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Experience Scotland's cultural fortitude and beauty on a trip to the Highland Games
With jagged mountains, tranquil lochs and rolling greenery throughout its national parks, the Scottish Highlands are a place of enduring charm. Yet this endurance doesn’t simply end there – it’s a part of the Scottish spirit. Traditions such as the Highland Games have lasted before recorded history even began and have gone on to influence on a global scale – even playing a part in the revival of the Olympics. The kilt, a distinctive part of Scottish culture, returned as a bastion of clan and highland culture after 35 years of oppression by British law. Highland dancing, bagpipe performances and tests of strength all feature heavily on this adventure, showing the undying fortitude of the Scottish spirit as you experience the Highland Games and the culture surrounding it.
- Start
- Glasgow, United Kingdom
- Finish
- Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Destination
- United Kingdom
- Style
- Peregrine
- Theme
- Limited Edition
- Code
- PELS
- Physical rating
- Ages
- Min 15
- Group size
- Min 4, Max 12
Why you'll love this trip
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Take a food walking tour in Glasgow which will benefit local food banks.
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Jump aboard the Jacobite Steam Train across the Glenfinnan Viaduct, which is one of the most scenic rail journeys in the world.
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Enjoy a whisky tasting at Glen Ord Distillery.
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A local kilt fitter will give you a talk on the history of this iconic Scottish garment.
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A Highland Games competitor will meet you with some practice equipment for a private demonstration where you'll get to have a go.
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Peregrine will host a Ceilidh dance at a village hall with dance tuition provided from an expert and other local dance enthusiasts.
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Enjoy a whole day at the Highland Games in Braemar, which is regularly attended by members of the British Royal Family.
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Explore Edinburgh on foot with a local guide, who will also give you an exclusive bagpipe demonstration.
Is this trip right for you?
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The food tour in Glasgow is a walking tour with a local guide. To get the most out of the experience, it's advised participants should be prepared to saunter around the city for up to 4 hours with stops.
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There is a sightseeing walk on day 3 which is graded as easy hill walking. You should have a reasonable level of fitness to make the most of this excursion and be rewarded with views of Loch Lomond.
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There is a ferry journey on day 5, which can get a little choppy, depending on the weather conditions.
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On day 6 you'll spend up to 3/4 of the day on a scenic sightseeing tour of the Isle of Skye. This means there will be several hours in the minibus but there will be numerous stops throughout the day.
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The dinner and dance on day 10 will be formal. Gentlemen must wear a kilt or suit and women an evening dress or similar. No prior experience of dancing is necessary as tuition will be provided.
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The Highland Games is a full day outdoor event. Be prepared for all weather conditions.
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Edinburgh is a hilly city. While your local guide will adapt to suit the pace of the group, please be prepared for a number of ups and downs on your walking tour.
Gallery






Itinerary
Communities have existed around Glasgow for millennia, mainly due to the city’s location on the River Clyde which has historically granted bounties of fish. The city has since grown from a small rural settlement to the largest seaport in Great Britain, serving as one of the island’s main hubs of transatlantic trade from the 18th-century onwards. These days, Glasgow is known for its well-established urban culture – attractive bars, world-class restaurants and a respectable music scene. That’s not to mention the galleries, museums and fashion stores, all great options to investigate if you’ve got time before the group meeting.
Accommodation
- The Grand Central Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer
- Welcome dinner
Meals Included
- Dinner
You may have a little free time in the afternoon to explore a couple of the many sights around Glasgow such as the Gallery of Modern Art, offering a variety of city owned displays that highlights the interests, influences and working methods of artists from around the world. Alternatively, perhaps get a taste for the city’s Victorian architecture, wandering by the Glasgow City Chambers, George Square or even to the Lighthouse Museum of Architecture itself for a more in-depth look into this facet of the city.
Accommodation
- The Grand Central Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Foodie Walking Tour
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
After leaving Loch Lomond and arriving at Glencoe, pause for a moment and take in the local scenery. The village is surrounded by spectacular mountains which have featured in numerous films, including Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban as the home of Hagrid, along with the James Bond film Skyfall. It may be of interest to note to note that in Ian Fleming’s original Bond novels, Glencoe was written as the birthplace of James Bond’s father Andrew Bond.
