Today our guide will pick us up mid-morning to begin our journey north. We’ll stop to visit St. Andrews Cathedral (Castle) and Falkland Palace and Gardens, one of Mary Queen of Scots favorite castles. We will also visit Glamis Castle, and our evening may conclude with a walk on the Stoneheaven pebble beach if weather allows. Overnight: Stonehaven

Today we will be visiting Dunnottar Castle and Pictish Sites. Before William Wallace and Mary Queen of Scots were hosted at this castle, it was believed to have originally been established by the Picts. The Picts are a large focus of this journey through Scotland’s history as well as that of the Vikings influence in the north. We will explore the history of Dunnottar Castle and the local area from the time when St. Ninan built a chapel in the area to the time of the Picts and up to the Covenanters. 

After visiting the significant castle in Scotland’s history, we will explore Pictish Stones, Cairns, and Stone Circles as we travel along the Prehistoric Stone Circle Trail and Pictish Trail around Aberdeen. We will take our time at our stops as we explore the unique artwork on the stones and stone features in this part of Scotland. Overnight: Stonehaven

This will be a day of mostly travel as we move from Aberdeen to the northernmost part to catch the ferry to Orkney. On our way we will stop and see Elgin Cathedral, the “Lantern of the North”, a beautiful medieval ruined cathedral with a Pictish stone slab. We will also stop at Burghead Pictish Fort.  As we travel we will stop at other Pictish stone circles and stones to admire the detailed artistry and unique beauty carved into the stones by these ancient people. As we make our way to the Northern Highlands, we will stop at Dunrobin Castle and Gardens as well as Cairn O’Get, a prehistoric chambered cairn. Overnight: Thurso

After exploring the Picts of Scotland, we will explore the myths and culture of the Vikings in Scotland on Orkney. We will take the morning ferry over to Orkney beginning our time here with a visit to Skara Brae, a Neolithic settlement and Maeshowe, a Neolithic chambered cairn. We will also visit other brochs and cairns in the area and you’ll have time to explore the village of Kirkwall. Overnight: Kirkwall

Today we will visit the Ring of Brodgar and the Ring of Stenness, in the heart of Neolithic Orkney. These stone circles are some of the largest and oldest in Britain. We will also make stops at other surprise spots our guide has in store for us before taking the late ferry back to the mainland. Overnight: Thurso 

Leaving the north and heading south, we will pick back up on the path of exploring the Picts along The Highland Pictish Trail north of Inverness. Just outside of Inverness we will stop at the Clootie Trees/Wells to learn how these sites have been places of worship and prayers over the centuries. After dropping off our luggage in Inverness, we will enjoy a driving tour of Inverness and stop at Clava Cairns, a Bronze age burial cairn for sunset. Overnight: Inverness

This morning will be spent enjoying Loch Ness and seeing the Culloden Battlefield. After lunch we will head south stopping in the Cairngorms National Park and the Dalwhinnie Distillery. Our evening will be spent in the Victorian city of Pitlochry. Overnight:  Pitlochry 

As we continue south, we will stop at Stirling Castle in the morning and will then enjoy a late lunch in Edinburgh. Our afternoon will conclude with a walk along the Royal Mile and a history tour of the city. Edinburgh Overnight: Edinburgh

Flights home.