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The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo & the Highlands

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4 days From £799 £724 per person
4.5 stars(41 reviews)
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Enjoy the astonishing spectacle of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo and the stunning landscapes of the Scottish Highlands

Save up to £75pp

Save up to £75pp on all British Isles 2025 holidays, when you book by 7th April 2025.

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Mobility Rating 2

2025 Tour code: EPE25

About the tour

A fantastic short break culminating in the iconic extravaganza of The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo, with pipes and drums resonating from the castle's elevated setting.

Based in charming Dunblane, peacefully situated in the Perthshire countryside, this wonderful Scottish holiday also includes a heritage steam train journey through the Cairngorms, a tour of the Kinrara Gin Distillery with a tasting of the award-winning produce, and a visit to historic Stirling Castle.

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Unforgettable experiences

Experiencing the world-famous Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
Experiencing the world-famous Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
Prepare for a breathtaking spectacle of entertainment, tradition and music at the Tattoo, set against the stunning backdrop of Edinburgh Castle. (The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo©)
Journeying on the nostalgic Strathspey Steam Railway
Journeying on the nostalgic Strathspey Steam Railway
Travel through picturesque scenes of impressive mountains, dense forests and tranquil lochs on the charming Strathspey Steam Railway in the Cairngorms National Park.
Enjoying a tasting of award-winning gins
Enjoying a tasting of award-winning gins
Savour a guided tasting of award-winning, handcrafted local gins at the family-run Kinrara Gin Distillery, learning how the flavours have been inspired by the beautiful setting of the Cairngorms.
Visiting historic Stirling Castle
Visiting historic Stirling Castle
Embark on a guided tour of one of Scotland’s most significant strongholds, exploring Stirling Castle’s Great Hall and Chapel Royal before free time to stroll among its expansive gardens.

What’s included

Itinerary

Day 1 – Arrival in the charming wee town of Dunblane

Your holiday begins when you arrive independently in the picturesque town of Dunblane. Meeting the Tour Manager at our hotel this afternoon, and once we've checked in, there's time to get to know the town at leisure.

Our hotel is just a short walk from the Allan Water River, where you could enjoy a delightful riverside stroll. Next to the river, you'll discover the 11th-century cathedral standing among a cluster of old-world buildings. Among them is Dean's House, a 17th-century structure that now hosts the cathedral museum, showcasing interesting exhibits on local history. Dunblane Cathedral itself is one of Scotland's most impressive medieval churches, with a four-storey tower that was built in the 1100s, an ornate Gothic doorway and rare 15th-century choir stalls.

Returning to our hotel this evening, we gather for our first dinner as a group.

Includes
  • Dinner
Day 2 – The nostalgic Strathspey Steam Railway and gin-tasting*

Travelling north to atmospheric Aviemore after breakfast, we join the nostalgic Strathspey Steam Railway for a trip through the stunning sights of Cairngorms National Park. The beautifully restored carriages have comfortable seats and large windows, providing fantastic opportunities to marvel at the breathtaking scenery enroute to Broomhill.

Snaking our way alongside the bronze waters of the River Spey that play a crucial part in the production of so many world-class whiskies, we enjoy views of rolling hills blanketed by purple heather, the craggy summit of Cairngorm Mountain, and thick pine forests and wooded glens lining the tracks.

After a round trip on the railway, we rejoin our coach and set off to the Kinrara Distillery on the edge of the Cairngorms National Park. In these beautiful surroundings, we savour a hosted gin-tasting experience to learn about the local history and ingredients that have inspired the distillery's award-winning craft gins. In the late afternoon, we travel back to our Dunblane hotel with time to relax before dinner this evening.

*Please note, if booked on our 8th and 17th August departurea, Days 2 and 3 of this itinerary will be reversed and we take the Edinburgh Tattoo trip today.

Includes
  • Breakfast, Dinner
Day 3 – Stirling Castle and The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo

After a relaxing morning, our coach picks us up early this afternoon for another culture-packed day. Our first stop is the impressive Stirling Castle for a guided tour where we wander through the Great Hall, Chapel Royal, Great Kitchens and beautiful gardens. There is time to enjoy lunch independently either at the castle café or in the centre of Stirling. Here, you could wander over Stirling Old Bridge and discover its association with William Wallace and the Jacobite Rising.

