Scottish Clan Tours

Researching your family tree is a voyage of discovery. Full of intrigue, exotic names and fascinating histories. It is a pastime that rewards again and again. But those who simply trace their family tree from the comfort of their own home are missing out on the real story of their heritage.

For the whole exciting picture, you need to visit the places you read about. And that means a trip to Scotland. To help you plan your trip, we've compiled a number of clan-themed touring itineraries . So if you see your clan name, just follow the trail and walk in your ancestors' footsteps.

Select another Clan Itinerary ...

Highland Gatherings

From evenings of toe-tapping traditional music in friendly pubs to the colour and excitement of Highland Games, every gathering of Scots is a celebration that you'll want to be part of.

Clan MacGregor touring information

The clan MacGregor has endured a notorious reputation over the centuries. Infamously known as 'the children of the mist' for their eerie ability to swoop out of the gloaming to plunder cattle, the MacGregors nonetheless stake a claim to royalty. The most famous MacGregor of them all, the subject of songs, legends and Hollywood blockbusters, is the outlaw (or hero) Rob Roy.

This itinerary affords plenty of opportunity to explore his life and times, as well as the landscape that the clan called home. This heartland encompasses the fertile lands of the Trossachs, a beautiful area that straddles the 'border' between the Highlands and Lowlands of Scotland.

Day 1

Arrive in the cosmopolitan city of Glasgow, Scotland's largest urban centre and a popular destination for a short break. An hour's drive north of the city takes you to Stirling, one of Scotland's most important towns, past and present. Here, you can visit a statue of Rob Roy and the mightily impressive Stirling Castle, perched high upon an outcrop of rock. If time permits, you may care to visit the Wallace Monument, just outside of town, a unique, large-scale tribute to another of Scotland's heroes (and another subject of the blockbuster treatment).

Day 2

Drive the short distance to the busy town of Callander, your gateway to the scenic beauty of the Trossachs. Here, at the Rob Roy and Trossachs Visitor Centre, you can learn all about the life and times of our hero in an engaging audio visual presentation.

Day 3

It's time to get the walking shoes on and head part of the way along the Rob Roy Way. This long-distance walk follows the tracks and paths used by Rob Roy MacGregor in the 17th & 18th centuries as he worked, fought and lived the life of Scotland's most notorious outlaw. It's best to check with the Tourist Information Centre in Callander, as some of the route may be out of bounds or impassable.

Day 4

A few short miles northwards lies the tiny village of Balquhidder. Situated at the head of the breathtakingly beautiful Loch Voil, Balquhidder is the burial place of Rob Roy. A simple headstone, in the grounds of Balquhidder Kirk, marks Rob Roy's passing. Back onto the main road and a trip to Killin where you'll find a Clan Gregor display at the Folklore Museum. Head westwards through Glen Lochy to Dalmally and, in the grounds of the almost impossibly pretty Glenorchy Parish Church, you'll find the carved stones of many members of the MacGregor clan.

Day 5

A little way from Dalmally is the hamlet of Stronmilchan, site of the white house that the MacGregors called home in 1603. Head northwards along the 'B' road that leads through the lovely Glen Orchy and you arrive in the misty moorlands of Loch Rannoch, home to many sites occupied by the MacGregors from 1500.

Day 6

Sightseeing at a more leisurely pace can be enjoyed from the middle of Loch Katrine on board the lovely SS Sir Walter Scott. Here, in the very heart of The Trossachs, you'll cruise a loch whose banks were strongholds for the MacGregors, MacNaughtons and the MacLarens.

Day 7

If you have time before you head for home, you'll find it well rewarded by sampling the sights and sounds of Glasgow, home to many galleries, museums and parks.

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