Scotland Itinerary: Whirlwind Tour

My time here was greatly condensed to be able to get as much in as possible. I will highlight my days and make recommendations on how to extend them.

Check into your hotel. I had the pleasure of staying at the Kimpton Charlotte Square Edinburgh. The rooms were great and spacious, the common areas wonderfully eclectic, and the service was top-notch. I had an early morning arrival, but my hotel room was ready. Book with me or any other Fora advisor and we can include early check-in if available as a perk.

Edinburgh is a charming city which is totally walkable from both Old Town to New Town. I got my steps in. Head to Edinburgh Castle. You can tour on your own or arrange a guided tour if desired. For those interested, we can arrange a private tour and dinner or champagne at the castle either before or after hours. As one of the oldest fortified places in Europe, it is home to the oldest Crown Jewels in Britain.

After the castle, head down Royal Mile to enjoy the shops and sights. For those interested in history or art, Edinburgh has plenty of Museums to choose from: The National Gallery of Modern Art or the National Gallery.

Don't forget shopping: souvenirs on the Royal Mile, high-end shops on Multrees walk, and finally independent shops, vintage clothing stores and antiques on Victoria Street/Grassmarket which is said to have been the inspiration for Harry Potter's Dragon Alley.

Dare I fail to mention whisky or gin tasting experiences. There are plenty to choose from.

Don't forget Rosslyn Chapel. You can go and do the regular tour, however, they will do private evening tours of the chapel. Any Fora advisor can arrange champagne at the start of the tour. See first-hand the magic of The Da Vinci Code, which was filmed here. The chapel was built in the 1400's and has been lovingly restored and cared for. Definitely worth the trip outside of central Edinburgh to tour it.

While I stayed only one night in Edinburgh, I would recommend two to really get a great feel for the city and hit the sites that are important to you.

Again, my tour was a whirlwind. I only stayed in Braemar at the Fife Arms one night and I would definitely recommend at least two nights. The hotel itself is an old inn that has been restored by art collectors/dealers and despite only having 44 rooms, they have over 16,000 pieces of artwork, including a Picasso. There was an incredible sense of place here. You knew you were in the countryside of Scotland. If you can make it here the first weekend in September, The Highland Games are held in Braemar and the town becomes a happening place. Braemar is the place where you can hike, wild swim in the river (It is cold! but incredible), or forage and have dinner made from what you have gathered. Also here is Balmoral Castle, a favorite residence of the Royal Family. You can tour here when they are not in town.

On our way into Braemar, we had an opportunity to stop at Lindores, a local farm which supplies the barley for a partnering whisky distillery. Not only is the farm available for equestrian and lodging, but you can stop in for an afternoon, which is what we did. We had a gourmet lunch made over an open fire while dining outside in a beautiful setting overlooking the incredible landscape and farm. Oh, and let's talk about the wine and whisky pairing that went along with this incredible lunch: Divine!

I feel like Gleneagles is the king of all resorts. This is an adult and kids playground (And that's why it is called: The Glorious Playground) in beautiful Scotland. There is no shortage of activities. I listed two nights here, but you could really spend a week and not do the same thing twice. Let's see: amazing food: Yes! They have multiple dining spaces, including a 2-star Michelin-starred restaurant. Their morning brunch alone is a sight to be seen; they cater to families as well as friend groups. Everyone feels welcome. Kids club: Yes, and it's included in the price of the hotel, which offers golf, tennis, clay shooting, archery, gun dogs, off-road driving, hiking, horses, fishing and falconry. Honestly, I feel like the concierge would arrange anything you might want to do. We spent our afternoon here experiencing the guided clay shooting, and for the first time, I hit my targets!

Really, this next stop is my last night, sadly. As we head out of Gleneagles, we take a detour at The Glenturret Distillery for a tour, whisky tasting and the blending experience. Phenomenal experience. I am not a whisky drinker, but this was so much fun and I came back to the States with my own personally blended whisky. After here, we headed over to the West Coast and stayed at Glenapp Castle near Girvan. Think romance, towers, and turrets. The property feels quite traditional Scottish Castle with views of the volcanic outcropping Alisa Craig. While we did not have the opportunity to do this as we were here later in October, if you come during their late spring through early fall season, The Glennapp Castle offers a sea safari. It's tented luxury camping out on the Islands of Scotland. They take you on the castle boat and you get to enjoy daily trips to different areas along the coast. I need to go back to do this!

So this is not an extra day, but a shoutout to Turin Castle, which is an exclusive-use castle for those who are looking for privacy, or multigenerational stays with a larger group. The castle sleeps 22 and comes with two butlers. The owners are always onsite to make sure your stay is exactly what you are looking for. Yoga with a kilted yogi in the gardens, done. New Year's Eve fireworks over the magnificent views, done. A party for your milestone birthday with Highland game set up, done. If you can dream it, they will make it happen.