Sensational Five Day Scotland Tour - a journey of discovery, of our history, scenery and culture
Join us in our wonderful whistle-stop five day Scotland tour experiencing Scottish culture, absorbing yourself in the spectacular scenery and exploring fascinating historical sites. This is the ultimate five day tour to see as much of Scotland as you can, in a relatively short space of time. Take the stress out of having to navigate maps and negotiate the often-winding single-track roads. Sit back, relax and allow us to show you what Scotland has to offer our visitors, and enjoy a wee dram or two, with some traditional Scottish music along the way. This five day tour has something for everyone, as we travel from town to town, with some breathtaking views on your magical Scottish adventure.
The Ultimate 5 Day Scotland Touring Adventure
Your Five Day Scotland Tour Itinerary Highlights
Day 1: Puck’s Glen, Mount Stuart House, Largs
Day 2: Loch Lomond, Trossachs National Park, Inveraray (Old Jail or Inveraray Castle), Loch Awe (Kilchurn Castle Photostop), St Conan’s Kirk, Oban
Day 3: Castle Stalker (Photostop), Glencoe, The Great Glen, Fort Augustus, Urquhart Castle, Loch Ness, Inverness
Day 4: Clava Cairns, Culloden Battlefield, Cawdor Castle, Pitlochry
Day 5: Loch Tay, Falls of Dochart, Rob Roy Macgregor’s Grave, Loch Lubnaig, Hairy Coo’s at Kilmahog, Stirling Castle
Tour Style: Private Tour (Flexible and can be extended with additional days at the time of booking)
Five Day Scotland Itinerary
Day 1: Amazing Argyll & The Isle of Bute
Enchanting Puck’s Glen Mystical Forest Hike and Magnificent Mount Stuart House Visit
Your phenomenal Five Days in Scotland touring adventure can depart from Glasgow or Ayrshire. We commence our five-day journey by following the stunning Clyde Estuary, to the small seaside town of Gourock, on the west coast of Scotland. We board the ‘wee ferry’ from McInroys Point (near Gourock), and sail the short journey across the Firth of Clyde, to Hunters Quay (near Dunoon). The three-mile voyage takes approximately 20 minutes. You will be in awe of the stunning Scottish scenery, as we approach the Cowal Peninsula in Argyll. Disembarking the ferry, we take a 6-mile drive north, alongside the Holy Loch en route, to our first adventure of the day at Puck’s Glen.
Pull on your hiking boots, as we prepare to hike through the enchanting fairy-like Scottish Glen. Your group will be guided through one of the most stunning Glens in Scotland, on a mysterious woodland adventure. This enchanting trail crosses wooden bridges over cascading waterfalls and fairy-like pools. A reasonable level of fitness is required for this (mile and a half) challenging walk, which has some steep inclines and uneven ground. You may even be fortunate enough to spot some amazing wildlife, such as red squirrels, deer, woodpeckers and pine martens.
Once we have completed this spectacular trek, you can sit back, relax and take a ‘wee breather’, as we journey southwesterly through the craggy peaks and hidden glens of the Argyll forests to Colintraive. Boarding another short ferry crossing, (which takes 5 minutes) we sail from Colintraive to Rhubodach on the Isle of Bute. We then journey south through the Victorian Seaside town of Rothesay en route to the magnificent Mount Stuart House.
This neo-gothic structure is a masterpiece of Georgian and Victorian architecture, set within 300 acres of a labyrinth of beautiful gardens and wondrous woodland. Join a public or private guided tour and explore this marvellous house, commissioned by the 3rd Marquess of Bute, built in the late 19th century. The interior design was inspired by history, astrology, art and dazzling mythology.
Once you get your breath back from this mesmerising visit, we travel back to Rothesay, where we will take our final sailing of the day to Wemyss Bay. Your day will conclude by heading south to Largs or Seamill, where you will spend the first night of your wonderful 5-day tour of Scotland.
Overnight stay in Largs or Seamill.
Day 2: Largs to Oban
National Trossachs Park, Luss, Loch Lomond, Arrochar Alps, Inveraray, Kilmartin Glen and Oban
Departing from the historical seaside town of Largs, (famous for the Battle of Largs 1263 when the last pitched battle between the Vikings and Scots took place), we travel north to the tantalising Trossachs National Park.
Your first stop on day two of your five-day tour of Scotland, takes you to the exquisite conservation village of Luss, beside the ‘Bonnie, Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond’. Enjoy a leisurely stroll through this picturesque village, offering stunning views of Loch Lomond and Ben Lomond, the most southerly mountain in Scotland.
We continue touring north through the amazing Arrochar Alps, where we can stop for photo opportunities at the breathtaking, ‘Rest and Be Thankful’ beauty spot, between Glen Croe and Glen Kinglass.
Our next destination is the charming Highland town of Inveraray. This popular tourist town lies on the western shores of the glistening sea Loch Fyne, famous for its delicious Oysters and delicious seafood.
You may wish to opt to visit the neo-gothic Inveraray Castle, the ancestral home of the Duke of Argyll, (Chieftan of the powerful Clan Campbell). Alternatively, you can enjoy exploring Inveraray Jail, a living nineteenth-century prison which has some gruesome exhibits on display. Interestingly, many convicts were held here in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, before being shipped off overseas to Australia, New South Wales and Tasmania, many dying en route before they reached their destination.
Why not indulge in some local Scottish cuisine in a traditional inn, or meander through the whitewashed Georgian streets, and browse some of the local shops.
