This 10 day holiday is designed to give first time visitors a good introduction to the contrasts of Scotland. It starts in Edinburgh then takes you to the heart of the Highlands, then on to a beautiful sea loch on the stunning west coast, and finishes in a romantic glen.

Day One - Edinburgh

Your holiday starts in Edinburgh, Scotland's capital and one of the top city holiday destinations in the world. Visitors from all over the world are drawn here by the wealth of historic sites, galleries and museums, shops, restaurants and bars - not to mention the spectacular sight of Princes Street and the castle rock. Yet it's still perfectly possible to avoid most of the crowds and find quiet cobbled streets, peaceful cafes and bars and, above all, to enjoy this most scenic of British cities. This is also our home city so we are ideally placed to give you plenty of suggestions, including the more off the beaten track ideas only a local would know.

Your accommodation

For visitors to the capital seeking both contemporary style and value for money, this unique aparthotel combines the comfort and service of a top-quality hotel with the additional space and facilities you would expect from good self-catering accommodation. Each apartment offers two bedrooms, two bathrooms, lounge, dining area and fully-equipped modern kitchen, complete with microwave, washer/dryer and dishwasher. Secure underground parking is also available for a small extra charge.

The location is another bonus: just off Edinburgh's Royal Mile, you can head up the hill to the castle, or down to Holyrood Palace and the new Scottish Parliament, less than five minutes' walk. Just beyond this is the extraordinary wilderness of Holyrood Park - where you can escape the city completely - and Arthur's Seat, whose easily attained summit affords superb panoramic views of the cityscape.

Day Three - Speyside

Today you head north over the spectacular Forth Road Bridge, through Perthshire and across the Highlands to Speyside, famous for its whisky, castles, rivers and glens. This memorable drive incorporates many potential stopping off points, including Blair Castle and the Highland Wildlife Park at Kingussie, before reaching your next destination.

Your Hotel

Your elegant Georgian hotel is the perfect place to unwind in traditional highland surroundings, offering a warm welcome and a touch of style in the centre of an attractive Speyside village. Close to several distilleries on the famous Whisky Trail, it offers a fine selection of single malts, which you can sample as you relax in front of the sitting room's crackling log fire, perhaps with a good book. The friendly bistro offers a daily changing menu featuring local meat and game plus a variety of seafood. The chef combines these and other fine ingredients with fresh herbs and fruit from his adjacent walled garden, which you are welcome to take a stroll around as you plan the following day's activities.

Besides being close to the sunny Moray Coast, your hotel is within 45 minutes' drive of both Culloden and the challenging Nevis Range. There is no shortage of other options too - with excellent salmon fishing on the Spey, 15 nearby golf courses, walking on the Speyside Way and numerous places of historic interest, from Pluscarden Abbey to romantic Cawdor Castle.

Day Five - West Highlands

Today's classic route will take you along the shores of Loch Ness (possibly stopping off at famous Urquhart Castle or even the Loch Ness Monster Centre at Drumnadrochit - do bring your sense of humour) and down the Great Glen, before arriving at the beautiful Argyll coast and your next destination.

Your Hotel

Originally the home of Loch Linnhe's Pier Master, this historic restaurant, with its adjacent modern residence, really is a special place to contemplate the dramatic beauty of the west coast. The views are stunning and the once prolific steam traffic has given way to the blissful sound of silence. Mouth-watering langoustines and lobster are kept fresh off the end of the pier, before being served to you by candlelight in the cosy conviviality of one of Argyll's finest restaurants. As you contemplate the sunset over the distant Morvern hills, you may be lucky enough to glimpse otters and seals.

The local ferryman might tempt you to board the morning boat to Lismore - an island well worth a day's exploration either on foot or bike (available for hire locally). Also nearby, Castle Stalker, ancient seat of the Stuarts, stands at the mouth of Loch Laich, whilst Oban is just half an hour away by car for ferries to Mull, Kerrera and other islands.

Day Eight - Southern Highlands

Today your scenic route passes Loch Etive and Loch Awe, before reaching your next base in the Trossachs, the Scottish Lakeland.

Your Hotel

Framed by magnificent Trossachs scenery, this wonderfully romantic retreat is run by a hospitable farming family who have created a gastronomic masterpiece in the heart of Rob Roy's glen. Your destination is a welcoming 18th century farmhouse, whose cosy interiors cleverly contrast traditional log fires and antiques with contemporary furnishings and modern works of art. Cooking is Tom's passion ' his menu changes daily depending on what he can source directly (his Scrabster squid is sublime!) and he's entirely self-taught - look out for the shelves lined with cookbooks in the conservatory restaurant. With magnificent views over Loch Voil and Loch Doine, this is the perfect place to soak up the peace and tranquillity of a sprawling highland estate, where red deer and grouse roam through dramatic walking country and red squirrels scurry across your path before darting back into the undergrowth.

 

The hotel is well located for great drives throughout the Trossachs as well as along Loch Tay, and around Ben Lawers, Scotland's tenth highest mountain. Besides boasting many scenic roads, this is great walking country, with several starting from the hotel itself, and is famous for its connections with Rob Roy MacGregor, the outlaw - his grave is in Balquhidder churchyard. A little further afield, you can explore Stirling and its dramatic Castle and old centre; or take a boat trip on the beautiful Lake of Menteith (the only "lake" in Scotland!) and visit the island of Inchmahome Priory, once a hiding place for the young Mary Queen of Scots.

Day Ten

Return Home

Prices for the above holiday start from £629 per person for departures in February, March & October 2008, £659 per person for April & May, £679 for June , July & September and £729 per person for departures in August 2008. These are based on two people sharing a room for nine nights, with seven nights on a bed & breakfast basis and two in an aparthotel in Edinburgh where breakfast supplies are included.

All our touring holidays include a map of Scotland with recommended routes from your specified starting point, suggestions on places to see and visit depending on your personal interests and our expertise to help you get the most from your holiday.

All itineraries and room types are presented subject to availability at specific hotels.

The McKinlay Kidd Guarantee

All our holiday prices include a service charge of £7 per person per night towards the costs we incur in researching, planning and designing your holiday. We guarantee to refund this service charge if you believe that arranging your holiday through McKinlay Kidd has not met your expectations for value.

All we ask is that you write to us within 7 days of your return and explain your reason for claiming the refund. This will ensure that we can improve the experience for all our future guests.