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Morning

Book both your Staffa boat trip (Tel (01681) 700338) and your car reservation for the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry (Tel (01631) 566688) in advance.

Depart Oban on the 7:45 am Calmac ferry to Craignure on Mull (45-minute crossing).

Drive to Fionnphort to catch the 9:45 trip to Staffa (10:45 on Sat). This takes 40 minutes each way and you have one hour on Staffa to walk among puffins and visit the awesome Fingal’s Cave, the basalt rock formation that so inspired Mendelssohn.

On your return to Fionnphort, leave your car and take the quick ferry crossing to Iona. Have lunch in the Argyll Hotel (a particularly good vegetarian selection).

Afternoon

Climb the hill above the abbey. The longer you leave your visit to the abbey the less crowded it will be. Iona is too beautiful and serene to rush, and you may want to spend the rest of the day wandering its shores and rugged terrain, contemplating this small island’s historical significance.

If not, return to Craignure in time to visit Torosay Castle and its fine gardens. Try to get there before 4pm to make the visit worthwhile.

Note: If you don’t have a car, you can do most of this tour, in summer, by boat from Oban – call the 01681 number.

Morning

Have a leisurely start and be at the National Gallery of Scotland (see National Gallery of Scotland) when it opens at 10am. Ninety minutes should allow you to see the Botticelli, Canova and Raeburn’s skating minister, the Rev Robert Walker, as well as far more besides.

Enter Princes Street Gardens at the Floral Clock (opposite the gallery), and ascend the path to the Castle (see Edinburgh Castle) , taking care as it’s a steep climb.

Tour the castle, keeping an eye on your watch to make sure you’re present when the One O’Clock Gun goes off – very dramatic! As you’re now at the Castle Café, have a platter to restore your energy levels before soldiering on.

Afternoon

Stroll down from the Castle Esplanade to the Royal Mile , stopping off at the High Kirk and probably several shops as well. Admire John Knox’s House and have the best hot chocolate of your life in Plaisir du Chocolat on your left in the Canongate.

Turn right off the Royal Mile at Reid’s Close (easy to miss) and visit Our Dynamic Earth, where you can pass several million years in the space of a mere two hours or so.

If you still feel energetic, walk up Arthur’s Seat for spectacular evening views. Ninety minutes up and down (if you’re fit) or grab a taxi and be chauffeured most of the way up.

Morning

Reserve your morning cruise on the SS Sir Walter Scott (Tel (01877) 376316) in advance, and note that it does not run on Wednesday mornings.

Leave Glasgow by 8:45am, driving north on the A81 to Strathblane and Aberfoyle. You are now in the scenic and famous Trossachs. Park at the Trossachs Pier for your 11am cruise on Loch Katrine, a gorgeous secluded loch.

You arrive back at 12:45pm and a short drive takes you to Kilmahog (great name, but the Woollen Mill is pretty touristy), so pass it by unless you’re overly curious about knitwear. Head on to Callander for lunch, where there’s plenty of choice, or buy delicious pies at the Scotch Oven, a superb baker, and picnic by the river.

Afternoon

Carry on to Doune, Dunblane and Bridge of Allan. There are many temptations en route – castle (see Doune Castle) , safari park, motor museum – and you may fall by the way.

If not, however, aim to be at the Wallace Monument before 4pm. The slice of history here is extremely palatable, accompanied by panoramic views of the area, including the craggy heights of Stirling Castle.

Finally, wend your way up into moorland for dinner at the Sheriffmuir Inn . Either head back to Glasgow or go further east to stay at Edinburgh or St Andrews (about an hour’s journey to each by car).

Morning

Start the morning from the flagstoned village of Stromness and head out on the road to Skara Brae. The roads turn and undu-late on rolling pasture and are really a network of lanes, but the way is well signposted – a pity in some respects, as Orkney is a delightful place to get lost in.

You’ll need two hours to do the Neolithic remains justice, as well as fitting in a visit to Skaill House and sampling cakes dripping with icing in the café.

Drive on to the great stone circle known as the Ring of Brodgar, and also visit the roadside standing stones of Stenness.

So far you’ve only covered 12 miles (20 km)! Time for lunch over at the Maes Howe Visitor Centre.

