Whisky Galore 7 Day Tour

DAY 1
Our first visit Linlithgow Palace is our first stop, This is where Mary Stewart was born on 8th December 1542, her father James V died 6 days later and she was crowned queen whilst still an infant.

The first mention of Linlithgow as a royal residence is in 1301 when Edward 1st of England took the House and fortified it, the English stayed for over a decade and eventually left in 1314 after their defeat at Bannockburn. James 1st of Scotland started rebuilding in 1425 after a fire in 1424 destroyed the House and much of the town, His descendents all left their mark in the shape of improvements to the palace over the years.

Next stop is St. Magdalene Distillery also known as Linlithgow Distillery was established in the 1790s and was at one time operated by Adam Dawson.
If you are feeling hungry now we stop for lunch in the Royal Burgh of Stirling.
After lunch we visit Stirling Castle, set on a volcanic outcrop at the head of Stirling’s old town, Stirling Castle is very much like its counterpart in Edinburgh. Its strategic position at the heart of Scotland ensured it’s place in History as it was besieged time after time involving among others William Wallace and King Robert The Bruce. Films such as Braveheart and The Bruce have ensured that the castle is one of the most popular visitor attractions in Scotland. Visit the kitchens and see what life would have been like for a commoner living at the castle.
We will head north through beautiful Royal Deeside and stop for our first night at Ballater. Behind this Victorian town stands the majestic Lochnagar, one of the great mountains within the Cairngorms National Park. The river Dee runs through the town and it’s easy to see why the Royal family love spending time here.

DAY 2
We visit Balmoral Castle, Home to the Royal Family (whilst in Scotland) since Prince Albert purchased it for Queen Victoria. The Queen and family still visit each summer but I don’t think they will be in residence when we visit. If the family are in residence we will visit Braemar Castle, this distinctive landmark with its turrets and star shaped defensive walls used to be the home of the Braemar Highland Games.
Next we visit Royal Lochnagar Distillery, In 1848 Queen Victoria as we know chose Balmoral as her summer residence in Scotland, the ownerof the New Lochnagar Distillery, Mr John Begg, made an invitation to Price Albert to come and take a tour of the distillery (as the Princes love for all things mechanical was well known) It came as a surprise though when the next day Queen Victoria, prince Albert and their 3 oldest children came to visit. The Queen was so impressed that she bestowed a Royal Warrant of Appointment to John Begg as supplier to the Queen. And so the New Lochnagar Distillery became the Royal Lochnagar Distillery.
We will have lunch in Tomintoul, the highest village in Scotland and gateway to the Cairngorm National Park. After Lunch we visit Dallas Dhu Distillery, this is no longer a working distillery but don’t worry you can still get a “wee dram” here. The museum shows how whiskey used to be made, and without the health & safety aspects you find in a working distillery you can get much closer to what actually happens in the distilling process.

We head onto Fort George now, this is the mightiest artilliery fortification in Britain if not Europe, it was built after the 1746 defeat of Bonnie Prince Charlie at Culloden. Nowadays it would cost £1 billion to construct. It has nearly 1 mile of defensive stone boundary walls.

We will overnight in Inverness, the Highlands city with a warm welcome for everyone. There is a varied list of accommodations to fit any budget.

 

DAY 3
First visit this morning is Culloden Battlefield and Visitor Centre. On the 16th April 1746 the course of British, European and World history was changed forever as the Jacobite clans fought the government troops. This was not simply a battle between English and Scots, it was a bit like the American civil war in that in some families, brother fought against brother.
Next stop Urquhart Castle and some “Nessie” spotting at Loch Ness. The castle was pivotel in the warring English & Scots and changed hands numerous times. It’s a romantic ruin with the added attraction that you might just catch a glimpse …..

We head west to Kyle of Lochalsh for lunch, see what you think of the controversial Bridge to the Isle of Skye. After lunch we’ll cross the bridge and take you to Tallisker Distillery on the Isle of Skye, set on the shores of Loch Harport with dramatic views over the Cuillins.
We will overnight in Portree, be sure to have a look at The Royal Hotel, this was formerly known as MacNabs Inn and was were “Bonnie Prince Charlie” bade a last farewell to Flora MacDonald in 1746. For those who don’t know the story, Flora famously saved his life as he was hunted by Government troops she dressed him as her ladies maid and conveyed him to safety “over the seas to Skye” as the song goes.

