We wanted to drop you a “note” to tell you we had a wonderful time on the trip to Italy. Thank you so much for your great work in putting it all together!
Castles, Lochs, Seascapes
Harry Potter and Outlander experiences
History, Folklore, and Natural Wonders
Explore magical Scotland
When we ask our guests where they wish to visit, Scotland is consistently at the top of the vegan bucket list. You may have heard that Scotland is renowned for its medieval history, heritage, and culture, but did you know it’s super vegan-friendly as well?
This tour commences in the nation’s capital of Edinburgh, where we shall immerse ourselves in local history, including a bit of witch-craftery, and, for the Proclaimers fans out there, we shall hope to see the Sunshine on Leith. From Edinburgh, we will embark upon two day tours, visiting Alnwick Castle / Northumberland Coast and the Borders, as well as a dedicated Outlander tour. After several days based in Edinburgh, we shall travel by train to Glasgow, where we will immediately embark upon a vegan tour of the city with local expert Kathi Kamleitner, our good friend at Watch Me See. Our Glasgow adventure includes a guided bike tour of the bridges and bikeways along the Clyde, a visit to a popular west-end museum and gallery, and afternoon tea. We shall launch from Glasgow for a day trip to Loch Lomond (including a lake cruise) and Stirling Castle. In both cities, we have set aside time for your individual pursuits, such as exploring the local writers or visiting the shopping districts.
Why You’ll Love This Tour!
Walking Tours in both cities, including a private vegan food tour in Glasgow
Sites affiliated with Outlander and Harry Potter
Loch Lomond cruise
Biking tour in Glasgow
Afternoon tea at the famous Mackintosh at the Willow
Click the Tabs to Find Out More
Essential Info
Essential Info
Price
$5255 USD/per person
*A non-refundable deposit of 25% of the tour cost, along with a registration form, are required in order to join the tour. Your space is not guaranteed until both of these are received.
Dates
September 5-13, 2025
Tour duration
8 nights/8 days
Group size
7-12 people
Included
- 8 nights accommodations
- 8 breakfasts
- 5 lunches plus 1 afternoon tea and 1 lunchtime vegan food tour
- 8 dinners
- Sightseeing and activity admissions
- Transportation between activities
- All logistics are taken care of for you
Not included
- Airfare
- Travel insurance
- Alcoholic beverages
What to bring
Comfortable shoes
Travel insurance is highly recommended for any unexpected emergency expenses.
About your guide
This tour will be led by Jenn Willett.
Trip Overview
Plan to arrive in Edinburgh by 1pm because we hit the ground running (ok, walking!) with an afternoon tour, allowing us to acclimate to our environs and experience the city’s landmarks. We plan to have an amazing welcome dinner at a local vegan Italian restaurant. Our first full day finds us embarking upon a tour of the Northumberland Coast and the Borders, which will have great appeal for Harry Potter fans! We shall spend Day 3 within Edinburgh, focusing on Women’s History and Witchcraft, with designated free time for individual sightseeing. Day 4 finds us adventuring through Outlander country. On Day 5, we shall bid farewell to Edinburgh and enjoy a brief and scenic train ride to Glasgow, Scotland’s second largest city. Upon our arrival in Glasgow, we are greatly pleased to partner with Watch Me See for a vegan walking and sightseeing tour. Heading out of Glasgow on Day 6, we shall visit Stirling Castle and Loch Lomond, including a lake cruise. Day 7 finds us exploring the famous Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, and offers us the opportunity to enjoy afternoon high tea. Day 8 ensures that we experience every mode of transportation on this trip, as we shall pedal our way around the city, enjoying the various urban bike paths as well as the bridges that span the Clyde. Our adventure ends after breakfast on Day 9.
Itinerary
Day 1 (arrival day) of our multi-day tour of Edinburgh begins with a guided walking tour of the city, followed by a luxurious welcome dinner.
After enjoying breakfast at our hotel, on Day 2, we embark upon a daylong tour of Alnwick Castle, the Northumberland Coast and the Borders. The tour travels through Kelso, with Scotland’s largest market square, and onward to Alnwick Castle, a long-standing fortification which also acted as the setting for Hogwarts in the Harry Potter movies. Alnwick also offers one of the largest used books stores in the UK. We shall travel along the Northumberland Coast, basking in rolling land- and seascapes, before returning to Edinburgh.
