Despite spanning only 30,081 square miles, Scotland is packed with wonder. The country’s friendly people, wild Highland landscapes, moody castles, and thousands of lochs makes it one-of-a-kind. Trafalgar’s Best of Scotland tour is suited for first-time visitors who want to see the country’s most popular landmarks without handling the logistics of navigating narrow mountain roads and driving on the left.
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The tour takes you to Scotland’s two most important cities, Edinburgh and Glasgow, but also lets you spend some time in nature with two days in the Highlands along with a quick afternoon in the magical Isle of Skye. Here’s a full rundown on my experience on this tour, which I hope will help you decide if it’s a good fit for you.
Things to Know About Trafalgar’s Best of Scotland Tour
- Because the tour covers so much of Scotland, you will be spending many hours sitting on the bus. The views never disappoint, and there are short stops along the way in places like Saint Andrews and the legendary Loch Ness. Still, guests should prepare for long road journeys.
- Scotland is cloudy and cold, even in the summer. Our late July/early August tour had temperatures that mostly fell in the 50s and 60s. Travelers joining in the fall and winter should be prepared for lower temperatures and near-constant rain. A rain jacket and an umbrella are indispensable.
- Europe is not always the easiest place for people with limited mobility, but this tour provided easy access to Scotland’s landmarks without strenuous walks.
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- The guests on my tour expressed being happy with the tour’s value. You can see Scotland’s most famed sites for an affordable price without worrying about planning or driving.
- While the tour does a great job at hitting the highlights, the stops can often feel too rushed. You’ll only have about 15 minutes to photograph Loch Ness, for instance, and the lunch stop at the Isle of Skye is only about an hour. I would’ve liked to maybe see fewer spots in exchange for more time at each stop.
- Expect to get up early every day. The tour packs in a lot in one week, so there is no sleeping in. Most afternoons offer free time to relax after dinner.
- Most Trafalgar tours have about 40 guests. Ours was almost completely full with 48 people.
Tour Highlights
- Edinburgh Castle: There are several small museums on military history, dungeons, and different battles. It also has panoramic views of the city.
- Dundreggan Rewilding Center: This initiative is working to bring back native wildlife and flora to Scotland. It’s part of Trafalgar’s signature Make Travel Matter initiative, which incorporates a social or environmental project into each tour.
- Loch Lomond Cruise: Rain or shine, this boat tour gets you closer to the landscapes of Scotland.
- Clydeside Distillery: Learn about the process of making whisky in Glasgow’s only distillery within city limits. The tour ends, of course, with a whisky tasting.
- Be Our Guest Dinner: The best food on the tour and the chance to spend a fun evening in a farm with a local family of musician farmers.
Important Details About Trafalgar’s Best of Scotland Tour
Itinerary
The itinerary for Trafalgar’s Best of Scotland tour can be broken down into three parts: Edinburgh, the Highlands, and Glasgow. On the first day, we all arrived at different times before coming together for a welcome dinner at Tolbooth Tavern, a traditional pub. We spent the second day touring Edinburgh Castle with a local historian, and then had time to explore the landmark and the city on our own. Guests could also opt to visit Rosslyn Chapel and/or go to the small town of Torphichen for dinner at a charming historic inn.
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We then headed to the wild Highlands. As you see the misty mountains towering over dark lochs, it’s easy to believe that this captivating landscape is home to magical creatures or time-warping portals.
On our way north, we stopped at St. Andrews and Pitlochry, and had optional visits to Blair Castle and a working sheep farm. Day four of the itinerary is organized around a trip to the Isle of Skye. On the way, we visited the Culloden battle site and Dundreggan Rewilding Center, and had quick photo opportunities at Eilean Donan Castle and the famed Loch Ness. After making it to the picture-perfect Isle of Skye, we only had about an hour for lunch before hopping back on the bus and taking a ferry to the mainland. Though the ride is scenic, this day felt rushed and packed. It does seem, however, that the itinerary now has a different Make Travel Matter experience on another day.
The last part of the trip took us through more highlights on our way to gritty and effortlessly cool Glasgow. Spots along the road included Fort William, and a World War II Memorial with views of Ben Nevis. There was also a short stop for pictures at the wonderfully gloomy Glencoe, and a longer bus break at the gorgeous Loch Lomond, where most of us did a (highly recommended) optional boat tour.
