Best Scottish Tours

This is a unique and exclusive land and sea tour, beginning with a cruise with The Majestic Line, sailing from Holy Loch, near Dunoon and continuing on land to explore The Isle of Skye, the Central Highlands, Perthshire and Stirling.  For your cruise, your vessel is The Glen Massan, a traditional wooden Scottish fishing boat which has been beautifully converted into a mini-cruise boat. You will explore the most delightful areas of tranquil waters on the spectacular Coast of Argyll, reaching places only The Majestic Line cruises can access  The Glen Massan accommodates 11 guests in 6 ensuite cabins with a variety of 3-night or 6-night Scottish cruise itineraries to choose from.

The Majestic Line guests enjoy excellent hospitality while enjoying panoramic views of the spectacular West Coast of Scotland scenery from the indoor dining saloon and outdoor decks. There is plenty of opportunity to go ashore to explore coastlines rich in wildlife, dotted with traditional fishing villages and historic castles.  Although a day itinerary is given for the cruise, the order of stopovers and the actual activities are not set, and may be changed at the discretion of the Skipper.  Your stopovers on land will be as listed, with a choice between Stirling and Edinburgh for your final day.

This tour can also be taken as a 4 day cruise, please get in touch with us to discuss.

Holy Loch is a small sea Loch on the Cowal Peninsula, an area of Argyll on the South West Coast of Scotland which is distinguished by a coastline which features many large sea lochs.  The sea lochs penetrate far inland, providing calm, sheltered cruising and wonderful reflections from the hills and forests on either side of the lochs and misty, magical landscapes. Many of the idyllic places visited are difficult to get to by road but easy to access by boat.

On the first day of the cruise you will depart Holy Loch at 4pm and sail up Loch Long and Loch Goil, towards Arrochar, a small village at the top of the Loch.  Porpoises and red squirrels are common sightings here and the loch is a popular haunt of otters. There are a choice of shore walks along the coastline which is part of Argyll Forest park.  For the evening you will anchor off Carrick Castle which provides a delightful backdrop for your first dinner on board. With the crew providing for your every need, and getting to know your fellow travelers, you will begin to experience the famous "floating house party" atmosphere of a Majestic Line cruise.

Bute is the ancestral home of the Stuart Kings of Scotland. The 800 year old ruin of Rothesay castle was built by a hereditary High Steward of Scotland from which the surname Stewart, and later Stuart was derived. The circular design of the castle is unique in Scotland and withstood many onslaughts including an invasion by the Vikings

The classic Victorian seafront facade, promenade and pier in Rothesay were in built on land reclaimed from the sea. The original shoreline is about 200 metres inland in front of Rothesay Castle which once stood guard over the bay.

Under the 2nd Earl of Bute the Stuart family moved 7 miles to the south of Rothesay and built Mount Stuart House on an estate of 300 acres. This original Mount Stuart house was partially destroyed in a disastrous fire in 1877, however the 3rd Marquess of Bute was inspired by his artistic, religious and astrological interests to build one of the most magnificent Victorian Gothic mansions in the world.

Bute is also a haven for wildlife and in particular wild goats can often be seen on the beaches from the boat

The Kyles of Bute is world renowned.  The sheltered coastal waters and stunning scenery, have historically established the area as a popular area for people who love being out on the water because of the natural harbours, sheltered beaches and tidal narrows.  Ardlamont  Point has frequent  basking shark reports and occasional pod of dophins and porpoise  and the rocks have seals a-plenty included the more rare and misnamed "common" seal.  At night phosphorescence can often be seen because of the high density of plankton and krill. Under the water  divers describe the seabed as a "Hanging Garden of richness". There are langoustine, lobsters and scallops  which are regularly caught by our local fishermen. There is great fishingfor mackerel in the early summer. You can see pods of dolphins, seals all year rounds "otters aplenty"

Within the Kyles of Bute are small uninhabited islands; the Burnt Islands and the island of Eilean Dubh which create narrows through which vessels must pass which are very picturesque.

It is a perfect place to anchor for the night and dinner is often enjoyed to the backdrop of a perfect westerly sunset.  This area is known as Argyll's secret coast because it is best accessed from the sea.  As you anchor at night all you will hear are the calls of the birds and the sound of the waves against the hull of the boat.

Wake up at anchor in the beautiful Kyles of Bute and enjoy a breakfast with panoramic views.  Today the boat will head for the South Kyle and the scenic village of Tighnabruaich.  It is worth going ashore to look back at the Kyles of Bute and the hills of Arran beyond, but also to explore the village which has an excellent art gallery The ancient oak woodland at Tighnabruaich is a possible choice for a wall with its perfect habitat for all native fauna and flora making is a good place to spot mammals and bird life

After lunch we head for Loch Fyne, the largest sea loch in the British Isles. Tarbert is an idyllic Scottish village on the east shore of Loch Fyne at the top of the Kintyre Peninsula . The houses settle snuggly around Tarbert's welcoming natural harbour, where the fishing catch is still landed on the quay. A trip ashore is recommended for a stroll around the village and perhaps a walk up to the dramatic ruins of Tarbert castle which was extended from an earlier building by Robert the Bruce in 1325

Today we cruise the length of Loch Fyne to Inveraray, enjoying the beautiful scenery with the landscape on either shore mirrored in the smooth surface of the loch.  At the head of Loch Fyne is the village of Inveraray, the ancestral home of the Duke of Argyll, with its classic Scottish Georgian architecture and distinctive white buildings on the loch shore making it very photogenic.  There are a range of historic places to visit including Inveraray castle  and The Bell Tower, which dominates the town, and contains the second-heaviest ring of ten bells in the world. The view from the top of the tower is worth the climb. The Celtic Inveraray Cross can also been seen in the town.  A leisurely cruise down Loch Fyne takes us back to the Kyles of Bute with a different anchorage for the night

The Kyles of Bute are on the edge of the line of total darkness and is one of the most southern places in Europe to experience the stars as you never have before. There is no light pollution as darkness falls around your vessel and the stars are clearly seen.

