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Loch Duich and Eilean Donan Castle

Castle Tours in Scotland

Step back in time with a Scotland castle tour, where you’ll explore royal palaces and former clan strongholds on your picturesque route across coastlines and Highlands. Discover the secrets of Scottish history and take home everlasting memories.

42 tours available

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430 GBP
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Scotland
Save up to 400 GBP
Best seller
Guided Groups
10 days / 9 nights
4.8
Apr - Oct

Highlights of Scotland

Scottish Highlands, Loch Ness & Isle of Skye

Pace Level Level 2 (Classic)
Activity Level Level 2 (Moderate)

4514GBP

4314GBP

Eur

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Save up to 400 GBP
Best seller
10 days / 9 nights
Apr - Oct

4514GBP

4314GBP

GBP

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Scotland
Save up to 400 GBP
Best seller
Self-drive
10 days / 9 nights
4.8
Apr - Oct

Classic Scotland

1963GBP

1763GBP

Eur

View map
Save up to 400 GBP
Best seller
10 days / 9 nights
Apr - Oct

1963GBP

1763GBP

GBP

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Scotland
Save up to 160 GBP
Best seller
Self-drive
8 days / 7 nights
4.7
Apr - Oct

Scottish Highlands & Isle of Skye

1639GBP

1559GBP

Eur

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Save up to 160 GBP
Best seller
8 days / 7 nights
Apr - Oct

1639GBP

1559GBP

GBP

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Scotland
Self-drive
7 days / 6 nights
4.9
Apr - Oct

Express Scotland

1367GBP

Eur

View map
7 days / 6 nights
Apr - Oct

1367GBP

GBP

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Scotland
Save up to 400 GBP
Best seller
Guided Groups
7 days / 6 nights
4.8
Apr - Oct

Wonders of Scotland

Scottish Highlands, Loch Ness & Isle of Skye

Pace Level Level 2 (Classic)
Activity Level Level 2 (Moderate)

2870GBP

2670GBP

Eur

View map
Save up to 400 GBP
Best seller
7 days / 6 nights
Apr - Oct

2870GBP

2670GBP

GBP

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Scotland
Save up to 640 GBP
Best seller
Self-drive
17 days / 16 nights
4.7
Apr - Oct

Grand Tour of Scotland

Scottish Highlands & North Coast 500

3606GBP

3286GBP

Eur

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Save up to 640 GBP
Best seller
17 days / 16 nights
Apr - Oct

3606GBP

3286GBP

GBP

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Scotland
Self-drive
12 days / 11 nights
Apr - Oct

Classic Scotland & Outer Hebrides

2340GBP

Eur

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12 days / 11 nights
Apr - Oct

2340GBP

GBP

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Scotland
Best seller
Self-drive
12 days / 11 nights
4.6
Apr - Oct

Classic Scotland & The Orkney Islands

2431GBP

Eur

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Best seller
12 days / 11 nights
Apr - Oct

2431GBP

GBP

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Privately Guided
7 days / 6 nights
Apr - Oct

Express Scotland - Private

3622GBP

3302GBP

Eur

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Save up to 640 GBP
7 days / 6 nights
Apr - Oct

3622GBP

3302GBP

GBP

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Scotland
Self-drive
8 days / 7 nights
Nov - Mar

Scottish Highlands & Isle of Skye - Winter

1372GBP

Eur

View map
8 days / 7 nights
Nov - Mar

1372GBP

GBP

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Scotland
Privately Guided
8 days / 7 nights
Nov - Mar

Scottish Highlands & Isle of Skye Winter - Private

4106GBP

Eur

View map
8 days / 7 nights
Nov - Mar

4106GBP

GBP

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Scotland
Save up to 640 GBP
Best seller
Privately Guided
8 days / 7 nights
4.9
Apr - Oct

Scottish Highlands & Isle of Skye - Private

4267GBP

3947GBP

Eur

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Save up to 640 GBP
Best seller
8 days / 7 nights
Apr - Oct

4267GBP

3947GBP

GBP

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Scotland
Multi-Day Tours
4 days / 3 nights
Nov - Dec

