The Grand Tour was the 17th- and 18th-century custom of a traditional trip through Europe undertaken by upper-class young European men of sufficient means and rank (typically accompanied by a chaperone, such as a family member) when they had come of age (about 21 years old).. You can also learn about Scottish history at Braemar or Crathes castles, sample local spirits at the Royal Lochnagar whisky distillery, or discover the art of cheesemaking at Cambus O’May creamery. The UNESCO-listed Heart of Neolithic Orkney, including Skara Brae, should be on any travel-lover’s wish list. There aren’t many man-made attractions along this route, but this is compensated for by the geology which has created dramatic mountains, rugged coastlines and some glorious sandy bays. You have a good chance of seeing the Jacobite steam train as the railway closely follows the path of the road. You can even sample whisky at Talisker Distillery. The guide also details a choice of attractions that can be visited around Edinburgh by bus and train. : thegrandtour. To comply with data protection regulations (2018), we are unable to store and use your information unless you give us your permission. +354 578 20 80 Despite lying further north than Moscow, the mild west coast climate enables all sorts of sub tropical plants to thrive in this Highland oasis. The writer died here in 1832 and his family preserved the main rooms of the house in almost exactly the same state that he had left them in. The road trip takes you up Scotland's West coast and then follows the NC500 route around the Northern extremes of the Scottish mainland. Here you’ll also find tropical-looking beaches with white sand and turquoise waters. Our Grand Tour of Scotland is a classic road cycling tour connecting the Highland capital of Inverness to the Scottish capital of Edinburgh. A journey of contrasting scenery that starts by following the path of an old Military road that climbs through Glen Shee. Add to Watchlist. Driving Distance: ~87 miles (plus a ~40 minute ferry crossing) – Oban to Mallaig ferry via Fort William, OPTION 2: The alternative route to the Skye ferry is a longer drive via a meandering road through the wilderness and forests of Sunart and Moidart. Simple to use. Next, head for the dark and enigmatic Loch Ness, perhaps keeping an eye out for Nessie along the way. Best Scottish road trip for: castle-spotters, trendy travellers and coastal views. Best Scottish road trip for: castle-spotters, trendy travellers and … Eilean Donan castle is a “must see” on this route, but we also supply directions for a small detour to one of the best viewpoints in Scotland. Our Grand Tour of Scotland route takes you on a comprehensive journey from the rolling hills and ruined abbeys of the Borders, to the standing stones of Orkney. We then guide you to skirt past Edinburgh to pick up the motorway that speeds you across to Stirling and the start of a drive through the Trossachs. You may wish to stop by Inveraray, a lovely village on the banks of Loch Fyne. After the high plateau of the Cairngorms, you descend to the neat little villages of Ballater and Braemar in Royal Deeside. Discover dramatic coastlines with sandy tropical-looking beaches, Harry Potter film locations, and rich Highland history on the Road to the Isles. Consider making the detour along the banks of Loch Morar to try to spot the infamous Morag monster, or continue directly to the quaint fishing village of Mallaig. Inverness is a great base for exploring the Highlands and we supply you with directions for a range of day trips so you can extend the time that you spend in the Inverness area. We provide directions for a choice of 3 walking routes for discovering the Capital City. The day ends in Oban where you can indulge in a tasting session at Oban Distillery followed by a memorable dinner in one of the town’s great choice of seafood restaurants. I run many workshops and tours around Scotland and overseas so at this moment in time The NC500 Grand Photo Tour will be ran on demand and is subject to availability. This morning, hit the road early, so you have enough time to explore the Black Isle Peninsula and fairytale Dunrobin Castle, before catching the ferry to the Viking village of Kirkwall on Orkney’s mainland. Spend the day exploring the Isle of Harris to the south, including the quaint village of Tarbert and the dramatic scenery along the Golden Road. As always, we recommend walks, picnic spots, the best value attractions and restaurants. Driving Distance: ~98 miles (plus a ~40 minute ferry crossing) – Oban to Mallaig ferry via Sunart, OPTION 3: If travelling via the Skye bridge, you don’t need to plan your day around a ferry crossing so you might wish to schedule time for a cable car ride, or a short hike in Glen Nevis. From Speyside, you climb over the Cairngorm mountains. You’ll even be able to call them 24/7 on our emergency helpline in case a ferry is delayed or you otherwise need assistance during your trip. Greg Perkins is from Edinburgh but he adopted Iceland as his second country when Scotland (typically) managed not to qualify for football's Euro 2016. This charming and relatively short route takes in the farmlands of Blairgowrie, mighty mountains of the Highlands, and rich rolling landscape of Royal Deeside. OPTION 1: If taking the Mallaig ferry to Skye you can take a short drive via the “Road to the Isles” which will take you past Glenfinnan and the Silver Sands of Morar. The wealth on display is quite astounding and it is incredible that all of this can still belong to one family, Driving Distance: ~47 miles to Melrose / ~64 miles to Jedburgh. Stretch your legs with a walk up the Old Man of Storr and admire the stunning Kilt Rock and Mealt waterfall. This tour takes in the full diversity of Scotland’s landscapes with a route that stretches from the fertile fields and rolling hills of the Borders all