SAMPLE ITINERARY
Private 10-Day Scotland Tour from Edinburgh or Glasgow
Adventure Alba's Private 10-Day Scotland Tour is a private, driver-guided trip for your group only (max 8 guests), starting and finishing in Edinburgh or Glasgow, taking in the Borders abbeys, St Andrews, the Highlands, the Isle of Skye and Arran over 10 days and 9 nights. Adventure Alba has run private tours across Scotland since 2018, with most trips starting in Edinburgh. We plan Days 8 to 10 around the ferry sailings.
Tour at a glance
- Length
- 10 days, 9 nights
- Type
- private, max 8 guests
- Starts and ends
- Edinburgh or Glasgow, with hotel or airport pick-up and drop-off. You can start in one city and finish in the other, and custom tours can also start in Inverness.
- Overnights
- Peebles, St Andrews, Inverness, Skye, Oban and Arran
- Pace
- flexible, around the ferry times
What does the 10-day Scotland itinerary cover?
Days 1 to 3 cover The Kelpies, Stirling Castle, the Borders and St Andrews. Days 4 and 5 are in Inverness, Days 6 and 7 on Skye, and Day 8 reaches Oban. Days 9 and 10 cover Arran, with the drop-off in Edinburgh or Glasgow.
Day 1: Edinburgh or Glasgow to Peebles via The Kelpies & Stirling Castle
The Kelpies, Stirling Castle and New Lanark.
Overnight: Peebles
Day 1 runs from Edinburgh or Glasgow to Peebles for the night, starting at The Kelpies, two giant steel horse heads at Falkirk. If the times fit, you can go inside one on a short tour. Next is Stirling Castle, a royal castle on a volcanic rock. If time allows, we add New Lanark, an old mill village beside the Falls of Clyde.
Peebles, a friendly Tweed valley town, is your base for two nights.
Day 2: A Scottish Borders abbeys loop from Peebles
Jedburgh and Dryburgh abbeys, Kelso and Hermitage Castle.
Overnight: Peebles
Day 2 is a loop through the Scottish Borders and back to Peebles. Jedburgh Abbey and Dryburgh Abbey are two of the great ruined Border abbeys, and Sir Walter Scott is buried at Dryburgh. Kelso is a handsome market town with its own ruined abbey.
Hermitage Castle, in the Borders, is a bleak fortress from the days of the Border Reivers.
Day 3: Peebles to St Andrews via Rosslyn Chapel & Crail
Rosslyn Chapel, the Queensferry Crossing and Crail.
Overnight: St Andrews
Day 3 heads north from Peebles to Rosslyn Chapel in Roslin, a 15th-century church known for its carvings and for The Da Vinci Code. Then we cross the Firth of Forth on the Queensferry Crossing for a photo stop and follow the Fife coast to St Andrews for the night.
On the way is Crail, a charming harbour. St Andrews has the famous golf course, the university, the castle and the cathedral.
Day 4: St Andrews to Inverness via Pitlochry & Dalwhinnie
Pitlochry, Dalwhinnie and Ruthven Barracks.
Overnight: Inverness
Day 4 runs from St Andrews to Inverness for the night, via Perthshire, Pitlochry, Dalwhinnie and Ruthven Barracks. If there's time, you can stop at Dunkeld or The Hermitage near Dunkeld, one or the other.
Dalwhinnie is a distillery in a lovely setting, a stop for the shop and a drink at the bar if you'd like one. Then Ruthven Barracks, a ruined fort on a hill near Kingussie.
Day 5: A day trip from Inverness to Dunrobin Castle or Speyside
Choose Dunrobin Castle or a whisky day in Speyside.
Overnight: Inverness
Day 5 is a day trip from Inverness, and you choose one way to spend it. Head north to Dunrobin Castle, a fairytale castle on the Sutherland coast at Golspie, with gardens and a stop in Dornoch on the way.
Or head east to Speyside, Scotland's whisky country, for a distillery visit. Either way, you're back in Inverness for the night.
Day 6: Inverness to the Isle of Skye via Culloden & Eilean Donan
Clava Cairns, Culloden, Loch Ness and Eilean Donan, then Skye.
Overnight: Skye
Day 6 runs from Inverness to the Isle of Skye for the night, starting at Clava Cairns, Bronze Age burial cairns, and Culloden, the battlefield of 1746. The road then follows Loch Ness, and our 2-day Loch Ness tour covers it in more detail.
Past Glen Shiel you reach Eilean Donan Castle, on a small island where three sea lochs meet. Then cross the Skye Bridge.
Day 7: A day on the Isle of Skye
Sligachan, the Old Man of Storr, Kilt Rock and the Quiraing.
Overnight: Skye
Day 7 is your day on Skye. We start at Sligachan, with its old bridge and mountain views, then take in the Old Man of Storr, Kilt Rock and the Quiraing on the Trotternish peninsula.
This day is easy to change to what you'd love to see. Our 5-day Highlands & Isle of Skye tour shows more of the island.
Day 8: Skye to Oban via Glenfinnan, Glencoe & Castle Stalker
The Mallaig ferry, Glenfinnan, Glencoe and Castle Stalker.
Overnight: Oban
Day 8 takes the ferry from Armadale on Skye to Mallaig, then goes to Oban for the night via the Glenfinnan Viaduct, the railway bridge from the Harry Potter films. Next come Fort William and Glencoe, a steep, dramatic glen.
The road continues past Castle Stalker, a small castle on a tidal island, to Oban. We plan the day around the ferry times, and if the sailing doesn't suit, we cross the Skye Bridge instead.
Day 9: Oban to the Isle of Arran via Loch Awe & Kilmartin Glen
Loch Awe, Inveraray and Kilmartin Glen, then the ferry to Arran.