We arrived in Glasgow in the early afternoon, and had free time in the afternoon and evening. To go out with a bang, our last day started with a tour of Clydeside Distillery, the only whiskey distillery within the city of Glasgow. Then, we made our way to Stirling Castle, where Scottish royalty like Mary Queen of Scots once lived. We spent our last evening at the lovely Ledard Hill Farm for a fun and raucous end to the tour.
Route notes
- Days three and five are mostly spent on the road as you’re going to and coming back from the remote Highlands. There will be many stops at points of interest like Loch Ness and Glencoe. These stops are short, but they’re good photo ops and an excuse to stretch your legs.
- Our guide, Gary Willment, has been doing this tour for 15 years, and was great at giving us tidbits of history and fun facts about the places we were passing through while on the bus. This made the long journeys more fun.
- Mark Cass, our driver, was exceptionally good at going through winding roads of the Highlands while avoiding too much movement. No one on the tour complained about motion sickness, but if this tends to be an issue for you, make sure to pack some medicine.
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- There is a bathroom in the bus, but you probably only want to use it in an emergency, as it’s quite small. That said, some guests used it during the trip and did not report any problems.
- You can bring snacks onboard, as long as they’re not likely to leave crumbs all over the bus. Drinks must have a lid.
- The bus has air conditioning, so you don’t have to worry about uncomfortable temperatures. There is also an overhead compartment for small bags, and a tray with a cup holder for small snacks. Seats do recline to make napping more comfortable, but be aware of how this affects the person behind you.
- You’ll rotate seats every day so that no one gets the best spots on the bus for the entirety of the trip. Groups always sit together.
Activities
Although the itinerary includes many cool included activities—like the tour of Edinburgh Castle—I’d highly recommend joining as many optional experiences as possible. Though you’ll have to spend more money, you’ll get to see even more of Scotland. I did most optional activities except two: Rosslyn Chapel and lunch at the Isle of Skye. While the chapel looks interesting, I’m glad that I chose to stay in Edinburgh, as there is so much to see in the city. On the other hand, I would recommend joining the optional lunch, since I ended up spending most of my time on the island finding a place to eat rather than relaxing and enjoying the landscape. Of the experiences I did, the only one I would skip next time would be the dinner in Glasgow, as it would’ve been nice to have more time to see the city, and eat something different than Scottish food. The optional dinner at Torphichen Inn, on the other hand, was very much worth it.
The rest of the activities were also fantastic. The storybook Blair Castle is great for history lovers, and has impressive grounds. It was also a better option, in my opinion, than staying in the picturesque yet small town of Pitlochry. One of the highlights of the trip was visiting the sheep farm. Everyone loved getting to see Neil Ross—one of only two permanent shepherds in the Highlands (the other is his brother)—and his intelligent border collies at work. It was impressive to see the dogs cleverly follow Ross’ whistle commands as they rounded up sheep. We also got to meet Lolita, a docile Highland cow who came curiously close to the group. The Loch Lomond boat trip is also a must-do, as it’s your only chance to cruise through a loch and see the landscape from a different perspective. The boat trip lasted about an hour, and we got clear, blue skies and warm sunshine that made the water sparkle.
Accessibility
Most of the tour guests were retirees, some of whom were in their late 70s or early 80s. Many walked with aids such as canes, and one person carried an oxygen tank. Still, everyone on the tour was able to join all the included activities. The most strenuous walk was in Edinburgh castle, as vehicles other than maintenance are not allowed inside. Though steep, the walk is about three to five minutes uphill, and you can do it at your own pace. That said, the bus did not have a space for wheelchairs, and much of the landscape would be difficult to traverse with one.
Hearing was a separate issue. During the tour of Edinburgh Castle, we were provided with individual ear pieces so we could clearly hear our local historian tour guide. On some of the other activities, however, people with limited hearing missed out on important information. The bus had a microphone that let us hear Gary’s commentary and announcements no matter where we were seated.
Our accommodations in Edinburgh and Glasgow had elevators, so they were easily suited people with limited mobility. The Laggan Hotel in the Highlands is set in a historic house, with narrow halls and steep stairs. For this accommodation, travelers who struggle to climb stairs might want to request a room on the first floor. All hotels handled our luggage. On the day we were checking out, we’d leave our bags outside of the room and head down to breakfast. While we were eating, hotel staff would take our luggage to the bus, where Mark would load them. This was very helpful for travelers who would have had a hard time lugging around their suitcases.
