7 Day Scotland Private Tour
Edinburgh, Stirling, Glencoe, Isle of Skye, Loch Ness, Speyside whisky, and the Cairngorms. A private week-long journey through the best of Scotland with a dedicated Highland driver-guide.
Duration
7 days / 6 nights
Overnight stops
Edinburgh, Fort William / Lochaber, Isle of Skye (2 nights), Inverness (2 nights)
Group size
Up to 7 guests
Pickup
Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Aberdeen – or any Scottish hotel, airport, or port
Style
Private, flexible, story-led
The definitive Scotland tour
Seven days is the ideal length for a first visit to Scotland. It covers the major Highlands, the Isle of Skye, Loch Ness, whisky country, and Edinburgh at a pace that lets you actually enjoy each place. No rushing. No coach crowds. Just you, your group, and a driver-guide who knows these roads and stories intimately.
We pick up from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Inverness, Aberdeen, or anywhere in Scotland — airports, hotels, railway stations, or cruise ports. The route adjusts to your starting point. For a detailed day-by-day breakdown, see our 7-day Scotland itinerary guide.
Sample itinerary (Edinburgh start)
This is our most popular routing. Every detail is adjustable — we tailor around your interests, pace, and preferred hotels.
Day 1: Edinburgh
Arrive and explore Scotland’s capital. Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, Arthur’s Seat, the New Town. Optional afternoon city tour. Evening at leisure — Edinburgh’s dining scene is outstanding.
Day 2: Edinburgh → Stirling → Glencoe → Fort William
Stirling Castle, then north through the Trossachs and Loch Lomond. Lunch stop en route. Afternoon in Glencoe — the most dramatic valley in Scotland. Overnight in Fort William or Lochaber.
Day 3: Fort William → Glenfinnan → Isle of Skye
Glenfinnan Viaduct (Jacobite Steam Train crossing, seasonal). Road to the Isles via Arisaig. Eilean Donan Castle. Cross to Skye. Evening in Portree or south Skye.
Day 4: Full day on the Isle of Skye
Trotternish Peninsula — Old Man of Storr, Quiraing, Kilt Rock. Dunvegan Castle. Fairy Pools. Neist Point (weather permitting). Second night on Skye for a relaxed pace.
Day 5: Skye → Loch Ness → Inverness
East through Glen Shiel. Urquhart Castle and Loch Ness boat cruise. Falls of Foyers. Arrive Inverness — riverside walk and dinner in the Highland capital.
Day 6: Speyside whisky or Culloden & castles
Option A: Speyside — Macallan, Glenfiddich, Aberlour. Tastings at every stop. Option B: Culloden Battlefield, Clava Cairns, Cawdor Castle, Dunrobin Castle. Second night in Inverness.
Day 7: Cairngorms → Perthshire → Edinburgh or Glasgow
South through the Cairngorms National Park. Dalwhinnie Distillery or Blair Castle. Through Perthshire to Edinburgh, Glasgow, or your airport. Drop-off by late afternoon.
Starting from Glasgow? Day 2 goes via Loch Lomond and Glencoe. Starting from Inverness? We reverse the route. Every itinerary is tailored.
Tour highlights
- Edinburgh Castle and the Old Town
- Stirling Castle
- Glencoe and the Three Sisters
- Glenfinnan Viaduct
- Eilean Donan Castle
- Isle of Skye – Trotternish, Dunvegan, Fairy Pools
- Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle
- Falls of Foyers
- Speyside whisky distilleries
- Culloden Battlefield
- Cairngorms National Park
- Blair Castle or Dalwhinnie Distillery
What’s included
- Luxury Mercedes V-Class for the full 7 days
- Dedicated professional Highland driver-guide
- Full itinerary planning and route management
- Door-to-door pickup and drop-off
- Bottled water, phone chargers, and comfort stops
- Support with accommodation and restaurant recommendations
Accommodation, meals, and attraction entry are not included, giving you flexibility. We advise on all of these and can help with booking.
