Tours and Sightseeing Recommendations by Area
Arranging a tour to leave from the wedding venue has proven to be impossible. Below you will see specific recommendations by area. Bold text indicates links for you.
Area 1 includes Edinburgh, where most of you will fly in and out.
Area 2 Includes Aberdeen and the surrounding area, where the wedding will take place.
Area 3 includes the mainland highlands and lochs, specifically the area between Inverness and Fort William.
Area 4 includes the Isle of Skye and the Hebrides. These are islands are beautiful destinations for tours and extended trips. Skye is our favorite!
1. Edinburgh Area
There are many free and cheap day tours to explore this historic and beautiful city, the “Athens of the North”
Tour companies leave from here, including Rabbies, the tour company we used to visit Skye.
The Military Tattoo happens every night at Edinburgh Castle. Both tattoo and castle are very impressive, and I recommend looking at skip the line tickets for both through a tour company or TripAdvisor.
Day-trips from Edinburgh may include historic Stirling Castle, and the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. Also, Glasgow.
2. Aberdeen / Cairngorms
The wedding area is near the city of Aberdeen, Cairngorms National Park, and Speyside Whiskey Trail. There are beautiful views on the train from Edinburgh.
Castles: Dunottar (pictured left), and Balmoral (The Queen’s Scotland Residence).
In Cairngorms: Hiking, Braemar Castle, Loch Avon, Green Loch, Reindeer.
A Speyside Whiskey Tour should also include views of the Cairngorms and possibly some castles.
Short on time? We will be right near Stonehaven, a historic town and local favorite with beautiful architecture (clocktower and church). Aberdeen proper is also historic and fun to do some walking tours in, but only requires one day.
3. Inverness and Lochs
Pictured left: Eilean Donan Castle. There are day tours that leave from Inverness. Inverness is also a good jumping off point for all different parts of the Highlands, including Skye. (See link for some tours).
There are also Rabbie’s Tours that leave from Inverness.
Recommended highlights: Culloden Battlefield, Glencoe, Fort William, For Augustus, Loch Ness, Loch Linnhe, Loch Lochy (That’s right), Loch Lomond and the Trossachs.
4. Skye and Hebrides
Natural Beauty, Isolation, Booze.
Plan ahead for a tour at least 2 months.
There are several tours that leave from Inverness and Edinburgh that will go to Skye and Hebrides. This will probably require three days, and hit many other attractions in the highlands along the way.
The island of Islay is famous for its whiskey (or scotch) such as Lagavulin, Ardbeg and Laphroig. Varun and I are considering a trip to the Isle of Mull.
This picture is from the Quiraing— our favorite destination in Scotland.