Scenic Scotland, a Women-Only Tour
Scenic Scotland, a Women-Only Tour
$5250
Scenic Scotland, a Women-Only Tour
8 Days Starting in Glasgow and ending in Edinburgh
Visiting: Glasgow, Glencoe, Oban, Isle of Mull, Inverness, Edinburgh
Tour operator:
Tour code:
XBSCOM20
Specialist Group:
Women Only
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
12 - 24
Age range:
5-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Tour Overview
Lands so diverse they will leave you spellbound; Scotland is a sight to see. Over this 8-day women-only tour, appreciate the country’s natural beauty on a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at Dundreggan Rewilding Centre with a conservation expert. Savour another MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience over morning tea over at Ardgowan House with Sir Ludovic Shaw Stewart. In Edinburgh, meet the Piper to the Lord Provost of Edinburgh since 2006 and Julie Hill, the only woman ever to have won the International Sheepdog Championship. Commemorate your small group women-only tour making your own Scottish handbag and delve into the history of Scottish royals at Stirling and Edinburgh Castle.
Choice Highlights
- Choose between two carefully selected activities
- Loch Ness: Soak up the scenery and hear intriguing tales of Nessie during a cruise on one of Scotland's most famous lakes.
- Scottish Highlands: Learn the fascinating process of Scottish whisky production at a local distillery and malting facility. Glen Ord Distillery was founded in 1838 and has been a major distillery since the mid-1960s and is the perfect place to get an in-depth look at this Scottish drop, complete with a ‘wee dram’ to compete your visit.
Top Rated Highlights
- Glasgow: See the grand public buildings, including George Square and St. Mungo's Cathedral.
- Isle of Mull: Embark on a day trip to the Isles of Mull and Iona, an ideal way to explore the sights and insights of the Scottish Highlands. At Iona Abbey, your Travel Director reveals its history, beginning with Columba’s monastery until the end of the 12th century followed by a Benedictine abbey. Iona Abbey Museum also houses Scotland’s finest collection of early medieval carved stones and crosses. Then visit the Reilig Odhrain, a sacred burial ground of 48 Scottish Kings.
- Edinburgh: Explore the city with your Local Expert as you travel along Princes Street to see the Scott Memorial, the neoclassical Adam facades of New Town and the official Scottish residence of the King, Palace of Holyroodhouse.
- Edinburgh: Alternatively known as the Maidens’ Castle until the 16th century, Edinburgh Castle offers dramatic vistas and historic insights. Walk with your Local Expert within the walls of the castle to view the Scottish Crown Jewels, Mons Meg and other artefacts.
Make Travel Matter
Ardgowan House: Join Sir Ludovic for a tour of his family home, Ardgowan Estate, and savour a traditional Scottish tea made from local ingredients. Hear more about centuries of history onthe beautiful grounds during the Make Travel Matter experience. Your visit helps support the estate, helping keep Scottish history alive. The Estate educates its visitors and the local rural community about their sustainability initiatives, reducing food waste and sourcing all ingredients locally to support the local economy. Ardgowan Estate invests in renewable projects including a wood bio mass boiler, a gas plant and wind turbines, to create a greener, more sustainable future. Your visit directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 7 & 12: Affordable and Clean Energy & Responsible Consumption and Production.
Inverness: Over a visit to Dundreggan Rewilding Centre, your rewilding expert shares information about the reintroduction of native tree species such as the Caledonian Pine, and animal species such as the lynx, red squirrel and beaver into the wild. Your visit directly contributes to safeguarding one of the most beautiful and ancient landscapes in Europe that is in a critical condition. Your visit directly supports United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 15: Life on Land.
Authentic Dining
Glasgow: Tonight you'll be greeted with genuine Scottish hospitality. Immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere of Glasgow's city centre as you indulge in a carefully curated selection of local flavours and traditional delights. Let the evening unfold as you connect with fellow guests and embark on a journey of culinary discovery in this bustling Scottish hub.
Edinburgh: Enjoy a dinner of modern Scottish cuisine in the heart of Edinburgh.
Insight Choice
Loch Ness: Soak up the scenery and hear intriguing tales of Nessie during a cruise on one of Scotland's most famous lakes.
