Scotland Food Tours 2022-2023
Your home for this unique Scottish cooking vacation is Dalriada, once the kingdom of ancient Scotland, which is located in the unspoiled coastal region known as the Mid Argyll. Stay near Dunadd, the historical capital of Scotland, where Scottish kings used to be crowned, and experience the wild and wonderful nature of rural Scottish life in this unique Scottish Highlands area. Our excursions for our week long Scotland culinary vacations vary by season, and will include such fun trips as guided whiskey tastings, visits to the Scottish islands, excursions to castles, forts, stone circles, and more.
Scotland has a wealth of natural products that you will discover on your cooking holiday in Scotland, and that you will use to create your meals. Produce from the rich mountains and glens, wild game from the moorlands, venison from the mountains, salmon and trout from the rivers, shellfish of all kinds from the sea, and beef and lamb from the Highland herds: all will delight you during your private Scotland tour. You will use these ingredients and more to create a wide variety of delicious feasts featuring traditional and modern Scottish dishes.
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Scotland Cooking Vacation Details
Your week long culinary vacation in Scotland includes everything you would expect from a cooking vacation with The International Kitchen, including:
- 4 cooking classes in a family-style kitchen with local Scottish cook Jane Chaplin
- an amazing variety of excursions that you get to select from to build your dream Scottish vacation
- accommodations in a charming private cottage
- meals as indicated
- and more!
Itinerary
Please note that this is a sample itinerary for your Scotland cooking vacation. Adjustments may be made based on the specific dates booked and according to the season and weather.
Day One
- Arrival at Glasgow airport and private transfer to the Mid Argyll. Upon arrival check in to your cottage. You may want to go for a walk, or just relax.
- Later, meet your hostess and enjoy dinner, served around 7pm.
Day Two
- After breakfast, you will head to the Kilmartin Museum, representing 6000 years of Scottish history. Lunch will be served upon your return. In the afternoon, you will have a bit of free time. During your free time this week there are several activities we can recommend, including:
- Long or short walks along the Crinan canal
- Ardishaig and Lochgilphead
- Dunardy forest walk, near a nature trail
- Dalraida Heritage train
- Visit to the local pub (around 5 minutes’ walk from your cottage)
- This afternoon around 4pm your first cooking class, with dinner to follow based on your efforts. You might make any of the following dishes during your cooking classes this week: Cullen skink (smoked fish soup), Braden Rost (hot smoked salmon), oatcakes and oatmeal baps, Scotch pies, Cranachan (dessert), and yes, even haggis.
Day Three
- Breakfast, and then your choice of a half day excursion. Your options include:
- Kilmartin Valley, Templewood stone circle, Dunadd Fort
- Local historical sites of Castle Sween (the oldest castle in Scotland) and Kilmory Chapel
- Cairnbaan and Achnabreac prehistoric sites
- Inveraray town and Inveraray Castle
- Farm visit – meet & feed Scottish lambs (April and May only, subject to availability)
- Forage for wild mussels and seaweed along the shore line or for wild garlic to make your own wild garlic pesto (specific foraging dependent on season, not suitable for those with mobility challenges)
- Trout fishing (subject to availability, possible only through September)
- Forest walk to Barlusgan nature reserve, where beavers have been reintroduced into Scotland
- Visit to Crinan with a leisurely walk followed by tea and scones
- This afternoon, around 3 pm, your Scottish cooking course number two, followed by dinner.
Day Four
- Breakfast and your next cooking session, followed by lunch.
- Afternoon at leisure, and dinner served around 7:00 pm.