We cruise the sound of Bute towards the Isle of Arran, the largest island in the Firth of Clyde and the seventh largest Scottish island.   During the Viking Age the island, along with the vast majority of the Scottish islands, became the property of the Norwegian crown.  As a result of this Norse influence, many current place names on Arran are of Viking origin. Arran is mountainous and has been described as a "geologist's paradise".  Robert Bruce landed at Lochranza from Ireland in 1306.  We will anchor off Lochranza and visit the distillery there.  Deer are so common that you may well pass them on the path on the way!
We also visit Brodick Castle and Country Park, seat of the Dukes of Hamilton and built in the 13th century with later additions.  The interior features fine plaster ceilings, furniture, porcelain and paintings.  You can stretch your legs in the grounds which have a formal garden dating from 1710, a Victorian Rose garden and a nature trail. We can also anchor off Holy Island at the tip of Arran and watch for the wild ponies and goats that live there.

The final dinner on board is always a jolly occasion with the crew ensuring it is a very memorable meal and with new friendships formed with your fellow guests on board.

After an exhilarating few days aboard the Glen Massan you are greeted by your Best Scottish Tours host who will guide you north this morning to the Isle of Skye via the spectacular landscape of Glencoe.  Much of Scotland's early recorded history is full of violence - battles, feuds, murders, treachery.  But the incident which to this day still arouses the strongest passions was the massacre of the MacIans (a sept of the clan Donald) in Glen Coe in 1692.  Glencoe is also nationally important for its landscape, wildlife, history and geology, as well as being the home of Scottish climbing.  The Five Sisters Of Kintail are a high ridge range of some 8 km (5 miles) long rising steeply from Glen Shiel to a maximum height of 1,067 metres (3,501 feet).

We pass through Spean Bridge on our way to Fort Augustus on the shores of Loch Ness where we may take a cruise on this lovely loch - keep your eyes peeled for the legend of Nessie.

After this we head for Eilean Donan Castle, sitting where three lochs meet and probably Scotland's most photographed castle.  The original castle was built in the early 13th century as a defence against the Vikings.  By the late 13th century it had become a stronghold of the Mackenzies of Kintail.  In 1511, the Macraes, as protectors of the Mackenzies, became the hereditary Constables of the Castle.
An early 13th century fortified structure would have been a defensive measure, protecting the lands of Kintail against the Vikings who raided, settled and controlled much of the north of Scotland and the Western Isles between 800 and 1266.  From here we take the short trip to our chosen hotel in time for dinner

This morning we wake to the spendid scenery of the Isle of Skye.  Commonly known as "The misty Isle", the stark rise of the jagged Cuillin ridge drops to the gentle white of a soft sand beach.  Inlets and islands create a complex lacework pattern with the sea and the tiny white crofts that dot the Island are fascinating.  A place where time means nothing, and beneath every footstep lies 500 million years of history.

We will do a full tour of the Island, visiting Armadale Castle & Gardens, passing through Broadford and on to the Island capital, Portree, which has an old fashioned appeal with colourful houses and traditional harbour.

Heading further North we visit Uig, Kilt Rock Falls and Dunvegan Castle.  On a clear day the views to the Outer Hebrideas are truly spectacular.  Time permitting we may even take time out to visit Talisker Distillery.  We return to our chosen Hotel for dinner, bed and full Scottish breakfast.

After breakfast we head south via Invergarry.  The scenery quickly changes from the challenging and rugged mountain terrain of Skye to the gently rolling heather clad hill of Perthshire.  Known as the "big county", Perthshire has a wide variety of landscapes, from the rich agricultural straths in the east, to the high mountains of the southern Highlands.  We will stop at the House of Bruar for lunch and afterwards take a tour of Blair Castle. 

Blair Castle stands in its grounds near the village of Blair Atholl. It is the home of the Clan Murray family, who hold the title of Duke of Atholl and is well worth a visit.  If time permits we will also take a tour of Edradour Distillery which probably houses one of the finest single malts you can find.  Tonight we will stay in Pitlochry giving us time to enjoy the Town in Bloom.

Today will have a more leisurely pace taking in the colourful history in Stirling.  First we shall visit The National Wallace Monument which commemorates Scotland's greatest national hero, Sir William Wallace, who defeated the English at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in the year 1297.  The Monument is built on a rocky crag from which Wallace watched the English army gather on the South side of Stirling Bridge.  However, after defeat at the Battle of Falkirk in 1298, Wallace was betrayed and captured.  He was hanged, drawn and quartered in London in 1305, and has since become a symbol for Scotland and Freedom.

We will also pay a visit to Stirling castle which sits majestically on top of volcanic rock.  The castles' long and turbulent history is associated with great figures from Scotland's past, such as William Wallace, Robert the Bruce and Mary Queen of Scots.  After a full tour of the castle we will take time out to have lunch.

If time permits we can also visit the Bannockburn Heritage Centre to learn how the fate of the nation of Scotland was decided when Robert the Bruce and his army defeated the army of Edward II of England on 23 and 24 June 1314.  We then return to the chosen hotel in time for dinner.

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