Scotland’s allure is seemingly endless with its windswept Highlands, fresh water lakes, historic castles, ancient clans and tartans which remain relevant today, whiskey distilleries, and of course, the bag pipe. This tour includes one of the most magnificent gathering of pipes and drums with the annual Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo at Edinburgh Castle.
August 9 – 18, 2025
Package Includes:
- Round-trip airfare — Raleigh-Durham International Airport
- 8 nights’ hotel accommodations
- 14 meals, 8 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 5 dinners
- Sightseeing per itinerary
- Admissions per itinerary
- Deluxe motor coach transportation
- Professional tour guide and driver
- Our State host
- Baggage handling (one bag per person) and hotel transfers
- Hotel tips, restaurant tips for included meals, and local taxes
Itinerary Highlights:
- Edinburgh Military Tattoo
- Glasgow tour
- Edinburgh Castle
- Holyrood Palace
- Stirling Castle
- Culloden Battlefields
- St. Andrews
- Lunch at the St. Andrews Golf Course Club House
- British Golf Museum
- Inspiration Cruise on Loch Ness
- Glengoyne Whiskey Distillery
- Trossachs National Park
- Glencoe
- Inverness
Detailed Itinerary:
Saturday, August 9, 2025 – Depart from the US
Sunday, August 10, 2025 – Arrival Transfer Edinburgh
Welcome to Scotland! After clearing passport control, please claim your luggage to complete the arrival formalities. You will then exit through the Arrivals Hall, where your guide will meet and escort you to the waiting vehicle.
Glasgow Orientation Tour
Enjoy a tour of Glasgow where you will see the beautiful Victorian buildings, George Square with its ornate city chambers and nearby Glasgow Cathedral. Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and is situated on the River Clyde in the country’s West Central Lowlands.
Welcome Dinner at hotel
Apex City Hotel (1 night)
Meals: (D)
Monday, August 11, 2025
Breakfast at hotel
Stirling Castle
Standing proud on the foreboding Castle Hill, Stirling Castle was once an important strategic stronghold. Easily one of Scotland’s most important historical sites, the castle withstood at least eight sieges.
An icon of independence, a canter of Royal celebration, and a stunning day out that merges fact and fiction where you’ll meet costumed characters in the castle who will welcome you into 16th-century life. Explore the Great Hall, Castle Exhibition, Tapestry Studio, decorated gardens, and more.
Glengoyne Whiskey Distillery
Often described as Scotland’s most beautiful distillery, the whisky here is distilled more slowly thank any other malt whisky. The spirit is nursed through the stills at one third the usual rate to create this complex, fruity, award-winning spirit.
Dinner at hotel
Hotel Colessio (2 nights)
Meals: (B, D)
Tuesday, August 12, 2025
Breakfast at Hotel
The Kelpies
The 30-metre high horse-head sculptures known as ‘The Kelpies’ are truly a unique structure. They are housed in ‘The Helix’, a parkland which provides cycling, walking and watersports among other activities.
Falkirk Wheel
Get ready for a unique experience with the Falkirk Wheel, the world’s first and only rotating boat lift. Connecting the Forth & Clyde Canal and Union Canal, the structure stands at an imposing 115 feet tall. Both an extraordinary feat of engineering and art, visitors can view the mechanical marvel, take a boat and travel 35 metres into the air to be transported onto Union Canal.
Meals: (B)
Wednesday, August 13, 2025
Breakfast at hotel
Glencoe Visitor Center
Travel through Glencoe and visit their visitor center.
Inverness
Enjoy some time at your leisure in the “Capital of the Highlands” – Inverness.
Dinner at hotel
Kingsmill (2 nights)
This evening enjoy dinner at your hotel.
Meals: (B,D)
Thursday, August 14, 2025
Breakfast at Hotel
Culloden Battlefields
In 1746, two armies gathered in a vicious battle that would leave 1,600 men dead. It was the final battle of the Jacobite Rising, where the Duke of Cumberland’s government troops fought Jacobite supporters on Culloden Battlefields. Now, more than 300 years later, the true story of the epic, last great battle on British soil is brought to life at the Culloden Visitor Centre in interactive displays, an enthralling collection of curios and artefacts, a 360-degree battle immersion theatre, and a bracing visit to the memorial cairn, where the fallen Jacobite soldiers are buried.
Inspiration Cruise on Loch Ness
Combine relaxing sightseeing and a touch of the mystic with the Inspiration Cruise on Loch Ness. This one-hour boat ride will take you from Clansman Harbour to Urquhart Castle. Relax into your trip and the beautiful expanse of sea and nature around you as you approach the historic Urquhart Castle, a ramshackle, fallen ruin in the Highlands. Glide across the famous lake and take in tantalizing tales of myths and history from the onboard audio guide and don’t forget to look out for Nessie using the ship’s sonar.
