Scotland Treasures for Seniors: Immersive History Tour

After flying to Edinburgh, you will switch planes for the short jaunt to the Orkney Islands. After landing in Kirkwall, you will be met by your local guide for a short transfer to your hotel in the islands’ capital. Nothing will be planned for today. Your guide will go over the itinerary in more depth and explain different options for the next few days. Then, you can indulge in a welcome dinner and get your first dose of Scottish hospitality.

Today, you will immerse yourself in Scotland’s past on a sublime trip across rugged island landscapes. You can step inside a neolithic village from 5,000 years ago, where stone furniture still stands proudly. You can also cross the causeway to Birsay at low tide to find what remains of a Norse settlement and a small Romanesque church that once served as a pilgrimage point 1,000 years ago. Also on today’s route will be Iron Age discoveries and the Standing Stones of Stenness. Afterward, you will spend a relaxed evening back in the capital of the Orkney Islands.

Maeshowe Chambered Cairn evokes 5,000 years of history. It is a monument to the advancements that were made by neolithic civilizations in this corner of the world. You will explore it in depth this morning, especially the graffiti created by the Vikings who raided the tomb four millennia after it was built. After checking out from your hotel, you will venture to the mainland by ferry and explore the cute town of Thurso. This is a place of colorful architecture and atmosphere. The town is also surrounded by green valleys and dominated by golden-hued walls.

Scottish scenery is often beyond comparison, and while many go to the Highlands and East Coast, the West Coast remains a wonderfully off-the-beaten-path destination. Today’s relaxed drive will lead you along a wild northern coastline to Durness. Here, the peculiar Smoo Cave has an unusual tale. Hugging the West Coast, you will meander to Ullapool, passing fishing villages and remnants from the 18th century. You will then step out of the vehicle and breathe in the fresh mountain air. Then, you can wander with your guide in untouched surroundings. This will be a private tour, and there are many places to explore.

Today will be another day of sublime scenery. You will travel toward the coast to discover the Scottish Highlands. Heather adds purple color to the narrow valleys, as lakes twinkle mystically upon the landscape. Fort George is just one place of remarkable war history. The fort and the Culloden battle site will help you understand the region’s life and times. Great mountains rise to the sky, and once again, you will have the opportunity to walk and wander. Inverness is a lovely old city, and your hotel will have a view of the castle.

Today, you will stop in Aviemore before crossing the rugged beauty of Cairngorms National Park. Here, there are great vistas across rolling plateaus and plenty of opportunities to stretch your legs in the wilderness. Your guide knows of some excellent trails if you want to walk in the wild before exploring superb Bronze Age remains. You can spend the afternoon and evening in Pitlochry, which is the home of Scottish whisky. Here, you will visit two distilleries and meet the distillers to understand the history and process of the country's famous drink.

After a few days of hopping between destinations, you will now have two nights in St. Andrews, which is a stately university town that is famous for being the home of golf. Before the town, there is beauty to find all over the ancient kingdom of Fife, especially in the Edwardian Hill of Tarvit. This day was designed to be very slow and laid back, so you can feast your senses on Fife before a relaxing afternoon of exploring St. Andrews on your own. Perhaps, you will try one of the local gastro pubs for an atmospheric evening of dining.

With a full day in St. Andrews, you can explore a history that is very different from the Highlands and Orkney Islands. You can enjoy exclusive access to the Royal and Ancient Golf Club beyond where visitors can normally go. Then, you can marvel at what remains of both cathedral and castle when exploring the history of Scotland’s ecclesiastical capital. The story here goes back to St. Andrew himself and the eighth century, although you will need your historian guide to help separate the facts from the myth and fiction.

This will be a full day of sights in a small geographical area, beginning with a secret Cold War bunker that hides beneath a farmstead. Falkland Palace ignites the imagination with its Renaissance style and sumptuous quarters, and the town of Culross will showcase a regal version of Scotland from the 18th century. As always, the exact timings can be adjusted to your preferences, and your guide will outline other potential stops you can make. Then, it will be onward to Stirling later in the day for an after-hours tour of the Renaissance castle, which is one of the finest of all Scottish buildings.

After the short drive to Edinburgh, you can check in to your hotel and rest before an afternoon of embracing the capital city’s history. You can start with a ride to Edinburgh Castle and spend around two hours in the most famous Scottish sight. Then, you can descend by car or on foot to the Royal Mile. Much of the Royal Mile is pedestrianized, but you do not need to walk the hills if this is something that you do not want to do. Instead, you can stroll slowly on the flat sections, while your guide leads you into the backstreets for a complete town history.

This final day will be left free so that you can customize it to your interests. You may want to keep it free so that you can cruise around the Royal Mile and do some shopping. Melrose is one of the day trip options. Here, a house that was home to 27 monarchs is just one relic of tradition. Glasgow is completely different to Edinburgh and will offer a modern take on Scottish culture. Melrose Abbey and Abbotsford House can be combined in a single afternoon trip.

After breakfast, you will transfer to the airport for your outbound flight.