Day 3
On today’s tour, you’ll learn all about whisky, one of Scotland’s most famous exports, with included visits to two distilleries, and a tour of Loch Lomond, one of the most famous lochs in the country. Â
The tour begins at Glengoyne, one of over 130 distilleries in Scotland. Nestled at the foot of a delightful hill, Glengoyne has been producing whisky for over 200 years, and is the perfect place to learn more about the distilling process. Enjoy a guided tour of this small facility, with a brief introduction to the different techniques used, and of course, a tasting!Â
Continue to Loch Lomond, part of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, an outstandingly beautiful area of mountains, lochs, rivers and woodlands steeped in history and forever associated with the likes of William Wallace, Rob Roy MacGregor and Mary Queen of Scots. Take in Loch Lomond, one of Scotland’s and most picturesque largest lochs, and soak up the picture-perfect views.
This afternoon, visit the nearby Deanston distillery, which was a cotton mill (once powered by Europe’s largest waterwheel) for nearly 200 years before becoming a distillery. As a cotton mill, the site was a thriving industrial hub, with many of its workers living on-site. The current distillery opened in 1991, and makes gin and vodka as well as whisky. A fascinating tour will bring the site’s rich history to life, as well as introducing you to a more contemporary approach to whisky distillation, rounding off a wonderful day.
Return to Edinburgh to enjoy an evening at leisure.
Day 4
Today, you have the choice of joining this morning’s architectural walking tour of Edinburgh, or spending the day at leisure, perhaps exploring under your own steam.
Edinburgh is famous for its architecture, which is as varied as it is impressive. The city’s beating heart is the UNESCO-listed Old Town, known for its winding medieval streets (known as wynds), Gothic St Giles’ Cathedral, and of course the Royal Mile, its main thoroughfare. The Old Town is watched over by the looming Edinburgh Castle, which dates back to the 12th century.
Elsewhere in the city, the New Town, also UNESCO-listed, represents a masterpiece of city planning. Built in the 18th and 19th centuries, the New Town features preserved Neoclassical and Georgian properties, and is perhaps best-known for Princes Street.Â
The tour will also take in the Post-modern Scottish Parliament Building, designed by Enric Miralles, followed by the eclectic National Museum of Scotland, and Adam House, designed by William Kininmonth in the 1950s, both of which are on Chambers Street, with its distinctive grey stone facades.
However you chose to spend your day, enjoy a relaxing evening at leisure tonight.
Day 5
Begin your journey home today, feeling refreshed after soaking up plenty of culture and fresh Scottish air.