Tour Description:
Privately guided tour of Loch Lomond, the Trossachs and the Perthshire Highlands.
The Great County of Perth sits right in the middle of Scotland, and is famed for its scenery and tranquil beauty. This is a land where rugged Highlands meet rolling Lowlands; a land eulogised over by Romantic poets including Robert Burns and Walter Scott. This county of contrasts stretches from the River Forth and the Trossachs in the south to the wild Drumochter Pass in the north, and from lofty Ben Lui in the west to the outskirts of Dundee in the east; it includes the near 4000ft high Ben Lawers in the heart of Breadalbane, the rugged wilderness of Rannoch Moor, the rolling hills of Atholl and the flat arable lands of Strathmore and the Carse of Gowrie: it really is Scotland is miniature. The city of Perth was for centuries the Capital city of Scotland, and nearby is Scone, traditional site of Scottish coronations. Perth lies close to a Roman outpost fort and sits on the mighty River Tay (Scotland’s longest at 117 miles, and with the greatest discharge of any river in the British Isles) at its lowest crossing point, but also at a point where it is navigable from the sea for small ships. Perth is also the spiritual home of Scotch whisky, with Dewar’s, Famous Grouse and Bell’s all founded in the city, leaving a lasting legacy. Highland Perthshire was once the sanctuary of the wild Caledonian Tribes. Living deep in their thick forests, now reduced to patches like the Black Wood of Rannoch, they worshipped their sacred mountain Schiehallion (fairy hill of the Caledonians) and populated the lush valleys of the Tay and Tummel. Today its hills, lochs and forests are a haven for the countless tourists that come to enjoy the peace and quiet. The early church also played an important role in the area with Abernethy and the Cathedral City of Dunkeld both occupying a pivotal place in the evolution of Scotland’s religious life. The land in the southwest of Perthshire is known as the Trossachs and was made famous by Sir Walter Scott in his books Rob Roy and The Lady of the Lake. And across the county march lies the beautiful Loch Lomond, which at 27 miles² is Britain’s largest lake. Loch Lomond, in the old province of Lennox is named after Ben Lomond, which in Gaelic (Beinn Laomainn) means the ‘Beacon Hill’, where fires were once lit to raise the clans to battle.
Day by Day Itinerary:
Day 1: South Queensferry - Stirling - Trossachs - Aberfoyle - Loch Lomond
From Edinburgh the tour leaves the city and travels the short distance to South Queensferry, where St Margaret, wife of King Malcolm III, established a ferry across to the Kingdom of Fife over 900 years ago. After a photo-stop beneath the famous Forth Bridges we cross the Forth Road Bridge into Fife and head west along the foot of the Ochil Hills, to Dollar, where we take you on a fantastic woodland walk up Dollar Glen to the mysterious and rather imposing Castle Campbell, or Castle Gloom; Lowland seat of the mighty Campbells of Argyll. From Dollar it is a short run to Stirling and then onto the Trossachs. This is MacGregor country and we will arrange for a trip on the steam ship the SS Sir Walter Scott on Loch Katrine which is full of the lore of the Highland rogue Rob Roy. After the cruise we drive over the Duke’s Pass (built by the Duke of Montrose) to Aberfoyle and onto Glengoyne Distillery. Glengoyne has one of the best distillery tours in Scotland, and a range of whiskies that can be tasted, most quite fruity, sweet and with a blast of spice. From Glengoyne the tour makes its way to the beautiful and serene Loch Lomond.
Overnight - Loch Lomondside
Day 2: Loch Lomond - Killin - Aberfeldy - Pitlochry
Loch Lomond lies in the shadow of Ben Lomond, from whence it takes its name (Beinn Laomainn – meaning beacon hill), and has long been a rallying point for the Clans of Southwest Highlands, among them the MacFarlanes and the Colquhouns. The day begins by exploring the old world of these two fractious families. Then it is on up Glen Falloch to Crianlarich and down into Glendochart. This is MacNab Country, descended from the Abbots of Lismore, and St Fillan himself, and there will be a chance to see the old castle on Loch Dochart before arriving at Killin and going into the rather spooky Clan MacNab Burial Ground. The MacNabs now own the graveyard again, but the most of the lands were given to the mighty Campbells of Breadalbane. Descended from the Lords of Glenorchy the powerful Marquis of Breadalbane by 1900 had amassed an estate of nearly 500,000 acres, today all that is left is the mausoleum at Finlairg Castle at Killin, and we will head down there to see the final resting place of this huge clan. The downfall of the Campbells of Breadalbane was prophesied 400 years ago by the Seer, the Lady of Lawers, and the tour will continue down to the old church at Lawers on Lochtayside to see the tree she planted and hear of her predictions. Then it is on to Fortingall in Glen Lyon, and where the oldest living in Europe is to be found – the Fortingall Yew. According to legend Pontius Pilate was born here. We continue east into the Strath of Appin and the land of the Clan Menzies (pronounced ming-iss), and we will visit the Castle Menzies. Nearby is Aberfeldy, where the Black Watch regiment was first mustered in 1729, and Aberfeldy distillery (Dewar’s World of Whisky). Aberfeldy was established by the local born whisky baron John Dewar and produces a typically sweet Perthshire whisky, but with a hint of peat. From Aberfeldy we follow the River Tay as it winds its way down to the junction with the Tummel, when we turn north to the Victorian resort town of Pitlochry.
