Edinburgh!
After collecting your baggage, pick up your rental car and let your adventure begin! Your visit starts in Edinburgh; on the drive from the airport to your hotel, see the elegant Charlotte Square and the tree-lined crescents of the 18th century Georgian New Town – both fine architectural examples of the period. Leave your car at the hotel and visit Princes Street – the city’s main thoroughfare with many shops and peaceful gardens.
Travel through the Old Town, steeped in history with its cobbled streets. High Street was the center of all activity in the city in centuries gone by. Pass St. Giles Cathedral, the City Chambers and John Knox House as you wander along the Royal Mile, which extends from Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyrood House.
Set in 22 acres of beautiful woodlands, Macdonald Houstoun House is the perfect country hotel and retreat. Once visited by Mary Queen of Scots, this historic building has the classic grace of a historic 16th century Tower House. As befits an elegant country retreat, it offers 70 stylish and comfortable guestrooms, which blend luxury and character. For traditional Scottish fare with a modern twist, the Jeremy Wares at Houstoun House restaurant is a two AA Rosettes Award-winner for excellent local ingredients, expertly cooked in season. In the cellar, the cozy and more relaxed Vaulted Bar is the perfect spot for a drink or afternoon tea. Guests will also enjoy the hotel's Vital Health and Wellbeing Club, with fully equipped Technogym, 60-foot indoor swimming pool, sauna, steam and spa treatment rooms, as well as the clay surface tennis court concealed in the hotel's lovely walled gardens, offered free of charge to hotel guests.
Norton House Hotel & Spa was built in 1840 as a traditional country retreat, removed from the bustle of the city yet convenient to everything Edinburgh offers. Originally owned by the Ushers, the family behind Glenlivet Whisky and The Ushers Brewery, the house still has the appearance of a private country home; connected yet secluded, traditional and modern, refined but never stuffy, it is now known as a hotel offering understated luxury, beautiful surroundings, stylish dining and 21st century comforts.
The hotel features 83 elegant guestrooms, including 36 stylish Executive Rooms, each boasting LCD televisions in the bedroom and bathroom, DVD/CD player, complimentary Wi-Fi, bathroom with underfloor heating and hand-picked Gilchrist & Soames toiletries, fridge with complimentary bottled water, and more. Norton House also offers some of the finest dining experiences and restaurants in Edinburgh.
Scottish Heritage Pass
The Scottish Heritage Pass is a 7-day entrance pass that gives access to over 120 historic properties throughout Scotland – including the country’s finest castles, palaces, abbeys, gardens, stately homes and prehistoric sites. It makes seeing a host of “must-see” heritage attractions all over Scotland – including Edinburgh Castle, the Battle of Bannockburn Visitor Centre, Culloden Battlefield, Culzean Castle, Urquhart Castle, and Stirling Castle – at a great value. Please present your voucher in exchange for the Scottish Heritage Pass at any of the following exchange points: Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle, Urquhart Castle or Glasgow Cathedral. Your pass will be valid for 7 consecutive days from the first day of use, and entitles you to free admission to any site which is listed as one of the Scottish Heritage Pass attractions, subject to individual opening times.
Day 2. Edinburgh - Perth - Grampians/Royal Deeside
Depart Edinburgh and cross the Forth Estuary via the impressive suspension bridge on M90 to Perth. The city of Perth is the former capital of Scotland and is situated at the head of the River Tay - famous for its salmon. Near Perth is Scone Palace, the private home of the Earl and Countess of Mansfield. The Palace has been a private home for over 400 years. As the former crowning place of Scottish Kings, the Palace boasts a magnificent collection of antiques - in particular ivories, porcelain and tapestries.
Continue on the A93 north via Blairgowrie, the Devil's Elbow and Spittal of Glenshee to Braemar. See Crathie Church, where the Royal Family attends Sunday service when vacationing at nearby Balmoral Castle.
Built in 1881 on the site of a 15th-century castle, Norwood Hall Hotel combines a rich heritage with modern amenities to create an unforgettable experience. Situated on the banks of the River Dee, the hotel is 3.3 miles from the historic Aberdeen city center and 9 miles from the airport. Rooms are traditionally furnished with rich fabrics, and all have en suite bathrooms, flat-screen TVs and free Wi-Fi, plus tea and coffeemaking facilities.
Wake up each morning to a full Scottish breakfast and in the evening dine at the formal restaurant serving classic Scottish food with views of the surrounding woodland. Sample some of the 80 types of whisky at the wood-panelled lounge bar. From your doorstep enjoy seven acres of private gardens!
