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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.

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Scotland
10% OFF IN 2024
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Guided Groups
10 days / 9 nights
4.7
May - Sep

Highlights of Scotland

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

3774GBP

Eur

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10% OFF IN 2024
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10 days / 9 nights
May - Sep

3774GBP

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Scotland
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Self-drive
10 days / 9 nights
4.8
Apr - Oct

Classic Scotland

1823GBP

Eur

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Best seller
10 days / 9 nights
Apr - Oct

1823GBP

GBP

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Scotland
Free upgrade
Best seller
Self-drive
8 days / 7 nights
4.7
Apr - Oct

Scottish Highlands & Isle of Skye

1533GBP

Eur

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Best seller
8 days / 7 nights
Apr - Oct

1533GBP

GBP

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

Express Scotland

1350GBP

Eur

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Free upgrade
7 days / 6 nights
Apr - Oct

1350GBP

GBP

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Scotland
10% OFF IN 2024
Best seller
Guided Groups
7 days / 6 nights
4.8
May - Sep

Wonders of Scotland

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

2892GBP

2603GBP

Eur

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Best seller
7 days / 6 nights
May - Sep

2892GBP

2603GBP

GBP

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Scotland
Free upgrade
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Self-drive
17 days / 16 nights
4.7
Apr - Oct

Grand Tour of Scotland

Scottish Highlands & North Coast 500

3403GBP

Eur

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Best seller
17 days / 16 nights
Apr - Oct

3403GBP

GBP

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

Classic Scotland & Outer Hebrides

2233GBP

Eur

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Free upgrade
12 days / 11 nights
Apr - Oct

2233GBP

GBP

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

Classic Scotland & The Orkney islands

2319GBP

Eur

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Best seller
12 days / 11 nights
Apr - Oct

2319GBP

GBP

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Scotland
Free upgrade
Privately Guided
7 days / 6 nights
Apr - Oct

Express Scotland - Private

3520GBP

Eur

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7 days / 6 nights
Apr - Oct

3520GBP

GBP

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

Scottish Highlands & Isle of Skye - Winter

1306GBP

Eur

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8 days / 7 nights
Nov - Mar

1306GBP

GBP

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Scotland
Privately Guided
8 days / 7 nights
Nov - Mar

Scottish Highlands & Isle of Skye Winter - Private

4022GBP

Eur

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8 days / 7 nights
Nov - Mar

4022GBP

GBP

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Scotland
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Best seller
Privately Guided
8 days / 7 nights
4.9
Apr - Oct

Scottish Highlands & Isle of Skye - Private

4134GBP

Eur

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Best seller
8 days / 7 nights
Apr - Oct

4134GBP

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

974GBP

Eur

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5 days / 4 nights
Apr - Oct

974GBP

GBP

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

Best of Edinburgh - Loch Ness & Highlands - Winter

863GBP

Eur

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5 days / 4 nights
Nov - Mar

863GBP

GBP

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

Edinburgh Complete - Loch Ness, Highlands & Glasgow

1393GBP

Eur

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7 days / 6 nights
Apr - Oct

1393GBP

GBP

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

Edinburgh Complete - Loch Ness, Highlands & Glasgow - Winter

1223GBP

Eur

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7 days / 6 nights
Nov - Mar

1223GBP

GBP

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

Explore Edinburgh

510GBP

Eur

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3 days / 2 nights
Apr - Oct

510GBP

GBP

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

Explore Edinburgh - Winter

466GBP

Eur

View map
3 days / 2 nights
Nov - Mar

466GBP

GBP

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

Taste of Scotland - Castles & Highlands

782GBP

Eur

View map
4 days / 3 nights
Apr - Oct

782GBP

GBP

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

Taste of Scotland - Castles & Highlands - Winter

702GBP

Eur

View map
4 days / 3 nights
Nov - Mar

702GBP

GBP

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Scotland
Privately Guided
7 days / 6 nights
Nov - Mar

Express Scotland Winter - Private

3322GBP

Eur

View map
7 days / 6 nights
Nov - Mar

3322GBP

GBP

Close map view
Scotland
Free upgrade
Best seller
Privately Guided
10 days / 9 nights
5.0
Apr - Oct

Classic Scotland - Private

5301GBP

Eur

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Free upgrade
Best seller
10 days / 9 nights
Apr - Oct

5301GBP

GBP

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Scotland & Ireland
Free upgrade
Privately Guided
12 days / 11 nights
Apr - Oct

Express Scotland & Ireland – Private

6986GBP

Eur

View map
Free upgrade
12 days / 11 nights
Apr - Oct

6986GBP

GBP

Close map view
Scotland & Ireland
Free upgrade
Best seller
Privately Guided
17 days / 16 nights
Apr - Oct