Who this tour is for
- First-time visitors wanting the definitive Scotland experience
- Couples looking for a relaxed, private journey with no driving stress
- Families wanting Highland adventure with comfortable pacing
- Small groups of friends celebrating a milestone trip
- Travellers who want to enjoy whisky tastings without worrying about driving
Optional add-ons and extensions
Seven days is a framework. We regularly adapt the route or extend it:
- Golf day at Royal Dornoch, Castle Stuart, or Nairn
- Dunrobin Castle and the east coast
- Boat cruise on Loch Ness
- NC500 extension (add 2–3 days)
- Orkney extension (add 2 days)
- Islay whisky detour (add 2–3 days)
- Outlander filming locations
- Highland Games or festival attendance (seasonal)
See our NC500 private tours, Orkney tours, and Islay whisky tours for extension ideas.
Pickup from anywhere in Scotland
We collect you from wherever you are. The most common starting points:
Edinburgh
Airport, Waverley Station, or any hotel. The route heads north via Stirling and Glencoe.
Glasgow
Airport, Central Station, or hotel. Day 1 goes via Loch Lomond and the Trossachs.
Inverness
Airport, railway station, or hotel. We reverse the route — Loch Ness and Skye first, Edinburgh last.
Aberdeen
Airport, heliport, or hotel. Route starts via Royal Deeside and the Cairngorms.
We also pick up from cruise ship ports ( Invergordon, South Queensferry, Greenock) and estates or country houses anywhere in Scotland.
Bespoke private tours
Bespoke private tours
Every Venture Highland tour can be tailored. We can adjust timings, add stops, and build a completely bespoke itinerary to suit your interests, pace, and travel plans. If you have a wish list, we will design the day around it.
Plan your 7-day Scotland tour
Tell us your dates, group size, starting city, and what matters most to you. We’ll design a bespoke 7-day route with the right highlights, overnight stops, and pacing. Get started now.
Frequently asked questions
Can we start from Glasgow instead of Edinburgh?
Absolutely. We regularly start from Glasgow. Day 1 heads north via Loch Lomond and the Trossachs instead of Stirling, then joins the same route from Day 2. We also pick up from Glasgow Airport, Glasgow Central, or any city hotel.
Can we start from Inverness or Aberdeen?
Yes. From Inverness, we reverse the route – starting with Loch Ness and Skye, then heading south through Glencoe to Edinburgh or Glasgow. From Aberdeen, we collect you and drive to your first overnight via Royal Deeside or the Cairngorms.
How much does a 7-day private tour cost?
A 7-day private tour with a dedicated driver-guide and luxury Mercedes V-Class typically starts from around £3,500–£5,000 depending on season, group size, and routing. This covers the vehicle, driver, fuel, parking, and local expertise. Accommodation, meals, and attraction entry are separate.
Do you book the accommodation?
We advise on hotels, country houses, and B&Bs across every overnight location. We know the properties personally – from luxury options like Inverlochy Castle and The Torridon to excellent local B&Bs. We can help with booking or leave it to you.
Can you customise the route?
Completely. This is a sample itinerary to show pacing and geography. We tailor every tour: add golf, swap Speyside for Islay, include the NC500, spend longer on Skye, or slow down anywhere that interests you. Tell us what matters and we build around it.
Is 7 days enough for Scotland?
Seven days is the ideal length for a first visit. It covers Edinburgh, the central Highlands, Isle of Skye, Loch Ness, and whisky country at a pace that feels comfortable rather than rushed. If you have longer, we can extend into the NC500, Orkney, or the Outer Hebrides.
What about meals and attraction entry?
Meals and attraction entry are not included in the tour price, giving you flexibility. We recommend restaurants and can arrange bookings. Typical attraction costs: Edinburgh Castle £19.50, Urquhart Castle £14, Stirling Castle £18.50, Dunvegan Castle £16 (2026 adult prices).
Can you add airport transfers at the start and end?
The tour includes door-to-door pickup and drop-off. We collect you from Edinburgh Airport, Glasgow Airport, Inverness Airport, or any Scottish location on Day 1, and drop you wherever you need on Day 7 – airport, hotel, railway station, or cruise port.