Departing from Inveraray, we continue our fantastic 5-day Scotland Tour, travelling north to Loch Awe in Argyll and Bute. Loch Awe is the longest freshwater loch in Scotland at over 25 miles long, and is a fantastic location to snap some stunning photographs of the fifteenth-century Kilchurn Castle, which was home to the Campbells of Glenorchy.
Before reaching Oban, we can make the optional stop at the historic St Conan’s Kirk, in the village of Loch Awe. This remarkable church was built by Walter Douglas-Campbell in 1907 for his mother, to save her from making the long journey to the next parish church in Dalmally. It is well worth a visit and displays a mixture of excellent Norman, Romanesque, Gothic and Celtic architecture.
Overnight stay in Oban.
Day 3: Oban to Inverness
Oban, Castle Stalker Viewpoint, Glencoe, The Great Glen, Fort Augustus, Invermoriston Falls, Urquhart Castle, Loch Ness
Relax, and take some time out to explore Oban, (a little bay in Gaelic), a bustling historical town, and gateway to the isles. You can browse the boutique shops, climb up to the famous tower, or even enjoy a visit to the 1790 Oban Whisky Distillery.
Having enjoyed spending some time in the morning exploring Oban, we set off travelling North to Inverness, the capital of the Highlands.
Travelling north, following the coastal route beside Loch Linnhe, we will stop for a photo opportunity at Castle Stalker. This mighty fourteenth-century castle, located on a tidal islet on Loch Laich, was built by the Clan MacDougall around 1320. Interestingly, Castle Stalker was used as a filming location for the comedy film ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail’ as the “Castle of Aaargh”.
Our next destination is the often-described, “eerie” Glencoe, where we will stop to take photographs of the dramatic three sisters mountains.
This dramatic and overwhelming mountainous site is steeped in clan history and the heart-wrenching woes of the massacre of the McDonald Clan, by the ruthless Campbells. We will stop in the ‘weeping glen’ to absorb the atmospheric ambience, and listen to stories about the ‘Massacre of Glencoe’
After lunch at the Clachaig Inn, situated in the very heart of Glencoe, your 5-day Scotland Trip ventures through Scotland’s Great Glen. This geological fault line bisects the Scottish Highlands into the Grampian Mountains, to the South East. Gaze in awe at the scintillating scenery as we tour through 62 miles (100 km) of the Great Glen, from Fort William to Inverness on the edge of the Moray Firth.
Time permitting, you have the option to visit the picturesque Caledonian Canal at Fort Augustus, Invermoriston Falls or Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness before settling at your accommodation in Inverness.
Overnight stay in Inverness or Nairn.
Day 4: Inverness to Pitlochry
Clava Cairns, Culloden and Cawdor Castle
On day four, we visit the incredible prehistoric burial chambers and standing stones, Clava Cairns. These fascinating chambers and standing stones date back more than four and a half thousand years.
Only a five-minute drive from Clava Cairns, we travel to Culloden Battlefield, the site of the last Jacobite Rebellion, which came to a tragic end on April 16th, 1746. You will have time to walk onto the sacred battlefield and visit the cairns and gravestones of fallen clans. It is considered a very atmospheric site and gives the visitor an insight into the location and conditions the clans endured that fateful day. You can discover stories from the Jacobite and Government perspectives in the Culloden visitor centre.
Leaving the eerie Culloden Moor we take the short 10-mile drive, to the stunning five-star visitor attraction, 14th-century Cawdor Castle, just outside Nairn.
The castle is the ancestral home to the Campbell’s of Cawdor and also holds intriguing connections to Shakespeare and one of his most famous literary works, Macbeth. Today the castle is still home to the Cawdor family.
You may wish to stroll around the three gardens, which have been beautifully maintained and worth visiting. Additionally, you could explore the ancient medieval tower, built around the legendary holly tree, held within the castle.
From Cawdor, we travel through the highest public road in Britain, journeying through the outstanding landscapes of the eastern Cairngorms en route to the Victorian ‘spa’ town of Pitlochry, in Perthshire.
Overnight stay in Pitlochry.
Day 5: Pitlochry to Stirling Castle
Loch Tay, Dochart Falls, Rob Roy Macgregor’s Grave, Loch Lubnaig, Hairy Coo’s at Kilmahog and Stirling Castle
On the morning of the final day of your 5 day Scotland tour itinerary, you can choose to stroll through the picturesque, popular spa town of Pitlochry.
We travel on, skirting along the side of the scenic Loch Tay, to the Falls of Dochart at Killin.
From Killin, we will take the short drive to Rob Roy Macgregor’s final resting place in Balquhidder. We will enjoy a few stories about this legendary Highland Rogue set in the most beautiful serene surroundings, before heading east to Stirling Castle.
En route to this iconic castle, we will stop off at Loch Lubnaig and Kilmahog to (hopefully) spot some hairy heilan’ coos, and have a wee tune or two on the bagpipes.
When we arrive at the courtyard, you will be enthralled by the views, the cobbled paths and the talks given by the very experienced and knowledgeable guides on site, You will experience a fascinating tour of one of Scotland’s largest and most important historic castles in Medieval times. Stirling Castle is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Scotland, and once you have visited, you will see why it is held in such high esteem.
Having completed your fact filled 5 day Scotland tour, you will be driven back to your chosen accommodation in central Scotland.
Book your memorable unique Five Day Tour of Scotland experience Today
We are confident you will have wonderful memories and photographs of our magical country Scotland, to return home with. Your Five Day Tour will provide an excellent snapshot of Scotland, but leaving you wishing you had more time to explore and discover our remarkable country. If you do have more time, you may consider the longer 7 day in Scotland itinerary. To avoid disappointment, we would recommend you contact us today as the diary is filling up fast for 2021 with the unique Kilted Piper Tours experience.
