• 25th May to 2nd June
• 11th to 19th October (Photographer onboard, Halloween)

Naomi, our local guide

Every day will be amazing!

• Day 1: Arrival and welcome dinner

• Day 2: Edinburgh food + history + women tour, Afternoon tea and Falconry

• Day 3: Roslyn Chapel, Mary King’s Close and Whisky tasting dinner

• Day 4: Kelpies, Stirling Castle and Glenturret Distillery

• Day 5: Highlands, Glenfinnan Aqueduct, ferry over to Skye, Sheepskin tannery

• Day 6: Old Man of Storr, Portree and Fairy Glen

• Day 7: Eilean Donan Castle, Loch Ness, Fort Augustus and The Great Glen Way

• Day 8: Inveraray Castle, Loch Lomond, 4×4 off-road adventure and Farewell dinner

• Day 9: Departure

Day 1 : Arrive in Edinburgh

We will start the trip at our castle accommodation with a special welcome drink with canapes at the castle lounge followed by dinner in the dungeons.

During your welcome briefing, you will get to know your travel mates for the week and learn more about the medieval castle we stay at during our time in Edinburgh.

Overnight at Dalhousie Castle 4*

Dalhousie Castle is a classic 12th century castle located outside Edinburgh that will be our home away from the city.

The castle has been perfectly preserved and never served as a defense fortification but was rather designed as a family home.

Each of the rooms are of different sizes, uniquely charming and distinctly decorated, as they were adapted from the castle structure.

They all feature thick velvet curtains, antique furniture, windows facing all four corners of the property and authentic thick carpets.

A stay at Dalhousie will give us an idea of what life in a Scottish castle was like, complete with narrow alleyways, staircases, hidden corridors and high ceilings. This will be an immersive historic castle experience, this is not a modern castle built specifically to be a hotel.

Inclusions: Welcome dinner with wine. Guests need to make their way to the hotel from the airport. Pick up can be organized via the hotel.

Day 2 : Edinburgh, Afternoon tea and Falconry Demo

Welcome to Edinburgh!

Today is a full day in the city on a historical tour with a focus on women’s history and the role they played in Scotland’s past.

Our local guide Naomi will take us on a half day exploration of passages, alleys and streets as we discover the city and region history.

We will start at Edinburgh Castle with a guided visit and free time to explore on your own, and end with afternoon tea at the city’s most glamorous location, the Balmoral Hotel Palm Court.

We will tie it all up with a visit to small, independent stores owned by women which you will have time to explore on your own during your free time.

Stories, legends and fairy tales will all be weaved through the explanations.

The morning with end at the Palm Court for a delicious and beautiful afternoon tea in this exquisite room, the most upscale afternoon tea experience in the city.

Enjoy scones with clotted cream, finger sandwiches and sweet treats under sparkling chandeliers.

In the afternoon, we will return to the castle for an extended falconry demonstration.

Dalhousie Falconry is a female owned family business with several birds of prey including owls, haws, buzzards, falcons, eagles, and ravens among other, several of whom have appeared in movie and TV productions such as Outlander.

Our experience will start with an introduction to the various birds followed by a demo which will show us how these animals are handled, how they hunt and how they fly.

We will get to hold eagles, buzzards and owls, depending on the day, as they show us their magnificent wing span.

You will have the evening free at the castle to go for a walk, relax, read and enjoy dinner at the bistro or room service, or return to the dungeons.

Overnight at Dalhousie Castle.

Inclusions: Breakfast at the hotel, guided tour of Edinburgh, tickets and guided visit of Edinburgh Castle, lunch, afternoon tea, falconry demo.

Day 3 : Roslyn Chapel, Mary King’s Close and Whisky tasting dinner

This morning, we will head out to nearby Roslyn Chapel before arriving into Edinburgh.

Roslyn Chapel is a 15th century chapel that we will visit on a guided tour and which has become famous for appearing in Dan Brown’s The Da Vinci Code.