Christmas in Scotland

702GBP

Eur

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4 days / 3 nights
Nov - Dec

702GBP

GBP

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Scotland
Multi-Day Tours
5 days / 4 nights
Nov - Dec

A Scottish Christmas to Remember

845GBP

Eur

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5 days / 4 nights
Nov - Dec

845GBP

GBP

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Scotland
Multi-Day Tours
5 days / 4 nights
Apr - Oct

Best of Edinburgh - Loch Ness & Highlands

866GBP

Eur

View map
5 days / 4 nights
Apr - Oct

866GBP

GBP

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Scotland
Multi-Day Tours
5 days / 4 nights
Nov - Mar

Best of Edinburgh - Loch Ness & Highlands - Winter

791GBP

Eur

View map
5 days / 4 nights
Nov - Mar

791GBP

GBP

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Scotland
Multi-Day Tours
7 days / 6 nights
Apr - Oct

Edinburgh Complete - Loch Ness, Highlands & Glasgow

1228GBP

Eur

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7 days / 6 nights
Apr - Oct

1228GBP

GBP

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Scotland
Multi-Day Tours
7 days / 6 nights
Nov - Mar

Edinburgh Complete - Loch Ness, Highlands & Glasgow - Winter

1115GBP

Eur

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7 days / 6 nights
Nov - Mar

1115GBP

GBP

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Scotland
Multi-Day Tours
3 days / 2 nights
Apr - Oct

Explore Edinburgh

458GBP

Eur

View map
3 days / 2 nights
Apr - Oct

458GBP

GBP

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Scotland
Multi-Day Tours
3 days / 2 nights
Nov - Mar

Explore Edinburgh - Winter

430GBP

Eur

View map
3 days / 2 nights
Nov - Mar

430GBP

GBP

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Scotland
Multi-Day Tours
4 days / 3 nights
Apr - Oct

Taste of Scotland - Castles & Highlands

704GBP

Eur

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4 days / 3 nights
Apr - Oct

704GBP

GBP

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Scotland
Multi-Day Tours
4 days / 3 nights
Nov - Mar

Taste of Scotland - Castles & Highlands - Winter

648GBP

Eur

View map
4 days / 3 nights
Nov - Mar

648GBP

GBP

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Scotland
Privately Guided
7 days / 6 nights
Nov - Mar

Express Scotland Winter - Private

3386GBP

Eur

View map
7 days / 6 nights
Nov - Mar

3386GBP

GBP

Close map view
Scotland
Save up to 800 GBP
Best seller
Privately Guided
10 days / 9 nights
5.0
Apr - Oct

Classic Scotland - Private

5492GBP

5092GBP

Eur

View map
Save up to 800 GBP
Best seller
10 days / 9 nights
Apr - Oct

5492GBP

5092GBP

GBP

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Scotland
Self-drive
8 days / 7 nights
Apr - Oct

Express Scotland & St Andrews

1594GBP

Eur

View map
8 days / 7 nights
Apr - Oct

1594GBP

GBP

Close map view
Privately Guided
8 days / 7 nights
Apr - Oct

Express Scotland & St Andrews – Private

4293GBP

3973GBP

Eur

View map
Save up to 640 GBP
8 days / 7 nights
Apr - Oct

4293GBP

3973GBP

GBP

Close map view
Scotland & Ireland
Privately Guided
12 days / 11 nights
Apr - Oct

Express Scotland & Ireland – Private

7078GBP

Eur

View map
12 days / 11 nights
Apr - Oct

7078GBP

GBP

Close map view
Scotland & Ireland
Save up to 800 GBP
Best seller
Privately Guided
17 days / 16 nights
Apr - Oct

