Scotland Long Weekend (with Helicopter Tour) View Full Screen Itinerary

Arriving into Edinburgh you will be met at the terminal by your driver guide who will escort you through the airport straight to your luxury Land Rover vehicle awaiting outside. From here you will drive across country on an adventure through some of Scotland's most majestic and wild landscapes to the West Coast. Checking-in to a dreamy Scottish castle hotel, (once the home of Lord Abinger) it will be time to sit- back and soak up the quintessential Scottish castle atmosphere by the fire with a dram of whisky recommeded to you by the castle's expert. Explore the richly decorated state rooms, grand halls lined with imposing trophies from days goneby and a game of snooker in the billiards room before a 'Relais & Chateaux' dinner in the dining room.  

Accommodation: Inverlochy Castle on a Bed & Breakfast basis in a Luxury Double Room

This morning after breakfast looking out at Ben Nevis (Britain's highest mountain) you will collected by helicopter in the grounds of the castle and flown to a remote West Coast settlement, the helicotper will be flying over some of the UK's most magnificent landsapes and Scottish mountains (including Glenfinnan Viaduct famous for featuring in the Harry Potter films!) before landing nearby to the fishing village of Mallaig (once the capital of the UK's herring fishing industry with over 600 skiffs in the harbour). In Mallaig you will be met by one of the areas most interesting characters. Your guide has gown up in the area and has been fishing these waters for 35 + years. He knows the area like the back of his hand and will be taking you on a Marine Safari like no other - exploring some the west coast uninhabited remote sea loch coast lines or sparely populated islands such as Rum (Scotland's 15th largest island inhabited by only 18-people along with herds of wild Red deer and native Highland ponies, as well as Sea eagles and colonies of Grey seal etc) today is a true off-market experience that will stay with you for years as a memory to savour and share.

What with your helicopter transfers in and out - today will be a full on adventure, you will be hauling up our guides lobster pots with a high chance of a great catch, you can try you hand at fishing, reeling in some amazing fish, you may find yourself visiting the UK's most remote mainland settlement (a 3-day walk from the nearest road - a village served only by boats!), or even a superb micro-distillery (not on the main tourist radar!) creating unique blended whiskies and gin infused with local herbs and heather. Beyond the sheer majesty and beauty of this enviroment, your guide will bring the whole day to life with stories of old as well as recent days. The area was used extensively to train WW2 Commandos and Special Operations Units, as well as harbouring smugglers, Jacobites on the run and much much more. The Marine Safari today will include a fresh luxury Scottish seafood lunch either on board the cruiser in the comfortable and spacious galley, or on a remote beach which you will be taken into by tender. Enjoy some local Scottish smoked salmon from the region or langoustines, crab or lobster! Around 4pm this afternoon you will rendez-vous with your helicopter for an extraction back to Edinburgh. Taking off, you will fly south east heading once more over some of the Scottish Highlands most dramatic mountain scenery. 

Arriving back into the outskirts of beautiful Edinburgh (in the grounds of another castle), you will be driven the short distance into the city centre where you will check into one of Edinburgh's most recognisable addresses. The Caledonian Hotel, one of the city's grand old railway hotels is at the heart of the capital just off Princes' Street. As official partners of the hotel, Sandgrouse Travel & Expeditions have secured a room with a great view of Edinburgh Castle which dominates the skyline and is illumiated by night. From The Caledoninan you should be able to reach all the city's major attractions on foot for following morning or by short transfer which we are happy to provide if you wish.

Today includes a free morning for your own agenda (meetings / conference) with an afternoon trip to either the impressive Glenkinchie Distillery on the outskirts of the city (Glenkinchie is one of the base whiskies in the famous blend Johnnie Walker), or staying within the historic city, your guide will escort you to The Scotch Whisky Experience at the top of the Royal Mile right by Edinburgh Castle. Here you will gain a broader overview and understanding on whisky and the industry. Beyond the whisky tasting, you guide will take great pleasure in showing you some of the city's other major attractions and must-see or must-do sites. This afternon includes a ticket to Edinburgh Castle, on a self-guide tour with audio headset learn about the incredible history of this impossing castle at the centre of the vibrant captial. Listen out for the one o'clock gun (a cannon fired everyday from the castle ramparts traditionally for the ships in the harbour of Leith to set their clocks), head up the Scott monument (Edinburgh's mini Effiel tower) or climb Arther's Seat the extict volcanoe for some incredible views of the city.

This evening we have arrange for you to join a very interesting underground city tour, you will head deep below the city's streets to the Old Town's 18th century vaults. Here of the city's darker days with tales of murder and mystery as well as encounters with the super-natural before finishing up with a pint of local Scottish brewed beer in one of the city's vibrant local pubs with traditional Scottish live music. 

The following day after a sumptious Scottish breakfast at The Caledonian in central Edinburgh, you will be transfered by luxury Land Rover vehicle to Edinburgh Airport. Your guide will bid you farewell! Hast ye back to Scotland! 

Thank you for choosing to visit Scotland with Sandgrouse Travel & Expeditions. Our aim throughout all we do is to exceed expectations and we hope you have had a marvellous time here in Scotland and will soon return!