Your Detailed Itinerary Classic Scotland

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Day 1From Jedburgh, with its abbey visitor centre, continue northbound to experience the special Borders landscape of rolling hills and wooded river valley. Then continue to Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh, with its choice of cultural and historic attractions. Explore the Old Town, the city’s historic heart, with its quaint alleys, called ‘closes’, leading off the Royal Mile. Sample some traditional music in one of the many venues in the city.

Day 2Head for Fife, across the Forth Bridge. The fishing villages of the East Neuk are photogenic, the seafood restaurants tempting, but if golf is your sport, then you have to play at St Andrews.

Day 3Take the Tay Bridge for Dundee and continue north-west on A923 for Blairgowrie, then north on A93 for the whisky and castles of Grampian. On the way you can pass through the eastern section of "Cairngorms National Park". A choice of routes

will bring you to the A96 to the north-east. At Keith, you can enjoy a typical distillery of the area, Strathisla.

Day 4/5Go west to join the A9 at Inverness for the journey north to Scrabster, ferryport for Orkney. From Stromness, the Stone Age site of Skara Brae lies north, on the island’s west coast. Take time to explore the many other prehistoric sites on these fascinating islands, for example, Maes Howe. (Option here to stay for an extra day to explore the island.)

Day 6Return to Scrabster to take the coast road west to explore the northern coastline, turning south at Durness, crossing the Kylesku Bridge, turning west for Lochinver and taking the minor road through Inverpolly. Rejoin the main road and continue south for Ullapool.

Day 7/8The ferry from Ullapool will take you to Stornoway on the Outer Hebrides. Famous for spectacular beaches, Lewis in particular is also notable for

its prehistory, including the Standing Stones at Calanais, a setting of great presence and mystery which draws many to puzzle over its meaning. (Option here to stay for an extra day to explore the island.) Travel south to Tarbert in Harris for the ferry to Uig in Skye.

Day 9/10Skye, the Misty Isle, represents all that’s dramatic about Scottish Highland scenery. Some rate the view of the Cuillins on the way to Glen Brittle as the finest hill view in Scotland; others argue it’s the same range of peaks, but looking at them from Elgol! Choose for yourself by travelling south from Uig, continuing through Portree, the island's ‘capital’, then taking the A863 at Sligachan. A minor road leads into Glen Brittle. Retrace your steps and (next day) continue south. Near Broadford, take the B8063 to Elgol.

Day 11Leave Skye by the Skye bridge, admiring the Five Sisters of Kintail, the peaks which frame Glen Shiel, then follow the main road (A87) east to the Great Glen at Invergarry, turning south for Fort William (A82).

This is the ‘outdoor capital’ of the UK. Nearby Nevis Range, for example, is a ski centre in winter, while, without snow, it has Britain’s longest downhill mountain bike track, from 2150 ft (655m), dropping 2000ft (610m) over almost 2 miles (3km). It’s fierce and demanding but there are plenty of other gentler forest trails nearby. Fort William also offers what is arguably Scotland’s most scenic rail journey, to Mallaig.

Day 12Continue south and east, through Glencoe for Crianlarich, Lochearnhead and the northern boundaries of the Trossachs, now in the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. Take the A84/A821 west at Kilmahog, stop at the carpark for a walk to the summit of Ben A'an by Loch Achray.*. Continue over the Duke’s Pass in the heart of the Trossachs, taking the A821 south. Beyond Aberfoyle, turn west to reach Drymen – superb view of Loch Lomond from a little park in the centre. Continue to Glasgow.

* Until Autumn 2015 you may need to use alternative parking and route at Ben Venue.

Day 13Glasgow, as Scotland’s largest city, offers Scotland’s largest shopping choice, as well as museums, galleries, culture, nightlife, pubs and friendly locals.

Day 14Head south-west, down the Clyde coast for Ayr, south of which is Culzean Castle, one of the most magnificent castles in Scotland.

The information contained in this publication is as supplied to VisitScotland and to the best of VisitScotland’s knowledge is correct at the time of going to press. VisitScotland can accept no responsibility for any errors or omissions. April 2015.

VisitScotland is committed to ensuring that our natural environment and built heritage, upon which tourism is so dependent, is safeguarded for future generations to enjoy.

Cover: Sligachan and the Cuillin Hills, Isle of Skye © Paul Tomkins, VisitScotland/Scottish Viewpoint

Classic Scotland

Classic Scotland

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THE BORDER ABBEYS – The four great abbeys of Melrose, Kelso, Dryburgh and Jedburgh stand today as powerful reminders of troubled times in the 16th century between Scotland and England.

