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Day 1 Arrival - Edinburgh
Area
Arrive at Edinburgh/Glasgow Airport and pick up your self-drive
car. Today you can visit Edinburgh Castle or do a short city
tour. Overnight in Edinburgh area.
Day 2 St Andrews - Perth
 Today's
route takes you to St Andrews, the home of the oldest university
in Scotland and capital of golf with its famous and prestigious
Old Course. You will enjoy the traditional small shops and the
beautiful sea views. In the afternoon visit Scone Palace, a castellated
palace, enlarged and embellished in 1803, incorporating earlier
palaces. The Moot Hill at Scone was the site of the famous Coronation
Stone of Scone. Overnight in Perth Area.
Day 3 Speyside/Deeside -
Aberdeen
 Today
you will drive towards Aberdeen, through Speyside and Deeside.
You will have the opportunity to visit Glamis Castle home of
the Earl of Strathmore, and the childhood home of Queen Elisabeth,
The Queen Mother. If you are visiting between May and the end
of July it is possible to visit Balmoral Castle, the Highland
family home of the Royal Family since 1852.
You could also visit Crathes Castle, a sixteenth century castle
with remarkable original painted ceilings, a collection of antique
Scottish furniture and its famous walled gardens. Overnight in
Aberdeen or area.
Day 4 Aberdeen and area
- Lerwick
Aberdeen, the granite city is a maritime city with strong trading
links with Scandinavia and the Low Countries across the North
Sea. Today, Aberdeen's harbour is a base for offshore oil and
gas developments. Aberdeen has one of the most distinctive townscapes
in Scotland, thanks to the use of silver granite, used from the
18th century onward. Garden lovers will want to see Duthie Park
and its Winter Gardens, the largest covered display of roses
(1 hectare) in Europe. Other points of interest include Aberdeen
University, and Dunnottar Castle, a spectacular ruin 50 metres
above the sea and an impregnable fortress to the Earls Marischals
of Scotland. After a full day touring Royal Deeside check in
to your private cabin on the ferry to Lerwick in Shetland. Relax
in one of the well-stocked bars and enjoy a delicious dinner
in the restaurant. Overnight on the ferry Aberdeen - Lerwick
departing at17.00 or 19.00 Hours
Day 5 Shetland
 On
waking up in Lerwick, start your exploration of Shetland by travelling
south where you will find the main tourist attractions. Visit
Mousa Broch, the finest surviving Iron Age broch tower on its
own little island. Step into the life of a Shetland crofter at
the Shetland Croft House Museum and, one of the highlights of
Shetland, explore the Jarlshof Prehistoric and Norse Settlement.
Back in Lerwick learn some of the island history at the Shetland
Museum, or drink some of the local ale. Overnight on Shetland.
Day 6 Shetland - Orkney
 A trip to Shetland would not be
complete without looking at the wildlife. Its dramatic cliffs
are a perfect breeding ground for migrating birds, the most popular
with the tourists being the Puffin. Seals are also plentiful
and easily seen lazing on the rocks and a must is the famous
Shetland pony, Late in the afternoon it will be time to board
the ferry again for the 5½-hour journey to Orkney (17.30
or 19.00). Overnight on Orkney.
Day 7 Orkney
 Today
you will have the opportunity to tour much of Main Island and
visit the key prehistoric sites of the Ring of Brodgar, Stones
of Stenness, Maeshowe, and Skara Brae. The burial chamber of
Maeshowe is directly illuminated only at midwinter solstice and
the Ring of Brodgar also part of this great ceremonial centre
may have been used to track the movements of the moon. Step back
5,000 years at Skara Brae, preserved for millennia under sand
dunes, the prehistoric village remained undisturbed until 1850
when a great storm revealed the village for the first time. Continue
to your accommodation on Orkney.
Day 8 Orkney
 Today
you will have the opportunity to visit St. Magnus Cathedral,
the best example of Norman Architecture that has survived in
Scotland. After visiting the historical sites in the centre of
Kirkwall you can enjoy a walk along the winding flagstoned main
street, which is lined with houses dating from the 16th century.
In this bustling thoroughfare you can shop for jewellery, pottery,
amber, traditional knitwear, and a vast variety of Orkney food.
Don`t miss a visit to Orkney`s only whisky distillery, Highland
Park. Among the many attractions is Scapa Flow, the scene of
momentous events during both world wars. Visit the series of
causeways known as the Churchill Barriers as well as the Italian
Chapel, which has become monument to those lost in war. Late
afternoon you re-board your ferry for the overnight cruise back
to Aberdeen. Overnight on ferry (23.45)
Day 9 Aberdeen - Edinburgh
 Wake
up back in Aberdeen ready to carry on with your itinerary. Drive
back to Edinburgh, where you can start off with a city tour of
the Georgian "New Town" with its wide, tree lined streets
and elegant squares then to the medieval "Old Town".
The Royal Mile is the backbone of the old quarter, running from
the Palace of Holyrood House to Edinburgh Castle. Visit Edinburgh`s
iconic sights such as Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, the Palace
of Holyroodhouse, the new Scottish Parliament, the Walter Scott
Memorial and Princes Street. This evening you might opt for one
of Edinburgh's famous ghost walks - not to be missed!
Day 10 Departure
Sadly this is your last morning in Scotland. Drop off your hired
car at the airport and check in for your flight home.
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