Ultimate Scottish Journey with Range Rover Vogue View Full Screen Itinerary

Today you will be arriving into Edinburgh International Airport where you will be met in the 'Arrivals Terminal' by a Sandgrouse Travel & Expeditions representative.

Once you have all your luggage and are happy to depart, you will be driven by private Land Rover Defender 110 to Edinburgh city centre where you will check-in to your historic grand hotel, The Caledonian Hotel - Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh. Here you will check in to two King bed castle facing rooms - overlooking one of Britain's most iconic buildlings, Edinburgh Castle. 

This afternoon and evening are yours to use as you wish, exploring the city's historic sites from the Georgian built 'New Town' to the Unesco World Heritage area of the 'Old Town'. Your Sandgrouse Travel & Expeditions travel planner will provide you with a host of interesting places to visit as suggestions, and we are more than happy to pre-arrange entry to any where that is of particular interest such as Edinburgh Castle itself, of the Palace of Holyrood. 

This evening we have arranged for you to dine at one of Edinburgh's most famous and characterful restaurants, situated just a stone's throw from the portcullis of Edinburgh Castle, the astmospheric Witchery By the Castle will be a great place to dine. 

Accommodation: The Caledonian Hotel - Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh on a Bed & Breakfast basis. x2 King Premier Rooms over looking Edinburgh Castle. 

This morning you will wake up to one of the most breathtaking city skylines in the world! Edinbugh Castle looms above you. Head down to the in-house restaurant for a delicious Scottish Cooked or Continental Breakfast before checking out of your room.

At 10:00am today you will be taking delivery of your luxury Range Rover Vogue outside the hotel. After a short briefing of the vehicle you will leave Edinburgh following your carefully considered suggested routing north towards the world famous Scottish Highlands.

Today's journey sees you driving through some of Scotland's most dramatic and well known landscapes and glens. From crossing the desolate Rannoch Moor, to passing through the world famous Glen Coe, today you will be day of touring and discovery that seers itself into your memories. Why not recreate the James Bond Skyfall scene down Glen Etive, or visit some historic ruins along your route from Doune Castle, to Kilchurn Castle and many more!

Finally, dropping through mighty Glen Coe, you will have the chance for numerous photographs and if you are more adventurous a hike, before arriving into Fort William where you check-in to one of Scotland's most sought after castle hotels - Inverlochy Castle. 

Castles of note today, Stirling Castle, Doune Castle, Kilchurn Castle. Landscapes of note today, Rannoch Moor, Glen Etive, Glen Coe. 

Accommodation: Inverlochy Castle, x2 Large Double Rooms on a Bed & Breakfast basis for two nights. Relais & Chateaux property, expert incredible food in the comfort of a grand Victorian era Scottish castle. 

Today sees you wake up at the foot of Britain's highest mountain, Ben Nevis tops out at 4,406ft above sea level and looms right behind the castle. Pull back the curtains and marvel at the Scottish mountains surrounding the ground of Inverlochy before heading down to enjoy a sumptious traditional Scottish breakfast complete with haggis!

Today you will jump in the Range Rover after breakfast and strike out towards the north west. Following by road what is often voted as the world's most beautiful railway journey, along the 'Road to the Isles' you will find the scenery is absolutley breathtaking - everything you ever imagined beautiful Scotland to be! 

You will pass by the world-famous Glenfinnan Viaduct (made famous by featuring in Harry Potter films) before arriving into the charming harbour town of Mallaig. Mallaig was once the captial of the UK's Herring fishing industry and used to have over 600 skiffs in the harbour. Today there are few fishing boats still, however tourism is the main economic provider here now.

Once in Mallaig, we have arranged parking with harbour master, so park up your Range Rover by the pontoon where you will meet your incredible guide. 

Your private guide will take you on an incredible full-day Marine Safari in his privately owned 40-ft cruiser. Head out to the Isle of Rum, Scotland's 15th largest island this veriable Jurassic Park has only 18-people living on it and is a protected nature reserve. Here you should expect to meet herds of semi-wild native Highland Ponies, that roam in the mountains,  see herds of Scotland's majestic wild Red deer and much more. Keep your eyes peeled today for our Sea eagles which use Rum as a hunting and nesting site. These huge birds are unmistakable in the skies. On the sea cliffs, look out for colourful puffins on the rocks, as well as seals loafing on the shore. If you are really lucky, dolphins and even whales can be seen in the waters (sometimes dolphins play in the wake of the boat!)!

On the Isle of Rum, you will be treated to a private 4x4 safari heading up into the mountains, where your guide will take you fishing on one of Scotland's most remote and spectacular trout lochans in the crater of an extinct volcano. If ever there is a place to learn the fundamentals of fly-fishing, it is here! Lunch will be served today using locally caught Scottish seafood, from langoustines, and lobster to scallops, salmon, all washed down with a few drams of local whiskies - your guide is notorious for breaking out the drams! 

