London and Scotland make two trips in one: a great capital first, then Scotland’s cities and wild country. There are palaces, museums and theaters to fill the London days, with some of the world’s best dining and shopping in between. Then the train carries you north through the English countryside to Edinburgh, a city of cobbled lanes and a castle perched on an ancient volcanic rock.
From Edinburgh, the Highlands open up: mirror-still lochs, heather-covered glens, island ferries and castles such as Urquhart on the shore of Loch Ness. With a driver-guide who knows the single-track roads and the stories behind the glens, nobody in your group has to spend the day watching the road.
For families, the draw is the royal history, the film locations and the time outdoors; for couples, it’s the whisky, the scenery and the quiet country-house hotels.
