Essential Scotland - Prima

After breakfast we depart on a circular tour that features stunning scenery including mountains, glens and lochs as well as the sparkling seascapes of the west coast. We travel along the west shore of Loch Lomond, fabled in legend and song and the largest freshwater lake in Britain. Continuing north we cross the barren expanse of Rannoch Moor and on through Glencoe, a hauntingly beautiful valley that we sculpted by the last ice age and was the scene of a tragic massacre in 1692.

We arrive on the west coast at Fort William, which sits at the head of Loch Linnhe beneath the brooding mass of Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest mountain. After some free time for lunch we turn south, taking the coastal route and enjoying striking views over Loch Linnhe towards the mountains of Morvern and over picturesque Castle Stalker.

Crossing the tidal race known as the Falls of Lora beneath an impressive cantilever bridge we arrive in the harbour town of Oban, known as the Gateway to the Isles as many ferry services to the Hebrides sail from here.

After time to browse the shops or watch the coming and going of the ships we begin our journey back to the hotel, striking inland by the Pass of Brander and Loch Awe, with views of Kilchurn Castle, another iconic image. Our final stop is in the pretty village of Inveraray on the shores of Loch Fyne and the ancestral seat of the Dukes of Argyll.

We then continue over the steep mountain pass known as the ‘Rest and Be Thankful’ which returns us to the shores of Loch Lomond and back to our hotel in Drymen.

Following breakfast we travel to nearby Aberfoyle and The Trossachs, a scenic area of woodland, lochs and mountains. Continuing to Callander we call in at a local woollen mill which as well as offering quality knitwear affords the opportunity to meet a couple of friendly and very photogenic Highland cows!

In the afternoon we explore historic Stirling Castle, which like Edinburgh Castle sits atop an ancient volcanic crag. Before the union with England, Stirling was a royal palace as well as a strategic fortress and witnessed the births, coronations and deaths of many Scottish monarchs.

After breakfast we check out of our hotel and this time head north for neighbouring Perthshire, beginning with a visit to Scone Palace, just to the north of Perth. Like Stirling Castle, Scone is also a former place of coronation and counts Shakespeare’s Macbeth, Robert the Bruce and Charles II among those crowned here. Scone is also notable for its fine collection of specimen trees, including the original Douglas fir.

Continuing north, to the foothills of the Grampian Mountains, we reach the House of Bruar with an opportunity for lunch (not included) and some shopping at this premium retail outlet.

We then head south and return to Edinburgh Airport in time for our early evening flight back to London Stansted.