After a brief visit to Glencoe, push onward to Fort William. Known as the second largest city in the Scottish Highlands, Fort William was named after Prince William, the Duke of Cumberland. It now serves as a bustling tourist hub, offering excellent hiking opportunities in the surrounding hills.
Accommodation
- The Nevis Bank Inn or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Sightseeing Walk around Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Accommodation
- The Nevis Bank Inn or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Shinty Match - entrance
- Introduction to shinty talk by a local expert
Meals Included
- Breakfast
It’s safe to say that the Steam Train will prove one of the more memorable parts of this trip – this Peregrine Moment takes the group on “the greatest railway journey in the world”, aptly named as the 84 mile round trip passes a list of impressively picturesque Scottish locations. Starting near the highest mountain in Britain, Ben Nevis, it visits Britain’s most westerly mainland railway station, Arisaig. The train then passes close by the deepest freshwater loch in Britain, Loch Morar right on towards the shortest river in Britain, River Morar. Finally, the train skirts the deepest seawater loch in Europe, Loch Nevis. The train comes to a stop en route to Mallaig at the village of Glenfinnan, peering over the arches of the iconic viaduct for a view of this place made famous by the Harry Potter movies.
Upon arriving at Malliag, stretch your legs and wander onto the nearby ferry before transferring to Armadale on the Isle of Skye. Keep watch for the jagged peaks of the Cuillin mountain range, towering in the background of the city as the ferry pulls into port. The Isle of Skye is well known for rugged landscapes such as these – there’ll be plenty of opportunities to witness these tomorrow.
Accommodation
- Uig Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- The Jacobite Steam Train Ride
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Accommodation
- Uig Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Museum of Island Life - entrance
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Transfer over to your accommodation in the Scottish highlands. Along the way, stop off at Eilean Donan, a small tidal island where three sea lochs meet. A picturesque castle sitting in the middle of the island dominates the landscape and can be reached by the restored bridge that connects with the nearby mainland. Take some time to explore the area, perhaps taking a few photos of this surreal region and one of the most picturesque sites in Scotland.
Accommodation
- Cluanie Inn or similar (1 night)
Optional Activities
- Eilean Donan Castle - GBP8
Meals Included
- Breakfast
En-route, you'll visit one of Scotland's most famous attractions, Loch Ness, home to the mythical Loch Ness Monster. You'll have a little time to stretch your legs and take in your surroundings, including the ruins of Urquhart Castle where you can almost imagine the battles that have taken place on this dramatic site over the course of a thousand years of history.
After lunch, it's then just a short drive to Glen Ord distillery which was founded in 1838, making it one of the oldest in Scotland. Here you'll watch the distillers at work, take a tour of the exhibition and try a wee dram of malt whisky before continuing to your hotel in Aviemore.
Accommodation
- The Cairngorm Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Glen Ord Whisky Distillery tour
Meals Included
- Breakfast
The history of the kilt stretches back to at least the end of the 16th century – The word ‘kilt’ itself comes from the Scottish word meaning to tuck up the clothes around the body. The small kilt, a closer adaptation of the modern kilt seen today, did not develop until the late 17th or early 18th century and is essentially the bottom half of the larger, more traditional great kilt. Following a ban of highland culture in 1746 by King George that lasted for 35 years, the kilt would later come to represent Scottish national identity, even going as far as to represent different regions and then clans through specific tartan patterns. More information surrounding the cultural and historic importance of the kilt will be explained during the your time here.
The then group splits two ways: those who would like to have a kilt fitting and those who would like to explore the village. It's very traditional for gents to be fitted for a kilt before their first ceilidh and the Peregrine hosted ceilidh takes place the following evening.
In the afternoon join your Tour Leader for a relaxed walk around Loch An Eilean (approx. 2hrs). Loch An Eilean’s small ruined castle and picturesque surroundings create a magnificent setting for taking photographs. You’ll also visit Loch Morlich which sits at the foot of the Cairngorm mountain range in the heart of the Cairngorm National Park. Your Tour Leader will arrange the order and duration of these excursions to suit the preferences and mobility of the group.
Accommodation
- The Cairngorm Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Informal history of the kilt talk by a local kilt fitter
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Put your own strength to the test with a series of Peregrine Moments during this iconic event, starting off with a meeting with the convener of the heavies. Learn how to practice hammer throwing and caber tossing with some practice equipment in a local park.
