Be dazzled by the Crown Jewels at Edinburgh Castle, board the Royal Yacht Britannia to discover regal life at sea, explore the grandeur of the Scottish Renaissance at Stirling Castle, or get a glimpse of prehistoric life at the village of Skara Brae on the Orkney Islands. There’s so much to explore! Here are just 22 great experiences CIE Tours can give you in Scotland in 2022...

1. Get behind the scenes at Blair Athol, a whiskey distillery picturesquely located at the gateway to the Highlands. Learn the secrets of whiskey production – and taste a wee dram for yourself to discover its flavors. Suggested tour: Scottish & Irish Sampler

2. Cruise Loch Ness. We can’t guarantee you’ll spot Nessie, the legendary monster – but you’ll definitely be wowed by its spectacular beauty. Suggested tour: Taste of Scotland

3. Downton Abbey fan? Take a guided tour of Inveraray Castle, the ancestral home of the Duke of Argyll and the Chief of the Clan Campbell – and the setting for the Downton Abbey Christmas 2012 episode, when it served as “Duneagle Castle”. The show highlighted the beautiful setting of its West Highland location, surrounded by spectacular hills, lochs, and glens, and showcased the beautiful castle and elegant gardens and grounds. Suggested tour: Scottish & Irish Dream

4. Experience the swirling pageantry of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo from reserved seats on the esplanade of Edinburgh Castle. This tremendous explosion of color, light, and music, featuring marching bands from around the world, will enthrall you. Available on every CIE Tours guided vacation that has a stay in Edinburgh during the August dates of the Tattoo every year.

5. Visit a traditional farm for a surprising demonstration of clever sheepdogs as they go through their paces and show off their skills at herding sheep. Suggested tour: Scottish Dream

6. If you’re a golfer, take a pilgrimage to where it all began, hundreds of years ago – St Andrews, the Home of Golf. The old links are still there, but there’s so much more to see in this medieval town, which is also home to the oldest university in Scotland. Suggested Tour: Scottish & Irish Gold

7. See masterpieces by Rembrandt, Titian, and Dali at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. This Glasgow institution houses one of the world’s finest collections of European art. Suggested tour: Scottish Dream

8. Enjoy traditional entertainment with delicious food on our Scottish evening - included on every tour that stops in Scotland. Read more about the Clappy Doo Ceilidh Band that provides the music. 

9. Discover the breathtaking scenery on the Isle of Skye and visit Armadale Castle. The historic castle, once the home of Clan Donald, is a romantic ruin – but the gardens are beautifully maintained, and the views of the surrounding sea and mountains are stunning. Suggested tour: The Scots-Irish Tour

10. Explore how Scottish people lived centuries ago with a visit to Provand’s Lordship. This three-story building, constructed in 1471, is Glasgow’s oldest surviving house, and one of only four buildings in the city dating back to the medieval era. The furnished rooms will give you a fascinating glimpse into the past, and make sure you visit the small walled garden out the back.  Suggested tour: Taste of Scotland

11. Be dazzled by the Scottish Crown Jewels on a visit to Edinburgh Castle. Perched high above the city on an enormous mound of volcanic rock, the castle houses not only the jewels but also the “Stone of Destiny” -  the block of red sandstone that for centuries served as the seat for kings and queens at their coronations. Suggested tour: Taste of Scotland

12. Visit the thatched cottage that was the birthplace of Hugh Miller to discover one of Scotland’s most fascinating figures: Miller was a 19th-century fossil hunter folklorist, stonemason, geologist, and newspaper editor. Suggested tour: Scottish Clans & Castles

13. Board the Royal Yacht Britannia, docked in Edinburgh’s port, and take a guided tour of this marvelous ship that was once the floating home of the Queen. Suggested tour: The Scots-Irish Tour

14. Enjoy a riot of tropical color at Inverewe Gardens, where exotic plants from around the world thrive in an environment warmed by the Gulf Stream. See Himalayan poppies, Tasmanian eucalyptus, and California Redwoods. Suggested tour: Scottish Isles & Glens

15. Visit Culloden, where the quiet of the Highland moor belies the ferocity of the hour-long battle fought here in 1746. The bloody defeat of the Jacobites at the hands of George II’s government forces changed the course of British history. Today the graves of hundreds of clansmen remain, and a memorial cairn honors the fallen soldiers. The interactive visitor center explains the battle through artifacts and exhibits. Suggested tour: Scottish & Irish Dream

16. Step into a fairytale when you visit Brodie Castle, with its towers and turrets set on spacious grounds. Inside, you’ll see fine furnishings, splendid paintings, and a library with over 6,000 volumes. Suggested tour: Scottish Clans & Castles

17. Visit the grand Pollok House on the outskirts of Glasgow, formerly home to the Maxwell family for six centuries. One member of the family amassed a great collection of Spanish paintings on his travels, which is still on display, including paintings by El Greco, Murillo, and Goya. Suggested tour: Scottish & Irish Sampler

18. Soak in the splendor of magnificent island scenery as you visit the Isle of Bute, where you’ll tour the fascinating Mount Stuart House with its blend of Victorian and Georgian architecture and design inspired by astrology and mythology. The house is full of innovations - it was the first house in Scotland to be lit by electricity, the world's first house with a heated swimming pool, and it contained an elevator and an early telephone system. Suggested tour: Scottish Isles & Glens

19. Spend an afternoon free to stroll the Royal Mile, where compact medieval houses reach several stories tall. It’s at the very heart of Edinburgh, running from Edinburgh Castle to the Palace of Holyroodhouse. You might want to check out one of the street’s several small museums before picking up the perfect souvenir from one of the many shops lining the route. Suggested tour: Taste of Scotland & Ireland

20. See the grandeur of the Scottish Renaissance in a tour of Stirling Castle. This magnificent complex looms over the town with a spectacular view of its surroundings. Inside you’ll see beautifully restored interiors and rich décor that will let you discover what life was like in the days when it was the childhood home of Mary, Queen of Scots. Suggested tour: The Scots Irish Tour

21. Explore some of Scotland’s dramatic royal history as you tour the Palace of Holyroodhouse at the end of Edinburgh’s historic Royal Mile. Today the home of the Queen when she visits Scotland, the Palace was also the home of Mary, Queen of Scots, during her reign. Suggested tour: Scottish Clans & Castles 

22. Explore the fascinating heritage of the Orkney Islands - get a glimpse into life five thousand years ago when you visit two of the most important Neolithic sites in Europe.  The Ring of Brodgar is a spectacular stone circle with 36 standing stones remaining and over a dozen burial mounds. Skara Brae is Europe’s most complete Neolithic village, consisting of 10 clustered houses, complete with a primitive sewer system to drain waste to the ocean.  Suggested tour: Scottish Isles & Glens

Ready to start your planning? Visit our page on guided tours in Scotland, or we can help you plan the perfect custom trip to Scotland with a private driver or as a group.