The Heart of Scotland Experience

Discover the essence of Scottish culture and history

The Heart of Scotland is a special seven-night Experience, offered for the first time in 2027, after two years of extensive research and development. Our group will be based in the picturesque town of Pitlochry, in the historic county of Perthshire.

This Experience is a deep dive into the “Heart of Scotland,” so called because it is home to some of the most important sites related to Scottish national identity and the formation of Scotland. In the spirit of capturing the cultural and historical essence of Scotland, this trip is designed to immerse our travelers in so much of what makes Scotland what it is: whisky distilling; lochs and glens; welcoming Scots; haggis and smokies; bagpipes and their stirring music; lovely villages; ruined castles and wonderfully-preserved palaces; breathtaking views; Highland Games and more.

We hope that by the end of the trip you will understand the “sense” of Scotland, Scottish heritage, and how the geology of Scotland has formed both its landscape and history. And most of all, just how incredible this nation and its people are.

The beautiful Victorian town of Pitlochry is more than just an ideal base for exploring the culture and history of Scotland. As the “gateway to the Highlands,” it is located on the River Tummel and in the foothills of the Highlands, a perfect location for enjoying all this spectacular environment has to offer, from kayaking on lochs to varying levels of hillwalks. When the trip is offered in August, we will see the beautiful purple heather that blankets the landscape! And like any fine Scottish town, Pitlochry is home to a distillery, independent shops, and plenty of great dining options.

Important Information

Location: Pitlochry (7 nights)

Meeting and drop-off: Pitlochry Train Station. Meeting at 3:30pm on the first day, and drop off by 9:30am on the last day. Pitlochry has direct train access to Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Inverness, as well as London Euston on the Caledonian Sleeper.

Physical requirements: This Experience involves a good amount of daily walking. To fully enjoy this seven-night trip, you need to plan to walk at least 2 miles in the course of a day, sometimes on small hills and on uneven surfaces like cobblestones, gravel, and grassy (and possibly muddy) fields.

Leaders:  Kelly Wood and Kristin Meador

Price: $5,350 USD per person, double occupancy; $5,850 USD single occupancy of a double room

Planned Experiences

• A walking tour to introduce you to our home base, with additional time to explore its shops, cafés, nearby walks, and the River Tummel
• Visits to several castles, palaces, and other sites that have witnessed some of the most important moments in Scottish history, including Stirling Castle, Scone Palace, and the Battle of Bannockburn
• Exploring a quintessential Scottish loch (lake) by boat or kayak
• A guided Land Rover experience into the mountains above a loch to take in the stunning scenery, learn about local nature, culture, and history, and stop at a traditional bothy for shortbread and a wee dram of whisky
• Learning the art of bagpipe manufacturing at the last independent bagpipe workshop in Scotland
• Guided visits and tastings at two distilleries, including Arbikie Distillery, recognized in 2025 as the Best Single Estate (field to bottle) whisky in the world and in 2026 as Scotland’s Sustainable Distillery of the year
• A visit to the Scottish Crannog Centre to discover the Iron Age history of the region, most notably “crannogs” (loch dwellings) dating as far back as 400 BC
• Exploring charming small villages, including one of the filming locations for the TV series Outlander
• An introduction to Scottish farming, local food production, and agricultural lifestyles at a working farm
• An afternoon in the coastal town of Arbroath, with its historic abbey, pleasant harbor, fascinating Signal Tower Museum, and views of the North Sea
• An unforgettable crafting session with local artisans that you’ll leave with your own one-of-a-kind souvenir
• Memorable meals featuring local specialties, including a private dining experience at an award-winning restaurant

*Most activities take place rain or shine. Our schedule and experiences are subject to change depending on weather and other elements out of our control.