grand tour scotland route

You start with a drive north to Loch Leven where you may wish to detour into Glen Coe for a photo stop. I run many workshops and tours around Scotland and overseas so at this moment in time The NC500 Grand Photo Tour will be ran on demand and is subject to availability. As always, we recommend walks, picnic spots, the best value attractions and restaurants. To help you book the best places to stay, we offer a guide to Recommended Accommodation along the route of this tour. +354 578 20 80 One of the shortest routes, the Royal Deeside Tourist Route is only 108 miles (174 km) so can easily be driven in a day or two. Single participant per tour £1395.00 p/p. So glad we did. S1, Ep4. His itinerary is full of detail, including driving directions and options. The drive includes a visit to the very pretty village of Plockton and the famous botanic gardens at Inverewe. Spend the day exploring the Isle of Harris to the south, including the quaint village of Tarbert and the dramatic scenery along the Golden Road. The Grand Tour was the 17th- and 18th-century custom of a traditional trip through Europe undertaken by upper-class young European men of sufficient means and rank (typically accompanied by a chaperone, such as a family member) when they had come of age (about 21 years old).. Expect rocky cliffs, golden beaches (perhaps a surprise?) Highlights along the route are Dunrobin Castle, the ornate home of the Dukes of Sutherland, the opportunity for a whisky tasting at Glenmorangie Distillery and a wander around the picturesque village of Dornoch with its charming little cathedral and famous golf course. Then continue on to Aberdeen, the “Silver City”, where you can admire its granite architecture, and visit museums like the Gordon Highlanders Museum and the Aberdeen Maritime Museum. My wife and I chose this tour because we wanted to visit some of the more remote locations of Scotland. Travel update (Covid-19) | Book & Travel With Confidence, Iceland We guide you to all the famous sites of Orkney (Ring of Brodgar, Maeshowe, Skara Brae, Italian Chapel, Old Man of Hoy), plus lots of quieter attractions that the are missed by the mainstream tourist trail. Unsurprisingly, it’s ranked by independent sources such as Condé Nast as perhaps one of the best road trips in the world. We have been travelling for a number of years and normally would just rely on the internet and books but decided to give this a go. These mountains emerge like icebergs from an expanse of wild moorland. Along the route you can explore some great beaches and test your courage by crossing a 200 feet deep gorge on a bouncy little foot bridge. Excellent! After the high plateau of the Cairngorms, you descend to the neat little villages of Ballater and Braemar in Royal Deeside. The Grand Tour is a British motoring television series for Amazon Prime Video, presented by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May.The programme focuses on conducting reviews of various models of car, new models and vintage classics, as well as tackling motoring-styled challenges and races, and features the use of studio segments between pre-recorded films. Travel through the enchanting landscape of the Cairngorms National Park on your drive from Perth to Aberdeen on the Royal Deeside Tourist Route. We found so many hidden and not so hidden gems, and everything was perfectly laid out for us so that all we had to do was decide how much time we had and what we wanted to see next. We now have some behind the scenes video footage of what boys have been up to in Scotland, courtesy of YouTube channel The Grand Tour Fans. You may wish to stop by Inveraray, a lovely village on the banks of Loch Fyne. PLEASE NOTE: The Guides come in the format of PDF files. Add a Plot » Star: Paul Murton. You have a good chance of seeing the Jacobite steam train as the railway closely follows the path of the road. Mike was very helpful in sending the itinerary through again for us when we had trouble with our downloads. Then drive past the Caledonian Canal and Great Glen with a quick stop at the Treasures of the Earth in Corpach, to see Europe’s finest private collection of gemstones. Secret Scotland's itineraries, accommodations guides, and other resources are incredible value with great attention to detail. It was absolutely worth every penny and there is no way we could have seen so much and so well without their itinerary. Join the coach for the 1st day of your holiday touring Scotland, arriving in the fishing port of Oban … From there, walk up to “The Old Man of Storr” and witness the beautiful Kilt Rock Waterfall. If you’re planning a Scottish road trip, read on for our guide on the 5 best driving tours in Scotland, as recommended by our Edinburgh-based consultants. If you drove it straight, without detours, the drive would only take 1 hour, but, if time allows, we recommend breaking it up into two days. They were sporting a … Next, head for the dark and enigmatic Loch Ness, perhaps keeping an eye out for Nessie along the way. Scottish Grand Tour. Check out our Scotland self-drive tours for more information. Continuing along the route of an old Cattle Drover’s road, you arrive at Loch Awe, the longest loch in Scotland. Along the way, visit the beautiful Smoo Cave, the largest and most dramatic