Taste of Scotland — Self-Launched (6 Days)
6 days · Scotland
CIE Tours charges £2,600
No-markup version: ~£370 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched, budget-savvy version of CIE Tours' 6-day "Taste of Scotland" coach tour: Glasgow's museums and squares, a Highlands loop past Loch Lomond, Rannoch Moor, Glencoe and a Loch Ness cruise from Fort Augustus, whisky at a Highland distillery, a stop in St Andrews, and three nights in Edinburgh with the Castle, Royal Mile and a hop-on hop-off bus. Instead of a 44-seat coach and 4* hotels, you'll use Scottish Citylink coaches, the ScotRail network and local day tours, staying in hostels and budget guesthouses. Costs are approximate and assume mid-range season, shared dorm or simple double room, and self-catering where possible.
Day-by-day
Glasgow: George Square, Kelvingrove & the West End
Glasgow
Arrive in Glasgow (train from Edinburgh Waverley ~£15, or direct buses from the airport). Check into a city-centre hostel around Merchant City or Cowcaddens, then do the original panoramic tour on foot for free: George Square and the City Chambers, Buchanan Street, and a wander through the Merchant City. In the afternoon walk (or take the 2/3 bus, £2.20 flat fare) to Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum — free entry, and don't miss the Dali and the Spitfire hanging in the hall. Finish with a pint in the West End's Ashton Lane instead of the tour's welcome dinner at the hotel; a cheap pub supper of pie and chips is around £12.
🚌Train or bus from arrival point; walk and local bus (£2.20 flat single)
🛏Hostel dorm or budget guesthouse, Glasgow city centre (£18–25)
- →Self-guided walk of George Square & City Chambers
- →Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum (free)
- →West End / Ashton Lane evening
Highlands day trip: Loch Lomond, Rannoch Moor, Glencoe & Loch Ness
Glasgow → Glencoe → Loch Ness → Inverness/Nairn
Book a small-group Highlands day tour from Glasgow (GetYourGuide/Timberbush/Rabbie's, £45–60) that covers the coach route: north along the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond, across Rannoch Moor, through Glencoe, and on to Fort Augustus for a Loch Ness cruise (~£16–20, bookable on the day with Cruise Loch Ness or Jacobite). If you'd rather do it independently, take the ScotRail West Highland Line from Glasgow Queen Street to Fort William (~£30 advance, 3h45 — one of the world's great train rides past Loch Lomond and Rannoch Moor), then the Citylink bus up the Great Glen to Inverness (~£15). Overnight in Inverness rather than Nairn — a hostel dorm is £20–28 and you're right by the bus station for tomorrow.
🚌Small-group day tour coach, or ScotRail West Highland Line + Citylink bus
🛏Hostel dorm, Inverness (£20–28)
- →Loch Lomond scenic drive
- →Rannoch Moor & Glencoe viewpoints
- →Loch Ness cruise from Fort Augustus
- →Optional: Culloden Battlefield (skip the coach's drive-by — NTS entry £16, or walk the free moorland trail)
Whisky country & St Andrews, then Edinburgh
Inverness → Blair Athol / Pitlochry → St Andrews → Edinburgh
Take the morning Citylink/rail south down the A9 to Pitlochry (~£15, 2h). Blair Athol Distillery sits right at the edge of town — book the £16–20 tour and tasting direct on their website (the coach tour's included distillery stop). Have lunch in Pitlochry, then head to St Andrews: Citylink bus via Perth or Dundee, roughly £12–18 and 2h. Wander the Old Course, the ruined cathedral and the university streets yourself — no guide needed, and it's all free to walk. Late afternoon continue to Edinburgh by bus or train (~£12–15, 1h30), checking into a hostel in the Old Town or Tollcross. This route is long; if you want an easier day, skip St Andrews and go Inverness–Edinburgh direct (~£20, 3h30), saving St Andrews for a separate day trip later.
🚌Citylink bus/rail Inverness–Pitlochry; bus Pitlochry–St Andrews; bus/train St Andrews–Edinburgh
🛏Hostel dorm, Edinburgh Old Town (£22–32)
- →Blair Athol Distillery tour & tasting (book ahead, ~£18)
- →Pitlochry & the Tummel Valley
- →Self-guided walk of St Andrews: Old Course, cathedral ruins, West Sands beach
Edinburgh: Royal Mile, Castle & a Scottish evening
Edinburgh
Start with a free self-guided loop: Princes Street Gardens with the castle views, then up the Royal Mile through the New Town and Old Town closes. Pre-book Edinburgh Castle tickets online (£19.50–21) — this covers the Crown Jewels and Mons Meg that the coach tour includes. Skip the £70+ 'Scottish evening' dinner show and instead book a cheaper ceilidh night at a local venue (e.g. a £10–15 ceilidh at a pub or the free-to-enter folk session at Sandy Bell's). Alternatively, if you're travelling in August, the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is worth the splurge — tickets from ~£35–50 and sell out months ahead.
🚌Walk everywhere in the centre
🛏Hostel dorm, Edinburgh (£22–32)
- →Edinburgh Castle & Scottish Crown Jewels (pre-book online)
- →Royal Mile & Old Town closes walk
- →Princes Street & New Town
- →Evening: pub ceilidh or folk session, or Military Tattoo in August
Edinburgh at your own pace — Arthur's Seat or a day trip
Edinburgh
Use the hop-on hop-off bus (£12–16 for 24h, or just walk/Lothian buses at £2 flat) to hit anything you missed: Holyrood Palace, the National Museum of Scotland (free), Dean Village and the Water of Leith. The best free activity in the city is the hike up Arthur's Seat in Holyrood Park — 45 minutes up, huge views, no ticket. If you have the energy, a half-day trip to Rosslyn Chapel (£9 entry, bus 37) or a train to North Berwick for the coast (~£7 return) is easy. Self-cater dinner or grab a £10–12 pub meal on Rose Street.
🚌Lothian buses (£2 flat single) or HOHO bus £12–16
🛏Hostel dorm, Edinburgh (£22–32)
- →Arthur's Seat hike (free)
- →National Museum of Scotland (free)
- →Holyrood Palace & Dean Village walk
- →Optional day trip: Rosslyn Chapel or North Berwick
Departure
Edinburgh
Breakfast at the hostel, a last walk down the Royal Mile, and off to Edinburgh Waverley, the airport tram (£7.50) or your onward connection. If your flight is late, the Scottish National Gallery and the free Surgeons' Hall walking route around the Old Town are good time-fillers. Note the 6-day coach tour is really 5 nights of touring plus a transfer day, so this DIY version gives you the same stops with more flexibility — and the option to add a night if you fall in love with Edinburgh.
🚌Tram to Edinburgh Airport £7.50, or rail from Waverley
🛏—
- →Last wander on the Royal Mile
- →Scottish National Gallery (free)
Self-launched vs. CIE Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | CIE Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£370 | £2,600 |
| Duration | 6 days | 6 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £2,230 per person (86%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more CIE Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£370
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Taste of Scotland — Self-Launched (6 Days) cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £370 per person for 6 days in Scotland. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with CIE Tours?+
Yes — CIE Tours charges around £2,600 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £370 — a saving of roughly £2,230 (86%) per person.
How long is the Scotland trip?+
This itinerary runs 6 days, covering 6 day-by-day stops through Scotland.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, hiking, foodie trip through Scotland, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
Drop your comment below — if you've done a similar route, tell us what worked, what you'd add, or what you'd skip.
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