Overnight - Pitlochry
Day 3: Pitlochry - Blair Athol - Rannoch – Pitlochry
The morning begins with a visit to Blair Athol distillery, home of the Bell’s Brand. Blair Athol single malt is a rich, nutty and smooth dram, and the tour is great. After Blair Athol we will take the short drive to the Pass of Killiecrankie for a woodland walk. It was here that the Highland Jacobite Army of John Graham of Claverhouse (Bonnie Dundee) defeated the Redcoat army of William of Orange, although the Graham would be killed at the battle in 1689. The battle was fought for the security of the nearby Blair Castle, where next we head. Blair Castle is the ancestral seat of His Grace the Duke of Atholl, chief of the Clan Murray, and is one of the most stunning and beautiful castles in Scotland. The duke is the last man in Europe with the right to raise his own private army, the Atholl Highlanders. From Blair we head a little further north to Bruar where you can enjoy the wonderful shopping at the House of Bruar and visit the Clan Donnachaidh museum. Clan Donnachaidh is the traditional name for the biggest Clan in this part of the world, Clan Robertson. Descended from the Celtic Earls of Atholl, the Robertson lands extend south through Strathtay and west to the wilds of Rannoch, and that is where the tour heads next, after visiting the Clan Graveyard at Struan (the Chief is styled Struan Robertson). The afternoon will take you deep into Rannoch, and we will visit beautiful Loch Rannoch, sanctuary of the clan and the Black Wood of Rannoch, one of the last stands of the ancient Caledonian Pineforest. From Rannoch the tour returns to Pitlochry via the amazing views of the Queen’s View in the shadow of the sacred Celtic Mountain, Schiehallion.
Overnight – Pitlochry
Day 4: Pitlochry - Strathmore - Glamis - Dunkeld - Atholl – Pitlochry
Again the morning begins with a distillery, this time the lovely Edradour, smallest and prettiest in Scotland. Edradour produces a slightly spicy, but still smooth and sweet, with no peat, malt at 10 years old. From Pitlochry the tour then heads east through the hills of Strathardle to Strathmore and the country of the Ogilvies of Angus. Their Seats at Airlie and Cortachy are both famously haunted, and while not open to the public we can see if we could get an appointment if desired. We are now in the Lowlands were the Highland Clans give way to the ‘considerable families’ of the Lowlands, and none are more considerable than the Bowes-Lyons, the family of the late Queen Mother. We will pay a visit to the seat of the Earl of Strathmore and Kinghorn and head of the Bowes-Lyon family, Glamis Castle, childhood home of the Queen Mother. From Glamis we make our way west again, and back into the Highlands at Dunkeld. This ancient Cathedral City (smallest city in Scotland), was described as the Versailles of Atholl and the dukes once had a Palace here. It is one of the most picturesque villages in Scotland, and we will visit the 700 year old Cathedral. Then it is back up the Great North Road to Pitlochry.
Overnight – Pitlochry
Day 5: Pitlochry - Dunkeld - Crieff - Edinburgh
From Pitlochry the tour heads back south to Dunkeld for a forest walk before heading through the lovely Sma’ Glen to Crieff and Glenturret distillery, the oldest in Scotland. They produce a dry, but deeply mellow sweet whisky, which forms part of the Famous Grouse brand. From Crieff the tour visits Drummond Castle, ancestral seat of the Drummond Earls of Perth. There is no access to the castle (except on special request), but the gardens are well worth seeing. The Drummond family were great supporters of Bonnie Prince Charlie, and they suffered as a result. The town of Crieff was burned to the ground. From Crieff we simply head south past Stirling and back to Edinburgh
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Perthshire Highlands Scotland Tour!!!
Day by Day Itinerary:
Prices, Dates & What's Included:
This tour is available with a private local driver guide specializing in Scottish culture, landscape and whisky. For more details and prices for private tour options please fill out the Enquire/Book It form which you can access from the button below.
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