Meals Included
Day 1: Dinner
Day 2: Breakfast, lunch and dinner
Day 3, after breakfast, allows us to delve deeper into the history of Edinburgh, focusing on women’s history and witchcraft. Weather permitting, we shall head towards Leith for lunch, after which we shall have an afternoon of free-time. This is an opportunity to pursue personal interests, such as the (free) Writer’s Museum which celebrates Scotland’s most esteemed writers: Robert Burns, Sir Walter Scott and Robert Louis Stevenson. Edinburgh has no shortage of shopping options and you’ll find plenty to explore along Princes Street and in the nearby West End. There are several shops offering organic, vegan, and sustainable goods. At the end of the day, you’ll have the opportunity to regale us with tales of your free-time activities during our group dinner.
Day 4 immerses us in the world of Outlander. (If you are unfamiliar with Outlander, we recommend the books by Diana Gabaldon or the television show on Starz!) Heading northwest out of the city, we shall follow the trail of film locations featured in the Outlander TV Series, including Midhope Castle (Lallybroch), Blackness Castle (Jack Randall’s HQ), Linlithgow Palace (Wentworth Prison), Doune Castle (Castle Leoch), and Culross (Cranesmuir). Of course, the tour will extend its focus beyond Outlander alone, offering us options to picnic by a loch and view the ruins of Mary Queen of Scots’ birthplace.
Meals Included
Day 3: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 4: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
On Day 5, we travel by train to Glasgow. After dropping our bags at the hotel, we catch up with Kathi Kamleitner, vegan guide extraordinaire, for a private vegan-focused tour of the city, with sightseeing thrown in for good measure. We check into our new hotel and settle in, before meeting for our group dinner.
Day 6 of our trip begins with breakfast, followed by a day tour to Stirling Castle and Loch Lomond. Stirling Castle was once the power base of the House of Stuart and, as such, the most important castle in Scotland. Mary Queen of Scots was crowned Queen of Scotland at Stirling Castle. Built on an imposing volcanic plug, Stirling Castle is an absolute must-see, as it affords stunning views of the Wallace Monument and the rugged Highlands beyond. At Stirling Castle, you may also view the intricate and beautiful set of seven hand-woven tapestries. These new tapestries were created in a $2.5 million dollar project which took 13 years to complete and allow visitors to recapture the atmosphere of Scotland’s royal court.
Venturing beyond Stirling Castle, we head to Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, the first of Scotland’s National Parks, taking in over 440,000 acres of the Southern Highlands. Sit back and relax as we pass through lovely villages and beautiful glens, and hear about the outlaw and folk hero Rob Roy, who found this landscape to be an ideal hiding place . At Loch Lomond, we will enjoy an hour-long boat cruise, surrounded by majestic mountains, as we are regaled with stories of local wildlife, folklore, and history.
Meals Included
Day 5: Breakfast, lunch (via the vegan food tour), and dinner
Day 6: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 7 of our trip begins with breakfast, before venturing to the Baroque-era Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. This architectural marvel offers 22 separate galleries, with displays pertaining to art, aviation, architecture, and more. There is a gallery dedicated to Charles Rennie MacKintosh, renowned architect and leading innovator of the British Art Nouveau style. Sticking to this theme, we partake of afternoon high tea at the famed Mackintosh at the Willow, the original Willow Tea Rooms designed by Mackintosh. This venue is his last surviving tea room, which originally opened in 1903! Following some unstructured time, we reconvene for a group dinner.
On Day 8, after breakfast, we enjoy a private biking tour, departing from the People’s Palace on Glasgow Green, proceeding along the river Clyde waterfront and over some of its iconic bridges. We cycle to the West End, through Kelvingrove park, and past Glasgow University, following beautiful waterways and cultural highlights. We pass Glasgow Cathedral and end the tour in the East End. Our tour includes a stop for a vegan treat, and is followed by a hearty lunch to accommodate our stomach rumblings after our biking adventure. After a brief period of free time, we shall gather for our final group dinner.
Meals Included
Day 7: Breakfast, afternoon tea, and dinner
Day 8: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
Day 8: Breakfast
Good to Know
Amount of walking: 6-8 miles per day
What’s Included: Hotel (based on single occupancy; no need to share a room unless you are traveling with a partner, family member, or friend); meals, as specified on each daily itinerary; all sightseeing and activities mentioned above
Airport: Plan to fly into Edinburgh (EDI) and out of Glasgow (GLA)
Previous Guests Praise Veg Jaunts and Journeys
It was a special experience to explore Italy with like-minded, compassionate travelers. We saw the sights, plus we got to explore a cat sanctuary in Rome and a vegan cheesemaking business. This trip was a top 10 life experience.
Thank you Kim and Wendy for such a wonderful trip through Italy. I was so nervous traveling alone overseas but really enjoyed getting to know everyone in the group. Would love to keep in touch with all and maybe see you on another trip.