This afternoon, we continue to Scotland's capital, Edinburgh, where you're at leisure to get some dinner and explore before tonight's main event. The annual spectacle of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo brings together music, entertainment and ceremonial performances. Watching in awe, we see the Scottish regiments' pipers and drummers performing together, the impressive Massed Bands of the Royal Marines, and a fantastic firework show - all with Edinburgh Castle magnificently illuminated behind them.

After this incredible experience, our coach takes us back to our hotel in Dunblane late this evening.

Includes
  • Breakfast
Day 4 - Homeward bound

It's time to say goodbye to our Scottish adventure today. After a leisurely breakfast, our holiday comes to an end, and you are free to make your way home. If you're not ready to leave beautiful Scotland and Perthshire behind just yet, you could continue exploring the dramatic landscapes, ancient castles and unspoilt nature at your own pace.

On your way home, you can look back at the fantastic new memories we have created. Incredible views of the Scottish Highlands were experienced during a charming journey through the Cairngorms on the Strathspey Steam Railway followed by a tasting of locally made craft gin. A guided tour of Stirling's historic castle preceded a spectacular finale as we marvelled at the sights and sounds of the world-famous Edinburgh Military Tattoo - an unforgettable way to round-off our time in Scotland.

Includes
  • Breakfast

Additional information

Classic collection

Our Classic range is what we're known for. Enjoy curated moments with plenty of inclusions. Centrally located hotels, premium travel options and engaging group tours with a seasoned expert are included. You'll be in groups with an average of 20-25 travellers and a maximum of 30*. *Scandinavian and Worldwide tours are on average 30-35 and a maximum of 40.

Departure times

Provisional departure and return times, where available, can be found together with our dates and prices by clicking on the 'Prices & Availability' button. We write to all booked customers approximately 10 weeks prior to the start of their tour to advise the exact departure and return time for their particular group.

Mobility information

Due to the nature of our tours they are generally unsuitable for those with restricted mobility. If you’d like to discuss any particular holiday with us in this respect, then please don’t hesitate to call us.

Hotel

Doubletree by Hilton Dunblane Hydro, Dunblane

Doubletree by Hilton Dunblane Hydro, Dunblane

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Train

Strathspey Steam Railway

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Reviews

4.5 stars4.5 / 5 · 41 reviews

  1. 5 stars
    (25)
  2. 4 stars
    (11)
  3. 3 stars
    (4)
  4. 2 stars
    (1)
  5. 1 star
    (0)

customer

5 stars

Submitted 06 Sep 2024

Well organised and an interesting variety of visits.

Collected by Trustpilot

John Harris

5 stars

Submitted 02 Sep 2024

It was well run

Collected by Trustpilot

Francesca

5 stars

Submitted 01 Sep 2024

We had a fabulous time on this tour, the hotel was lovely, our tour guide Alan and our coach driver were both excellent. Very good value for what we paid and it gave us the chance to see the tattoo so easily. I would highly recommend this tour.

Collected by Trustpilot

simon cutler

5 stars

Submitted 01 Sep 2024

A great experience, and well led by the tour manager Alan , who was so very helpful.The hotel in Dunblane was excellent ,with the food in the evening so tasty and a very high standard, and the staff particularly hard working. Well worth going to the Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

Collected by Trustpilot

E Haskins

5 stars

Submitted 01 Sep 2024

I'd seen it on TV, but in reality you see the full Tattoo, and can appreciate the lighting, and all the split second organisation, and experience the stewarding. We had excellent seats. The rest of the holiday was great, but this was definitely the highlight.

Collected by Trustpilot

KimS

5 stars

Submitted 01 Sep 2024

Had a great time on the steam train and Edinburgh Tattoo. The tour guide and coach driver were very knowledgeable and interesting. It was a full 2 days of visiting interesting places.

Collected by Trustpilot

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