Scottish Highlands: Learn the fascinating process of Scottish whisky production at a local distillery and malting facility. Glen Ord Distillery was founded in 1838 and has been a major distillery since the mid-1960s and is the perfect place to get an in-depth look at this Scottish drop, complete with a ‘wee dram’ to compete your visit.
Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome To Glasgow
Location: Glasgow
Accommodation: Voco Grand Central
Accommodation Name: Voco Grand Central, Glasgow
Meals Included: Dinner
Glasgow, the undisputed capital of Scottish culture, offers endless opportunities for the curious traveller. As Scotland’s largest city, Glasgow boasts more than 20 museums and art galleries that may tempt you upon arrival. After you meet your Travel Director and fellow travellers, celebrate your first night of your Scotland women-only tour over dinner.
Day 2: Glasgow Sightseeing Relaxed Start
Location: Glasgow
Accommodation: Voco Grand Central
Accommodation Name: Voco Grand Central, Glasgow
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch
Embark on an orientation drive with your Travel Director who reveals Glasgow’s grand public buildings including George Square and St. Mungo’s Cathedral. The morning continues with a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience at Ardgowan House where Sir Ludovic Shaw Stewart welcomes you to his family castle set on a 10,000-acre coastal estate. Not only will you dine with a Baronet, your host will even be involved in the food preparation. Work up an appetite walking amid the beech trees while learning about the Shaw Stewart family. Then return to the castle for a sumptuous afternoon tea of finger sandwiches made with locally sourced ingredients, freshly baked scones, cream, jam and cakes.
Day 3: Travel On To Glencoe Relaxed Start
Location: Glasgow, Glencoe
Accommodation: Hotel, Ballachulish Glencoe. Isle of Glencoe & Leisure Centre.
Accommodation Name: Ballachulish, Glencoe, Isle of Glencoe Hotel & Leisure Centre
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Centuries old history and a massive structure rising above the River Forth – Stirling Castle, a symbol of Scottish national pride and once home to Scottish royals including Mary, Queen of Scots, awaits your discovery. Explore its halls, chapels and bedrooms, see the famous 'Stirling Heads' and admire the poignant Wallace Monument and battlefield of Stirling Bridge from its 16th-century walls. After a morning exploring the lives of royals, arrive in scenic Scotland’s Loch Lomond for an Optional Cruise and Lunch on the ‘Queen of Scottish Lochs’ according to historian and novelist Sir Walter Scott. The evening finds you in Glencoe, a village located on the banks of Loch Leven.
Day 4: Isle Of Mull
Location: Glencoe, Oban, Isle of Mull, Oban, Glencoe
Accommodation: Ballachulish Hotel, Glencoe., Isle of Glencoe Hotel & Leisure Centre.
Accommodation Name: Ballachulish, Glencoe, Isle of Glencoe Hotel & Leisure Centre
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Scenic Scotland conjures up images of green highlands and wind-whipped seas. Encounter them for yourself today on a ferry from Oban to Craignure, the main ferry port on the Isle of Mull, Argyll and Bute, Scotland. Then make your way to the Isle of Iona for a visit to Iona Abbey. Your curiosity will be piqued on this tiny island that has been a vibrant centre of Christian worship. It’s even rumoured that the Book of Kells was made at Iona Abbey. Before returning to the mainland, view Rèilig Odhrain, the final resting place of many Scottish kings.
Day 5: To The Highland Capital Of Inverness Relaxed Start
Location: Glencoe, Inverness
Accommodation: Dornoch Station Hotel, Pentahotel Inverness.
Accommodation Name: Dornoch Station Hotel, Hotel B&B, Inverness
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Take your Scotland tour to a deeper level at a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience in Dundreggan, home to a pristine and fragile ecosystem, at Dundreggan Rewilding Centre. Meet a conservation expert to learn about the ecology of the Highlands and the connection between nature and regenerating the Gaelic cultural heritage. After an illuminating morning, the afternoon finds you tailoring your time with an Insight Choice between a relaxing Loch Ness Cruise and a tour of Glen Ord Distillery.
