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Hopscotch – Whisky and Craft Beer of Scotland
From the rocky highlands, windswept islands, and lonely glens to the blackened stone of old city walls, and weather that can show all four seasons in a single day, Scotland is a country that breathes a challenge for people to rise above whatever stands in their way. At times, Scotland only seems once removed from the mystical fingers of its ancient past, while at others it beams the warm light of faith, goodwill, and the tender hearts of its people. There is truly no place like Caledonia!
Our whisky and beer tour begins in Edinburgh and touches the most beloved parts of Scotland. As we visit castles, battlefields, distilleries, and breweries we’ll sample many delicious drams and pints, and enjoy mouth-watering local cuisine. From Edinburgh we travel north through the Highlands, along the whisky trail, enjoying the old cities of Inverness and Aberdeen. We head through the rugged Cairngorms National Park to the lovely town of Pitlochry. After an evening enjoying small town hospitality we head west to the metropolitan city of Glasgow, the largest and liveliest city in Scotland. Finally on to our final night in beautiful Edinburgh to bring us full circle. It’s a beautiful country, and a beautiful trip – but it’s not only Scotch and Scottish beer, there is plenty of art, architecture, history, and culture thrown into the mix. With our tour director taking care of the details, our private coach acting as full-time designated driver, and plenty of free time built in for your own explorations, this really is the best way to see Scotland!
CITIES & TOWNS
- Edinburgh
- Stirling
- Glasgow
- Aberdeen
- Footdee
- Stonehaven
- Dufftown
- Inverness
- Pitlochry
HIGHLIGHTS -History, Art, and Architecture
- The Royal Mile
- Edinburgh Castle
- Calton Hill
- National Wallace Monument
- Doune Castle
- Footdee Village
- Cairngorms National Park
- Dunnotar Castle
- Scottish Highlands
- Arthur’s Seat
- The Kelpies
- Blair Castle
- Old Town Aberdeen
HIGHLIGHTS – Food and Drink
- Edinburgh Scotch Whisky Experience
- Traditional Scottish Haggis Dinner
- Glenlivet Distillery
- Fierce Brewing
- Drygate Brewing
- Glenturret Distillery (The Famous Grouse)
- Gourmet Scottish Seafood Dinner
- Brewdog Brewery
- Cragganmore Distillery
- Glenfiddich Distillery
- Macallan Distillery
- Glenfarclas Distillery
- Moulin Brewery
- Pitlochry Steakhouse
- Blair Athol Distillery
Some testimonials from Scotland Tour Director James Johnson’s recent travellers:
“You made my first trip oversea so nice and unforgettable. You have a nice sense of humour, and you are so generous in your explanations. I love Scotland thanks to you.” – Johanne, St. George de Champlain, Quebec, Canada
“Thank you so much for offering this wonderful opportunity. I truly enjoyed this wonderful trip. Your good planning, your easygoing ways, your sense of humour, and your interest in our well-being made this long time dream a success. Thank you!” – Cindy, Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, Canada
“This was the best trip I have ever taken. It was better than I dreamed it would be. A Great Adventure of a Lifetime. Thank you, James.” – Kenneth, Denver, Colorado, USA
July 3 – 11, 2025
$4495
Per Person + Air Based on Double Occupancy
All prices in US dollars. Payment in other currencies possible – contact us.
Book Your Hopscotch Tour Now!
Day 1: Fàilte gu Alba! Welcome to Scotland!
We’ll meet at our centrally located hotel in Old Town Edinburgh in the early afternoon and we are going to hit the ground running! We are going to do the important first visit – we’ll storm the Castle that sits proudly keeping watch over the city. After a visit that includes a visit to the Crown Jewels of Scotland, and an overview of this beautiful city, we’ll head to the Royal Scotch Whisky Experience for an educational introduction to Scotch whisky and some delicious tastings. This evening we will enjoy a welcome to Scotland dinner at an Old Town gastropub.