the way up to the windswept islands of Orkney. I feel so much more prepared for our trip and can now just look forward to our approaching vacation! The scenery in this area is magnificent and it is all the better for the lack of other tourists. Allow a minimum of 11 days to drive this tour route. Allow a minimum of 11 days to drive this tour route. If you'd like to see it, ask a travel consultant for more information. You could see majestic castles that once housed Scottish royalty, visit renowned museums to learn about our history, and view spots where famous battles took place. JEREMY Clarkson is back to his old menacing ways as The Grand Tour winds through Scotland. Travelling west, you can break the journey with a visit to Doune Castle, which starred as “Castle Leoch” in the “Outlander” TV show. In the early afternoon, catch the ferry from Scrabster to Stromness, Orkney. They were sporting a … We loved the suggestions for sight seeing, eating, and places to stay, but the best part was the detailed driving directions. Make sure to check out the UNESCO World Heritage listed “Heart of Neolithic Orkney”, which includes Skara Brae, the Ring of Brodgar, the Standing Stones of Stenness and Maeshowe. The Grand Tour: Jeremy Clarkson breaks down while filming North Coast 500 route ... Richard Hammond and James May, have been tackling the North Coast 500 route round the north of Scotland … We guide you to all the famous sites of Orkney (Ring of Brodgar, Maeshowe, Skara Brae, Italian Chapel, Old Man of Hoy), plus lots of quieter attractions that the are missed by the mainstream tourist trail. On the final day, check out the medieval Drum Castle with its charming Garden of Historic Roses and ancient woodlands. When you get to Ullapool, you can watch the fishing boat activity in the harbour and then sample the fresh catch in an award winning fish & chip shop. This is a great road with wide open vistas and fast sweeping bends. Close map view. HIGHLY RECOMMEND. Paris, France was the most popular stop of the Grand Tour for its cultural, architectural, and political influence. Paul's route starts at ... Add Image. Skye is a large island with many of the places of interest located at the end of single track roads. The Grand Tour is a British motoring television series for Amazon Prime Video, presented by Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond, and James May.The programme focuses on conducting reviews of various models of car, new models and vintage classics, as well as tackling motoring-styled challenges and races, and features the use of studio segments between pre-recorded films. PLEASE NOTE: The Guides come in the format of PDF files. Stretching from the west coast of north Scotland to Mallaig, the Road to the Isles covers the short distance of 42 miles (67 km). Covering 2580 miles (4152 km), this route is the ultimate Scottish road trip. Among his top travel experiences are sailing along Geirangerfjord with classically trained singers providing the soundtrack, seeing the northern lights twice in one Reykjavík weekend, and enjoying 9:00am honey mojitos at a tobacco farm in Viñales, Cuba. Excellent! Then drive past the Caledonian Canal and Great Glen with a quick stop at the Treasures of the Earth in Corpach, to see Europe’s finest private collection of gemstones. Sip coffee in Portree, marvel at Dunvegan Castle, walk along Claigan Coral Beach and drive to the dramatic Neist Point. You can still "close the loop" but via a slightly different route. ), and explore the lakeside ruins of Urquhart Castle. Best Scottish road trip for: seafood lovers, wildlife watchers and Munro baggers. Thorough in suggesting ‘must see’ venues. Of course, The Borders is famous for its Abbeys and we give you a tour that lets you visit the religious ruins in Melrose, Dryburgh, Kelso and Jedburgh. We also recommend a small detour to a very interesting little castle that most tourists miss. Our route guides you to his favourite viewpoint over the Eildon Hills and you can also visit his grave in nearby Dryburgh Abbey. In the future we intend to plan and arrange drives and events of which the proceeds will go to the charity Race2Recovery. If you don't have time to stay a few nights on Orkney you have the option of a day trip visit. Driving through Scotland offers you the opportunity to experience the country’s natural beauty, meet welcoming locals and explore at your own pace. As you travel southwards, the landscapes change from the mountains of the Cairngorms to the rolling hills and woodlands of Perthshire. We are so confident that you’ll be delighted with your guide that we offer a full Money Back Guarantee. ALTERNATIVELY - Stay on Orkney – If you have time, you may wish to spend several nights in the Orkney Islands and we have provided a guide that gives you all the information you need for planning an extended stay. The Scottish Grand Tour is one of the great rail journeys of the world. Ready for the ultimate road trip? In fact, ever since this trip, we're trying to re-create the experience. The 2500 exotic plants and flowers within manage to flourish thanks to warmth provided by the Gulf Stream, which nuzzles against the coastline here. Start anywhere on this circular route, and hop on and off at stations along the way. We now have some behind the scenes video footage of what boys have been up to in Scotland, courtesy of YouTube channel The Grand Tour Fans. These mountains emerge like icebergs from an expanse of wild moorland. The NC500 route offers visitors the opportunity to see rugged landscapes, frolic on sandy beaches, spot wildlife, visit museums and heritage sites, stay in castles, sip whisky, sample the local produce, and get to know the people who live there. Start in Tarbert, before exploring the many highlights of the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. 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