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The historic Edinburgh Castle towers over the golden Ross Fountain and lush gardens in Scotland under a blue sky.
Scotland

The Best of Scotland

Program No. 20881RJ
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Program
At a Glance
Duration
15 days
Program Begins
Glasgow
Program Concludes
Edinburgh.
Group Type
Small Group
Meals
34 ( 13B, 10L, 11D )
Activity Level
From
7,099
South to the cultural riches of Edinburgh and Glasgow. West to the sacred and misty island of Iona in the Hebrides. Inland to the breathtaking highlands, where clans and kings fought to defend their hearths and heritage. Discover rugged landscapes, turbulent history, romance and legend on a remarkable, sweeping journey through Scotland. From peaks to glens we’ll go, with a wee dram to fortify us along the way.
Best of all, you'll...
  • Explore the beautiful islands of Mull, Skye and Iona.
  • Journey on one of the world's most scenic railways, the West Highland Line.
  • Experience iconic Edinburgh Castle, dominating the skyline of the Scottish capital city, on a fascinating field trip to the top of the volcanic Castle Rock.
See Related Programs
Small GroupMost Popular
General Notes
For those interested in a less active version of this program, please see "Scotland at a Slower Pace: A Journey From Glasgow to Edinburgh" (#23881).
All Experts
Please Note:
These experts may not be available for every date of the program
Kevin Heymann is retired from international work in Higher and Further Education. A member of a Mountain Rescue Team for 25 years, Kevin has been involved in many outdoor activities. Kevin takes an interest in ongoing historical research and environmental projects.
Brian Farrell is an experienced group leader working since 2009. He has over 30 years of customer experience across finance, heritage, and transport industries. Brian qualified as a Blue Badge Guide with the Scottish Tourist Guide Association in April 2025 and is now fully qualified to lead across Scotland. He has a passion for excellent customer service and delivering an entertaining, engaging, and enthralling experience.
Paula Benassi is a recognized Blue Badge Guide of the Scottish Tourist Guides Association. In addition to having CPD Qualification, Paula is a polyglot and speaks English, French, and Italian. She is passionate about her country and enjoys traveling with guests all over Scotland. Guiding has dovetailed very well with her long experience in teaching and her love of geography, history, and spending time with visitors from different cultures.
Ann Carr, after careers first as an officer in the Royal Air Force then an air stewardess, joined a major UK tour operator in an operational role, handling incoming American groups and later a cruise line as head of enrichment. Experienced in all aspects of tour planning, she trained as a Blue Badge Tourist Guide and has over 30 years of practical experience as a guide and tour leader. She is a food and wine expert and has a passion for sports and theatre.
Morten Ronne, although born in Denmark, has lived more than 15 years in Scotland working almost exclusively as a tour guide/group leader showing people around all corners of the country. His background is as an interpreter/translator but for the past two decades has worked mostly in the travel industry in the UK, Spain, Portugal, and Latin America.
Wendy Newton, born into a Highland farming family, used early practical skills to become an engineer, which took her all over the world. Now returned to her native Highland home, Wendy has been sharing her Scottish homeland, its history, story, crafts, culture and heritage, and its future with visitors from across the world. She is qualified as a Scottish Tour Guide Association Blue Badge Guide.
Activity Level
Keep the Pace
Learn About Activity Levels
Walking up to two miles on uneven terrain.
Small Group (13 to 24)
Love to learn and explore in a small-group setting? These adventures offer small, personal experiences with groups of 13 to 24 participants.
Suggested Books and Resources
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You can also find many of the books we recommend at the Road Scholar store on bookshop.org, a website that supports local bookstores.
HAVE QUESTIONS?
Prefer to enroll or inquire by phone?
We can help. Give us a call, and we can answer all of your questions!
Call 800-454-5768
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Peace of Mind

We want your Road Scholar learning adventure to be something to look forward to—not worry about. That’s why we go to the ends of the earth to give you peace of mind, from the moment you enroll until the day you return home.

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Assurance Plan

Road Scholar is committed to the well-being of every participant, whether on a program in the United States or abroad. That’s why all participants are covered under our Road Scholar Assurance Plan, which provides 24-hour assistance in the event of an emergency during your program, as well as insurance for emergency medical evacuation.

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Want to Protect Your Investment?

Road Scholar is pleased to offer its Trip Protection Plan as a way to protect your program investment. You may purchase this optional trip protection plan when enrolling in your program.

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Sustainable Travel

We offset a portion of the emissions created by your travel. Read about our commitment to a more sustainable planet.

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