Dinner at leisure on own
Meals: (B)
Friday, August 15, 2025
Breakfast at hotel
St. Andrews
St Andrews is known as the home of golf and is also home to one of the world’s oldest universities.
Lunch at the Clubhouse
Enjoy lunch at the clubhouse this afternoon.
Dinner at hotel
Hotel Du Vin St Andrews (1 night)
Meals: (B, L, D)
Saturday, August 16, 2025
Breakfast at hotel
British Golf Museum
Make your way to the British Golf Museum to experience 600 years of golf history while viewing the largest collection of golf memorabilia in Europe.
Edinburgh Military Tattoo
Running yearly since 1950, the Edinburgh Tattoo is a visceral showcase of music, dance, and military pageantry set against the backdrop of Edinburgh Castle, a towering structure that seems to grow from the city itself. At the Tattoo, watch an eclectic army of musicians, pipers, dancers and performers play rousing battle tunes from Scotland’s regiments. Capped with an unforgettable closing song from a solitary piper, fireworks, and a sing-song to Auld Lang Syne, the Edinburgh Military Tattoo shouldn’t be missed.
Virgin Hotels Edinburgh or similar (2 nights)
Dinner at leisure on own
Meals: (B)
Sunday – August 17, 2025
Breakfast at hotel
Edinburgh Castle
Put away your typical Edinburgh tour book as the Secrets of the Royal Mile tour will take you off-the-beaten-track to hidden gems. Under the guidance of a true expert, you’ll be told tales of royal intrigue, wandering politics, hard-fought battles and everyday culture. It’s the underbelly of Edinburgh and it’s wildly interesting. Begin at Edinburgh Castle and immerse yourself in a two-hour walking tour of stunning architecture, Scottish charm, and salacious secrets.
Holyrood Palace
Open throughout the year, Holyrood Palace is the official Edinburgh Royal Residence and year-round home of Scottish royal history. Standing at the end of Edinburgh’s historic, picturesque Royal Mile, discover the Palace’s ties with notable figures from history, including Mary Queen of Scots and the Bonnie Prince Charlie. Explore 14 spectacular State Apartments, the ruins of the 12th -century Holyrood Abbey, and the sprawling splendor of the royal gardens.
Farewell Dinner at hotel
Meals: (B, D)
Monday – August 18, 2025
Breakfast at hotel – depending on departure flight time
Departure Transfer Edinburgh
Acommodations:
- Apex City of Glasgow (1 night)
- Hotel Colessio (2 nights)
- Kingsmills Hotel (2 nights)
- Hotel DuVin (1 night)
- Virgin Hotel Edinburgh or Similar (2 nights)
Tour Rates:
$6549 per person, based on double occupancy
Single rate available
For reservations and more information:
AAA Travel
Beth Rackham
919-832-0543, ext. 16012
barackham@acg.aaa.com
Additional Information:
What to expect on an Our State trip:
Traveling with a group of Our State readers is an enriching, enjoyable, and safe way to experience new cultures, people, and places. In addition to the informative narration from the tour director and local guides, an Our State host will be available to assist in making your trip successful.
We usually fly to our destination, then travel by a comfortable motor coach with anywhere from 35 to 50 people who appreciate learning about new regions. Your entire trip will be guided, planned, and arranged for your upmost enjoyment. Many activities are things you can only do because you are traveling with Our State. There is some free time built in for you to explore on your own.
You can also choose not to attend an activity if you prefer something different. Please let your tour director know if you are not coming on a scheduled day.
Many meals are included. Where you have meals on your own, suggestions will be provided.
Most of the motor coaches have restrooms but every effort will be made to make regular rest stops.
One of the best parts of traveling with Our State is that you will meet new people, many of whom you will already have much in common with since most travelers read the magazine. Many guests often develop friendships that go on long after the tour is finished. Our State trips are generally filled with dynamic and friendly people.
Physical requirements:
Our tours are physically active but not meant to be strenuous.
Please be aware you will be on your feet, walking and standing for much of the day, indoors and outdoors, in all weather conditions and terrains. There will also be extended time on the motor coach when we travel from place to place. If there are any mobility issues you will need to have an able-bodied traveling companion to accompany and assist you.
Most days are moderately paced with approximately two to three total miles of walking, possibly including some hills and stairs.
We regret that we’re unable to provide individual assistance to guests with walking difficulties or other personal needs. The responsibility of the Trip Director who accompanies your trip is to ensure that the larger group enjoys a relaxing and informative journey, and he or she cannot be relied upon to provide ongoing individual assistance to any one guest. Guests requiring such individualized assistance must be accompanied by an able-bodied companion who can provide it.
If you have additional questions, please call Our State’s Travel Director Amy Wood Pasquini at 336-286-0600, or email apasquini@ourstate.com.
Feature image photography by Robert Partridge/flickr, Kelpies photography by Andy Hawkins/flickr.