FIND A TOUR
Edinburgh, St. Andrews & the Highlands

Scotland Cultural Walking Tour

7 DaysStarting at $6,295

Overview

We love the wide-screen scale of the Scottish Highlands. Great heather-covered moors roll into a broad, blue horizon. Ruined castles stand watch over silvery lochs. There’s a wonderful wildness to it all. But for all of that sweep and solitude, it’s the close-ups of local life that we remember best. You’ll meet the shepherd whose choreographed collies steer a flock with fluid grace. We walk with a naturalist along a windswept North Sea estuary famous for its salmon runs. And we’ll also introduce you to fascinating folks like the cashmere weavers of Elgin…the whisky aficionados at an artisanal distillery…and the groundskeepers who manicure a 600-year-old golf course to within a micron of perfection. Throughout, you’ll spend your nights in lovely country house hotels, and enjoy a wide range of walks from canal towpaths to Edinburgh’s lively High Street. We suspect you’ll join our honorary clan of travelers who count the Scottish Highlands as one of their favorite destinations ever.

Classic Journeys provides unbeatable access to experiences around the globe.”
Travel + Leisure

Highlights

Download Full Daily Itinerary

Enjoy an 'Only with Classic Journeys' afternoon as you savor traditional tea before ascending to the ancient Edinburgh Castle with your expert local guide for an up-close tour

• Spend a fascinating morning with a shepherd and his amazing team of collies in the quiet Highlands countryside.

• Cruise across infamous Loch Ness to Urquhart Castle and a scenic walk in a Caledonian forest

• Strike out on foot to explore historic Culloden Moor before meeting up with the craftsmen at a cashmere mill 

• Join a naturalist to go Puffin watching on the coastal footpaths along the shores of Isle of May

• Accept an invitation to St. Andrews, the legendary home of golf, for a guided walk on the 600-year-old Old Course

• Visit Falkland Palace, the country residence of Mary, Queen of Scots, before a whisky tasting at an artisanal distillery 

Download Full Daily Itinerary

Map

  • Starting Point:

    Edinburgh – 12:30 pm – The George Hotel
  • Ending Point:

    Edinburgh – 4:00 pm – The George Hotel
Itinerary Map

Click map to enlarge

Walking Level

  • Daily Mileage Options: 2-8 miles

  • Route Notes:

    The terrain on this trip includes a mix of paved and cobblestone streets in Edinburgh, St. Andrews and Inverness as well as well-maintained countryside, lochside, riverside and coastal trails; and shepherds’ paths of compressed dirt and stone. The footpaths offer a selection of level, rolling and hilly terrain with some limited elevation gain and loss.

Dates & Prices

The earlier you book, the more choice you’ll have and the lower your price. And you can always change your mind — you won’t be charged to transfer to a different trip before your final payment is due. Talk with one of our travel experts at 800-200-3887.

Talk to an expert
Family Departure

Select our “Family Departure” to travel with other families.

Why Choose Classic Journeys

We believe in creating authentic connections by immersing you into the history and culture of a people and place. So we find the most well-connected local guides who share their relationships and knowledge with us. And with them, we handcraft walking tours in cinematic settings that allow you to see the world on foot and at eye level.

It’s why Travel + Leisure magazine has named Classic Journeys as the #1 World’s Best Tour Operator multiple times, and the editors of T+L say, "Classic Journeys provides unbeatable access to experiences around the globe." Here’s what that access means for you every time you travel with us.

  • Experience the world on foot and at eye level. Each day, join your guide on the most cinematic footpaths in the region.
  • Exceptional full-time local guides who become your well-connected friend. Our amazing guides are with you throughout each day of the tour, share their lifelong connections as well as engaging anecdotes about the history and culture of the region.
  • Small groups that provide you unrivaled access. An average of fewer than 10 guests per departure means we can offer you special access to sites like Stonehenge so you experience the stone circle when it’s closed to the general public, a guided visit to Zion Narrows that other companies cannot arrange because of larger group sizes, and vineyard walks with a count and countess in Tuscany.
  • Award-winning hotels are waiting for you at the end of every day. Luxuriate in the finest and most distinctive accommodations in the region you’re exploring, including rainforest lodges, 16th century villas, and award-winning properties that show up on World’s Best and Gold lists.
  • Eat like (and with) the locals. Food is a foolproof way into the hearts, homes and history of the places you visit with us. From gourmet picnics to coveted local restaurants, our meals offer you opportunities to explore native food traditions and fine dining.
  • Handcrafted itineraries with all activities included. With our long-term friendships, we know our walking tour regions more personally than anyone else. So you get thoughtfully curated itineraries that combine explorations of the villages, organic farms, archeological sites and the people who know them best.
  • Sustainable travel that supports the places you’re visiting. We put our local currency into the pockets of the people who live where we travel. It’s your guarantee that you’ll have authentic, up-close experiences on your trip. Best of all, our person-to-person approach helps sustain their ways of life.

Accommodations

Rufflets Country House

Rufflets Country House

One of the oldest and highest quality country house hotels in Scotland, this idyllic turreted mansion house is set in 10 acres of gardens. Rufflets has been in the same family ownership since 1952 and won Scottish Hotel of the Year in 2015.

Loch Ness Country House Hotel

Loch Ness Country House Hotel

Built in 1710, this country-house property is a haven of tranquility, elegant comfort and excellent food. The striking Georgian building is surrounded by six acres of beautiful gardens, and its main drawing room is a great setting for afternoon tea.

What’s Included

  • Award-winning boutique hotels that provide you unlimited access to the people and places, culture and history you came to experience
  • All breakfasts, 2 Lunches and 3 dinners
  • Full-time experienced guide(s) who are with you throughout the trip and handle behind-the-scenes logistics
  • Admissions to scheduled events as noted in the detailed daily itinerary
  • Gratuities for hotels, meals, and baggage
  • All land transportation during the trip

Above & Beyond Benefits

Invisible Check-In

  • When your group arrives, we whisk you and your bags to your room immediately. No waiting – no tipping.

Privileged Access Events

  • One-of-a-kind access to remarkable people, places and activities arranged just for you.

Similar Tours