Scotland Women-only Tour Fall 2023

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Please contact us if you’d like to be put on the waiting list for this or any future Scotland Tours!

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Note: Cancellation fees apply. Please read our Booking Terms and Conditions before registering.

Scotland Women-only Tour Itinerary

The tour begins with your arrival into Edinburgh Airport on September 18, 2023 (or earlier, if you choose).

If you’d like additional hotel nights prior to or after the tour dates, let us know and we’d be happy to book them for you!

Day 1 – Edinburgh
Monday, September 18, 2023
Meals: Dinner

Today is your arrival day into Edinburgh! You’ll be met at the airport by your driver and taken directly to our hotel for the start of this adventure.

Overnight in Edinburgh at the DoubleTree by Hilton or similar.

Day 2 – Edinburgh
Tuesday, September 19, 2023
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

After a wonderful breakfast at the hotel, we’ll venture out this morning for a walking tour of the Royal Mile. This tour is filled with iconic sights and our guide will tell us all about the historical significance of such landmarks as Edinburgh Castle, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, St. Giles Cathedral and the National Galleries of Scotland.

After the walking tour, you can continue wandering the city on your own to take in more sights, or perhaps stop for lunch or a light snack (you’ll find so many yummy choices!).

In the late afternoon, we’ll head out for a cooking class where we’ll learn to make a number of Scottish delicacies that we’ll then have for dinner!

Overnight in Edinburgh at the DoubleTree by Hilton or similar.

HIGHLIGHT! You’re going to love the charming (and very navigable) city of Edinburgh, especially as you get to learn about its history during our walking tour.

Day 3 – Edinburgh – Glasgow
Wednesday, September 20, 2023
Meals: Breakfast, Afternoon Tea, Dinner

After breakfast, we’ll check out of our hotel and start venturing west, where we’ll get to see what the heart of Scotland is all about. We’ll start with a visit to the spectacular Blackness Castle, built on the shoreline of the River Forth. You might recognize this 15th-century fortress as having played a part in the hit TV series, Outlander!

Afterward, we’ll enjoy  afternoon tea with Beccy and her Naughty Sheep! Located on the shores of Loch Lomond (we’ll take the high road!), we’ll stop for a visit and hear all about Beccy’s solopreneur business and how she’s the one who “bakes the cakes, grows the fruit, makes the jam, cleans the loo, mucks out the barn, feeds the sheep and then serves the afternoon tea and chats about sheep.”

If we have time, we’ll stop by the Trossachs Wool Mill to shop for wool items, from luxurious cashmere to traditional tartan designs. It’s then onward to the city of Glasgow!

Dinner and overnight in Glasgow at the Radisson Blu Hotel or similar.

HIGHLIGHT! You’re sure to enjoy the company of Beccy (and her sheep!) during our visit to her Naughty Sheep farm. Expect a lovely and filling meal amongst some baaaaaaa company.

Day 4 – Glasgow – Oban
Thursday, September 21, 2023
Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, we’ll head toward the shores of beautiful Loch Lomond, stopping in the adorable town of Luss where we can take some photos of the traditional homes and grab an ice cream (yes, before lunch!). 🍦

We’ll then head to the village of Tyndrum for lunch (on our own) before traveling to the picturesque town of Oban, best know for its distillery. In operation since 1794, we’ll take a tour of the distillery and enjoy an afternoon tasting before having dinner (on our own) at one of the many local restaurants.

Overnight in Oban at the Muthu Queens Hotel or similar.

HIGHLIGHT! Luss is truly one of the most quintessential villages in Scotland, with thatched-roof homes, walking trails and views of famous Loch Lomond.

Day 5 – Oban – Isle of Iona – Isle of Mull
Friday, September 22, 2023
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

This morning after breakfast, we’ll head up to McCaig’s Tower, a viewpoint that stands over the town of Oban. Designed and financed in the late 19th century by John McCaig, the construction of the tower was a way to provide the local stonemasons with work over the winter months. The tower is unfinished but the views are not–they remain wonderful.

