The Best of Scotland in a Day

Tour Highlights

Our signature tour combines all that’s great about Scotland into a classic day trip – a castle, mountains, lochs, photo opportunities, a riverside walk, a battlefield, history, heroes and highland cows. Enjoy lots of time off the bus, perfect for those who want to experience Highland scenery and nature at a relaxing pace.

Dunkeld Cathedral
Blair Castle
Highland cows
Queen's View - famous Highland viewpoint
Kenmore and Loch Tay
The Hermitage woodland and waterfall walk

This Private Tour is also available as a Small Group Tour.

Itinerary

Map of a train route from Edinburgh to Blair Castle, passing through locations such as Queen's View, Killiecrankie Gorge, Dunkeld, and Hairy Cows, with icons indicating photography spots and hiking paths.

Our route to the Highlands takes us past Loch Leven and the fair city of Perth before arriving at the picturesque village of Dunkeld.

Historic stone church with Gothic windows, surrounded by a grassy area with benches and trees.

Dunkeld Cathedral

Here you can stroll through quaint narrow streets and/or visit Dunkeld Cathedral (free of charge). Dedicated to St Columba and beautifully located beside the River Tay, a visit to this historic church is a delightful way to start the day.

We continue to Blair Castle, a famous Highland fortress with a 700 year history incorporating the Jacobite Rebellions, the disaster at Culloden and Mary Queen of Scots. Hear about Queen Victoria’s love affair with the Scottish Highlands and her role in creating the only legally recognised private army in Europe – the Atholl Highlanders.

A large white castle with black rooftops and turrets, surrounded by greenery and mountains in the background, under a clear blue sky.

Blair Castle

As well as a fascinating castle tour the beautiful gardens include red squirrels and St Bride’s Kirk – final resting place of ‘Bonnie’ Dundee, one of Scotland’s great heroes.

Scenic view of a large lake surrounded by green trees, rolling hills, and mountains under a partly cloudy sky

Queen's View

A scenic drive takes us to the beauty spot and battlefield of Killiecrankie Gorge. Here the Jacobite army, commanded by John Graham of Claverhouse (‘Bonnie’ Dundee), used the famous ‘Highland Charge’ to inflict a heavy defeat on the British Redcoat army in 1689.

Our next stop is Queen’s View, the much-admired Highland vista along Loch Tummel towards Schiehallion mountain and the distant peaks of Glen Coe.

Group of Highland cattle standing on a grassy field with trees and cloudy sky in the background.

Highland cows

We return to the charming Highland village of Pitlochry with its elegant main street packed with shops and restaurants. During our break here options include a late lunch, souvenir shopping or a short stroll to the famous hydro electric dam and salmon ladder.

A scenic autumn landscape featuring a winding road next to a lake with trees in fall colors and mountains in the background.

Experience Highland scenery and nature

We continue to the Hermitage woodland walk. This lovely riverside stroll takes us past some of the tallest trees in Britain to a spectacular waterfall and viewpoint where salmon can often be seen leaping the falls.

A scenic view of a rocky river flowing through a forest with a stone bridge spanning the gorge. A small observation hut with people inside is situated above the river on the left side.

The Hermitage woodland and waterfall walk

We finish the day at Taste of Perthshire for a face-to-face meeting with their hairy Highland cows – everyone’s favourite photo stop. A great way to finish the day!