Dining
All breakfasts and all but two dinners are included in the tour price, but guests were in charge of lunch on their own. Each hotel had a buffet-style breakfast that offered eggs, bread, meats, fruit, juices, and other options. Though none were noteworthy, they were standard for what you could expect from free hotel buffets.
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During the Highland part of the tour, we had lunch in small towns and were given about 40 minutes for it. Wherever we were, I usually opted for a soup of the day, which was light, affordable, and easily found in most local dinners. On day five, Gary suggested that we buy a sandwich at Fort William so we could eat it on the Loch Lomond boat tour.
Dinner was the grandest meal of the day. Menus always centered around Scottish cuisine, usually offering shepherd’s pie, haggis, fish, or chicken. Some had a vegetarian option. At least one drink (wine or beer) was offered in all meals. Some guests expressed that they felt dinner options were somewhat repetitive.
Two dinners stand out in particular: The optional meal at Torphichen Inn, and the Be Our Guest Dinner. At the historic inn, we got to witness the ceremonious presentation of the haggis, the Scottish national dish, whose entrance is accompanied by slow bagpipes and a recital of Robert Burns’ 1786 poem “Address to a haggis.” Made by stuffing a sheep’s heart, liver, and lungs into its stomach, the dish is absolutely delicious, despite its much maligned reputation.
The last evening consists of the Be My Guest Dinner at Ledard Hill Farm, a special Trafalgar signature event. On every tour of the company, you have the chance to eat with the locals in places that you would not easily find on your own. For this tour, we were hosted by Fergus and Gregor Wood, a father-son duo who travel the world playing Scottish music when they’re not working on their farm. Ledard Hill Farm dates to 1474, and many structures have kept some medieval elements. Without a doubt, this was the best dinner we had on the tour. Not only was the freshly prepared food excellent, but Fergus and Gregor were wonderful hosts, somehow managing to connect to all 48 of us. They even got everyone to heartedly sing with them!
Amenities along the way
- The Novotel Edinburgh Center has an indoor pool, though I didn’t use it because it was busy on the days we were there.
- All of the rooms at the Laggan Hotel in the Highlands boast scenic views of the surrounding landscape.
- Rooms at all of the hotels have heaters. Temperatures in the summer are not low enough to warrant their use, but this is an important amenity for those looking into colder season dates.
- The Crowne Plaza in Glasgow has a pool, spa, sauna, gym, and steam room. Sadly, I didn’t have time to use any of them, but the facilities were well-kept.
Hotel ratings
We stayed at three different properties throughout the tour, the first of which was the Novotel Edinburgh Center. This four-star chain hotel is just outside of the city’s touristy areas but is easily accessible by public transport. Overall, it’s generic yet comfortable. It’s rated 4.0/5.0 on Tripadvisor.
While in the Highlands, we stayed at the beautiful Laggan Hotel. This remote property has a homely feel, offers gorgeous views wherever you look, and sources almost all of its food from a 10-mile radius. My only complaint is that we didn’t have more time to enjoy it and its surroundings. Tripadvisor reviewers rate it a 4.5/5.
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Our final hotel was the Crowne Plaza Glasgow. The property is a bit out of the way, and is so large that common areas can feel too crowded. Some rooms have nice views of the River Clyde. It also received a 4.0/5 on Tripadvisor.
Best for/Worst for
Most of the tour was made up of multi-generational families and retired couples. One of the families had children and pre-teens, others were traveling with teenagers, and some with their college-aged kids. There was even a group composed of a grandmother, a mother, and a grandson. The cool thing about the itinerary is that it catered to everyone, and guests of all ages enjoyed seeing the landscapes and learning more about Scottish culture. Because the itinerary is all worked out for you, the trip seemed relatively relaxing for parents who would’ve otherwise had to manage times, accommodation, transportation, bookings, and more.
While there were many couples who enjoyed the tour, this isn’t necessarily a romantic trip. The itinerary is packed, and activities start early in the morning and usually end at dinner, so there isn’t much room for alone time. Couples dreaming of a relaxing romantic getaway might want to look into other destinations. That said, if you want a nice, comfortable experience to share with a loved one, this tour is a good fit.
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I also wouldn’t necessarily recommend this for solo travelers. The group only had two solo travelers, and while my experience meeting everyone was wonderful, the dynamic might be difficult for people who aren’t used to doing tours on their own. Since most guests come in a group, there isn’t much room for socializing outside of the set experiences. If you’re looking to go out and explore the towns with newfound friends, this is probably not your tour.
