Seasonal Splendour in Stirling 2026

Journey from your home station to Stirling and, on arrival, we will make our way to the Stirling Highland Hotel, our hotel for the next four nights. Indulge in a delightful selection of tea, coffee, and mince pies in the lounge before gathering around the beautifully adorned Christmas tree for a Bucks Fizz reception to meet our fellow travellers. This evening, we enjoy a delicious three-course dinner in the hotel's elegant restaurant before the opportunity to discover the fully operational Observatory, the only one of its kind in a Scottish hotel, with intricate Zodiac carvings and providing an extraordinary vantage point.

After a relaxed breakfast this morning, we will visit the impressive Stirling Castle, one of Scotland's greatest castles and the childhood home of Mary Queen of Scots, and we will explore the beautifully recreated exhibitions and stunning architecture and soak in the castle's rich history. We continue to the wonderful Stirling Distillery, housed in the historic 'Old Smiddy' building, this small family-run distillery specialises in creating hand-crafted gin and whisky and pride themselves in creating products steeped in the history of the surroundings and city of Stirling! We take a tour to learn the history, heritage, and art of this process, savouring a wee dram of our choice before returning to the hotel in time for our evening meal together. For those wishing to embrace the season's spirit, there is an opportunity to attend Midnight Mass at a nearby church with mulled wine and mince pies available on our return to the hotel.

Merry Christmas! After a leisurely breakfast, the morning is free to relax in the comfort of our hotel or enjoy a gentle stroll through Stirling before savouring a wonderful traditional Christmas Day lunch with all the trimmings. Afterwards, we can watch the King's Speech in the lounge accompanied by tea, coffee, and Christmas cake ahead of fabulously festive live entertainment. This evening, we will relax, soak in the remainder of this festive atmosphere, and enjoy a buffet meal.

After breakfast this morning, we enjoy a scenic rail journey to Edinburgh where we enjoy free time to stroll through the charming streets adorned with festive lights, discover iconic landmarks, and immerse yourself in the seasonal magic of the renowned Christmas Market. This evening, we will return to our hotel in time for our sumptuous three-course dinner to conclude your festive celebrations in style.

After breakfast, we bid farewell to Stirling and make our way to the station for our homeward journeys.