Set on 44 acres of woodlands in the town of Inverurie, Thainstone House is a former country manor dating back to the 18th century. It's rich history as both a grand private home and a much loved Aberdeenshire landmark make this hotel truly one-of-a-kind. Thainstone House is minutes from the vibrant town of Inverurie and close to Aberdeen Airport. With rail links to and from Aberdeen city center and the airport, this hotel is perfect for a romantic weekend break or an extended stay.
Now lovingly restored, this elegant Aberdeen hotel welcomes its guests with traditional Scottish hospitality and 48 stylish bedrooms. Enjoy a meal from the lounge service menu in the Club Room, Lounge and Gallery by day and The Green Lady 2 AA Rosette restaurant or Stockman’s bar in the evening. Relaxing spa treatments are also available on site as is a sauna, indoor pool and gym.
Day 3. Scottish Highlands
Traveling through the Cairngorm Mountains you will leave the area on the A941 to Dufftown and the Spey Valley. Many of the famous malt whiskies are produced in this region - Cardhu, Glenlivet, Glenfiddich and Tamdhu to name but a few. Later in the day you will reach Elgin, an elegant city with the ruins of a magnificent medieval cathedral. Elgin is also well known for its cashmere, with its visitor center and restored old mills.
Continuing along the Moray Firth you will arrive in Nairn, an attractive family resort, well-known for its beautiful sandy beaches and golf courses. The A96 will take you to Inverness, passing Cawdor Castle. A family home for over 600 years, Cawdor Castle is surrounded by beautiful gardens and is worth a visit. Shakespeare's Macbeth was thane of Cawdor, and the castle is one of the traditional settings for Duncan's murder - however the castle itself was built many years after the events of the play. From here, drive to Nairn or further north past Inverness to your hotel.
Mansfield Castle is an imposing Victorian building set in 3.5 acres of picturesque countryside, with award winning cuisine and magnificent oak panelling throughout. The Castle is located in the Royal Burgh of Tain, just one hour from Inverness airport and in the heart of the Highlands of Scotland.
Mansfield Castle is the perfect venue for a short break or a complete getaway to indulge in a few rounds of golf, sea and loch fishing, walking, stalking, dolphin and seal watching, whisky tasting, clan associations and more. For the golfer, you will be spoilt with the famous Royal Dornoch Links course, and courses in Tain, Golspie, Brora, Helmsdale Golf Course, Durness Golf Club, The Carnegie Club at Skibo Castle, Royal Dornoch Struie Golf Course, Bonar Bridge/Ardgay Golf Club, Alness Golf Club and Invergordon to name just a few! It is also a fishing paradise with hundreds of lochs all holding wild brown trout. Aside from the lochs there is a good choice of salmon rivers with a chance of sea trout, too.
Stay in an authentic 1812 stone house in a cozy family-run hotel 1.4 miles from Forres town center and four miles from 16th-century Brodie Castle. Individually decorated rooms have TVs, and tea and coffeemaking facilities. Some rooms feature 4-poster beds or patio doors leading out to a garden. There's also a grill restaurant serving afternoon tea, plus a whisky bar where guests can unwind with a drink. A complimentary full Scottish breakfast is offered each morning. An Internet point is located on site and high-speed wireless Internet access is complimentary.
Day 4. Scottish Highlands
Spend your day at leisure in the area - there are endless opportunities to explore! Do some sightseeing in the city of Inverness, the capital of the Highlands, which combines some rich and romantic history with the present. Travel further into the Highlands to Gairloch with its turquoise waters and sandy beaches along the west coast. Or, along the east coast to the stunning Dunrobin Castle.
Special suggestion: Approximately 12 miles west of Inverness is the quiet village of Muir of Ord, near the western boundary of the Black Isle; in addition to the well-known Glen Ord Distillery it is home to Black Isle Brewing - a small, independent organic brewery producing some extraordinary beer - and offering daily tours Monday through Saturday year-round.
Day 5. Highlands - Loch Ness - Fort William - Argyll
From Inverness, follow the A82 south along Loch Ness, the most famous of all Scottish Lochs. It is approximately 800 feet deep and is famous for its monster, "Nessie." Loch Ness forms part of the Caledonian Canal which runs through the Great Glen.
Continue via Invermoriston and to the next lochs in the canal - Loch Oich and Loch Lochy. You will arrive in Fort William situated at the foot of Ben Nevis, Britain's highest mountain at almost 4,500 feet. Continue the route along the coastal road A 828 into Argyll.