Your second Peregrine Moment comes in the evening, where an expert teaches you and some locals how to perform a traditional Scottish dance. This includes a tuition session in this ceilidh (social gathering), where a lot of friendly interaction with the cheerful townsfolk takes place. The men dress up in kilts while the women bring an evening dress and wear available accessories. To sweeten the deal, the highland custom of ‘bring your own bottle’ applies here so there’s a chance to have a drink with everyone during the evening.
Accommodation
- Atholl Palace Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Ceilidh folk music and dance party, hosted by Peregrine
- Tossing the caber demonstration
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Special Information
Gentleman usually wear kilts at a Ceilidh while women tend to wear evening dresses. There will be the option to acquire a kilt the day before the dance but there are limited options for evening dress shopping during the tour, so we'd recommend bringing one from home or hitting the shops in Glasgow, should you arrive early.Gatherings in Braemar have been a tradition since the days of old, stretching back to 900 years ago when King Malcolm Canmore was in power. The gathering, known colloquially as “The Games”, serves as the township’s version of the traditional Scottish Highland Games. The event has taken a variety of changes since times of old – its present form has been running annually since 1832 and has earned the distinction of traditional attendance from the British Royal Family. Large crowds congregate upon the grounds to acclaim their clan’s monarch as the chieftain of the gathering as people face off against each other in tests of might and skill. The foot races held at the Braemar Gathering are said to be the world’s oldest, having been organised on a regular basis since the event began.
Spend the day watching this clash of the clans as people partake in events such as the traditional throwing of hammers, putting the stone and tossing the caber with additional competitions of throwing weight and over the bar submitted for contemporary interest. Events such as pipe bands, solo bagpipe performances, dancing and a good old-fashioned tug-o-war round out the prior events, creating a day of rounded cultural interest and significance – it’s obvious how much of an effect these Scottish games have had on the Olympics as a whole.
Accommodation
- Atholl Palace Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Braemar Gathering (highland games) - entrance ticket
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Special Information
The games is an outdoor event, so we'd recommend ensuring you're prepared for all weather conditions today.Stirling Castle stands as one of the most important castles in Scotland, both historically and architecturally. Boasting an incredible level of defences, including the natural advantage of sitting upon steep cliffs, the castle also served as the location where several Scottish kings and queens were crowned. You'll step inside for a public tour of the castle.
The Kelpies of Falkirk are a pair of 30-metre-high (98 feet) sculptures of horse heads, completed in October 2013 and designed by sculptor Andy Scott. The name reflects the mythological transforming beasts that possess the strength of 10 horses – the statues representing the power and endurance of Scotland’s waterways.
Accommodation
- Apex Grassmarket Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Stirling Castle Entrance
Meals Included
- Breakfast
After exploring exciting Edinburgh, join your group for a final dinner and reminisce upon the trip just passed.
Accommodation
- Apex Grassmarket Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
- Edinburgh walking tour and bagpipe demonstration
- Farewell Dinner
Optional Activities
- Edinburgh Castle - GBP17
Meals Included
- Breakfast
- Dinner
Meals Included
- Breakfast
Meals
13 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 dinnersTransport
Ferry, Private minibus, TrainAccommodation
Hotel (11 nights) Feature Stay (2 nights)Included Activities
- Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer
- Welcome dinner
- Foodie Walking Tour
- Sightseeing Walk around Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park
- Shinty Match - entrance
- Introduction to shinty talk by a local expert
- The Jacobite Steam Train Ride
- Museum of Island Life - entrance
- Glen Ord Whisky Distillery tour
- Informal history of the kilt talk by a local kilt fitter
- Ceilidh folk music and dance party, hosted by Peregrine
- Tossing the caber demonstration
- Braemar Gathering (highland games) - entrance ticket
- Stirling Castle Entrance
- Edinburgh walking tour and bagpipe demonstration
- Farewell Dinner
Dates & availability
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Important notes
ARRIVAL TRANSFER
A complimentary arrival transfer from Glasgow Airport to your joining point hotel is included in the price of the trip. Please advise your travel agent of your flight times at the time of booking.
ADDITIONAL SERVICES
Single Supplements, pre and post tour additional accommodation and transfers are available to book upon request, subject to availability. Please contact your Travel Consultant for more details.

Essential trip information
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