Complete Scotland & Ireland – Private

Scottish Highlands, Isle of Skye & Wild Atlantic Way

10614GBP

10214GBP

Eur

View map
Save up to 800 GBP
Best seller
17 days / 16 nights
Apr - Oct

10614GBP

10214GBP

GBP

Close map view
Scotland
Self-drive
7 days / 6 nights
Nov - Mar

Express Scotland - Winter

1318GBP

Eur

View map
7 days / 6 nights
Nov - Mar

1318GBP

GBP

Close map view
Scotland & Ireland
Self-drive
17 days / 16 nights
Apr - Oct

Complete Scotland & Ireland

3634GBP

Eur

View map
17 days / 16 nights
Apr - Oct

3634GBP

GBP

Close map view
Scotland & Ireland
Self-drive
25 days / 24 nights
Apr - Oct

Ultimate Tour of Scotland & Ireland

Scottish Highlands, North Coast 500 & Wild Atlantic Way

5481GBP

Eur

View map
25 days / 24 nights
Apr - Oct

5481GBP

GBP

Close map view
Scotland & Ireland
Best seller
Self-drive
12 days / 11 nights
4.8
Apr - Oct

Express Scotland & Ireland

2817GBP

Eur

View map
Best seller
12 days / 11 nights
Apr - Oct

2817GBP

GBP

Close map view
Scotland
Self-drive
5 days / 4 nights
Apr- Oct

Scenic Scotland - Express

Loch Ness & the Highlands

899GBP

Eur

View map
5 days / 4 nights
Apr- Oct

899GBP

GBP

Close map view
Scotland
Privately Guided
5 days / 4 nights
Apr - Oct

Scenic Scotland Express - Private

2260GBP

Eur

View map
5 days / 4 nights
Apr - Oct

2260GBP

GBP

Close map view
Scotland & Ireland
Save up to 800 GBP
Best seller
Guided Groups
14 days / 13 nights
Apr - Oct

Wonders of Scotland & Ireland

Ultimate Celtic Adventure

Pace Level Level 2 (Classic)
Activity Level Level 2 (Moderate)

5855GBP

5455GBP

Eur

View map
Save up to 800 GBP
Best seller
14 days / 13 nights
Apr - Oct

5855GBP

5455GBP

GBP

Close map view
England, Scotland & Wales
Self-drive
10 days / 9 nights
Apr - Oct

Express Britain

England, Scotland & Wales

1737GBP

Eur

View map
10 days / 9 nights
Apr - Oct

1737GBP

GBP

Close map view
England, Scotland & Wales
Save up to 640 GBP
Best seller
Guided Groups
12 days / 11 nights
May - Oct

Wonders of Britain

England, Wales & Scotland

Pace Level Level 1 (At Leisure)
Activity Level Level 1 (Easy)

4608GBP

4288GBP

Eur

View map
Save up to 640 GBP
Best seller
12 days / 11 nights
May - Oct

4608GBP

4288GBP

GBP

Close map view
England, Scotland & Wales
Save up to 400 GBP
Best seller
Self-drive
12 days / 11 nights
Apr-Oct

Classic Britain

England, Scotland & Wales

2015GBP

1815GBP

Eur

View map
Save up to 400 GBP
Best seller
12 days / 11 nights
Apr-Oct

2015GBP

1815GBP

GBP

Close map view
England, Scotland & Wales
Save up to 400 GBP
Self-drive
14 days / 13 nights
Apr-Oct

Classic Britain at Leisure

England, Scotland & Wales

2469GBP

2269GBP

Eur

View map
Save up to 400 GBP
14 days / 13 nights
Apr-Oct

2469GBP

2269GBP

GBP

Close map view
England, Scotland & Wales
Save up to 640 GBP
Self-drive
17 days / 16 nights
Apr-Oct

Complete Britain

England, Scotland & Wales

3026GBP

2706GBP

Eur

View map
Save up to 640 GBP
17 days / 16 nights
Apr-Oct

3026GBP

2706GBP

GBP

Close map view
England, Scotland & Wales
Save up to 800 GBP
Self-drive
21 days / 20 nights
Apr-Oct

Complete Britain at Leisure

England, Scotland & Wales

3768GBP

3368GBP

Eur

View map
Save up to 800 GBP
21 days / 20 nights
Apr-Oct

3768GBP

3368GBP

GBP

Close map view
England & Scotland
Guided Groups
7 days / 6 nights
Summer

Wonders of England

London, Bath, York & Edinburgh

Pace Level Level 2 (Classic)
Activity Level Level 2 (Moderate)

