Southern Scotland Tour: Edinburgh, Stirling, Glasgow & More

Fountain in front of Edinburgh Castle in Scotland

What to expect on this itinerary

Scotland is a country of more than just bagpipes and haggis, warring clans and tartan kilts; it is also a country of culture and tradition, history and majesty, stately homes and stolid castles. If you’re looking for a tour of Scotland unlike anything else, all you need to do is turn south.

Countries Visited

Scotland

Places Visited

Edinburgh, Stirling, Ayr, Glasgow

Suggested Duration

8 Days

Customizable Itinerary

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Day 1

Beginning Your Tour of the Scottish Lowlands

This morning, you touch down outside of enchanting Edinburgh, the political and cultural capital of Scotland and one of the most fascinating cities in Great Britain. You’ll be transferred from the airport to one of the city’s finest hotels, filled with modern amenities and elegant furnishings, staffed by a group of dedicated and friendly people who are attuned to your every want and need. After dropping off your bags and recovering from jet lag, you’ll set out to explore this one-of-a-kind metropolis.

Get a glorious glimpse of the city and the countryside beyond by scaling the gentle rise of Calton Hill, offering incredible vistas of the Firth of Forth and the rolling Scottish Lowlands as well as some of the best-known and best-loved monuments in the city. You’ll be moved by the terraced tower commemorating the exploits of Horatio Nelson, which still flies his famous message to his fleet on Trafalgar Day, and you’ll be puzzled by the still-incomplete National Monument, from whose stolid columns you’ll get the best view of the fantastic scenery encircling Edinburgh. Descend the hill in the evening for a visit to one of Edinburgh’s best restaurants before heading out for a nightcap in one of the capital’s charming pubs.

What's Included:

Transfer
Accommodation
Tour
Day 2

Exploring Edinburgh

Day 3

The Center of Scotland’s Wars of Independence

Day 4

A Chapel Filled with Myth and a Dram of Scotland’s Finest

Day 5

The Great Houses of Southern Scotland

Day 6

Scotland’s Rich Literary Tradition

Day 7

Discovering the Second City of the British Empire

Day 8

Saying Goodbye to Stupendous Scotland

Trip Highlights

  • Visit two of the great cities of Scotland as you’ll gaze down from Calton Hill over the gorgeous expanse of Edinburgh and walk the bustling streets lined with gorgeous Victorian architecture in Glasgow
  • Learn about Scotland’s romantic and momentous past at Stirling Castle before checking out the Hall of Heroes and William Wallace’s claymore at the stupendous Wallace Monument
  • Explore some of southern Scotland’s most famous homes and castles, from Sir Walter Scott’s stirring estate of Abbotsford to Traquair House, reported to be the oldest house in Scotland
  • Discover the myths of Rosslyn Chapel and the magic of Melrose Abbey, two of Scotland’s most beautiful – and mysterious – religious buildings
  • Tour the former home of Robert Burns, Scotland’s favorite son, and learn about his life, times and works at the superlative Burns National Heritage Park

Detailed Description

While Scotland might be known as the home of the Highlands, the country’s south is equally astounding, the place where you’ll find her two largest and most important cities as well as numerous locations that have played an incalculable role in the country’s history and culture. This eight-day tour will hit all the highlights of the lovely Lowlands, showing you the best museums and the most breathtaking scenery of the country’s scintillating south, and introducing you to some of the friendliest and most engaging people you could ever hope to meet.

Climb the rise of Stirling Sill to encounter the fascinating history of Stirling Castle, the coronation site for a number of Scottish queens and kings, before visiting the towering Wallace Monument, a structure dedicated to the deeds of one of Scotland’s great patriots. Walk the halls and stroll the grounds at some of the country’s most elegant and stately homes, from Sir Walter Scott’s Abbotsford to Traquair House, the temporary home to Mary, Queen of Scots and Bonnie Prince Charlie. Explore the ruins of Melrose Abbey and learn about the Templar myths and legends of the Holy Grail at Rosslyn Chapel. And, of course, perambulate the city streets of Scotland’s capital of Edinburgh and gaze upon the gorgeous architecture of Glasgow, the largest city in the country.

From the Royal Mile and the Honours of Scotland to the lyrical odes of Robert Burns, from the stills of the Glenkinchie Distillery to the streets of Glasgow to Stirling Castle, southern Scotland has everything you could ever hope for: romance and adventure, high style and high culture, legendary figures and magnificent landscapes. After this one-of-a-kind vacation, you’ll never associate Scotland with just the Highlands again.

Starting Price

$4,000 per person (excluding international flights)

Your Zicasso trip is fully customizable, and this sample itinerary is a starting place for your travel plans. Actual costs are dynamic, and your selection of accommodations and activities, your season of travel, and other such variables will bring this budget guideline up or down. Throughout your planning experience with your Zicasso specialist, your itinerary is designed around your budget. You can book your trip when you are satisfied with every detail. Planning your trip with a Zicasso travel specialist is a free service.

What's Included

  • Accommodations
  • In-country transportation
  • Some or all activities and tours
  • Expert trip planning
  • 24x7 support during your trip

Your final trip cost will vary based on your selected accommodations, activities, meals, and other trip elements that you opt to include.

4.9

Verified Traveler Reviews

Based on 513 reviews

stanley M.
Ireland, Scotland Vacation Review: 12 Nights

The trip was put together by Zicasso's travel company with much thought and numerous suggestions.

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Allison B.
Scotland Travel Review: Edinburgh, Portree, Isle of Skye, Inverness, Trossachs National Park, Safari, Sea Cruise, Waterfalls, Hiking, Local Cuisine, Scenery, 11-Day Trip

The trip was lovely. Working with Zicasso's travel consultant was delightful from start to finish. She had really great ideas for things to add to the itinerary and was great about incorporating things to see and places to visit that we already had in mind. It was truly a collaboration between the two of us to form the perfect itinerary.

I've worked with a lot of other travel companies to arrange custom itineraries for trips and this was one of the best. The app was very handy for quick changes and communication when we were in Scotland.

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Alissa A.
Scotland Trip Review: Local Cuisine, Scenery, Golf, 9 Nights

The trip was absolutely amazing!! The lush green landscape, the authentic food, the amazing golfing, and the amazing people. Zicasso's travel company was “spot on“ for our wants and needs, including the unique places we stayed at along the way. The transportation was seamless and the drivers were friendly and engaging!

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Cristine L.
England, Scotland Trip Review: 'Outlander' Tour, Afternoon Tea, 'Pride and Prejudice', Hiking, 9 Nights

The trip was everything we wanted it to be and more.

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Kenneth (.
Scotland Tour Review: 8 Nights

There was great planning by Zicasso's travel company, with just the right amount of activity, without exhausting us. And great accommodations.

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Kevin M.
England, Scotland Travel Review: London, Edinburgh, Dublin, Walking Tours, Countryside, 1 Week

Zicasso's travel agency was easy to work with and helped customize our plans to meet the needs of our family.

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Customizable Itinerary

This is a sample itinerary to inspire a personalized trip designed with your travel specialist.

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