Day Five
- Today you will have a full-day excursion of your choice. Your options include:
- Island of Luing , Easdale Island and Atlantic Islands centre
- Island of Mull and Tobermory Whisky distillery
- Island of Mull and Duart Castle
- Town of Oban, including visit to Oban whisky distillery and Dunstaffnage Castle OR to Dunollie Castle estate
- Town of Oban and visit to Inverawe Smokehouse Estate and falconry display
- Non-landing scenic cruise to the island of Colonsay with dinner on board
- Non-landing scenic cruise to the island of Islay with lunch on board (available Mondays only)
- Ancient Kingdom of Dalriada and Kilmartin Valley and boat trip on Loch Craignish (passing by the Islands of Scarba and Jura & depending on the tides the famous whirlpool called the ‘Hag’ in the Gulf of Corryvreckan) (not suitable for those with mobility challenges)
- Guided cycle trip along the Crinan Canal (easy eleven-mile route, though not suitable for those with mobility challenges)
- Eight-mile walk exploring the Crinin canal and Cairnbann (all flat, though not suitable for those with mobility challenges)
- Dinner back at the cottage.
Day Six
- Breakfast, followed by your second half-day excursion (you may choose among the options listed for day Three).
- Afternoon free time, and dinner on your own tonight. (We recommend the local pub, located a few minutes’ walk from your cottage.)
Day Seven
- After breakfast, a free morning to explore. In the afternoon, you will have your last cooking course, in which you will help decide the menu.
- Farewell dinner.
Day Eight
- Breakfast, and departure to Glasgow airport via local train or bus.
Trip Details
Included in Your Scotland Cooking Holiday
Accommodations
7 nights accommodations in private cottage
Food & Beverages
- Daily breakfast
- 7 lunches
- 6 dinners
- Beverages with all included meals
Classes & Instructors
Your 4 cooking classes will be informal and held in a traditional Scottish family-style, fully equipped kitchen. The courses are limited to maximum four cooks and will be led by local Scottish cook Jane Chaplin, who has many years’ experience in traditional and modern Scottish cooking. Jane’s passions are rooted in the Scottish countryside, which she uses to inspire her dishes.
Excursions
- 2 half-day excursion, determined at time of booking and chosen among the following:
- Kilmartin Valley, Templewood stone circle , Dunadd Fort
- Castle Sween (the oldest castle in Scotland) and Kilmory Chapel
- Cairnbaan and Achnabreac ancient rock carvings
- Inveraray town and Inveraray Castle
- Farm visit – meet & feed Scottish lambs (April and May only, subject to availability)
- Foraging, depending on the season: Seaweed foraging – explore the shore to collect seaweed to incorporate into some of your recipes (not suitable for those with mobility challenges); Forage for wild mussels along the shore line (not suitable for those with mobility challenges); Forage for wild garlic and make your own wild garlic pesto (not suitable for those with mobility challenges)
- Trout fishing (available only through September)
- Forest walk to Barlusgan nature reserve, where beavers have been reintroduced into Scotland
- Visit to Crinan with a leisurely walk followed by tea and scones
- 1 full-day excursion, determined at time of booking and chosen among the following:
- Island of Luing , Easdale Island and Atlantic Islands centre
- Island of Mull and Tobermory Whisky distillery
- Island of Mull and Duart Castle
- Town of Oban, including visit to Oban whisky distillery and Dunstaffnage Castle OR to Dunollie Castle estate
- Town of Oban and visit to Inverawe Estate and falcon display
- Non-landing scenic cruise to the island of Colonsay with dinner on board
- Non-landing scenic cruise to the island of Islay with lunch or dinner on board
- Six-mile walk through the ancient Kingdom of Dalriada and Kilmartin Valley (not suitable for those with mobility challenges)
- Cycle through the Crinan Canal/Kilmartin Valley area (easy nine-mile route, though not suitable for those with mobility challenges)
- Eight-mile walk exploring the Crinin canal and Cairnbann (all flat, though not suitable for those with mobility challenges)
Please note we may make recommendations about the excursions based on the dates you choose, and for weeks with multiple travelers the first to confirm will get to choose the excursions.
Transfer Details
- Arrival from Glasgow* airport: earliest airport pick up time is 10:30 AM.