This small but mighty chapel is intricately decorated leaving no empty space on walls, floors, pillars or ceiling, and full of metaphors, stories and allegories

We will arrive in Edinburgh around lunch time and you will have free time to find a snack and do some shopping or museum hoping before we meet in the afternoon for a guided private tour of Mary King’s Close.

Mary King’s Close is one of the many narrow alleys and mesh of underground streets where Edinburgh residents used to live 400 year ago.

During this private tour you will get to explore the labyrinthine passageways and rooms of its inhabitants and learn all about the plague and the living conditions of the locals during that infamous period.

The tour is fun and fascinating and provides a window into the part of the city that is hidden under the surface and behind glossy tourist stores.

We will continue our day with a night of folklore and Whisky led by Naomi at a local whisky lounge.

The experience is a multi-sensorial journey through the various Scottish whisky producing regions to learn the history of whisky, how whisky is made, how it all started and how the different regions taste.

We will taste several women owned or women led whiskeys from across Scotland and hear stories and folklore that tie whisky to Scotland and Scotland to whisky.

Our dinner will be served in the same location and will consist of farm to table dishes that feature the best of Scotland on a plate.

Overnight at Dalhousie Castle.

Inclusions: Breakfast at the hotel, Roslyn Chapel tickets and guided visit, transportation to and from the city, Mary King’s Close guided tour, whisky tasting experience and dinner.

Day 4 : Kelpies, Stirling Castle and Glenturret Distillery

We are leaving Edinburgh behind and heading to the Highlands today.

Our first stop will be at the Kelpies statues for a quick photo op and to check out these 30m horse-head sculptures depicting kelpies, a shape-shifting water creature that can appear on land as a horse.

We will continue towards Stirling Castle, one of the largest and most historically and architecturally important castles in Scotland and one that is exactly as you would imagine a fairytale medieval castle to be: on top of a hill and with expansive walls surrounding it.

The castle is on the natural border between the Lowlands and the Highlands and is a great symbol of Scottish independence.

Movies and shows such as Game of Thrones, Outlander and Elizabeth: The Golden Age were filmed at the castle. It is also the site of the famous Battle of Stirling Bridge in Braveheart.

Stirling is known because of the several Scottish Kings and Queens that have been crowned there, including Mary, Queen of Scots, in 1542.

During our visit we will also learn more about the official Scottish animal, the unicorn, which decorates tapestries and walls.

Lunch will be at the castle or en route at a casual pub or eatery.

We will continue to Glenturret Distillery for a guided tour.

Recently acquired by French glass company Lalique, Glenturret remains the oldest working distillery in Scotland opening at the end of the 18th century.

The tour will follow the whisky production from malted barley to aging and will finish with a tasting at the beautiful tasting room.

Look out for the resident cats who have their own entrance ramp to the distillery.

We will continue our road trip towards Glencoe where we will end the day with a stay at our Highlands lodge.

Overnight at Kingshouse Hotel 4*

Kingshouse Hotel is a newly renovated 4* hotel part of a family owned and run Scottish hotel chain and is perfectly located outside Glencoe on our way to Skye.

It is a popular stop for hikers going on hiking trips across Scotland and offers comfortable and spacious rooms with the best views to the streams and mountains around.

In the early morning, hikers prepare their day ahead at the Bunkhouse and pub, but we will stay at the more comfortable hotel section.

Inclusions: Breakfast at the hotel, transportation in mini bus, guided visit of the Kelpies, entry tickets and guided visit of Stirling Castle, tour and tasting at Glenturret distillery and dinner at the hotel.

Day 5 : Glenfinnan viaduct, ferry over to Skye and sheepskin tannery

Today we will arrive at Isle of Skye. But first, we will take the stunning road that crosses the Highlands and enjoy some of the most breathtaking views you have ever seen.

On our way towards the ferry terminal to Skye, we will stop at the Glenfinnan Viaduct and walk up to the view point to enjoy the magnificent landscapes in the area.

This is the viaduct that was made famous by the Harry Potter movies.

We will continue towards Mallaig where us and our minibus will board the ferry. The crossing typically takes just over half an hour.

When we get to Skye, we will make our way north and stop at Skye Candle Company flagship store and bistro for a lunch break. enjoy a pizza, salad or a sandwich.