sea cave in Britain. We also recommend a small detour to the photogenic Falls of Dochart in Killin. The scenery in this area is magnificent and it is all the better for the lack of other tourists. Along the way, you can break the driving with a visit to the romantic ruins of Dunkeld Cathedral which is set in a conservation village of 18th century houses. If you don't have time to stay a few nights on Orkney you have the option of a day trip visit. The North Coast 500 (also known as the Scotland 500) is Scotland’s answer to Route 66 and is the ultimate Scottish road trip. Nearby you’ll also find the historic Scone Palace, where Scottish kings used to be crowned upon the stone of destiny. JEREMY Clarkson is back to his old menacing ways as The Grand Tour winds through Scotland. It’s 500 miles of gorgeous road that run almost parallel to Scotland’s North Coast. Start the day visiting Oban, known as the “Seafood capital of Scotland” and the “Gateway to the isles”. I convinced my other half to get the Scenic Tour 4-5 Days guide (even though he very much wanted to do it all himself), and it was the best experience ever. The NC500 route offers visitors the opportunity to see rugged landscapes, frolic on sandy beaches, spot wildlife, visit museums and heritage sites, stay in castles, sip whisky, sample the local produce, and get to know the people who live there. Start in Tarbert, before exploring the many highlights of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. We recommend their services wholeheartedly. From Ullapool, catch the ferry to the Isle of Lewis and Harris. We had such a wonderful time we are going back again this year, and we will be using his itineraries again for our planning. If you aren't driving too fast, you can keep a look out for Grouse popping their heads above the heather. View map. To comply with data protection regulations (2018), we are unable to store and use your information unless you give us your permission. Complete - sites, restaurants, pubs and experiences.” That is how I would describe what they do and provide. Our Grand Tour of Scotland route takes you from the bottom to the top of the country. The route takes you to the famous Rosslyn chapel and the charming market town of Peebles. Ready for the ultimate road trip? Scotland is such a marvelous place. The guide also contains extra day trip suggestions for extending the tour to 3 – 4 weeks. Just like pictures of Scotland can’t do justice to the magnificence of the actual landscape, words can’t do justice to the brilliance and sheer volume of work you put in your guide. Highlights include Duart Castle, Ben More, Calgary Bay and the quaint village of Tobermory. Thank you so much. When you get to Ullapool, you can watch the fishing boat activity in the harbour and then sample the fresh catch in an award winning fish & chip shop. The Scottish Grand Tour is one of the great rail journeys of the world. A journey of contrasting scenery that starts by following the path of an old Military road that climbs through Glen Shee. Edinburgh Day Trips – There is enough to keep you busy in Edinburgh for several days so you can continue to explore the city, but we also supply a choice of driving day trips that cover: Head south from Edinburgh to the rolling hills of the Scottish Borders and the country beloved by Sir Walter Scott. Kilchurn castle is an impressive stronghold that guards the eastern approaches of this historically strategic passage to the west coast. As one of Scotland’s newest routes, the North Coast 500 (or NC500 if you love a good acronym) has become increasingly popular with travellers, and for good reason. Devote two entire days to exploring everything Skye has to offer, walking its many trails and learning about local history. Among his top travel experiences are sailing along Geirangerfjord with classically trained singers providing the soundtrack, seeing the northern lights twice in one Reykjavík weekend, and enjoying 9:00am honey mojitos at a tobacco farm in Viñales, Cuba. Looking forward to driving this route … Our recommended route takes in Orkney and Skye as well - both should not be missed if you are in this neighbourhood! If you'd like to see it, ask a travel consultant for more information. Make your way back to Edinburgh by driving along the shores of Loch Lomond and through the Trossachs National Park. I would also recommend his accommodations guide. Best Scottish road trip for: seafood lovers, wildlife watchers and Munro baggers. But the better option, in our opinion, is to take your time and stretch it across a long weekend, making sightseeing stops along the way. Walk through Edinburgh’s UNESCO World Heritage site of the Old Town and New Town. We also recommend a small detour to a very interesting little castle that most tourists miss. Our Grand Tour of Scotland route takes you on a comprehensive journey from the rolling hills and ruined abbeys of the Borders, to the standing stones of Orkney. Overview: This tour follows the coastal roads of the iconic North Coast 500 whilst also diverting inland to explore its heartland. Visit the colourful village of Portree, then drive around the northern part of the island and take in the impressive Trotternish Peninsula along the way. Here you can explore Fingal’s Cave, and try to spot dolphins