- Departure transfer to Glasgow* via local train or bus.
- By Train : Transfer to Oban to take a train to Glasgow. These trains will depart at 9.00 am or 11.50 am , journey is approximately 3 hours right into the city center. (This train journey is listed in the top 10 train journeys of Europe.)
- By Coach: Transfer to Lochgilphead to take a modern, comfortable coach to Glasgow, the coach leaves at 8.00 am or 10.00 am (the 10.00 am coach from Lochgilphead goes direct to Glasgow airport) – the journey time is 2 hours and 35 minutes and it goes into the middle of the city centre.
- For either the train or the 8 am bus transfer, if you need to get to from the Glasgow city center to the airport there is a convenient 25-minute shuttle that runs every ten minutes, 24 hours a day.
*If you choose to fly in and out of Edinburgh there are shuttle services that you can take between Edinburgh and Glasgow. Please inquire for details.
Miscellaneous
- Local guided walks for the collection of wild foods to be used in the cooking classes
- Train or bus ticket for the return transfer to Glasgow
- Whiskey tasting session
- Engraved personalized whiskey flask
Country:
United Kingdom
Tour Dates:
Available select weeks for a minimum of one person. Please review our complete pricing details.
7 Nights
Starting at
$2,595
Accommodation Information
Your home away from home will be a genuine, private Scottish cottage.
We usually use one of 2 cottages, the Karibou Cottage and the Cairnbaan Cottage. (If unavailable, a comparable property will be proposed.)
Karibou Cottage
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Cairnbaan Cottage
Scotland Cooking Vacation Tour Pricing & Dates
Find pricing and dates for our week long Scotland food tours below, and contact us for availability or to book your trip.
2022 Low Season Pricing:
February - April; October - November
Week Long Scotland Cooking Vacation Pricing
US$2595 per person based on double occupancy
- Add US$640 for single occupancy (use of a double room by 1 person)
- Subtract US$125 per non-cooking companion
30% deposit due to confirm booking.
Balance payment due 90 days prior to tour start date. Questions? Please contact us!
Please note single supplement is to operate the week for 1 person. For 2 or more people regular rate ($2595 per person) applies.
2022 High Season Pricing:
May, July, August 1-13
Week Long Scotland Cooking Vacation Pricing
US$2975 per person based on double occupancy
- Subtract US$125 per non-cooking companion
30% deposit due to confirm booking.
Balance payment due 90 days prior to tour start date. Questions? Please contact us!
Please note pricing is for double or single occupancy rooms. Itinerary is not available for solo travelers during high season.
Scotland Cooking Vacations Tour Dates
Our cooking vacations in Scotland are available in low season weeks for 1 or more people. Our Scotland cooking vacations are available in high season weeks for 2 or more people. Not available in June & September.
Please note that the first people to book a week get to choose the optional excursions.
2022
High season:
May 14-21
July 16-23
July 23-30
July 30-August 6
August 6-13
August 13-20* Sold out
August 20-27* Sold out
August 27-September 3* Sold out
Low season – Fall
October 8-15
October 15-22
October 22-29
October 29-November 5
November 5-12
November 12-19
November 19-26
November 26-December 3
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We can help plan the best Scotland food tours!
We can help you with your flights, additional nights and tours, and more during your Scotland cooking vacation with The International Kitchen.
We might not be able to pack for you, but there are many things we can help with to make your Scotland culinary vacation that much better. Contact us today and start planning your private Scotland tour! Contact UsYou May Also Like Our Other Foodie Vacations
Country:
United Kingdom
Tour Dates:
Available select weeks for a minimum of one person. Please review our complete pricing details.
7 Nights
Starting at
$2,595
Want more flexibility? We can customize all of your trip details for you, including:
- Trip length and Itineraries
- Hotels and Tours
- Transfers and Airfare
Let us show you how we can create a complete package just for you. Contact Us