Discover Scotland: May 23 - June 1, 2026

Group trip hosted by Stonetown Travel; tour operated by Collette

From its rugged sea-sprayed islands to its stately castles layered in history, Scotland awaits. Learn how the bagpipes are played and enjoy dinner at the National Piping Centre’s farm-to-table restaurant. Take a cruise on famed Loch Ness. Visit a local family on their farm and meet their sheepdogs. Marvel at the stunning scenery of the Isle of Skye. Explore the Orkney Islands’ ancient Skara Brae. Visit Dunrobin Castle. Explore the regal city of Edinburgh. Put a modern twist on Scottish cuisine during an interactive cooking demonstration. Discover a land of rolling green Highlands, friendly sheepdogs, and historic castles.

Day 1: Saturday, May 23, 2026

DEPARTURE

Travel by coach from southwestern Ontario to Toronto Pearson Airport. After we get checked in and through security, we’ll dine and relax in the Plaza Premium lounge prior to boarding. An overnight flight transports you to a country of stunning landscapes, lively cities, and stirring history.

Meals included: Dinner

Day 2: Sunday, May 24, 2026

ARRIVAL IN GLASGOW

Arrive in Glasgow, Scotland’s Victorian city. With no planned activities today, you can explore Glasgow at leisure. Tonight, your Scottish adventure begins with a visit to the National Piping Centre. After a demonstration and lesson with a renowned piper, join your fellow travellers for a lively welcome dinner at the Centre’s farm-to-table restaurant.

Accommodation: Maldron Hotel Glasgow

Meals included: Dinner

Day 3: Monday, May 25, 2026

GLASGOW - BALLACHULISH

This morning, bid Glasgow farewell as you travel to your next destination. First, stop at a local whisky distillery for a guided tour and tasting. After some free time for lunch in a nearby town, you can relax aboard the motorcoach and admire the verdant green hills and mountainside waters as you arrive at your remote countryside hotel, situated on lovely Loch Linnhe.

Accommodation: Ballachulish Hotel

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 4: Tuesday, May 26, 2026

BALLACHULISH – ISLE OF SKYE - BALLACHULISH

This morning, take a ferry ride to the stunning Isle of Skye, also known in poetry and song as Eilean a' Cheò (The Misty Isle). Upon arrival in Armadale, a local from the island joins you to share the history of this magical place and what it is like to live there today. A visit to the capital of Portree allows some time to explore before taking the scenic route back to Broadford. End your day by returning to Ballachulish via the Skye Bridge and a scenic drive along the “Road to the Isles.”

Accommodation: Ballachulish Hotel

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 5: Wednesday, May 27, 2026

BALLACHULISH – LOCH NESS - THURSO

Today, enjoy stunning and unspoiled landscapes as you journey further into the Highlands. Travel through the Great Glen, famous for its many lochs (lakes). Visit the striking ruins of Urquhart Castle before enjoying a cruise on Loch Ness, one of Britain’s most famous bodies of water. Keep your eyes open — you never know when Nessie might appear! Travel off the beaten path to Thurso, one of Scotland’s most remote towns on the North Coast. Embrace the rustic environment of the Scottish Highlands as you settle in for your two-night stay.

Accommodation: Castletown Hotel

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 6: Thursday, May 28, 2026

THURSO – ORKNEY ISLANDS - THURSO

Grab your windbreaker – it’s time for an adventure on the Orkney Islands. Ferry to this former Viking stronghold off the northernmost coast of Scotland, where artists admire the ever-changing clouds rolling across the sky like a time-lapse at double speed. On the crossing, feel the wind in your hair as you view the abundant bird life and, if you’re lucky, porpoises and seals. A local guide introduces this ethereal place that few visitors to Scotland get to experience. Visit Skara Brae and discover the remains of a Neolithic village built before the Great Pyramids in Egypt. Continue on toward the prehistoric Standing Stones of Stenness, reported to be older than Stonehenge. Make your way through the town of Viking Kirkwall before returning to the mainland.

Accommodation: Castletown Hotel

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 7: Friday, May 29, 2026

THURSO - INVERNESS

As you make your way back from the northern coast, visit the majestic Dunrobin Castle, which dates back to the 1300s. The castle is built in the style of a French château and is home to the Duke of Sutherland. Next, visit the powerfully emotive and atmospheric battlefield of Culloden, where the Jacobite Rising came to a tragic end. Enjoy an overnight stay in Inverness, capital of the Highlands.

Accommodation: Mercure Inverness

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 8: Saturday, May 30, 2026

INVERNESS – PITLOCHRY - EDINBURGH

Begin your day with a visit to a family-run farm set in the heart of the Highlands. See sheepdogs at work while surrounded by the mountain wilderness of Cairngorms National Park. Continue on to the vibrant Victorian town of Pitlochry for some time at leisure to explore on your own. End your day in Scotland’s capital city of Edinburgh. This evening, give traditional Scottish ingredients a modern twist. Enjoy a lively and interactive cooking experience at one of Scotland’s premier culinary institutions with a “wee dram” in hand.

Accommodation: Radisson Blu Edinburgh

Meals included: Breakfast, Dinner

Day 9: Sunday, May 31, 2026

EDINBURGH

Today, visit Edinburgh Castle, home to the Scottish Crown Jewels. Enjoy a panoramic tour of Edinburgh’s new town before your local expert takes you on a walking tour up to the magnificent castle. Enjoy an afternoon of free time. End your day in Scotland's capital city of Edinburgh.

Accommodation: Radisson Blu Edinburgh

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 10: Monday, June 1, 2026

RETURN HOME

Your tour of Scotland comes to a close today.

Our flight will depart in the morning and arrive the same day in Toronto, where our coach will be waiting to return us home.

Meals included: Breakfast

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PRICING:

Deposit of $698 CAD per person is due upon reservation. Reservations are made on a first-come, first-served basis. Balance is due by February 13, 2026.

DOUPLE OCCUPANCY - $6,844 CAD p.p.

SINGLE OCCUPANCY - $8,144 CAD p.p.

INCLUSIONS:

Coach transportation from southwestern Ontario (St. Marys, New Hamburg)

Plaza Premium lounge at Toronto Pearson airport

Economy Airfare to/from Toronto Pearson airport

Meals as per itinerary

Gratuities for guides / drivers

NOT INCLUDED:

Travel insurance (Land & Air Travel Protection Plan available for $599)

Meals and beverages not mentioned in the itinerary

Items of a personal nature

TO BOOK:

Contact Stonetown Travel in either of the following ways:

St. Marys Office: 150 Queen St E, 519-284-2332, agent@stonetowntravel.com

New Hamburg Office: 210 Mill St, 226-333-9939, newhamburg@stonetowntravel.com

Tour Leader and Independent Agent: Kristina Ziegler, 226-789-4042, kristina@stonetowntravel.com

Below: Kristina Ziegler of Stonetown Travel and husband Brad will be your hosts, supporting you right from the beginning when we leave southwestern Ontario. Collette, our tour operator, will provide a local tour director to guide the group on the “Discover Scotland” vacation.