Scotland Escorted Tours

Escorted Tours to Scotland

Whisky, wildlife, and wonderful scenery await in Scotland’s islands and highlands, lochs and glens. Nature, untamed, is a backdrop for countless castles, an inspiration for artists, and inextricably intertwined with the country’s Celtic culture.

Why choose a tour in Scotland?

A small and stunningly scenic country, Scotland is a beautiful, bountiful treasure chest, filled with eventful history, Celtic pride, and cultural traditions. Long held legends, customs, and icons abound, from the Saltire to the thistle, from bagpipes to the Braemar Gathering, from tartan kilts to cèilidh music, mythical kelpie sea horses, and the monster of Loch Ness.

Mainland landscapes are sprinkled with castles and hemmed with cliffs and coves, cloaked in forestry and punctuated with lochs, cut through by the Caledonian Canal, and home to the UK’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis, and largest National Park, The Cairngorms.

Islands range from isolated outcrops, inhabited only by birds, to northern Norse settlements of Shetland and Orkney, the Holy Island of Iona, the tree-less Outer Hebrides, the Cuillin Hills of the Isle of Skye, and wildly wonderful Mull, with whales in its waters and eagles above.

Each of the cities, towns, and villages has its own character, from rural to coastal or cosmopolitan. The capital, Edinburgh boasts a medieval Old Town, a gorgeous Georgian New Town, Arthur’s Seat peak topping Holyrood Park, and the ancient castle, dominating the city’s skyline, and housing the Scottish crown jewels and coronation Stone of Destiny.

Glasgow is Scotland’s largest city, with Victorian and Art Nouveau architecture recalling its 18th/19th-century prosperity. Oban is a seafood centre and a hub of Celtic culture, looking across the Firth of Lorne to seascape views of Kerrera and Lismore. Tobermory hems Mull’s harbourfront with its much-photographed row of multi-coloured houses. The historic hamlet of Fort Augustus marks the southern tip of Loch Ness and the halfway point of the coast-to-coast canal between Fort William, gateway to the West Highland railway, and Inverness, the ‘capital of the Highlands’, close to the Culloden Battlefield.

From nature to culture and milestones in history, every facet of the country affects or is affected by another; so Scotland doesn’t, and couldn’t, unpick its tapestry to separate past and present, customs and character, truths and legends. All come together; often in just one day.

When to go on Scotland holidays

There’s a saying in Scotland, “If you don’t like the weather, wait an hour.” While, throughout the year, the climate is cooler than the UK’s southern reaches, its famous unpredictability can sometimes work in your favour, switching from wet and windy to warm and sunny in a matter of minutes.

Each season has its attractions too. Winter snowscapes come with an average daytime temperature of 5°. This rises to 13° for the buds and blossoms of spring (March-May). Summer daylight hours are much longer in Scotland than in the south, and average a balmy 17° from June to August; and temperatures hover between 9 and 15° for the glorious reds and golds of autumn trees (Sept-Nov).

Who are Scotland tours suited to?

A tour through Scotland’s breathtakingly beautiful scenery is a refreshing, relaxing, and revitalising experience, enhanced by exploring at a leisurely pace on a luxury vessel. It will delight the discerning traveller who hankers for an interlude of tranquillity. On our small-ship sailing, you will be in the company of a small group of like-minded people.

Why book Scotland tours with Jules Verne?

With 45 years’ experience and a passion for creating extraordinary adventures, Jules Verne takes you to iconic landmarks and lesser-known sites, with expert tour guides who share their local knowledge, and show you hidden gems. Our cross-country, Caledonian Canal journey cruises the four lochs of the Great Glen, navigates Neptune’s Staircase locks, and includes a spell on Iona, a trip on the West Highland railway, and a visit to Culloden Battlefield.

Our guided tours to Scotland are ABTA protected, so you can book with complete confidence.