Complete Scotland & Ireland – Private

Scottish Highlands, Isle of Skye & Wild Atlantic Way

10586GBP

Eur

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Free upgrade
Best seller
17 days / 16 nights
Apr - Oct

10586GBP

GBP

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Scotland
Self-drive
7 days / 6 nights
Nov - Mar

Express Scotland - Winter

1270GBP

Eur

View map
7 days / 6 nights
Nov - Mar

1270GBP

GBP

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

Complete Scotland & Ireland

3577GBP

Eur

View map
Free upgrade
17 days / 16 nights
Apr - Oct

3577GBP

GBP

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

Ultimate Tour of Scotland & Ireland

Scottish Highlands, North Coast 500 & Wild Atlantic Way

5354GBP

Eur

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Free upgrade
25 days / 24 nights
Apr - Oct

5354GBP

GBP

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Scotland & Ireland
Free upgrade
Best seller
Self-drive
12 days / 11 nights
4.8
Apr - Oct

Express Scotland & Ireland

2786GBP

Eur

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

2786GBP

GBP

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

Scenic Scotland - Express

Loch Ness & the Highlands

807GBP

Eur

View map
5 days / 4 nights
Apr- Oct

807GBP

GBP

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

Scenic Scotland Express - Private

2222GBP

Eur

View map
5 days / 4 nights
Apr - Oct

2222GBP

GBP

Close map view
Scotland & Ireland
Guided Groups
14 days / 13 nights
Apr - Oct

Wonders of Ireland & Scotland

5519EUR

Eur

View map
14 days / 13 nights
Apr - Oct

5519EUR

EUR

Close map view
England, Scotland & Wales
10% OFF IN 2024
Self-drive
10 days / 9 nights
Apr - Oct

Express Britain

England, Scotland & Wales

1471GBP

1324GBP

Eur

View map
10% OFF IN 2024
10 days / 9 nights
Apr - Oct

1471GBP

1324GBP

GBP

Close map view
England, Scotland & Wales
10% OFF IN 2024
Best seller
Guided Groups
12 days / 11 nights
Apr - Oct

Wonders of Britain

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

5009GBP

4508GBP

Eur

View map
10% OFF IN 2024
Best seller
12 days / 11 nights
Apr - Oct

5009GBP

4508GBP

GBP

Close map view
England, Scotland & Wales
10% OFF IN 2024
Best seller
Self-drive
12 days / 11 nights
Apr-Oct

Classic Britain

England, Scotland & Wales

1723GBP

1551GBP

Eur

View map
10% OFF IN 2024
Best seller
12 days / 11 nights
Apr-Oct

1723GBP

1551GBP

GBP

Close map view
England, Scotland & Wales
10% OFF IN 2024
Self-drive
14 days / 13 nights
Apr-Oct

Classic Britain at Leisure

England, Scotland & Wales

2040GBP

1836GBP

Eur

View map
10% OFF IN 2024
14 days / 13 nights
Apr-Oct

2040GBP

1836GBP

GBP

Close map view
England, Scotland & Wales
10% OFF IN 2024
Self-drive
17 days / 16 nights
Apr-Oct

Complete Britain

England, Scotland & Wales

2521GBP

2269GBP

Eur

View map
10% OFF IN 2024
17 days / 16 nights
Apr-Oct

2521GBP

2269GBP

GBP

Close map view
England, Scotland & Wales
10% OFF IN 2024
Self-drive
21 days / 20 nights
Apr-Oct

Complete Britain at Leisure

England, Scotland & Wales

3152GBP

2837GBP

Eur

View map
10% OFF IN 2024
21 days / 20 nights
Apr-Oct

3152GBP

2837GBP

GBP

Close map view
Scotland & Ireland
Best seller
Guided Groups
16 days / 15 nights
Apr - Sep

Best of Ireland & Scotland

7315EUR

Eur

View map
Best seller
16 days / 15 nights
Apr - Sep

7315EUR

EUR

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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 insurance 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.

A

AnnieUnited States

This tour was not very good but EXCELLENT!! I would highly recommend it to anyone who asked me. Pete was an awesome... read more

This tour was not very good but EXCELLENT!! I would highly recommend it to anyone who asked me. Pete was an awesome tour guide and I can't wait to go back to see the things I missed. Too much to see in only a week. “ This was one of the best trips ever, my husband and I token and I have been all over the world! We both agreed, we would do it again in an instant. Annie handled everything quickly and to my satisfaction. If there was a selection for EXCELLENT, she would have gotten it.

M

Michael and LynneAustralia

The tour was very well organised and everything went very smoothly. The hire car was excellent (essentially brand... read more

The tour was very well organised and everything went very smoothly. The hire car was excellent (essentially brand new). All of the services provided were of a good standard. We thoroughly enjoyed our Scottish holiday, and many thanks to Christoph for his assistance.

1000+ 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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