DAY 4
We’ll take a scenic drive back down to the bridge and cross back over to the mainland where our first visit of the day is Eilean Donan Castle, this site has been inhabited since the 6th century but the first fortified castle wasn’t built until the 13th century. The castle you see today was restored by Lieutenant Colonel John Macrae-Gilstrap, he bought the ruined castle in 1911 and it took 20 years of hard work, it was opened to the public in 1932.

We will have lunch in the bustling town of Fort William, nestled at the foot of Scotland’s highest mountain Ben Nevis 4406 feet above sea level. If you are feeling a bit thirsty after lunch we can visit the Ben Nevis Distillery for a tour and a “wee dram”.
After Ben Nevis Distillery it’s back on the bus and we’ll head west to the Glenfinnan Monument and the viaduct where the Hogwarts Express shots where filmed in the Harry Potter films. The Quidditch scenes where also filmed with the famous Ben Nevis in the background. The scenery around this area is breathtaking with steep sided mountains with elevations up to 3000 feet.

The Glenfinnan Monument stands at the head of Loch Shiel and marks the spot where Charles Edward Stewart “Bonnie Prince Charlie” raised his standard and the jacobite rebellion started on 19th August 1745.
It’s back on the bus and south on the A82 to Glencoe where we’ll go to a folk museum, heather thatched cottages and artifacts help you discover how ordinary folk used to live. It also describes the tragic massacre of the MacDonald’s at the hands of the Clan Campbell. It is a hauntingly beautiful spot and it’s said that not a creature stirs and no bird sings in this spot in remembrance to the massacre.

We will stay overnight in the picturesque harbour town of Oban, gateway to the Isles. The panoramic views of the Mountains, sea and islands have captivated artists, authors and composers for centuries. This spot has been inhabited for over 600 years as the ruined keep of Dunollie Castle will testify to. The bay is a safe haven for ships, sheltered from the Atlantic storms by the islands of the Inner Hebrides.

DAY 5
An early start to catch the Ferry today, our first visit is to Duart Castle, home of the MacLean Clan. It stands proudly on a clifftop overlooking the Sound of Mull. It was in 1350 that Lachlan Lubanach married Mary MacDonald, daughter of the Lord of the Isles and she was given Duart as her dowery. Lachlan built the castle but it was much added to and strengthened in the mid 17th century.

We head north on Mull to the Tobermory Distillery which was founded in 1798. It has had a chequered history and has been silent for long periods, it reopened in 1990 after being closed for a decade. It markets 2 products, a malt and a blend. Some independant’s have bottled the single malt under its older name Ledaig.
We will have lunch in the colourful town of Tobermory before driving back for the return Ferry to Oban.
We take a scenic drive south to the attractive town of Inveraray on the shores of Loch Fyne. The original village was demolished in the mid 1700’s by the 3rd Duke of Argyll and rebuilt further south, out of sight of his new impressive castle. We will stay overnight in Inveraray.

DAY 6
This morning is free time for you to explore the attractions of Inveraray , be sure to have lunch before boarding the bus for our next stop, Balloch on Loch Lomond, there is the chance of an optional 1 hour boat trip on the Loch.

Our next stop is the Glengoyne Distillery where you can go on one of a range of tours of the distillery.

Our overnight stop is the pretty town of Callander, you can have a free afternoon, perhaps shopping or visiting The Rob Roy & Trossachs Information Centre. There are numerous bars and cafes in this busy little town. It lies 14 miles west of Stirling and is the main gateway to the Highlands, Some say the Trossachs are Scotland in miniature.

DAY 7
On our last day our first stop is Castle Campbell (also known as Castle Gloom in the Vale of Sorrows) but don’t let that put you off; it’s a beautiful spot at the head of Dollar Glen. This one is not for the unfit as it is a 20 minute walk from the car park up to the castle (we think you will agree that it’s worth it). The Castle was the home of the Earls of Argyll. The oldest part of the castle, the tower, dates back to the 15th century.
We head back to Edinburgh crossing over the famous Forth Road bridge and give you a tour of Edinburgh’s city centre, pointing out all the best places to visit before dropping you off at the Scotch Whisky Expereience.