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CALANAIS STANDING STONES Intriguing arrangement of stones, forming an avenue and a circle with outliers. Visitor centre on site.

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EDINBURGH’S OLD TOWN Between castle above and palace below, the Old Town grew to become one of the most exciting city environments in Scotland – and helped make Edinburgh a World Heritage city.

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GOLF AT ST ANDREWS – Classic links golf courses where it all began. Lots to do in St Andrews for the non-golfers in the party – great shopping, restaurants, castle and historic sites.

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CAIRNGORMS NATIONAL PARK The largest national park in Scotland, it also holds the largest continuous stretch of wild and near-natural habitat – a superb area of mountain, moor and pinewood.

L i tt l e

M

i n ch

Th e M

i nch

M o ra y Fi r t h

Fi r t h o f Fo r t h

LochShin

LochNess

LochEricht

Loch Tay

LochAwe

Loch Earn

Loch LomondLoch Lomond

LochShiel

A712

A96

A96

A701

A702

A167A746

A702

A713

A816

A816

A848

A68A844

A702

A697

A688

A868

A947

A940

A84

A811

A7

A7

A72

A596

A857

A71

A595

A815

A98

A77

A90

A920

A714

A710

A926

A9

A97

A75

A77

A701

A701

A711

A69

A855

A755

A867

A716

A941

A7

A82

A822

A837

A696

A957

A592

A95

A839

A941

A77

A77

A858

A944

A78 A737

A78

A83

A83 A82

A6

A933

A1087

A875

A814

A90

A821

A689

A93

A939

A686

A6088

A198

A831

A1

A920

A75

A75 A75

A75

A850

A830

A846

A709

A841

A99

A66

A835

A965

A83

A6112

A866

A930

A847

A948

A698

A751

A76

A76

A76

A81

A917

A69

A97

A917

A708

A68

A68

A760

A1

A980

A916

A923

A70

A9

A9

A721

A1068

A92

A699

A975

A91

A859

A986

A919

A966

A981

A967

A960

A15

A1

A1

A6105

A937

A70

A85

A706

A886

A913

A836

A90

A90

A689

A827

A888

A86

A990

A865

A938

A880

A698

A94

A95

A95

A591

A838

A894

A823

A819

A939

A6089

A762

A712

A85

A863

A928

A964

A849

A941

A719

A747

A861

A85 A85

A9

A934

A882

A924

A961

A828A884

A832

A950

A698

A822

A944

A889

A826

A817

A952

A832

A833

A699

A949

A703

A923

A920

A82

A87

A87

A87

A890

A890

A839

A836

A851

A836

A887

A99

A835

A689

A897A894

A846

A896

M74

A194(M)

M9

M74

M8

A1(M)

M77

A74(M)