Check-in - Loch Melfort Hotel
Step into the warmth and tranquility of this country family home, set on 17 acres of landscaped gardens and beach overlooking Loch Melfort on the romantic coast of Argyll in the Scottish Highlands. Dating back to the 19th century, the hotel features airy, individually decorated rooms and suites with sea views, free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and tea and coffeemaking facilities. Dine in the formal AA 2 Rosette Asknish Bay Restaurant or, for a more relaxed meal, the Chartroom Bistro offers light meals and snacks. For a truly special dining experience, choose your own menu in the tasteful wood panelled library and enjoy private dining for 2-18 people. Afternoon tea (fee) is available in the bistro and in a guest lounge with a fireplace. There’s a cozy bar and welcoming sitting rooms with perfect curl-up-and-read-a-book sofas next to our roaring log fire.
Day 6. Argyll & Surroundings
Today is free to discover this beautiful area. Perhaps pay a visit to Campbeltown, set on a deep bay sheltered by Davaar Island and the surrounding hills. Enjoy a guided tour and find out the secrets of whisky making in Kintyre at the Springbank Distillery, founded in 1828 by the Mitchell family - and still in their hands today. It retains the old distilling methods to make Longrow whisky, and welcomes visitors, provided you phone beforehand.
Close by, Glenbarr Abbey is an 18th century Gothic mansion and visitor center, offering a fascinating glimpse of family life in years gone by. The Heritage Center is a treasure-trove of interesting information, artifacts and exhibits, with a comfortable tea room too. At the mouth of Campbeltown Loch is Davaar Island, reached by foot at low tide, with its cave paintings depicting the crucifixion. Far from ancient, they were painted in 1887 by Archibald MacKinnon, inspired by a dream.
Day 7. Argyll - Stirling - Edinburgh
You have the choice this morning to take the A85 or A83 towards Crianlarich. From here you can take a small detour to Killin to see the Falls of Dochart, the dramatic waterfalls rushing through the center of the picturesque village. Drive along Loch Lubnaig through the beautiful Strathyre Forest towards the charming market town of Callander where you may wish to stop.
The city of Stirling is also worth a visit. The historic Royal Burgh stands on a bend on the River Forth and is known as the -Gateway to the Highlands' due to its strategic position. The imposing castle towers above the town on a 250 foot rock overlooking the nearby battlefield of Bannockburn. Around the town are various monuments commemorating famous Scottish patriots such as Robert the Bruce and William Wallace.
Set in 22 acres of beautiful woodlands, Macdonald Houstoun House is the perfect country hotel and retreat. Once visited by Mary Queen of Scots, this historic building has the classic grace of a historic 16th century Tower House. As befits an elegant country retreat, it offers 70 stylish and comfortable guestrooms, which blend luxury and character. For traditional Scottish fare with a modern twist, the Jeremy Wares at Houstoun House restaurant is a two AA Rosettes Award-winner for excellent local ingredients, expertly cooked in season. In the cellar, the cozy and more relaxed Vaulted Bar is the perfect spot for a drink or afternoon tea. Guests will also enjoy the hotel's Vital Health and Wellbeing Club, with fully equipped Technogym, 60-foot indoor swimming pool, sauna, steam and spa treatment rooms, as well as the clay surface tennis court concealed in the hotel's lovely walled gardens, offered free of charge to hotel guests.
Norton House Hotel & Spa was built in 1840 as a traditional country retreat, removed from the bustle of the city yet convenient to everything Edinburgh offers. Originally owned by the Ushers, the family behind Glenlivet Whisky and The Ushers Brewery, the house still has the appearance of a private country home; connected yet secluded, traditional and modern, refined but never stuffy, it is now known as a hotel offering understated luxury, beautiful surroundings, stylish dining and 21st century comforts.
The hotel features 83 elegant guestrooms, including 36 stylish Executive Rooms, each boasting LCD televisions in the bedroom and bathroom, DVD/CD player, complimentary Wi-Fi, bathroom with underfloor heating and hand-picked Gilchrist & Soames toiletries, fridge with complimentary bottled water, and more. Norton House also offers some of the finest dining experiences and restaurants in Edinburgh.
Day 8. Depart Scotland
It's time to bid Scotland farewell today; following breakfast (or depending on the time of your return flight), make your way back to the airport to return your rental car and begin your journey home.
Fly home!
Where available, the Flexible Change Plan allows you to change your travel date for ANY reason (between 30 days and 14 days before planned departure). You will receive a Future Travel Credit for the entire amount you paid. Please note that prepaid instant purchase airfares and group airfare are not eligible for the Flexible Change Plan and are subject to airline-imposed change or cancellation fees based on airline rules at the time that the change is requested. You must rebook using the original air carrier at least 14 days prior to your originally scheduled departure and complete travel at least 1 year from original booking date. Additional fees may apply. Future travel credit is non-transferable, non-refundable, and may not be redeemed for cash.