Sleep in Edinburgh / Walking: Light
Meals provided: Dinner
Day 2: Exploring Auld Reekie
We wake up to enjoy our first full-Scottish breakfast at the hotel. After this, we will get our bearing and exercise on a morning walking tour of Calton Hill, the Georgian New Town, ending with a well-deserved drink in one of the historic pubs on the Royal Mile. From here the group will be free to enjoy the rest of the day exploring this lovely city. Anyone who might prefer an outdoor adventure can join me on a 45-minute gentle hike up the gorgeous background ‘mountain’ called Arthur’s Seat where any partakers will enjoy panoramic views of Edinburgh and the Firth of Forth. The afternoon and evening are free for the guests to enjoy the sights and sounds of this beautiful city, at their leisure.
Sleep in Edinburgh / Walking: Moderate
Meals provided: Breakfast
Day 3: The Malt Whisky Trail
Today we say goodbye to Edinburgh and drive north to begin our pilgrimage to Scotland’s Malt Whisky trail. After a scenic drive we will arrive at the iconic Glenlivet distillery, where we will enjoy a guided tasting and lunch at their lovely café. After lunch we will drive the short drive to the Macallan Estate for a tour and tasting that will finish at the Macallan Bar. After our visit, we head towards Inverness where we will enjoy some Scottish craft beer and time together at our group dinner.
Sleep in Inverness / Bus: 5.5 hours / Walking: Light
Meals provided: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 4: Speyside to Aberdeen
Today we are Speyside bound, meandering along the Whisky Trail. Our first visit of this busy day will be to the but beautiful Glenfiddich Distillery, founded in1886, and still family-owned. Here tour members will enjoy a tour and tasting to get the morning started right! From here we will head to lunch at lovely local restaurant, then we’ll head to a tasting at the Glenfarclas Distillery. Our final distillery visit of the day will be to the small but friendly Cragganmore Distillery. Though the distillery is small, the Cragganmore single malt is highly regarded and sought after for its complex aroma and distinguished flavour. After our visit we continue to Aberdeen, also known as the Granite City for its many Victorian era granite buildings that glimmer brightly in the morning sun. Our dinner will be at an Aberdeen seafood restaurant that specializes in locally sourced delicacies, which could include a bowl of mouth-watering Cullen Skink, a bucket of Scottish mussels, or a perfectly prepared salmon entree.
Sleep in Aberdeen / Bus: 4 hours / Walking: Light
Meals provided: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 5: The Way of the Sea
Today we switch things up a little. Trading the remote distillery locations for a day in the city, we embark on a guided tour of Old Town Aberdeen, the old fishing village of Footdee (“Fittie”) at the east end of the harbour, and a walk through the city centre. We will have lunch at Aberdeen’s own Brewdog Brewery, the most acclaimed of all the Scottish craft breweries. After lunch guests will have the choice of a free afternoon or a visit to the amazing Dunnotar Castle, perched on the cliff, near the lovely seaside village of Stonehaven. Following our visit to the castle, we return for a free evening and a second night in our Aberdeen hotel.
Sleep in Aberdeen / Bus 1.5 hours / Walking: Moderate
Meals provided: Breakfast, Lunch
Day 6: In the Heart of the Highlands
This relaxed day begins with the group heading south through the beautiful but rugged Cairngorms National Park. Our first visit of the day is to Blair Castle, home of the only private army in Europe, the Atholl Highlanders. Following our visit, we head to lunch & local beer at Pitlochry’s tiny Moulin brewery. From here, we drive to our afternoon appointment at nearby Blair Athol Distillery. After a grand afternoon sipping Blair Athol’s whisky we will check in at our hotel in Pitlochry, the heart of small-town Scotland. Guests can either explore this quaint village on their own or relax at the hotel before our group dinner at a restaurant specializing in local cuisine.
Sleep in Pitlochry / Bus: 2.5 hours / Walking: Light
Meals provided: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 7: The Knights who say “Ni!”