Day 6: Blair Castle And Edinburgh
Location: Inverness, Edinburgh
Accommodation: Virgin Hotels Edinburgh
Accommodation Name: Virgin, Edinburgh
Meals Included: Breakfast
Blair Castle is a treasure trove of history and fine 18th-century interiors. Join an Optional Experience to learn about its seven centuries as home to the Atholl family, through both turbulent and peaceful times. Even the gardens surrounding Blair Castle, featuring a nine-acre walled garden, wooded grove, gothic folly, kirk ruin and extensive deer park, will have you slowing your pace and reflecting on the castle’s past. Continue to Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital city, where you could opt to experience the best of Scottish tradition at Ghillie Dhu Georgian hall for Scottish dining, live music and Ceilidhs, traditional Scottish Barn Dances.
Day 7: Edinburgh Castle And Orientation
Location: Edinburgh
Accommodation: Virgin Hotels Edinburgh
Accommodation Name: Virgin, Edinburgh
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Edinburgh offers endless possibilities for the curious traveller. Discover the sights and insights of the city with your Local Expert as you travel along Princes Street to see the ornate Scott Memorial, the neoclassical Georgian facades of New Town, and the official Scottish residence of the King, Palace of Holyroodhouse, in the Old Town. Your Local Expert then guides you inside the walls of Edinburgh Castle for sights and insights into the lives of the royals. Discover the local arts and culture over an Islander Edinburgh Handbag Workshop, making your own handbag. Before dinner enjoy a demonstration and bagpipe playing workshop by Louise the Piper, who piped for the Prince and Princess of Wales. To complete your Scotland trip, dine on an unforgettable dinner joined by sheepdog herding champion Julie Hill.
Day 8: Depart Edinburgh
Location: Edinburgh
Meals Included: Breakfast
It’s time to close the chapter on a memorable Scotland tour. We bid our newfound friends and Travel Director a fond farewell.
What's Included
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Meals Included
7 Breakfasts (B), 4 Dinners (D), and 1 Lunch (L) are included, offering a taste of local Scottish cuisine.
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Unique Experiences
Choose between two carefully selected activities, including a Loch Ness cruise or a visit to Glen Ord Distillery, and enjoy a variety of other unique experiences like a sheepdog training demonstration, a bagpipe lesson, and a handbag workshop.
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Cultural Insights
Gain insights into Scottish history and culture at Stirling Castle, Ardgowan House, and through encounters with local experts and artisans.
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Luxury Transportation
Travel in comfort with Insight's luxury, air-conditioned coach, complete with onboard washroom. High-speed ferry transfers are also included.
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Accommodations
Stay in hand-picked hotels in prime locations, ensuring a comfortable and enjoyable stay. Hotels of similar standard may be utilized.
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Additional Inclusions
Enjoy the convenience of hotel and restaurant tips included, complimentary Wi-Fi in coach and hotels, baggage handling, and personal radio headsets for guided tours.
What's Not Included
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International Airfare
Flights to and from the tour start and end points are not included.
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Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is recommended for all travelers but is not included in the tour package.
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Some Meals
Not all meals are covered.
Some dinners and lunches are to be purchased separately, offering the chance to explore local eateries. -
Optional Activities
Some activities mentioned are optional and may incur additional costs.
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Personal Expenses
Expenses such as laundry, telephone calls, and additional snacks or beverages are not included.
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Airport Transfers Outside Scheduled Times
If your flights are outside the itinerary start and end dates, transfers are not included and may require an additional fee or independent arrangement.
Mode of Transport
If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport.
Accommodation
From time to time, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilised.
Dining Summary
5 Dinner (D)7 Breakfast (B)1 Lunch (L)
Additional Included Highlights
If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport.Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.On occasion, hotels of similar standard and location may be utilised.
Insight Experiences
Stirling Castle: Delve into the insights of Stirling Castle, one of the largest and most important castles in Scotland dating back to the 13th century. Learn how the castle has endured eight sieges and has witnessed the crowning of Scottish Kings and Queens including Mary Queen of Scots.
Well-being
Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxury, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with onboard washroom. Alternate vehicles without onboard washroom or 40 seats may be used on occasion. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches. ?Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.
