Themed Tours

Themed tours include:

Whisky Trails
Hadrian's Wall
Harry Potter's Castle
Antique Trails
Bonnie Prince Charlie
Queen Mother's Scotland
Rosslyn Chapel & The Holy Grail

Click here for an interactive map of our guided tours and their locations.

Remember, for an estimate based on your own requirements, complete our Contact form.

Whisky Trails

Scotland's Whisky industry is very hospitable and many working distilleries are open to visitors and offer a warm welcome - literally! Discover the differing characteristics of single Malts, how blends differ from malts and the mystery of the "angels' share." Your research will be a pleasure! For more information see the Whisky Tours page

Hadrian's Wall

We head to Hadrian’s Wall in the North East of England, the best known frontier in the entire Roman Empire, built on the orders of the Emperor Hadrian who came to Britain in AD 122.

The Wall which runs from the East to the West coast, is an 80 mile winding stretch of forts, turrets and temples, which cross over some of the most dramatic landscape in the whole of Northumbria.

We visit Chesters Fort, the best-preserved cavalry fort in Britain. The Fort has a delightful riverside setting and a very well preserved Bath House. We also visit Housesteads, the most complete Roman fort in Britain, perched high on a volcanic ridge with spectacular views over the deserted valley.

Exploring this world heritage site never fails to leave visitors with a sense of awe and wonder.

This is a day tour from Central Scotland.

Harry Potter

Harry Potter enthusiasts will love this adventure to Hogwart’s Hall, alias Alnwick Castle, in the North East of England. We travel through the beautiful countryside of East Lothian towards the medieval town of Berwick en route to Alnwick Castle. Built in the 12th century, it is the home of the Duke of Northumberland and one of the finest inhabited castles in the country.

The Castle has been the home of the Percy family for over 700 years and the Percy lion, the emblem of the Dukes of Northumberland stands proud on the battlements. Admire the sumptuous interiors of the State Rooms redesigned in Italian Renaissance style in the 18th century and tour the beautiful gardens laid out by Capability Brown.

A fascinating walk round the old market town of Alnwick will complete the day tour from Central Scotland.

Antique Trails

Happily we can transport you in comfort through magnificent Scottish countryside to large antique centres offering a wide selection of old and rare items.

If you prefer, you can visit more specialist outlets, like the exclusive antique centre at Rait in Perthshire where Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana sometimes browsed during their Scottish vacations.

If auction sales coincide with your visit you can experience the exhilaration of bidding for that object of desire!

Duration of tour arranged to suit, from one day upward.

Bonnie Prince Charlie

Follow the trail of romantic Bonnie Prince Charlie, who arrived in Scotland in August 1745 to restore the House of Stuart to their rightful place on the British throne. Five months later he had raised a substantial army, which had marched to within 130 miles of London. But persuaded to retreat by his generals, Prince Charlie’s Jacobite army was finally routed in 45 minutes by the royal armies under the brutal Duke of Cumberland on Culloden Moor, near Inverness, in April 1746.

On the run for six months after the battle, and hotly pursued by the government troops, the Prince covered hundreds of miles taking refuge in caves, and finally fleeing from Scotland for good from the same place where he had he landed.

See the cairn that marks where he landed on the Scottish mainland by Arisaig in 1745. Travel on to romantic Glenfinnan where the famous monument stands at the head of Loch Shiel to commemorate the "Raising of the Standard" . We then move on to Fort William, passing Fassfern House where the Prince picked the original "White Cockade" from the garden. The Museum in Fort William holds many fascinating Jacobite memorabilia, including the famous "Secret Portrait". An option on the tour is to visit Skye and visit Flora Macdonald's grave. The tour ends, as did the doomed Jacobite cause, at Culloden, where the battlefield centre recreates the haunting atmosphere of the last battle fought on British soil.

Tours can last from one day to three days, depending on the area to be covered.

Queen Mother’s Scotland

We head north to Glamis Castle, childhood home of the late Queen Mother, before heading up lonely but dramatic Glen Shee towards Braemar, site of Scotland’s oldest Highland Games. Then along Royal Deeside to a favourite Royal residence, Balmoral Castle. An overnight stop will be made at Inverness, the capital of the Highlands, before we continue our journey over The Black Isle, past delightful coastal towns such as Dornoch and Brora towards the lonely Flow Country – a vast deserted peat bog from where many hundreds of Highlanders were evicted during the Clearances in the 18th and 19th centuries.

The highlight of the tour is a visit to the Castle of Mey, the Queen Mother’s Scottish home which she purchased in 1952 and which only opened to the public in August 2002. Here enjoy the spectacular views across the Pentland Firth towards Orkney, which never failed to delight the Queen Mother. A stop will be made at Cannisbay Church, where the Queen Mother worshipped, before proceeding to the End of the Road – John o’ Groats. We can also take in a visit to Orkney, only a short ferry ride away, to visit some of the world-heritage, pre-historic sites.

This is a two-day or longer excursion.

Rosslyn Chapel & The Holy Grail

If you have read Dan Brown's best selling novel, "The Da Vinci Code" then don't miss the opportunity of visiting Rosslyn Chapel, the legendary hiding place of the Holy Grail. Founded by William Sinclair in 1447, this mysterious collegiate chapel, a few miles south west of Edinburgh, displays beautifully carved allegorical, religious and Masonic symbols. From the floor to the barrel-vaulted ceiling, every column, arch and roof rib is encrusted with intricate figures, fruit and foliage. The most remarkable feature of the Chapel is the "Prentice Pillar" whose exquisite carvings are as delicate and detailed as Brussels lace. Come and solve the mystery of the Grail while you learn about the gruesome murder of the apprentice who was slaughtered by the master mason in a frenzied fit of jealousy..