3396GBP

Eur

View map
7 days / 6 nights
Summer

3396GBP

GBP

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About Your Castle Tour

Delve into the illustrious history of Scotland while exploring its medieval castles, royal palaces and battle-scarred fort ruins. Your Scotland castle tour package will take you to where kings and queens once ruled and royal courts changed Scottish history. Whether you choose to travel on a private tour, a small group journey or a self drive adventure, you’ll make amazing memories to take home and treasure.

When you book a Nordic Visitor package, you can expect:

• A dedicated travel consultant who’ll arrange your expedition
• A personalised itinerary and route
24/7 phone support during your adventure for peace of mind
Excellent accommodation at your chosen price point
• Special seasonal tour itineraries for summer and winter

To start your adventure with Nordic Visitor, simply follow these steps:

1. Pick your favourite Nordic Visitor package
2. Confirm (or customise) your tour
3. Check your confirmation email
4. Book your flights
5. Get ready for your trip

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Book With Confidence

Secure your trip your way with Nordic Visitor. Book a tour with as little as 10% deposit. With a 20% deposit or more, you will receive our Cancellation Protection free of charge. You can also pay the full price right away to guarantee today’s exchange rate. Terms & conditions apply.

Book With Confidence

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Trusted local travel experts

Nordic Visitor is a leading travel agency with travel experts based in Edinburgh. Our consultants test all our packages, including important areas like accommodation quality. Their in-depth local knowledge of all aspects of your itinerary mean you’ll take home unforgettable memories.

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Great reviews

Our dedicated teams deliver excellent service quality, and this is reflected year after year when TripAdvisor awards us with their Certificate of Excellence. We also take great pride in our customer feedback: 97% of our travelers say they would recommend us to friends and family.

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Value for money

By booking with us, you will save time and money as you will benefit from our network of trusted Scottish suppliers. We leave no stone unturned when creating excellent quality tours dotted with the best historical attractions and finding ultra comfortable rooms.

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Hassle-free experience

We plan your trip for you before you arrive, meaning the finer details are looked after. You will have a comprehensive itinerary and booked accommodation, so all you have to do is enjoy the areas and attractions you’ll visit.

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Customisable tour options

Nordic Visitor packages are created to delight guests on their adventures, and our travel experts will customise tours to suit your wish list. Whether you’d like some extra nights in Edinburgh or a special diversion to a breathtaking natural attractions, we will change your travel itinerary the way you want.

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You are in good hands

One of our travel experts is always on call 24/7 to handle any unforeseen situations during your trip. Unexpected delays or weather? No problem. Nordic Visitor will rework your itinerary, and re-organise any upcoming activities and accommodation, all while keeping you informed.

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Full financial protection

With Nordic Visitor, you have peace of mind knowing your holiday arrangements with us are 100% financially protected. Your payments are safeguarded as we comply with European Union laws on Package Travel regulations. This guarantees you a refund in the unlikely event of insolvency.

OUR SCOTLAND CASTLE TOUR REVIEWS

Here’s what our fantastic customers think about their attraction-packed castle tour.

W

WilliamUnited States

Overall experience was excellent. Great educational and cultural understanding opportunity for both the two adults... read more

Overall experience was excellent. Great educational and cultural understanding opportunity for both the two adults and 18-year-old grand-daughter in this party. We attribute all the unexpectedly high level of service we received to our association with a Nordic Visitor.

M

MaryUnited States

Every part of this trip was perfect! And everything flowed seamlessly, from the pick up at the airport, to the drop... read more

Every part of this trip was perfect! And everything flowed seamlessly, from the pick up at the airport, to the drop off on our way home. Our tour guides, Peter and Carolina, went above and beyond. They really cared about giving us a great experience and their knowledge of the history of Scotland was impressive. We had full days every day, and on top of everything, the weather was great! Can't wait to come back to beautiful Scotland!