Women-Only
Edinburgh: Get up close and personal with the culture and crafts of Scotland over an Islander Edinburgh Handbag Workshop, creating your very own Islander Harris Tweed® Handbag. Embrace the spirit of Scotland step–by–step as you select the body colour of the bag, your favourite Harris Tweed® cloth lid and decorative strap. Once you’ve chosen the different components, construct your bag with a set of tools prepared for you. Take a piece of Edinburgh home with you in your very own bespoke Harris Tweed® Islander Handbag.Edinburgh: Full of curiosities, the world of sheepdog training will inspire the mind of any curious traveller. Meet Julie Hill, the first and only woman to have won the Supreme International Sheepdog Championships. Over dinner, learn how Julie trains Border Collies in some of the remotest and most rugged hill terrain in the UK, single-handedly tending to sheep that graze over 600 acres.Edinburgh: Meet Louise, Piper to the Lord Provost of Edinburgh since 2006. Louise has played for Queen Elizabeth II and the Pope, and many celebrities to events. She has performed on ITV This Morning, the Olympics, and even provided a bagpipe lesson to legendary Queen guitarist Dr. Brian May. Celebrate the heritage and sounds of Scotland over a demonstration and bagpipe workshop from "Scotland's National Piper."
Check out our Q&As
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What countries does the Scenic Scotland a Women-Only Tour visit?
The Scenic Scotland a Women-Only Tour visits Scotland and the United Kingdom.
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What are some highlights of the Scenic Scotland a Women-Only Tour?
Highlights of the tour include 4 dinners, 7 breakfasts, 1 lunch, a choice between two activities, a Loch Ness cruise, a visit to Glen Ord Distillery, high-speed ferry transfers, personal radio headsets for tours, complimentary Wi-Fi, bag carrying service, Insight Flourishes, included hotel and restaurant tips, and visits to Stirling Castle, Edinburgh for a handbag workshop, a bagpipe lesson, sheepdog training insights, Ardgowan House, Dundreggan Rewilding Centre, Glasgow's public buildings, Isle of Mull, and Edinburgh Castle.
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Are airport transfers included in the Scenic Scotland a Women-Only Tour?
Yes, airport transfers are included if your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport.
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What type of accommodation is used in the Scenic Scotland a Women-Only Tour?
The tour uses hotels of similar standard and location, which may be utilised from time to time.
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What meals are included in the Scenic Scotland a Women-Only Tour?
The tour includes 7 breakfasts (B), 1 lunch (L), and 4 dinners (D).
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Does the Scenic Scotland a Women-Only Tour support any sustainability initiatives?
Yes, the visit to Ardgowan Estate supports sustainability initiatives, including educating visitors on sustainability, reducing food waste, sourcing ingredients locally, and investing in renewable projects like a wood biomass boiler, a gas plant, and wind turbines. This supports UN Sustainable Development Goal 12: Responsible Consumption & Production and Goal 7: Affordable and Clean Energy.
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What are the start and end locations for the Scenic Scotland a Women-Only Tour?
The tour starts in Glasgow and ends in Edinburgh.
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What unique experiences are offered in Edinburgh during the Scenic Scotland a Women-Only Tour?
In Edinburgh, the tour offers an Islander Edinburgh Handbag Workshop, a bagpipe lesson and demonstration with Louise, the Piper to the Lord Provost of Edinburgh, and insights into sheepdog training with Julie Hill, a champion in the field.
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Can I join the tour once it has departed?
We regret that no refunds can be made for absences from a tour, including experiences such as missed meals or sightseeing.
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How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1978.
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What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Insight Vacations is a founding member of the TreadRight Foundation, a joint initiative created by the brands within The Travel Corporation (TTC) almost 15 years ago to ensure our impact through tourism is positive. Our ethos to #MakeTravelMatter guides our decision-making at every level of our business.
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Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
You have two options as a solo traveller. Either choose to be matched with a same sex partner for a room share - at no extra cost. Or choose a room of your own with a reduced or even free private room upgrade on select tours.
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What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
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Low Deposit
Insight Vacations requires a minimum deposit of 350 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of insight vacations charges.
Up to 91 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 90 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 80% of booking price.
At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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