Today will be a day you will both never forget, Scotland holds many treasures and secrets, and not many people are able to tap into these on such a private and exclusive basis. Enjoy and we look forward to hearing the stories!

Once back at Mallaig harbour, you will be able to enjoy a more leisurely drive back to Inverlochy Castle. Head alone the old single track road close to the shoreline, making sure to stop at beaches where the sand is so fine it squeaks as you walk barefoot... In the distance you will see the far off Hebridean islands as the sun starts to set.

This morning you enjoy one final breakfast at Inverlochy Castle looking out across the castle's own loch and the mountains beyond before checking-out in good time.

Today you will be departing Inverlochy Castle in style. Our Bell Longranger helicopter will be arriving to collect you today around 10:00am and a chopper based day of travel awaits! Heading north from the castle grounds you will fly over some of the West Coast landscapes few ever see from this perspective. (Today, your Range Rover Vogue will be relocated by one of the Sandgrouse Travel & Expeditions team to your next accommodation where it will be left for you). 

Once up in the air, marvel at the Scottish fjords and mountains as you head on a scenic joyride that you will never forget, towards the world-famous Isle of Skye. The Isle of Skye is one of Scotland's best known jewels. Here the mountains are more Alpine in their stature than Highland. Rugged peaks rise in the clouds in a sheer vertical fashion - the name Skye means cloudy in old Norse, and the Isle of Skye was once a Viking powerbase...

Once you arrive onto Skye, we have arranged for you to be met by a local expert guide who will take you on a coastal walk exploring pre-historic ruins, Viking sites and ancient Scottish brochs. Our guide has worked with the BBC and numerous TV production companies, and his not only an expert on history, but also a naturalist, hunter and survival instructor. He will truly bring to life your visit to Skye and you can retain an element of flexibility with him based on your own interests and conversation with him.

After your tour you will enjoy a luncheon at the luxury Michelin-starred seafood restaurant, The Three Chimneys which is situared on the shores of a sea-loch right by the ocean. After an amazing lunch paired with a dram of whisky, it will be time to fly east from Skye where you will head to your very own private highland lodge. Your lodge is truly one of a kind. Set within its own 23,000 acres the lodge is at the forefront of the world's rewilding movement. Here you will be welcomed to your new home from home, where a remarkable 48-hours await including reserve safaris, clay-pigeon shooting, guided hikes, mountain biking and / or relaxing by the fire with in the most wonderful of settings, a glass of good whisky and great company of your hosts.

To learn more about your lodge, please enjoy reading through the accommodation tab and watching the associated movie links. 

Accommodation: Alladale Wilderness Reserve - Alladale Lodge on an exclusive basis. 

Today you will wake up at one of the most remote properties in Europe - 17-miles down a remote Northern Highlands glen, Alladale Lodge lies in its very own 23,000 acre estate. Take breakfast at leisure, before speaking to the head ranger and host and making a plan of action for the day ahead. 

Superb mountain biking await on endless kms of estate tracks and trails, hiking galore in the beautiful mountains, wildlife watching  (Red deer, Highalnd Cows, Highland Ponies, Golden Eagles, Pine Martens, Red Squirrels, Salmon leaping and more) and tracking with the ranger, a Land Rover based 4x4 safari across the estate and of course, we have pre-arranged for you a clay-pigeon shoot for some light competition! 

Today you will also likely learn much more about the incredible rewildling work going on at Alladale, hear how the current custodian of this huge area of Scotland has invested millions in planting native tree species that once cloaked the mountains in this area - making up part of the once great Caledonian Pine Forest. The estate has successfull translocated red squirrels back to the area in recent years, as well as being at the forefront of trial reintroductions of various species such as wild boar and even moose! On-site at Alladale, you will also find one of only a handful of Scotland's wildcat breeding programmes. If you are lucky, one of the rangers will take you down the enclosure to see one of the worlds' most elusive and endangered cat species, the Scottish Wildcat. 

Today you will leave your Highland hideaway and head south towards Inverness. The drive will see civilisation slowly creep in as you head down the glen towards the east coast and ultimately Inverness. Along the way, we recommend popping into the town of Beauly, where you will find one of Scotland's longest standing traditional tailors, Campbell's of Beauly. Here you can pick up a fine Scottish tweed jacket, or cap - perhaps even a full suit! Campbell's of Beauly are famous for supplying most of Scotland's great historical Sporting estates with their distictive tweeds - a uniform that is instancely recognisable. Across the road from Campbell's you will also find Iain Marr Antiques, a small shop with a huge reputation. Iain is a true Scottish gentleman and his shop sells some of Scotland's rarest treasures. This is a great place to pick up a fine souvenir for a loved one at home. 

