8 Days / Start: Monday 21 August 2023 &
Finish: Monday 28 August 2023 with optional tours

The Blair Castle Horse Trials and the highlights of Scotland tour is a new tour. We would love you to join us to explore a new destination with more equestrian pursuits.

Scotland brings castles, kilts, bagpipes, and haggis. We guarantee you will see plenty of castles in various forms, explore the gorgeous countryside, you might even spot a highland cow in a field and enjoy a taste of a wee dram of Scottish Whisky.

 There are so many highlights to this tour including the 4-star Blair Castle Horse Trials, Scotland’s leading equestrian event. The famous Edinburgh Tattoo and the historical Edinburgh Castle.  As well as a visit to the amazing engineering feat of the Kelpies at Falkirk.

For those wanting to spend more time in Scotland exploring after the tour, we can offer optional tours to other parts of Scotland. You might like to see where Nessie hangs out or visit Eilean Donan or even the Isle of Skye.

Overview

Snaffle Travel is attending Scotland’s premier 4-star horse trials held annually every August and attracts some of Great Britain’s top riders as well as many international riders. Our tour includes a great mix of sightseeing, and equestrian activities as well as plenty of time to shop with some free time to experience some wonderful places.

Blair Castle Horse Trials is Scotland’s leading horse event with its stunning Castle setting. The Atholl Estates is one of Scotland’s finest Highland Estates set on 145,000 acres of magnificent landscape, vast farmland, and rugged mountains.

The horse trials provide challenging terrain with plenty of exciting action and many other equestrian events are included too. You will experience a wonderful country fair with Highland ponies on show, side saddle, show jumping and so much more. So, enjoy and settle in for three days of traditional Scottish hospitality at the Blair Castle Horse Trials.

The tour starts in Edinburgh where you can soak up the atmosphere of the Edinburgh Tattoo and visit the famous Edinburgh Castle. You will spend a few days exploring the surroundings before visiting the famous Kelpies horse head at Falkirk. A visit to Scone Palace is also included with over 1000 years of history with its lovely example of Gothic Revival style.

You also can’t come to Scotland without having a wee dram and we have scheduled a local whisky tasting too.

Highlights 

  • Three full days at Blair Castle Horse Trials including member passes
  • Coach transfers as per the itinerary
  • Edinburgh Tattoo show with reserved seating
  • Half-day guided walking tour of the old and new town including Edinburgh Castle
  • One day hop on hop off bus tour of Edinburgh
  • 3 nights in Edinburgh, and 4 nights in Pitlochry
  • Breakfast daily and 5 dinners including a welcome and farewell dinner
  • Visit Falkirk and the Kelpies (Helix park) including a guided tour
  • Visit Scone Palace and gardens including a audio-guided tour
  • Whisky distillery tour and tasting
  • Opportunity to shop in Edinburgh and at Blair Castle Horse Trials
  • Free time for personal discovery with friends for company
  • Fully hosted tour

Inclusions

  • Your Snaffle Travel host is on hand to assist with making your holiday a memorable one
  • Guided sightseeing and entrance fees as per itinerary
  • Transportation and transfers as per itinerary
  • Breakfast daily, 5 dinners including welcome and farewell dinners
  • Accommodation 4-star & 3-star hotels with twin/double share rooms
  • Room share options for single travellers subject to availability

What’s not included

  • International flights
  • Travel insurance, visas, any vaccinations, and any Covid related tests
  • Drinks unless otherwise mentioned
  • Laundry and any items of personal nature
  • Tips if not included and anything not mentioned in the itinerary

**Note: Pricing is subject to change prior to final payment due to currency fluctuation

Photos

ITINERARY

Day 1: Monday 21 August 2023
Edinburgh – Scotland

Welcome to Scotland and on arriving in Edinburgh make your own way to your centrally located hotel.  A transfer can be arranged if required to your hotel in EdinburghThe rest of the day is free to explore your surroundings. Tonight join your tour host and meet the rest of the tour group for a welcome dinner at a local restaurant.   (Welcome dinner included this evening)
Accommodation: Macdonald Holyrood Hotel or similar – 4-star 