Afternoon

After lunch, explore Maes Howe. It’s dark inside, and a guide lights up the runes with a torch. Drive on to Kirkwall. Visit the cathedral (it has a great little café) and the museum – neither of which are arduous or lengthy – and walk the town’s charming streets.

In the evening, dine at the Creel Inn & Restaurant (see Balfour Castle, Orkney) in St Margaret’s Hope and feel like a satiated Viking.

Note, Orkney is a delightful place to cycle and it’s easy to hire bicycles. The car route described above makes a lovely day’s cycle ride if you return to Stromness after Maes Howe.

Morning

Leave Aberdeen around 9am and drive on the A93 through Deeside’s splendid scenery to Crathie, where you’ll find Balmoral Castle opening its gates. If, however, you’re outside Balmoral’s short opening season (see Balmoral and Royal Deeside) , then visit Crathes or Drum Castle instead – less famous, but equally impressive .

Return to Ballater, which you passed through on the way, but take the B976 on the south of the river. The Station Restaurant does all-day meals, anything from a bacon sandwich or pain au chocolat to a three-course meal.

Afternoon

While browsing the shops in Ballater, Look out for royal insignias: they indicate the Queen’s favourite establishments. From Ballater find the A939 and drive north on a twisting road. The terrain is wild, heathery moorland and mountainous. The road takes you past quaint and lonely Corgarff Castle, and on to Tomintoul, one of the highest villages in Scotland. From here, take the B9008 to the distillery of Glenlivet for a tour of their whisky-making vats, stills and barrels, and a tasting. Tours last about 40 minutes; the tastings, unfortunately, much less.

Spend the night around Dufftown or Keith with a view to driving to Portsoy and taking the coast road either east or west the next day. About 90 miles (150 km) in total.

Morning

Leave at 9:30am and buy a First Day Ticket for Tourists (£4 unlimited travel on First buses from 9:30am to midnight). Purchase the ticket as you board a No. 45 bus to the Burrell Collection. Allow two hours to take in the scope of this amazing museum, and make sure you see the Old Masters paintings.

Return to the city centre and take a 66 or 41 (every 10 mins) to the Botanical Gardens. (If you do this tour on Fri or Sun, reverse the order and visit the Botanics first as the Burrell won’t be open until 11am)

Lunch at the gardens, either with a picnic in the grounds or at one of the many cafés along the Byres Road, opposite the Botanics entrance.

Afternoon

Take one of the many buses heading back into the centre of Glasgow, and get off at Sauchiehall Street. Walk and shop your way along, taking a right at Buchanan Street. Call in for coffee at the Princes Square shopping centre (see Princes Square) , a great place to watch people. Continue on to the Gallery of Modern Art – this gallery has plenty of light-hearted works and gives, rather than takes, energy.

Finally, stroll through George Square and admire the City Chambers before dining at one of the many restaurants in the Merchant City neighbourhood, such as Babbity Bowster , Café Gondolfi or City Merchant .

Morning

Pack a picnic in Inverness. There are lots of marvellous picnicking possibilities on this route, so it would be a shame not to take one.

Leave Inverness by 10am to make the best of the day, taking the B852 to Dores and drive along the south side of Loch Ness – a beautiful and much quieter road than that on the northern shore. Try to stop off at the Foyers Falls (see Best-Kept Secrets) .

Enjoy the hill-country drive to Fort Augustus, and pop in for a coffee at the bustling Lock Inn, right beside the canal. Walk along the canal to view Loch Ness from the shore behind the old abbey.

Drive along the A82 on the north side of Loch Ness, (stop at Invermoriston to view the river pools and old bridge) and visit Urquhart Castle. Have your picnic lunch here.

Afternoon

Your picnic will, hopefully, have recharged your batteries sufficiently for a visit to one of the Loch Ness Monster visitor centres in Drumnadrochit – fascinating, and rather persuasive.

Refill your thermos in Drumnadrochit, then take the A831 to Cannich, and the minor road to Glen Affric.

Enjoy an hour’s walk in this renowned beauty spot, before returning to the bustle of Inverness via Kilmorack and the south shore of the Beauly Firth. A round trip of 115 miles (185 km).