The Isle of Skye Candles is a local family owned business that takes inspiration from the island’s smells and colors to make beautiful home products.

We will continue north to Skyskyns to learn more about how sheepskin rugs, clothing and shoes are made.

Skyeskyns is the only tannery in Scotland that has preserved a traditional way to treating the skins. This family business works with several kinds of sheep skins from all over the world, to create beautiful rugs, accessories and clothing.

We will join the owner on a short tour of the facility and find out how real sheepskin products are made using time honoured methods of leather making – one of the oldest crafts in the world.

We will end the day at our hotel on Skye with a wonderful dinner.

Overnight at Skeaboast House Hotel 4* (2024) or Bracken Hide 4* (2025)

Skeabost Hotel is part of a local family owned chain of hotels led by the matriarch. Located outside of Portree in front of Loch Snizort and has rooms spread over two sections, the historical house and the garden lodges.

Rooms have been recently renovated with modern amenities and all have windows facing the expansive property. The dinning room steals the show with glass windows and the best views over the surrounding landscapes. Chill in the lounge, read a book or enjoy a drink at the cozy bar.

Bracken Hide is a wilderness lodge located above Portree and with show stopping views over the town and landscapes of Skye.

Cabins are set apart from each other and all feature double beds and full length windows so you can enjoy the views from your bed.

IMPORTANT: Because all cabins have double beds, we will enjoy single room upgrades for everyone, even if you booked a twin room.

Among the facilities is an Estonian sauna and an outdoor plunge pool to complete the wellness cycle.

Inclusions: Breakfast at the hotel, transportation in a minibus, ferry tickets, visit to Skyeskyns (time permitting) and dinner at the hotel.

Day 6 : Old Man of Storr, Portree and Fairy Glen

Hiking distance: 5km | Hiking time: 3 hours.

Today is the day we finally get to explore the Highlands on foot hiking to some of the most beautiful and famous sites.

We will start the morning driving to the bottom of Old Man of Storr and then getting our hiking boots ready to walk up to the top for the best views.

This is the island’s most famous and popular hike and will take us up and close with the pinnacle referred to as Old Man, the result of the island’s volcanic past.

The views from the top will be stunning and well worth the hike.

We will continue to Portree for a short walking tour followed by free time for shopping and a group lunch at a casual pub or restaurant.

Portree is the largest town and capital of the Isle of Skye and it is famous for its colorful port houses. The town is very tiny but there are a few stores that sell local artisanal items and restaurants where we can enjoy casual food.

We will meet again for our afternoon hike around Fairy Glen, in Uig.

The glen is a Quirang-like landslip in miniature and it is pretty unique and hard to describe.

The landscapes are hilly with the tops covered in grass and grazing sheep, and small ponds in between. It all appears as if it was manmade.

Even though the name indicates there are fairies in the area, there are none, the name has been given for its unusual yet mystical look.

We will return to the hotel for rest, drinks at the bar and group dinner at the hotel’s restaurant.

Overnight at Skeabost House Hotel or Bracken Hide.

Inclusions: Breakfast at the hotel, transportation for the day in minibus, guided hikes to Old Man of Storr and Fairy Glen, dinner at the hotel.

Day 7 : Eilean Donan Castle, Loch Ness, Fort Augustus and The Great Glen Way

We will be leaving Skye behind and return to the main island.

We will cross over via the bridge and stop at Eilean Donan Castle for photos before continuing on to our hotel.

Eilean Donan Castle is a 13th century fortification located on its own island, where three sea lochs meet.

Its image is one of the most famous across Scotland and you will immediately recognise it as soon as it comes in view.

Our day will continue to Fort Augustus, on the shore of Loch Ness, Scotland’s most famous lake.

Fort Augustus is a tiny hamlet of less than 1,000 people and a picturesque stop for lunch and a wander to see if we spot Nessy.

We will then continue towards the hotel via The Great Glen Way, the most scenic and beautiful drive in the Highlands.