On reaching Inverness, today we recommend you take a detour to the nearby Culloden battlefield. This is the last site on which a battle was fought on British soil - in 1746, the Jacobite cause was routed here - Bonnie Prince Charlie was defeated by government troops before fleeing to live the rest of his life in exil in Italy. The interactive tour of the battlefield, via the Museum and visitors centre is a great inclusion into your day. You will be able to grab an audio headset and walk across the battlefield as the story is brought back to life. A moving experience, but also a very important lesson in understanding how Scotland and the United Kingdom was shaped to become the two countries we know today. 

For lunch today, we recommend heading to the Speyside village of Craigellachie. Here you will find the Craigellachie Hotel, which has its very own quaint and cosy pub called The Copper Dog. The Copper Dog will provide you with a traditional British pub lunch in a convivial setting. From here you are only a two minute drive to the incredible Macallan distillery where we have booked you onto a tour of the distillery. Here you will embark on a tour of the workings of the whisky distillery, from start to finish, mashing and fermentation, to maturations and bottling and the store houses. Finally, you will be tasting a variety of whiskies in the line and learn the subtle differences in tastes and even whisky making regions of Scotland. Today's visit to The Macallan will be an illuminating and educational visit - which will give you a really fantastic understanding of this much loved, billion dollar industry!

After you have visited The Macallan, the remaineder of the afternoon is yours - your Sandgrouse Travel planner will recommend further local distilleries as additional add-ons, as well as local castles, ruins and sites of interest in the area as you work your way back further into the mountains of Royal Deeside. You will this afternoon be heading towards what is now undoubtedly, one of the best hotels in the world. The Fife Arms in all its Scottish glory awaits! Please do read more on the 'accommodation' tab to learn about why the Fife Arms is one of the world's most sought after hotels to visit. 

Accommodation: The Fife Arms, x2 Victoriana Suites on a Bed & Breakfast basis. 

Waking up in The Fife Arms, is something that will surely not be forgotten quickly. Surrounded by quintessential Scotland, from tartan to tweed, artwork, taxidermy and Victorian curiousities. Head downstairs for a full Scottish breakfast before a day of true Royal activities. 

Today you will be driving past the British Royal Families Balmoral Castle and Estates, to the neighbouring Mar Lodge Estate, a 71,000 acres jewel in the Scottish Highlands. Here we have arranged for you to embark on a very special, private experience that will almost teleport you back in time to the glory of the Victorian era. Experience the true Scotland, that Queen Victoria and Price Albert so fell in love with on a day's guided walk with our traditionally clad 'Pony-man'. Today the Fife Arms will be providing you with an incredible picnic which will be carried deep into the forest and / or Scottish hills by x2 native Highland Ponies carrying traditional 'grouse panniers'. Your guide, an expert pony-man will walk with you on this gentle hike through majestic landscapes and scenery as you slow-down and reconnect with the nature all around you. 

Your guide, is a real local character and a true Highlander. He owns his own Highland Ponies, as well as around 30-birds of prey which he uses for falconry displays and hunting. Accompanying you throughout the day, you will learn all about life in the Scottish Highlands, how it would have once been working and living on a grand Highland estate back in Queen Victoria's day and of course, today you will savour an incredibly memorable picnic luncheon in a dramatic setting. 

Experiences such as today's will seer themselves into your memories. This is real life in the Scottish highlands, meeting genuine locals with a real passion for their way of life and traditions. We hope that you have a splendid day to remember!

Tonight enjoy the on-site pub at The Fife Arms, with live local music and a dram of whisky or two! 

This morning you will be checking-out of The Fife Arms. After one last Scottish Breakfast it will be time to hit the road in you trusty Range Rover Vogue and head south through the magical Glenshee. Glenshee is infact, on of Scotland's best winters ski stations, but at this time of year of course, there will be little if any snow to be seen. The road is a very enjoyable drive, snaking its way up over a mountain pass before down towards the small town of Blairgowrie. Once here, head towards Perth before joining the M90 south to Edinburgh. 

Today you will have the chance to visit the historic town of South Queensferry just after you have crossed the brand new Queensferry Crossing bridge. The lastest bridge to be built over the River Forth. Here, three bridges from three centuries straddle the river. Down in the historic town of South Queensferry, you will be able to step out for a final leg stretch and photographic opportunity under the iconic Forth Railway Bridge. This canterlever bridge is one of the world's most iconic bridges and if you head towards the inn at the end of the High Street here, you can park right underneath the impressive arches! 

Once you have enjoyed a final stroll on historic Scottish soil, head the short drive to Edinburgh Airport where we will be waiting to collect your car and bid you farewell.

We thank you for travelling to Scotland and choosing to travel with Sandgrouse Travel & Expeditions and we hope you have truly had one of the most memorable and enjoyable holidays!