Borders and Highlands

Itinerary

Experience Scotland – a country steeped in mystery and myth, from vast mountain panoramas to hidden coastal gems. This superb eight day tour captures two sides of this beautiful country – from the turbulent Border regions to the majesty and magnificence of the stunning Highlands

Our holiday begins with two nights staying at the Gretna Hall Hotel, close to the famous Blacksmith’s shop, before  continuing to the Duke of Gordon Hotel in Kingussie. We have a further one night stop at the Gretna Hall Hotel on our homeward journey

Secret Solway Coast

Explore the secret Solway Coast accompanied by our local guide, who will regale us with tales of Solway history and quirky local stories as we take a scenic drive through the less-travelled but stunning coastal lands of Dumfries and Galloway. Discover local myth, legend and history through tales of Vikings, smugglers, mysterious goings on and more, with time to wander around the pretty town of Kirkcudbright, the artist’s town, and historic Castle Douglas, renowned for its independent shops and cafes

Pitlochry & Cairngorm National Park

We depart from Gretna Hall Hotel and continue our northward journey to Kingussie, with stunning scenery as we pass Stirling and travel into Cairngorm National Park. We enjoy a visit to the pretty town of Pitlochry, with a wealth of shops, riverside walks, coffee shops and more for you to discover. It is also famous for its salmon ladder, where you can call in at the visitor centre to learn more about the 5000+ salmon that traverse the ladder each year in order to spawn

Inverness & boat trip

Inverness is the capital of the Highlands, lying at the mouth of the river Ness, and is the northernmost city in the UK. Explore the bustling city centre, visit museums and galleries or simply stroll along the river, before we head to Beauly Firth on the outskirts of the city for a boat trip with live commentary

Fort William & Nevis Cable Car

Fort William sits at the southern end of the Caledonian Canal, a continuous route of natural and man-made waterways through Scotland’s Great Glen. We have free time to explore the town before heading to the Nevis Cable Car – the only mountain gondola in the UK which reaches heights of 650m on Aonoch Mor. Here we enjoy a scenic ride up the mountain with stunning panoramic views across the Scottish Highlands and Ben Nevis

Cairn Gorm Mountain & Highland Folk Museum

Cairn Gorm is the seventh highest mountain in the British Isles, and shares its name with the wider National Park. We take a scenic drive to the base station of the funicular railway, where we enjoy stunning views and a short coffee stop, before continuing to the Highland Folk Museum, a wonderful outdoor centre where we discover how Highland people lived and worked in the 18th century

Blair Castle

As we begin our journey south, we enjoy a visit to Blair Castle, the last castle in Britain to be besieged as the Jacobites retreated to Culloden. The oldest part dates from 1269 and the grounds include a 9 acre garden, red deer park and ruined kirk

The Gretna Hall Hotel is situated in Gretna Green, a short walk to the famous Blacksmith’s shop. It offers ensuite rooms and an excellent restaurant with choice menu and lounge bar. There is a lift and some ground floor rooms. The Duke of Gordon Hotel is in a quiet, central location in Kingussie with ensuite rooms, an excellent restaurant with superb choice menu, bar and ballroom. There is lift access to some rooms