2024 Ancient Scotland Tour Detail

Why this tour?

Longevity! Hugh Allison and I have been running tours of Scotland together since 2015, and the guides at Inverness Tours have a vast knowledge of Scotland and her ancient sites. Hugh and I have been talking for years about creating a tour of the sites of Ancient Scotland and the debut is in 2022. We hope you'll find these tours as fascinating as our Outlander Immersion tours which have gotten rave reviews. See our testimonials here.
Here are some more reasons to book with us:

The size: with only 7 people maximum, you get to interact with the other members of the tour and the wonderful guide. It also means that you won't have a multitude of people pouring out of a bus at Dunadd Fort when you're trying to feel the vibrations of ancient energy! And having a small group means you can have delicious breakfasts and lunches at places that large groups don't have access to.
Scottish to the core makes this the perfect choice: You'll be staying in authentic Scottish accommodations and your tour guides know Scotland and Scottish history so they'll be telling you tales and stopping along the way. This is not just another tour of Scotland. You'll love Scotland like they do by the end of your tour.
Inverness Tours: 5* on Trip Advisor. They have the most amazing guides and Hugh Allison, Dave Fyfe, Ian Deveney, Laura Moon and Scott Guthrie have been expertly guiding tours of Scotland for years. They are knowledgeable, charming and entertaining. This is not a boring bus ride from one spot to the next - you will leave feeling like you know Scotland and have had the ultimate tour.
We are one of the few tours to visit the site of Dunadd Fortand the ancient monuments in Kilmartin Glen!
And finally, there is me. I run a travel agency located in Colorado and I do all of the long distance calling to Scotland so you don't have to. I am an IATAN Accredited Travel Agent and I created these tours in conjunction with Hugh Allison. In addition, I have traveled - a lot - to Scotland and Ireland from the US. So I can help you with questions about international travel as well as any questions you have about Scotland specifically.

Your Conifer, Colorado based, IATAN Accredited, award winning travel advisor.

Write Celtic Kathie!

