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Vacations By Rail · Escorted tour

Scotland: A Land of Myth & Legend

Ten-day escorted tour from Edinburgh to Glasgow via Highlands, Loch Ness, Isle of Skye

Illustration of Scotland: A Land of Myth & Legend

Vacations By Rail's Scotland: A Land of Myth & Legend is a 10-day escorted tour that opens in Edinburgh and closes in Glasgow, threading through the Scottish Highlands, Loch Ness, the Isle of Skye, and Oban. A Tour Manager stays with the group throughout, guiding daily excursions and evening entertainment. The itinerary balances two-night stays (allowing time to settle and explore) with guided tours, castle visits, storytelling, and whisky tasting. Rail travel on Day 3 carries you from Edinburgh across the Forth Rail Bridge to Inverness, then coach, ferry, and cruise transport link the remaining stops. Travelers experience Culloden battlefield with expert narration, a Loch Ness cruise to Urquhart Castle, Dunvegan Castle on Skye (home to clan McLeod), and a two-hour cruise on Loch Lomond before returning to Glasgow. Scottish storytellers entertain after several dinners. This tour suits couples, history enthusiasts, and travelers who prefer organized logistics, guided commentary, and included meals rather than independent exploration.

What to know before you look closer

  • Most travel is by coach; Day 3 includes the main rail segment (Edinburgh Waverley to Inverness). Coach and ferry dominate the itinerary.
  • Day 8 in Oban is at leisure with optional (unpaid) ferry trips to Mull, Iona, or Fingal's Cave; these are not included.
  • Hotel choices depend on availability; Radisson Blu in Edinburgh and Voco Grand Central in Glasgow are listed as the bases, but confirm with Vacations By Rail at booking.

Day by day

  1. Day 1overnight: Edinburgh

    Welcome to Edinburgh

    Meet the Tour Manager at our hotel on the Royal Mile. Free time to explore before an evening gathering, walking to the medieval Tollbooth Tavern for a three-course dinner with live Scottish folk music.

    Meals: Dinner

  2. Day 2overnight: Edinburgh

    Touring Edinburgh and its iconic castle

    A guided tour of Edinburgh Castle including St Margaret's Chapel, the Royal Palace and the Great Hall, followed by a guided tour of the Blair Street Vaults beneath the Royal Mile. The rest of the day is free.

    Meals: Breakfast

  3. Day 3railovernight: Loch Ness

    By rail into the Highlands via the Culloden Battlefield

    Travel by rail from Edinburgh Waverley across the Forth Rail Bridge to Inverness, visiting Culloden battlefield with an expert guide on the Jacobite Uprising of 1746. Continue to our hotel on the shores of Loch Ness for two nights, with a local storyteller after dinner.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  4. Day 4overnight: Loch Ness

    Visiting legendary Loch Ness, an evening of folklore tales

    A cruise boat across Loch Ness, mooring at Urquhart Castle (entrance included), then the village of Drumnadrochit and the Loch Ness Visitors Centre. Storyteller Willie Cameron entertains after the evening meal.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  5. Day 5overnight: Raasay

    Through the Highlands to the Isle of Skye

    Drive through the Scottish Highlands to Eilean Donan Castle for a guided tour, then across to Skye and by ferry from Sconser to the Isle of Raasay, our hotel for two nights.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  6. Day 6overnight: Raasay

    Uncovering chieftain history at Dunvegan Castle

    Return by boat to Skye for a coach tour including Dunvegan Castle, ancestral home of the clan McLeod and the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland, then past the Old Man of Storr, Kilt Rock waterfall and Portree.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  7. Day 7overnight: Oban

    Scenic drive to Oban for a whisky tasting

    A scenic drive past Glenfinnan and along Loch Linnhe to Oban, with a guided tour and tasting at the Oban Distillery, one of the oldest in Scotland.

    Meals: Breakfast

  8. Day 8overnight: Oban

    Free time in the west Highlands

    A day at leisure in Oban, with optional ferry trips to the Isle of Mull, Iona or Fingal's Cave, or local sights such as the War & Peace Museum and McCaig's Tower. A Scottish storyteller entertains after dinner.

    Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

  9. Day 9overnight: Glasgow

    Along the bonny banks of Loch Lomond to Glasgow

    Drive through the Trossachs National Park to Loch Lomond for a two-hour cruise with a light lunch onboard, then continue into Glasgow to check in beside Glasgow Central station, with a final dinner together.

    Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

  10. Day 10

    Traveling home

    After a final breakfast at our Glasgow hotel, you are free to make your way homewards.

    Meals: Breakfast

The moments this trip is built around

  • Day 2Guided tour of Edinburgh Castle includes St Margaret's Chapel, the Royal Palace, and the Great Hall, then exploration of the Blair Street Vaults beneath the Royal Mile.
  • Day 3Travel by rail from Edinburgh Waverley across the Forth Rail Bridge to Inverness, then visit Culloden battlefield with an expert guide on the 1746 Jacobite Uprising.
  • Day 4Cruise across Loch Ness with mooring at Urquhart Castle (entrance included), followed by an evening with storyteller Willie Cameron sharing folklore.
  • Day 5Drive through the Highlands to Eilean Donan Castle for a guided tour, then ferry from Sconser to the Isle of Raasay.
  • Day 6Coach tour of the Isle of Skye includes Dunvegan Castle, the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland and ancestral home of clan McLeod, plus views of the Old Man of Storr and Kilt Rock waterfall.

Included

  • Expertise of a Tour Manager from start to finish
  • 9 nights' 4-Star hotel accommodation
  • Standard Class rail travel
  • All rail, cruise and coach travel throughout your tour
  • Breakfast each day, 1 lunch, 8 dinners
  • Group luggage transfers between all hotels
  • All guided tours and excursions

Not included

  • Cancellation & Travel Insurance
  • Flights and Airport transfers

Questions travellers ask

Is train travel included?
Yes. Standard Class rail travel is included throughout the tour, with all rail, cruise, and coach transport covered. The main rail segment is on Day 3 from Edinburgh Waverley to Inverness across the Forth Rail Bridge.
Is this an escorted or independent tour?
It is fully escorted. A Tour Manager from Vacations By Rail travels with the group from start to finish and leads all guided tours and excursions.
What is included in the price?
Nine nights in four-star hotels, all rail and coach travel, cruises and ferries, breakfast each day, one lunch, eight dinners, group luggage transfers, all guided tours and excursions, and the Tour Manager's expertise. Flights, airport transfers, and travel insurance are not included.
How much walking is involved?
Mobility Rating 2. The tour includes guided city walks, castle tours with stairs, and stair access within attractions, but no steep hiking or high-altitude activity.
When does the tour run?
The operator does not list specific departure dates in the available information. Contact Vacations By Rail directly to confirm departures.
What meals are provided?
Breakfast is provided each of the nine nights. Eight dinners are included, such as a three-course Scottish meal with live folk music on Day 1, and dinners with a Scottish storyteller on multiple evenings. One lunch is included on Day 9 (a two-hour cruise on Loch Lomond with light lunch onboard).

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