and minke whales. The Grand Tour itinerary can be done in 14 days, but we include lots of day trip options so you can use this guide for planning a trip of a much longer duration. We ended up staying at nine different properties and going on two organized tours in Skye and Orkney. This charming and relatively short route takes in the farmlands of Blairgowrie, mighty mountains of the Highlands, and rich rolling landscape of Royal Deeside. By way of contrast, you could also visit Floors Castle, the palatial home of the Duke of Buccleuch and his family. We personally visit all the accommodation featured in the guides and only select places where we would wish to stay ourselves. As you leave Glenfinnan, stop at Camusdarach beach to admire its silver dunes. We provide directions for a choice of 3 walking routes for discovering the Capital City. The road trip takes you up Scotland's West coast and then follows the NC500 route around the Northern extremes of the Scottish mainland. The UNESCO-listed Heart of Neolithic Orkney, including Skara Brae, should be on any travel-lover’s wish list. There aren’t many man-made attractions along this route, but this is compensated for by the geology which has created dramatic mountains, rugged coastlines and some glorious sandy bays. 21 days / 20 nights Apr - Oct Grand Tour of Scotland & Ireland. Route of the 287 mile Scottish road trip the boys took in Season 3 Episode 7? Next, head along the west coast, stopping at Inverewe Garden. OPTION 1: If taking the Mallaig ferry to Skye you can take a short drive via the “Road to the Isles” which will take you past Glenfinnan and the Silver Sands of Morar. 208 votes, 26 comments. Add Image. We recommend that you allow ~2 hours for a full tour of Stirling castle so you may prefer to leave this attraction until the morning of the following day. Located just off the Isle of Mull, today we recommend visiting the tiny islands of Iona and Staffa. We are so confident that you’ll be delighted with your guide that we offer a full Money Back Guarantee. It may help you choose which route to take and get the most out of your Scottish trip! In the future we intend to plan and arrange drives and events of which the proceeds will go to the charity Race2Recovery. We guide you on a route through scenery that we think is the best in Scotland. This is a great road with wide open vistas and fast sweeping bends. But, as the episode begins, the trio aren’t overly complimentary about the country. Back on the Scottish mainland, head south through Kilmartin Glen, an area rich with Neolithic and Bronze Age sites. The last section of the drive takes you through Speyside, which is home to over half the whisky distilleries in Scotland. Driving north, stop to visit the UNESCO City of Design, Dundee, before heading up to Aberdeen. To visit the destinations and attractions mentioned in this post - and to discover a few new highlights along the way - check out these recommended Nordic Visitor tours. Don't forget to explore Urquhart Castle, resting on the loch shore. The wealth on display is quite astounding and it is incredible that all of this can still belong to one family, Driving Distance: ~47 miles to Melrose / ~64 miles to Jedburgh. AMAZON Prime's The Grand Tour has been criticised after Jeremy Clarkson and co-hosts mocked independence supporters and a Scottish town during a recent episode. Consider making the detour along the banks of Loch Morar to try to spot the infamous Morag monster, or continue directly to the quaint fishing village of Mallaig. The level of detail provided on each stopover sheet, in all the different itinerary options and on all the B&B features exceeded even my most crazy expectations. Kick off your route at the iconic Inverness Castle, crossing the Black Isle Peninsula in early morning. The route includes Edinburgh, Glasgow, Fort William, the Isle of Skye, Inverness, Aviemore and … Stretch your legs with a walk up the Old Man of Storr and admire the stunning Kilt Rock and Mealt waterfall. In the early afternoon, catch the ferry from Scrabster to Stromness, Orkney. Argyll Coastal Route. ScotRail Scottish Grand Tour M-Pass suspended for 2020. HIGHLY RECOMMEND. Our dedicated travel consultants, based in Edinburgh, are here to help you plan the perfect road trip, including booking accommodation, arranging ferries and activities, and much more. Wake up early and catch the ferry to Scrabster, before rejoining the famous North Coast 500 route and heading for Ullapool. Best Scottish road trip for: nature lovers, golfers and history buffs. You could see majestic castles that once housed Scottish royalty, visit renowned museums to learn about our history, and view spots where famous battles took place. The grand tour of Scotland takes you to all of the country’s best sights and places. Driving through Scotland offers you the opportunity to experience the country’s natural beauty, meet welcoming locals and explore at your own pace. It has a core route but its contents can be customised and tailored to suit your own personal requirements. Paris, France was the most popular stop of the Grand Tour for its cultural, architectural, and political influence. , Scotland can hardly let anyone down, but our directions will guide you this! 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