Overnight: Arran
Day 9 runs from Oban to Arran for the night, starting with a viewpoint on Loch Awe, looking over Kilchurn Castle. Inveraray is a Georgian town on Loch Fyne, and Kilmartin Glen is full of ancient standing stones and cairns.
The ferry from Claonaig takes you to Lochranza, with the Arran Distillery if there's time. There's no ferry from Oban to Arran, so we head to Claonaig and plan around the sailings.
Day 10: Arran to Edinburgh or Glasgow via Brodick & Ardrossan
Brodick, Machrie Moor and the ferry to Ardrossan.
Drop-off in Edinburgh or Glasgow
Day 10 explores more of Arran, with Brodick and the Machrie Moor Standing Stones, ancient stone circles on a wide moor.
Then the ferry from Brodick takes you to Ardrossan, and we drive on to your drop-off in Edinburgh or Glasgow.
Can we customise the 10-day Scotland itinerary?
Yes, and most groups do. Think of this route as a starting point we'll adjust around what you'd like to see.
Ideas and other options
- Black Isle and Fort George as another Day 5 day trip
- An extra night on Skye or Arran
We can also change where you start and finish.
Want more time?
Add days for the Outer Hebrides with our 8-day Highlands & Outer Hebrides tour, or for Mull with our 4-day Isle of Mull tour. Orkney, the North Coast 500 and Islay are other popular extras, and we can add days to this route as a custom tour.
What our guests say
A few words from people who've travelled with us.
Why choose a private Scotland tour?
Coach tours run to a timetable. A private tour runs to yours.
Just your group, max 8 guests
It's only you, your own vehicle and your driver-guide, with no strangers on board. Bigger party? Larger groups are possible with a bigger vehicle.
Flexible days, your pace
The ferries fix part of Days 8 to 10, and we plan the rest around them. Fancy longer in St Andrews or on Skye? We stay when the sailings allow.
Ideal for families, friends and couples
- Families: castles to explore, ferry crossings children enjoy and the Kelpies.
- Friends: a distillery stop, Skye's big viewpoints and an island to finish.
- Couples: St Andrews, quiet corners of Arran and no rush to move on.
Frequently asked questions
Is 10 days enough to see Scotland?
Yes, for a first visit with plenty of variety. Ten days covers the Borders, Fife, the Highlands, Skye and Arran with time at each stop. The Outer Hebrides, Orkney and the far north aren't on this route, but you can add days for them.
How do the ferries work on the 10-day tour?
We normally use three CalMac ferries: Armadale to Mallaig on day eight, Claonaig to Lochranza on day nine and Brodick to Ardrossan on day ten. We plan around the sailings, and the weather can delay a crossing. Ferries aren't included in the tour price.
Should we drive ourselves or take a private tour of Scotland?
You can drive yourself, but ferries, single-track roads and a lot of ground make this a busy route. On a private tour, max 8 guests as standard, your driver-guide handles the driving, ferries and parking, so everyone can enjoy Skye, Glencoe and Arran.
When is the best time to take a 10-day Scotland tour?
April to October is the best time for this tour. It runs all year, but days are short in winter and some places close, such as Hermitage Castle, Dunrobin Castle and Inveraray Castle, and Speyside distilleries need booking. We swap in other stops, and drop New Lanark or the Loch Awe viewpoint when daylight is short.
What is open on Sundays on a Scotland tour?
Most places are open, though some change on Sundays. Rosslyn Chapel opens at midday, the Old Course at St Andrews is closed for golf, and some ferries run fewer sailings. We can always make a Sunday work. Tell us your dates and we'll plan around it.
Can we extend the 10-day tour?
Yes. Popular extras are Lewis and Harris in the Outer Hebrides, the Isle of Mull from Oban, Orkney, the North Coast 500 and Islay. We add days to this route as a custom tour, and we plan the ferries around them.
Is a 10-day Scotland tour suitable for kids and older travellers?
Yes. Because the tour is private, we can plan more breaks and stops children love, like the Kelpies. The walks and optional extras are always up to you, and the tour suits most abilities, though our vehicles don't have a wheelchair lift.
Where do we stay on a 10-day Scotland tour?
On this 10-day tour you spend nights in Peebles (two nights), St Andrews, Inverness (two nights), Skye (two nights), Oban and Arran. Accommodation isn't included. We prefer to book it for you, but you're welcome to book your own if you have somewhere in mind.
Plan your private Scotland tour
Tell us your dates, how many of you are travelling and anything you'd love to see, and we'll send you a plan. There's no obligation.
Pricing FAQ
How much does a private 10-day Scotland tour cost?
Adventure Alba prices private tours per group, not per person: around £1,000 to £1,200 per day for your whole party of up to 8 guests, with summer dates at the top of the range. That covers your vehicle, driver-guide, fuel and parking. Hotels, meals, ferries and entry tickets are extra.
How much are the ferries?
Ferries aren't included in the tour price. As an estimate, expect around £90 to £170 for the CalMac ferries over the whole trip, depending on the number of passengers. That covers Armadale to Mallaig, Claonaig to Lochranza and Brodick to Ardrossan, for a vehicle up to 6 metres. Prices change, so we'll confirm when we quote.
What isn't included in the price?
Hotels, meals, ferries, entry tickets, optional extras such as a distillery visit or the Kelpies tour, and personal spending are paid separately. We prefer to book your accommodation for you, but you're welcome to book your own.
Why does the price vary?
Each tour is planned for your group, so the final price depends on your dates, the time of year and any changes you'd like, such as an extra night on Skye or Arran.
How do we get an exact quote?
Send us your dates and group size, and we'll reply with a clear quote and no obligation. You can reach us by email or WhatsApp, or start on our custom private tours page.