Arrive into Glasgow or Edinburgh Airport* and make your way to the lovely Carlton George Hotel, in the heart of Glasgow, a place we know really well. Check in and spend the rest of the day exploring Scotland’s largest city, we will make suggestions. Between 5 – 7pm meet Liz, Marcus and your driver/guide in the club lounge, help yourselves to complimentary alcoholic, soft drinks and snacks. Overnight Glasgow. Please note, over the years many guests like to arrive a day earlier to ease the jet lag and see more of Glasgow. Please ask for details.

The same itin as the Clan Maclean Gathering coach but at a pace to suit your group.  On to Loch Lomond for a photo stop and rest rooms. Then St Conan’s Kirk, on the stunning Loch Awe – visit at your leisure. A fragment of what is believed to be Robert the Bruce’s finger bone is kept in The Bruce Chapel which also features an beautiful effigy of the King. Maybe stop at The Green Welly, getting to Oban at a time to suit, possibly take a boat trip to see seals, tour Oban Distillery or just relax over delicious seafood.  At 4pm take the ferry to Mull, check in to The Tobermory Hotel, in the very heart of the town, right on the pretty harbour front.

This morning a trip – first to the Ulva Ferry where you take the 10am sail to Staffa, having an hour on the island before returning at 1315. If you wish, you can take the wee ferry over to the Isle of Ulva for a late lunch. Return to Tobermory a different way, there’s the lovely Eas Fors Waterfalls to walk up to. Also, stop at Calgary Bay, a departure point for many residents during the Highland Clearances in the 18th and 19th centuries. You must try Robin’s ice cream!  At a time to suit yourselves arrive back in Tobermory to collect your registration packs and any tickets you have purchased via the Clan Maclean.

A day trip to the wee isle of Iona. It’s a 2 hour plus drive in stunning scenery, passing Duart Castle again. From Fionnphort, it’s a ten minute sail over to the tiny island. You have plenty of time to explore on foot (no visitor’s vehicles allowed on the island), visit Iona Abbey and take pictures of the MacLean’s Cross dating back from the late 1400s. Return to Tobermory in time for the Clan events this evening, we’ll transport you there and back. Typically there is a Scottish Ceilidh you can take part in. Tickets are optional and must be purchased in advance from the Clan. For those not waning to go to Iona, we can recommend a lovely scenic route around the northern part of Mull.

Leaving Tobermory first stop at Pennygown Churchyard, probably built in the early 1200. Just outside the walls of the chapel lie two remarkable grave slabs – local legend says they mark the graves of one of the Maclean Chiefs of Duart and his wife. Then on to Duart Castle to join the grand procession marching with Sir Lachan Maclean, the 28th Clan Chief. Check out the official timetable at the Clan site, we will post a link once more information is available. Typically there’s highland dancing, a battle re-enactment, kilt demonstrations, a tour of the castle and food and drinks options.  Why not stop at the Craignure Inn on the way back, a small traditional pub. Let the traffic pass and relax with a beer or two, we’re driving!

Chat to us about the countless options. The price shown is for the same route as the coach and to give you and idea of cost. The list is endless but here’s a couple of ideas:  from the ferry at Tobermory sail to the Arnamurchan peninsular seeing Macleans Nose. Maybe stop at Ardhamurchan Distillery and purchase a bottle of Macleans Nose whisky.  This afternoon you pass beautiful white beaches and can stop whenever you like.  Stay near, or in Mallaig for 2 nights – in a pub with rooms, a hotel or traditional guest house.

A day trip to the Isle of Skye. Take a thirty minute’ sail from Mallaig to Armadale, the south part of the island. Today you have choices and not all are possible,  you’ll need to work with your driver/guide.  There are two distilleries, Talisker and Torabhaig, Dunvegan Castle – dating from the 14th century and the seat of the chief of Clan MacLeod. Visit the capital of Portree, Old Man of Storr, walk to the Fairy Pools – a series of waterfalls and rocky pools named due to local legends connecting them to fairies and other mythical creatures. One popular legend involves a Clan MacLeod chief marrying a fairy princess. Return to Mallaig where you stay overnight.

Leave Mallaig stop and for those daring, climb the Glenfinnan Monument where Bonnie Prince Charlie raised the standard (Royal Banner) commemorating the start of the Jacobite Rising of 1745.  If your timing is right, you may see the Jacobite Steam train go over the Glenfinnan Viaduct (latterly made famous by Harry Potter). Heading towards Fort William you stop at Neptune’s Staircase where boats pass through 8 locks of the Caledonian Canal.  You alternatively go north to Inverness, head east to the Victorian town of Pitlochry, or go straight to Edinburgh.

From Pitlochry, a day trip to Braemar, a charming village in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park. It’s particularly famous for the Braemar Gathering, a prestigious Highland Games event. Visit Balmoral Castle (the Highland Home of the British Royal Family since 1852) usually the gardens and ballroom are open.  Or, spend a leisurely day in and around Pitlochry. There’s the Heather Gem Centre where they dry heather and make it into gifts, Blair Atholl Distillery (Bells), just drop in for a dram, The Salmon Fish Ladder and lovely traditional pubs and restaurants. Ask your guide to take you Queens View (where Queen Victoria looked out) and Moulin, a historic hamlet with a history stretching back to the 12th century.  The graveyard here is incredible, there’s also a wee brewery and the Moulin Inn, always good for a local beer.

On the way to Edinburgh, visit St Andrews, known for its’ historic university, medieval streets and traditional buildings, is on the east coast and less than two hours from Edinburgh. See the ruins of St Andrews Cathedral built in 1158, the ruined castle and have lunch in an old traditional inn. St Andrews is the home of golf having been played there for over 600 years. The Himalayas, a tiny putting range at £4 per 18 holes is amazing value – you literally putt next to the 18^th fairway of the Old Course. Stand on the Swilcan Bridge and take a beer at The Jigger Inn, an old wee pub attached to the Old Course Hotel. William and Kate, the Prince and Princess of Wales studied and met in St Andrews whilst attending university. Then straight to Edinburgh, where you check into your city centre hotel.

As an alternative to St Andrews, you can stop in Perth city centre. At its’ heart in an Edwardian building is Perth Museum where sits the Stone of Destiny, one of Scotland and the UK’s most significant historical objects. Returning to Perthshire for the first time in over 700 years in 2024, the Stone is the centrepiece of the museum.  If time allows, visit Scone Palace the Crowning Place of Scottish King and where the Stone of Destiny spent five centuries. Robert the Bruce was crowned there in 1306 and the last coronation was Charles 11 in 1651. 

And finally to Edinburgh, our capital city. We’ll be giving you plenty of suggestions, where to go, eat and shop. Let us know if you want other ideas for your itin, it’s your tour, add a day to Edinburgh and visit Roslyn Chapel – give us a wish list, we’ll do the rest!