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Daily Itinerary

Day 1 - Glasgow
Arrive Glasgow and transfer to your pre-booked accommodations. Like most Scottish towns, Glasgow is a friendly city with a good selection of traditional music at pubs around town and very good shopping choices. You can also see some of the many sites used for filming the Outlander TV series. See my blog about Things to do in Glasgow for more information.
Overnight in Glasgow.
Day 2 - Journey begins - Medieval Cathedral and Priory of St Andrews
The highlight of this day will be the royal burgh of St Andrews, once the ecclesiastical capital of Scotland. The medieval cathedral and priory began with a foundation of Augustinian canons established between 1127 and 1144. Built partly in the Norman and partly in the early Gothic style, it was by far the largest church in Scotland, with an internal length of 357 feet (109 metres). The cathedral and priory were enclosed by an elaborate precinct wall, much of which survives. This day will also include Abernethy, the Pictish Capital, and a visit to Tullibardine Distillery.
Overnight Glasgow.
Day 3 - Loch Lomond, Ancient Seat of the Early Scottish Kings, Ancient Monuments in Kilmartin Glen
This day will start with a drive up along the fabled Loch Lomond enroute to Lochgilphead and Kilmartin. Rising dramatically from Moine Mhor, Dunadd appears as a rocky outcrop near Lochgilphead. Many people have heard of Tara, the seat of the High Kings of Ireland. Well Dunadd Fort, in the Kilmartin Glen in Argyll, is the Ancient Seat of the Early Scottish Kings!! And just like Tara, when you climb to the top of Dunadd, you can feel the vibrations of ancient energy! The rest of this day will be spent investigating the ancient monuments in Kilmartin Glen which holds over 300 of them in a few square miles.
Overnight near Kilmartin.
Day 4 - Loch Linnhe, Old Inverlochy Castle
Enroute to Inverness, we’ll stop and see some fascinating pieces of Scottish History. You’ll drive along the west coast of Scotland with views of the lovely Loch Linnhe and on to Old Inverlochy Castle. This is an ancient site from the 13th century which is situated at the south-western end of the Great Glen just north of Fort William on the banks of the River Lochy. Your guide will regale you with tales of its fascinating history and many scenes of splendor and carnage which occurred here. From the castle, you’ll drive along the Great Glen and the amazing length of Loch Ness before arriving in Inverness.
Overnight Inverness.
Day 5 - Day in Inverness, Shopping, Whiskey, Music, Books, Hop-on Hop-off Bus
This day will be a day off for the guide and a day for you to investigate Inverness with your included hop-on hop-off bus pass. Like most Scottish towns, Inverness is filled with friendly people and has traditional music and very good shopping. Recommended places to visit: The Whisky Shop just up the hill from the River Ness on High Street, Leakey's Second-hand Bookshop filled with thousands of books, MacGregor’s Bar (with regular music sessions), Gellions Bar (nightly live music) across the street from the Whisky Shop, Hootananny (more music) down Church Street, Highland House of Fraser - Kiltmaker & Supplier of Highland Dress, "The Bar" at the Glenmoriston Townhouse Hotel (for a wee dram), and just past there, the Ness Islands (a lovely walk thru tall trees). See my blog : Things to do in Inverness.
Overnight Inverness.
Day 6 - Old Man of Hoy, Cliffs of Yesnaby or Sheila Fleet Jewelry Designer, St Magnus Cathedral
Today you will begin your journey to the remote Orkney Islands with a drive up to the far north of the Scottish mainland. You will drive up through the scenic Scottish Highlands before catching a ferry to the Orkney Islands. Your sites this day will be weather dependent. After visiting the Old Man of Hoy (iconic sea stack that soars out of the Atlantic Ocean on the island’s spectacular west coast), you will either walk the scenic cliffs of Yesnaby, (famous for it's sea stack called the Yesnaby Castle) or a visit to local jewelry designer, Sheila Fleet (one of Scotland's most renowned jewellery designers). And finally you will visit St Magnus Cathedral, known as the 'Light in the North' which was founded in 1137 in honor St Magnus who was martyred in Orkney.
Overnight Kirkwall.
Day 7 - Standing Stones of Stenness, Ring of Brodgar, Ness of Brodgar, Maeshowe, Skara Brae, Bishop's Palace, Earl's Palace
This day will include a plethora of intriguing ancient sites. You will begin your day with the captivating Standing Stones of Stenness, a henge which is older than Stonehenge by hundreds of years. Next you’ll visit the majestic circle of standing stones known as Ring of Brodgar, or Orkney's Legendary Dancing Giants. The height of the stones ranges between smaller stones at seven feet tall, and the largest reaching to above 15 feet, creating a circle that would have been over 300 feet in diameter. Near by you’ll drive by the extensive Neolithic archaeological site, the Ness of Brodgar. Next you’ll see Maeshowe, a Neolithic chambered cairn and passage grave built 5,000 years ago. On the southern shore of the Bay o' Skaill, in the West Mainland parish of Sandwick, is the Neolithic village of Skara Brae which was inhabited for around 600 years, between 3200BC and 2200BC. Lastly you'll visit the Bishop's Palace and Earl's Palace.
Overnight Kirkwall.
Day 8 - Italian Chapel and Orkney Winery, then Ferry back to Mainland Scotland
In the morning, visit the Italian Chapel, a beautiful Roman Catholic chapel in Lamb Holm which was constructed by Italian POWs during the Second World War. Then you will visit the Orkney Winery (a family business producing sulphur free, vegan friendly, fruit wine and liqueurs the classic way), then catch the ferry back to mainland Scotland. You will drive through the highlands of Scotland and return to the charming capitol of the Highlands, Inverness, for your final night of the tour.
Overnight Inverness.
Day 9 - Inverness - End of Tour
Breakfast is included on this final day but the tour is over after breakfast. You may schedule your flight home for this day (or you may choose to extend your stay and see more of Scotland).

Highlights:

An Outlander expert tour guide from Inverness Tours.
All Accommodations are included plus a full Scottish Breakfast each day except the first day. Accommodations are ensuite, include hairdryer and an iron and ironing board are available.
All entrance fees are included.
6 day driver-guide tour with Inverness Tours in 8 passenger van.

Not Included:

Airfare is not included. See my blog about Booking Flights for tips.
Arrival or departure transfers (but these can be added for an additional charge)
Lunches and Dinners except any dinners included in your itinerary
Porterage of suitcases at hotels, airports, bus or rail stations
Luggage allowance is one medium sized suitcase and one tote or daypack per person. Additional luggage should be arranged in advance.
Tips for guides and other services

Price:

The price for each tour is on the main page with the table of tours.
There are a limited number of single rooms so there will be an extra charge if we have to book a double to be used as a single room. Prices are subject to change until final payment is made.
There is a $500 non-refundable deposit per person due when the tour is booked.
Incremental Payments Accepted. Please Inquire when booking.

Hugh Allison and I have worked together to design this tour and we will strive to see all of the places in the list above but they are subject to change dependent on weather and availability.

Here is a Sample of the Ancient Scotland Itinerary.