This road that crosses the Highlands from coast to coast, has some of the most beautiful landscapes and views and is popular with hikers, sailors and road trip lovers.

We will arrive at the hotel in the late afternoon for a group dinner.

Overnight at Kingshouse Hotel.

Inclusions: Breakfast at the hotel, transportation in our minibus, stop at Eilean Donan Castle and dinner at Kinghouse Hotel.

Day 8 & 9 : Inveraray Castle, Loch Lomond, Naughty Sheep and Farewell dinner

We will start the day early driving towards Inveraray Castle, one of the prettiest you will ever see, for a visit inside and of the manicured gardens.

Inveraray Castle belongs to the The Duke & Duchess of Argyll and is one of the few castles that you can visit where furniture and decorations remain intact as this was a family home until recently.

A castle has stood on the grounds since the 1400s but the current design is from the beginning of the 18th century and reminiscent of the Loire castles in France.

The fairytale construction is surrounded by beautiful gardens which we will visit as well.

We will tour the castle inside and out before continuing towards Loch Lomond for a boat tour.

We will get to the pier at Luss and grab a quick lunch from the local cafe.

Our day continues on the water. We will jump on our private speedboats for a tour of the largest lake in Scotland located at the delimitation between the lowlands and the highlands.

Loch Lomond is a picturesque and beautiful lake considered part of the Trossachs National Park and is surrounded by land belonging to several Scottish Clans.

After the boat tour, we will return to Luss, a quaint stone village, and meet our 4×4 expert drivers and guides for an adventure ride through the unexplored hills around Loch Lomond.

We will spot sheep, farmers, stunning views and, for whoever is interested, learn how to drive 4×4 vehicles offroad through challenging terrains.

Through the journey, our fun kilted guides will tell stories, anecdotes and more, to make the excursion special.

We will leave our 4×4 cars behind and drive towards the castle for one more night.

Back at Dalhousie Castle, we will enjoy a farewell dinner at the Chapel as we remember the highlights of the week.

On day 9, depart anytime towards the airport.

Inclusions: Breakfast at the hotel, entry tickets and visit of Inveraray Castle, Loch Lomond boat tour, 4×4 offroad tour and farewell dinner with wine.

About Your Host, Naomi

Naomi has always been interested in travel and culture since a young age. She grew up in Edinburgh, Scotland but was given a taste of the importance of art, language, food and the history of countries by her French mother.

Naomi studied Art History and languages (French and Spanish) at Glasgow University and used this knowledge to work as a guide in several locations in Europe.

After a stint in teaching, Naomi channeled her passion for her home country by taking visitors around beautiful Scotland both in English and French.

She adores making history come alive in the evocative Scottish countryside and towns, and enjoys nature, sea swims and above all, a good feed and whisky after a day out visiting castles, museums or in the great outdoors.

Naomi loves to meet new people and hear stories as much as she enjoys telling them.

Jing – “Wonderful experience. Met beautiful ladies, made great friends and have memorable memories that will last my lifetime. Already booked my next trip 😊”

Robin – “I recently returned from my first tour with Solo Female Travelers. I was a little nervous about traveling alone, but the trip was amazing. Every detail was so well planned and I love the emphasis on female owned businesses. Scotland was everything I had hoped it would be and sharing the experience with Mar and so many awesome women was better than I could have imagined. I can’t wait to plan my next adventure!❤️”

Moira – “I enjoyed an adventurous informative and fun tour of Scotland in July with a group of wonderfully open and warm women accompanied by Mar and the talented Anastasia, our photographer. These are my photos, not hers, but you get the idea. The Scottish Highlands are breathtaking. I did not understand the vastness and beauty of the place until I was surrounded by it. Our guide Naomi was so enthusiastic and knowledgeable and able to bring history to life and give context to our surroundings. Absolutely a gem. I’d share a wee dram with any of this group again. Highlights for me were the encounters width the birds of prey and hiking The Storr. So worth the climb.”