2000+ reviews on TripAdvisor
Certificate of Excellence
See the reviews

Your Highlights

Unmask the mysteries of Scotland’s royal history by exploring its ancient ruins, imposing fortress battlements and fascinating castle halls. Soon you could….

  • Discover Scotland’s clan history at Dunvegan Castle, ancestral home of the Chiefs of Clan MacLeod
  • Learn about Edinburgh Castle's military history and uncover its formidable fortress secrets
  • Visit Stirling Castle and see Renaissance period royal chambers and grand hand-woven tapestries
  • Be amazed by Blair Castle's grand ballroom and traditional arsenal of armoury  
  • Explore dramatic fortress ruins of Dunnottar Castle, which once was home to the Scottish Crown jewels
  • Go "behind the scenes" at Doune Castle, filming location for Harry Potter, Outlander and Game of Thrones  
  • Visit the former battlefield of the famous Battle of Culloden and learn how it changed the Highlands forever
  • Stroll along the pebbled shores of Loch Ness, Loch Lomond and Loch Lubnaig, and spot indigenous flora and fauna
  • Take a day tour of Edinburgh’s many attractions, including the bustling Royal Mile, St Giles' Cathedral and Mary Kings Close

Frequently Asked Questions
About Castle Tours

We’ve collected the most commonly asked questions and queries just in case you want to know more about our Scottish packages before you book. If you want more in-depth information on the payment process, then please see our FAQs or get in touch with us.

It's estimated that there were once over 3,000 castles in Scotland. Nowadays, you'll find that some are in ruins and others are only mentioned in historical record.

Scholars estimate that there are over 100 castles still standing and in visitable condition. Discover the most popular and historically significant sites in our guide to the best castles in Scotland.

From coast to coast, Scotland has an abundance of beautiful palaces and impressive castles but of course, there are sites that stand out amongst the rest. Here are must-visit castles you have to see:

Edinburgh Castle: walk up the Royal Mile to Castle Rock for striking views over the city
Stirling Castle: see the Chapel Royal of Stirling Castle, where Mary Queen of Scots was crowned
Doune Castle: this tower house castle dates back to the 14th century and was the filming location for Outlander’s Castle Leoch
Eilean Donan Castle: cast your eyes on this beautiful island top 13th century castle
Dunrobin Castle: discover this fairytale castle and its Palace of Versailles inspired gardens
Inveraray Castle: explore the ancestral seat of Clan Campbell, with its beautiful grounds and extensive woodlands
Crathes Castle: enjoy a leisurely stroll along the historic castle grounds and its 16th-century walled garden


Want to discover more of Scotland’s amazing coastal and highlands castles? Read our article on the most famous castles in Scotland.

The British Royal Family owns Balmoral Castle and stay in the Palace of Holyroodhouse when they visit Edinburgh.

The Palace of Holyroodhouse is His Majesty the King’s official residence in Scotland and the palace is open to visitors. You can explore the adjoining 12th-century ruins of Holyrood Abbey, the magnificent throne room, regal state apartments and the Great Gallery.

Balmoral Castle, meanwhile, is based in the heart of Aberdeenshire and is famously the favoured summer retreat of the Royal Family. It has been owned by the family since it was purchased as a gift to Queen Victoria in 1852. You can visit Balmoral Castle in the spring and summer seasons but be sure to ask your travel consultant to check dates as the visiting times can change depending on whether The King is in residence.

Yes, you’re able to visit royal castles and palaces in Scotland. The Palace of Holyroodhouse is open to the public all year round and Balmoral is open in the spring and summer months but closed when The King is in residence. You can also visit former royal homes, such as:

Cadzow Castle
Dunfermline Palace
Edinburgh Castle
Scone Palace
Falkland Palace
Linlithgow Palace
Doune Castle
Culross Palace
 

Mary Stuart, known popularly as Mary, Queen of Scots, lived in many well-known Scottish castles and palaces before she was sent into exile, and later executed, in England. You can still visit them today, and experience the same stunning scenery she would have seen. Here’s a list of her former royal homes: 

Linlithgow Palace
Dumbarton Castle
Stirling Castle
Falkland Palace
Edinburgh Castle
Palace of Holyroodhouse
Lochleven Castle
Craigmillar Castle

 

Ireland has more castles than Scotland. Historically the Emerald Isle was home to approximately 30,000 castles. The majority of these are now ruins with the number of complete, visitable castles sitting at around 380.