We leave Pitlochry for a morning tour at Scotland’s oldest distillery, the Glen Turret single malt distillery, home to an elegant tasting room, unique whiskies, and the charm of a traditional small production facility. We will enjoy lunch here then head to Doune Castle, built in the 14th century and home to one of the best-preserved medieval great halls in all of Scotland. Doune is also the primary filming location of Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Guests familiar with the movie may find themselves throwing a few French-accented taunts from the ramparts or kicking up their heels in a Spam-a-lot rendition. After Doune, we will certainly be feeling thirsty, so we will drive to Glasgow for a pint or a tasting flight at one of the cutting-edge breweries of Glasgow’s active beer scene, Drygate Brewing. Soon after this, we will check into our hotel in downtown Glasgow. Guests will have the evening to enjoy Glasgow’s restaurants, friendly streets and lively nightlife.
Sleep in Glasgow/ Bus: 3 hours / Walking: Light
Meals provided: Breakfast
Day 8: Freedom!
In the morning we travel east towards the historic city of Stirling. As the strategic crossroads of Scotland, Stirling was the center of several of the most memorable battles in Scotland’s Wars of Independence with England. Our visit will to the National Wallace Monument, which along with its fantastic views, also houses the great sword of The Guardian of Scotland himself, William Wallace. From here we set our sights once again on Edinburgh. On the way, we will stop at the grand equestrian roadside attraction called the Kelpies. After we fill our camera with photos of this amazing structure we will soon enter Edinburgh. The afternoon is a perfect opportunity to complete shopping for souvenirs and to enjoy the sights of Edinburgh. In the evening we will gather one last time over a final group dinner to celebrate our journey through the very best of Scotland!
Sleep in Edinburgh / Bus: 2 hours / Walking: Moderate
Meals provided: Breakfast, Dinner
Day 9: Lang May Yer Lum Reek!
Today we awake to their final full-Scottish breakfast. We say our goodbyes and hit the road. Heading home? The airport is easy to reach by local transit (tram line directly to the airport is right outside the hotel front door) or cab. Sticking around for more adventures? Your tour director will be happy to give you some advice! As the Scots say, “Lang May Yer Lum Reek!”
Meals provided: Breakfast
The Fine Print – What You Get:
Not so much fine print: We believe in up front pricing, not a hard-to-read long list of extra costs.
Group Size: We run small group tours, less than half the size of a normal big bus tour. Our average group size is 14-18 travellers, plus a tour director and a driver.
Transportation: Most transportation is in a private chartered coach. Lots of free space on the bus to stretch out and relax! Transportation to and from airport is your responsibility. Edinburgh is well served by train connections and has a major airport.
Activity level: This tour is suitable to people with a basic fitness level. You will need to carry your own bags, climb hotel stairs, and keep a leisurely to moderate pace on city walking tours. This trip is suitable for adults. It is not suitable for young children.
Accommodations: We choose generally smaller, family-run hotels, in the 3-4 star category, that are close to the action, rather than large impersonal hotels in some industrial park outside of town. All rooms have private ensuite bathrooms with shower or bathtub. Most rooms are doubles.
- Solo travelers: You may choose to pay extra for one of the limited number of single private rooms, or you can room with another solo traveler in the group of the same gender and skip the extra fee. See the registration form for specific prices.
- Couples: Couples will usually share a room with one double or queen bed (large King beds are not common in Europe).
- Two friends traveling together: Two friends or siblings traveling together will be roomed together with two beds in a twin room. Note: some European twin beds share one headboard but they will always have separate sheets.
- Triple room: A typical triple room will be one double bed and one single bed.
Sightseeing tours and attractions: This is the main reason you are in Scotland, and we understand this! Led by your tour director, and local guides when appropriate. Entrance fees to all attractions are included. Most tour companies sell many of their attractions as expensive “optional excursions” which add up really quickly. Not us.
Meals: Breakfasts are always included. Note that because we stay in characteristic Scottish hotels, breakfasts will reflect local preferences . Many lunches/dinners are on us – the rest are up to you. See itinerary for breakdown.
Gratuities: Unlike most tour companies who ask you to pay a “mandatory” tip to the driver and guide, with us tipping is not required.