M80

M8

M6

M8

M90

M9

M6

M8

E N G L A N D

N O R T H E R NI R E L A N D

SPEY VALLEY

StromnessKirkwall

John o’ GroatsGills Bay

Scrabster

ThursoMelvichBettyhill

Tongue

Durness

Scourie

Altnaharra

Lochinver

Wick

Dunbeath

Helmsdale

BroraGolspie

Dornoch

Tain

Lairg

Ullapool

Gairloch

Torridon

Stornoway

Arnol

Port of Ness

Callanish

Tarbert

Leverburgh

Otternish

Dingwall Nairn Elgin

Cromarty

BanffFraserburgh

PeterheadTurriff

Huntly

Grantown-on-Spey

AviemoreBoat ofGarten

KingussieRalia

Muir of Ord

Cullen Macduff

GardenstownForres

Dufftown

Craigellachie

AchnasheenStrathpeffer

Portree

Elgol

Uig

Dunvegan

SconserLochcarron

Kyle ofLochalsh

Broadford

Armadale

Mallaig

GlenelgShiel BridgeKylerhea

Lochmaddy

Lochboisdale

Isle of Eriskay

Castlebay

Drumnadrochit UrquhartCastle

Fort Augustus

Invergarry

Spean Bridge

Newtonmore

Braemar

Glenshee

BallaterCrathie

Aboyne

Edzell

AlfordInverurie

Ellon

Banchory

Stonehaven

Forfar

Kirriemuir

Glamis

Arbroath

Montrose

Crieff

Carnoustie

BrechinPitlochry

Blairgowrie

Aberfeldy

Killin

Dunkeld

Scone

KinlochRannoch

BlairAtholl

Bruar

Fort William

Oban

Corran

Strontian GlencoeBallachulish

LochalineFishnish

Craignure

Acharacle

Kilchoan

Tobermory

Fionnphort

Feolin Port Askaig

Bowmore

Port Ellen

Crinan

Lochgilphead

Tarbert

Tayinloan

Carradale

Dunoon

Rothesay Largs

Irvine

DumbartonBalloch

Drymen

Dunblane

Helensburgh

Wemyss Bay

Crianlarich

Tyndrum

Tarbet

Inveraray

Lochearnhead

Callander

AberfoyleArdgartan

GourockGreenock

ColintraiveRhubodach

PortavadieKennacraig

Claonaig

Lochranza

Brodick

Campbeltown

Ardrossan

Troon

Prestwick

Kilmarnock

Millport

Ayr

Maybole

LanarkPeeblesBiggar

Abington

Newton Stewart

Girvan

Stranraer

Whithorn

WigtownPortpatrick

Port Logan

Cairnryan CastleDouglas

Gatehouseof Fleet

Kirkcudbright

Dalbeattie

NewAbbey

Langholm

Gretna

LockerbieDumfries

Thornhill

GretnaGreen

Carlisle

Moffat

Berwick-upon-Tweed

Haddington

Galashiels

St Andrews

North BerwickDunbar

Cupar

GlenrothesKinross

Dunfermline

LinlithgowFalkirk

Selkirk

JedburghHawick

Poolewe

Tomintoul

Daviot

Spittal ofGlenshee

Arisaig

Kirkcaldy

Eyemouth

CrailAnstruther

SanquharWanlockhead

New Galloway

Melrose KelsoColdstream

Burwick

St Margaret’s Hope

Aultbea

Buckie

KeithFochabers

Lossiemouth

Carrbridge

Kincraig

Hamilton

Coatbridge

Motherwell

Paisley

Larne

Alva

Bo'nessRosyth

Auchterarder

Burntisland

Roslin

Leven

Mauchline

NorthKessock

Drimnin

Laga

Ballycastle

Beauly

GLASGOW

ABERDEEN

INVERNESS

DUNDEEPERTH

NEWCASTLEUPON TYNE

EDINBURGH

BELFAST

STIRLING

Cairngorms

National Park

Loch Lomond and the TrossachsNational Park

Cairngorms

National Park

Loch Lomond and the TrossachsNational Park

CulzeanCastle

Ben A’an

Calanais Standing Stones

StrathislaDistillery

CairngormsNational Park

Golf at St Andrews

Edinburgh’sOld Town

TraditionalMusic

The Border Abbeys

Fort Williamto Mallaig by Train

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4

85

7

6

9

10

3

LEWIS

HARRIS

BARRA

Canna

Rum

Eigg

Muck

Coll

Tiree

Colonsay

Iona

GighaBute

Seil

Lismore

Ardnamurchan

Luing

RAASAY

NORTHUIST

SOUTHUIST

MULL

JURA

ISLAY

ARRAN

Mull OfGalloway

SKYE

SCALPAY

BERNERAY

ORKNEY

SANDAY

STRONSAYEday

ROUSAY

HOYSOUTH RONALDSAY

BENBECULA

0 10 20 30 405 Miles

0 25 5012.5 Kilometers

© MFAtech Mapswww.digital-map.orginfo@digital-map.org+44 (0) 207 871 1332Contains Ordnance Survey data © Crown copyright and database right 2011

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What should you see and what should you do when you visit, so you can say you experienced the essence of Scotland? Naturally it depends on your own taste and interests – but here are a few suggestions. Breathtaking views, special food and drink, historic sites, culture, heritage and activities, too. Choose from the Scottish menu knowing that so many great experiences await you!

Classic Scotland

6

STRATHISLA DISTILLERY – The oldest working distillery in the Highlands, established in 1786. Not just a fine malt typical of the area, but a picturesque frontage in the town of Keith.

9

BEN A'AN – By the west end of Loch Achray, the steep walk to the top of Ben A'an (only 1520ft/454m!) gives a view out of all proportion to its size.

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CULZEAN CASTLE – Completed in 1792, this masterpiece by the Scottish architect Robert Adam stands on the edge of a dramatic cliff overlooking the Clyde estuary.

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FORT WILLIAM TO MALLAIG BY TRAIN Superb views of the Small Islands and the White Sands of Morar. Steam-hauled services in summer, for extra atmosphere.

TRADITIONAL MUSIC – Relax and let your hair down, join in some Scottish dancing and enjoy the traditional music at one of the regular sessions in pubs, clubs and venues and at festivals throughout Scotland.

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