Afterwards, we’ll board the ferry to the Isle of Mull, the second largest island of the Inner Hebrides, where we’ll then take a smaller ferry to the Isle of Iona. This is a tiny island off the tip of Mull that has attracted pilgrims since the 6th century when St. Columba established a monastery here. We’ll have lunch on Iona before heading back to Mull to check in to our hotel.

Dinner and overnight on the Isle of Mull at Western Isles Hotel or similar.

Day 6 – Isle of Mull – Isle of Skye
Saturday, September 23, 2023
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today after breakfast, we’re going to make our way north to experience stunning landscape and to learn about the history of the region. We’ll start by passing through Glencoe, the location of the massacre of the MacDonald clan in 1692.

We’ll have lunch en-route and then continue on to see the Glenfinnan Viaduct. You’ll immediately recognize this amazing train viaduct as the one featured in Harry Potter!

We’ll then drive to the launching point of our boat in order to sail onward to the Isle of Skye, where we’ll visit the Museum of the Isles and learn more about the Clan MacDonald. Afterward, we’ll head to our hotel in another small and quintessential town, Portree.

Dinner and overnight in Portree at the Skeabost House Hotel or similar.

HIGHLIGHT! You may have thought the Harry Potter train was a digital rendering. It’s not! You’re going to love seeing this marvel up close.

Day 7 – Isle of Skye
Sunday, September 24, 2023
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast, we’ll begin our exploration of the Isle of Skye, which is known for its rugged landscape–including some of the world’s most stunning natural formations like Quiraing, Old Man of Storr and Kilt Rock. It’s equally famous for its dramatic seascapes!

We’ll have lunch back in Portree and then have some time to wander the streets of this small village where we can visit shops that feature work from local artisans and craftspeople.

Dinner and overnight in Portree at the Skeabost House Hotel or similar.

HIGHLIGHT! You’ll get a very real sense of Scotland’s dramatic beauty on this day as we travel around the island and experience its coastline.

Day 8 – Isle of Skye – Inverness
Monday, September 25, 2023
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Today we’ll head back to the mainland via the Skye Bridge. Along the way, we’ll stop at Eilean Donan Castle–one of the most iconic castles in Scotland that sits on the confluence of three rivers.

We’ll make a brief stop at picturesque Plockton for some photos and then head east to Fort Augustus, a tiny town in the Highlands at the southwest end of Loch Ness (we guarantee no Nessie sightings on this trip!). Along the way, we’ll stop for lunch (on your own).

In the afternoon, we’ll visit the Prickly Thistle, a woman-owned textile studio specializing in tartan designs with a focus on ethical and sustainable clothing!

We’ll then head onward to Inverness.

Dinner and overnight in Inverness at Kingsmills Hotel or similar.

Day 9 – Inverness – Pitlochry
Tuesday, September 26, 2023
Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, we’ll visit the powerful Culloden Battlefield and Visitor Centre, where the 1745 Jacobite Rising came to an end.

You’ll have time to explore the museum and the battlefield on your own at this very well-laid-out and informative center. Grab lunch at your convenience (on your own) so you can spend as much or as little time learning about this well-documented part of Scotland’s history.

After lunch and our visit at the battlefield, we’ll make our way south, stopping in the town of Newtonmore to visit the Hairy Coo shop. Owned and operated by a mother/daughter duo, the shop has a wide array of handmade items, all featuring Scotland’s iconic hairy coo (cow).

We’ll then head to Blair Castle. This was the ancient seat of the Dukes and Earls of Atholl and was the ancestral home to the Clan Murray. It features one of the best guided audio tours of all the castles in Scotland so you’re sure to be riveted by all that you’ll learn.

It’s then on to the charming town of Pitlochry, where we’ll overnight. You can have dinner (on your own) at one of the many small restaurants or pubs.

Overnight in Pitlochry at Fisher’s Hotel or similar.

HIGHLIGHT! Whether you’ve binged Outlander or not, a visit to the Culloden Battlefield will change you just a bit as you learn about the tragic history of those who fought hard in hand-to-hand battle against the British.