Angie – From castles in Scotland to the vast plains of the Serengeti…wineries throughout Tuscany, many islands in Greece, and the beautiful artistry in and around Barcelona…Solo Female Travelers have shown me worlds I never could have imagined. As my current (5th) tour with Solo Female Travelers starts the final leg with a flight from Tanzania to Zanzibar, I’m asked by fellow travelers “which trip was your favorite or would you recommend?” I honestly can’t pick just one.

Each of the 5 tours I’ve been on has had unique experiences that evoke feelings that literally change me to the core of my soul. The one unique theme for all tours are the incredible women I’ve met on each and every tour. I’ve literally met women from all over the world. I have met women who are healing from heartbreak, finding themselves, and celebrating personal achievements. Mothers and daughters, friends traveling together, and individuals. Everyone has a story to tell, and a reason they chose SFT.

Each woman I’ve met has left an impact in me. From my fellow guests to the guides, and all of the female owned business owners, we all share the desire to make the world better, and safer place for women to travel. Guides who share the culture, history, and traditions of their country are absolutely fascinating as I’m in awe of their vast knowledge. The businesses owners who are so happy to see us as we come through their doors, greeting us with welcoming smiles. And, of course the thumbs up, high fives, and jaw dropping awe from other travelers here in Africa as they realize that here is the ONLY tour group, guided, and fully curated by and for women. It makes me so proud to be part of it.

I’ve been part of the “SFT Family” since I first ventured out of the states in June of 2022 on my way to Tuscany. Before the trip was over, I was already telling Mar that I wanted to go to Greece, so I booked it as soon as I got home. I’ve since said I’d like to go on every tour they offer…but they just keep adding more and more, so I’m not sure I’ll ever catch up! But that won’t stop me from trying.

I tell everyone I know or run into about SFT and share their mission, their passion for promoting women traveling, and the incredible experiences I’ve had. The most common feedback I receive is “the tours are very expensive.” My response is always the same…”just book ONE trip, and you will understand the value of these tours. I’ve been to Tuscany June 2022, Greece June 2023, Barcelona (sensual) October 2023, Scotland July 2024, and Tanzania/Zanzibar September 2024.

Where will Meg, Mar, and the entire Solo Female Travelers team take me next…maybe Cuba…Croatia…Iceland? So many adventures just waiting for me to pick. One thing for sure…as long as I’m traveling by myself abroad, it will ALWAYS be with Solo Female Travelers!

Maria – Let me start this review by saying Naomi is THE ABSOLUTE BEST! We could not have asked for a better guide to lead our Scottish adventure. Not only is Naomi an absolute blast to be with, she has a wealth of knowledge on the Scottish culture, the history and how women played a real and important part in all of this. She also has the skill to keep 12 women on time and engaged!

I do most of my travel solo so that I am not on anyone else’s schedule and my freedom to go wherever I want. This was a bit out of my comfort zone to be committed to a schedule and have so many other personalities around me, BUT I really did love it! I met some great women and I enjoyed hearing everyone’s very different and interesting stories.
The intinerary was great! We were able to see so many sights, have some very cool experiences and see a great deal of the Scottish landscape, which I was really excited for.

I am not truly sure what my favorite sight or experience was. Almost everything in Scotland is absolutely stunning to see in person and the deep and rich history is captivating. Being at Glenfinnan and watching the Jacobite train (Harry Potter train for you Potter heads) going across the viaduct on the most perfect sunny day is pretty high up there along with having a night full of the best belly laughs as a few of us (tried) experienced some Scottish “nightlife”. The support of women owned/run businesses was an added extra that made me feel great about where my money was going. If you are on the fence, just do it! You will be enthralled. I will absolutely be booking another adventure with SFT.

I have also decided that I will be back in Scotland to walk the West Highland Way. I walked a very short piece of the WHW. (2 miles approx) on our second night at the Kingshouse in the Scottish rain and fog. It was haunting and magical. I think I was in a fairy glen.

I really loved the Skyeskyns tannery as well. A beautiful small business doing right by the environment and the sheep. The setting was almost too beautiful to take in.

I have not met Mar & Meg, but kudos for a great itinerary and choosing the best woman for the job as guide, Naomi. I am excited for my next destination with SFT. With no reservation whatsoever!