If you're having trouble deciding where to go, check out this blog on visiting Scotland or Ireland. Altnernatively, for the ultimate Celtic getaway why not go on a combined tour of Scotland and Ireland

Yes, your self-drive tour with Nordic Visitor includes car rental with our tried-and-tested hire car suppliers in Scotland.

You receive a collision damage waiver (CDW) and an excess waiver to reduce liability to zero. On top of that, you enjoy unlimited mileage and the authorisation for two drivers. We don’t cover your road trip music: that is all up to you!

When you rent a car for your self-drive tour of Scotland with Nordic Visitor, there are some requirements that you should be aware of.

To rent a car in Scotland, you must hold a valid and full driving licence for a minimum period of 4 years. This reduces to 1 year if you are over 23 years of age.

Drivers aged 23 or 24 can take a self-drive tour with Nordic Visitor, subject to a young driver surcharge of £25 per day. You can hire vehicles in our rental car groups A, B, C or F.

The minimum age to rent a car in Scotland is 21. So if you're aged 21 or 22, we would be delighted to arrange your tour and provide you with information on how you can arrange your own car rental with specific suppliers who can cater to those aged 21 and 22.

If you are aged 80 or above, you can rent a car in Scotland so long as you provide medical proof that you are fit to drive. Please note this should be issued no earlier than 4 weeks before your travel date. You can hire vehicles in our rental car groups A, B or C.

Learn more about vehicle groups and car rental in Scotland on our travel guide.

Alternatively, you could leave the driving to a local expert when you pick one of our privately guided trips or guided small group tours of Scotland.

In most cases, yes. Many of our packages have flexible dates with daily departures. The exceptions are our guided small group tour packages, which have pre-set start dates.

Our local experts have a wealth of knowledge to pass on to you, ensuring every sight or attraction you visit is one that you won’t forget. When creating packages, routes are extensively planned with this in mind so that our guests see the best of Scotland.

However, if there are any areas or attractions in particular you’re keen to see, we can help add them to the itinerary depending on package. We can also add on extra nights in Edinburgh so you can see more of Scotland.

On a guided group tour, you’ll get to experience the sights in the company of an expert local guide and fellow like-minded travellers (a maximum of 15 per group). On these tours, you can add on days at either end of your journey to see more of the capital city, Edinburgh.

On self-drive tours and privately guided tours, you get to set the pace, meaning there’s plenty of time to explore. These tours are also very flexible, meaning you can stay longer at areas and viewpoints along the route.

We’d advise that you look over flights for timings and dates, but hold off purchasing until you’ve booked your preferred tour.

Once you’ve had a confirmation email from your personal travel consultant, you should then choose and pay for your flights. The reason for this is once you have all the details, you can make an informed choice on timings.

Also, you will have been introduced to your travel consultant who will answer any questions you may have regarding timings.

When you pack for Scotland, remember that the country has countless words and expressions for the weather, including over 400 for snow. This gives you an indication of the ever-changing climate so with this in mind, we recommend that you pack and dress sensibly and bring the following items to keep you safe and dry:

A warm sweater or fleece
A waterproof jacket
Good walking shoes or boots (especially if you intend to hike and go on nature walks)
Binoculars (for bird and wildlife watching)
Light scarf or thin sweater
UK travel adapter
 

For a comprehensive list on what to pack as well as travel tips, check out our Scottish travel information pages.

Contact us

Want to know more about our Scotland castle tours? Or perhaps you want to extend your current package with extra nights. We’re happy to help, so get in touch.

Call

Our Scottish phone number is
+44 (0)131 344 4630

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How about a live chat with one of our local travel experts?

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