Day 10 – Pitlochry
Wednesday, September 27, 2023
Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, we’ll stop for a chocolate tasting with an award-winning chocolatier! Get your palette ready for a wide range of these tasty treats.

We’ll then go on to the House of Bruar, an upscale store and shopping complex. The shops feature a range of Scottish treats (great for souvenir shopping!) from chocolates and candies to meats, cheeses, and whiskeys. You can take your time here and enjoy lunch (on your own).

From here, it’s back to Pitlochry, where you can have dinner (on your own) at another of the many charming restaurants in town (there are so many!).

Overnight in Pitlochry at Fisher’s Hotel or similar.

HIGHLIGHT! Even if you think you’ve been “castled-out,” you can’t help but appreciate Blair Castle and the wonderfully informative historical tour of the building.

Day 11 – Pitlochry – Edinburgh
Thursday, September 28, 2023
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

As we make our way back to Edinburgh today, we’ll first stop in the old university town of St. Andrew’s, the home of golf! We’ll visit the Old Course–the world’s most famous golf course–as well as St. Andrews Castle and the ruins of the local cathedral. You’ll have some time to wander around on your own and grab lunch (on your own).

We’ll then drive onward to Edinburgh, check in to our hotel in the late afternoon and finish the tour with a special farewell dinner (boo hoo!) at a local restaurant.

Overnight in Edinburgh at the DoubleTree by Hilton or similar.

Day 12 – Edinburgh – home
Friday, September 29, 2023
Meals: Breakfast

There won’t be a set time for breakfast as people will be departing at different times. But it might be a chance for final goodbyes before you make your journey homeward or on to your next destination.

** Itinerary subject to change without notice.

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Please contact us if you’d like to be put on the waiting list for this or any future Scotland Tours!

Costs:
Land costs: $6,860
Single supplement: $1,725

Interested in sharing the cost with another traveler? We do our best to pair up travelers so as to avoid the single supplement. However, priority is given to the first deposits received. If you’re interested in sharing, please send in your deposit as soon as possible in order to take advantage of this benefit. (Why a single supplement charge? See this FAQ page for an explanation.)

Booking and Payment Details

Tour price includes: 11 nights accommodation in lovely 4- to-5-star hotels, sightseeing entrance fees, activities as outlined in itinerary, 23 meals, comfy transportation via coach, an excellent English-speaking (female) guide, driver and all tips for guide and driver.

Tour price does not include: International flights, Scottish visa (if required), travel insurance, Covid-19 testing (if required), some meals, souvenirs, personal purchases (such as books and snacks) and beverages. Bottled water is not included at our request – we encourage you to bring your own reusable bottle for the tour.

This trip is limited to 16 women and requires an $800 deposit to secure your spot.

Minimum bookings required: 10 people (minimum reached)

Final payment is due no later than July 20, 2023.

Here’s our mailing address:

WanderTours
PO Box 16102
Seattle, WA 98116

Note: Cancellation fees apply. Please read our Booking Terms and Conditions before registering.

The fine print

Scotland Women-only Tour – Fall 2023 Itinerary (PDF)

We have now partnered with Travel Insured International so that you have ability to purchase “cancel for any reason” insurance. We HIGHLY recommend travel insurance (no matter who your provider is) to protect your travel investment from any future issues.

For questions, contact Beth at:
beth (at) wandertours (dot) com
206-317-1860

Trip Leader: Beth Whitman
Beth can’t wait to escort this group to Scotland for this inaugural journey. She was so taken by the breathtaking landscape and the friendly people during her research trip, that she did not want to return home. Responsibilities in Seattle tugged at her a little too hard, but she and her hubby are planning an extended return trip to explore more and to soak up the extraordinary culture of the region.

Beth is the author of the Wanderlust and Lipstick guides including The Essential Guide for Women Traveling Solo and For Women Traveling to India. She is the publisher and founder of Wanderlust and Lipstick and WanderTours and hosts the She’s Bold podcast, which can be found through your favorite podcast provider.