Day 2: (B) Tuesday 22 August 2023
Edinburgh, Scotland

This morning explore the fabulous city of Edinburgh with a local guide including the new and the old town and visit the Edinburgh Castle to see Scotland’s crown jewels.  You will have the rest of the afternoon to explore this historic city.  This evening the group will visit the Edinburgh Tattoo and the hotel is within walking distance of the venue.  (1/2 day walking tour and Edinburgh Tattoo tickets.) Accommodation: Macdonald Holyrood Hotel or similar – 4-star 

Day 3: (B) Wednesday 23 August 2023
Edinburgh

Today you have a free day to explore Edinburgh with the hop-on hop-off bus.  You might like to visit the Royal Yacht Brittania or the Palace of Holyroodhouse a 5-minute walk from the hotel.  Perhaps you might like to explore all the little alleyways, shops, and the Royal mile. Accommodation: Macdonald Holyrood Hotel or similar – 4-star 

Day 4: (B,D) Thursday 24 August 2023
Edinburgh – Falkirk – Scone – Pitlochry

After breakfast meet your coach and travel to Helix Parkland in Falkirk and meet your guide for a tour of the famous Kelpies.  These two 30-metre high horse-head sculptures are a true feat of engineering and an amazing sight to see.  Continuing to Scone Palace to visit the Earl and Countess of Mansfield’s stately home and explore their beautiful house.  You will have some free time for a light lunch at your own expense.  Afterward, travel to a local whisky distillery for a tour and wee dram, and then to your hotel for the next four nights. (Includes coach transfers, entry to the Kelpies, Scone Palace, Whisky distillery and tasting, and dinner this evening.)  Accommodation: Pitlochry Hydro hotel or similar – 3-star hotel

Day 5: (B,D) Friday 25 August 2023
Pitlochry – Blair Castle Horse Trials – Pitlochry

This morning after breakfast transfer to the Blair Castle Horse Trials. It is a stunning venue with Blair Castle as a backdrop. The group will have access to the Members’ Marquee, located ringside on the main arena, with bar, restaurant facilities, grandstand seating, and a ringside garden for all three days. For those that want to see the cross-country course one of UK’s top eventers will lead an optional course walk. You might like to see one of the show classes with some of Scotland’s native breeds.  The 4-star dressage competition is held in the main arena today. (Coach transfers, course walk, members tickets & dinner included) Accommodation: Pitlochry Hydro hotel or similar – 3-star hotel

Day 6: (B,D) Saturday 26 August 2023
Pitlochry – Blair Castle Horse Trials – Pitlochry

Today is Cross-country day.  The Blair Castle cross-country course is challenging and the horses have to be at their utmost fitness to manage the hilly terrain.  The 4-star cross-country action will be exciting to watch and to see how the riders tackle the course.  Other show jumping and dressage competitions are held in the show rings at the event. Perhaps you may like to soak up the atmosphere of the trade village and watch some Scottish highland dancing. (Coach transfers, members tickets & dinner included).  Accommodation: Pitlochry Hydro hotel – or similar – 3-star hotel

Day 7: (B,D) Sunday 27 August 2023
Pitlochry – Blair Castle Horse Trials – Pitlochry 

This morning travel to Blair Castle for the last day of the competition. The 4-star show jumping competition is held later today. The other rings host showing and British show jumping as well as other classes. This evening enjoy a farewell dinner at the hotel. (return coach transfers, members, and entry to Blair Castle horse trials including a farewell dinner.) Accommodation: Pitlochry Hydro hotel – or similar  – 3 star

Day 8: (B) Monday 28 August 2023
Pitlochry – Edinburgh

The tour finishes in Edinburgh today. You might like to include a 1–4-night tour afterward to Inverness with a cruise on Loch Ness including Urquhart Castle and Eilean Donan. Perhaps a visit to the Isle of Skye or the many other regions of Scotland. Ask us for more information.

We hope you had a fabulous tour, and this is the end of your travel arrangements with Snaffle Travel.

ENQUIRE NOW for a fully detailed itinerary 

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