Arrive into Edinburgh International Airport and be welcomed by our local chauffeur-guide, who will accompany you for the duration of the trip. Travel to the world renowned Gleneagles resort. When Gleneagles first opened its doors in 1924, it was quickly dubbed the Playground of the Gods. Today, its claim to that title is undiminished: experience for yourself the divine setting, dining and facilities of the resort over the following two days. Relax in this world-class property and perhaps participate in one of the resort pursuits. As the saying goes; “There are many beautiful places in the world. There are many great hotels. There are many famous golf courses and resorts. There is only one Gleneagles”

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To  ensure  the  very  best  and  most  enjoyable  golf  experience,  begin  your journey  with  a  session  at  the  PGA  National  Academy  for  Scotland.  Here, they will cover the unique skills  necessary  to  perfect  your  putt,  drive  or  chip. Thereafter,  play  the  PGA  Centenary  Course,  created  by  Jack  Nicklaus.  Even for a champion and  acclaimed  golf  architect  like  Nicklaus,  The  PGA  Centenary  Course  was  a  challenge.  It  had  to  be  a  great  golf  course  and,  set  as  it  is  in  the  heart  of  Scotland,  the  country  that  gave  the  world  golf,  Nicklaus  described  the  course  as  “The  finest  parcel  of  land  in  the  world  I  have  ever  been  given  to  work  with”.  It  is  said  to  combine  the  best  of  both  the  Queens  and  the  Kings.  This parkland course was the Host Venue for the 2014 Ryder Cup, where  the  cream of  European  and  American  golf  battled  it  out  on  Scottish  soil  for  the  first  time  in  more  than  40  years. In the  words  of  Bobby  Jones,  its  offers  “problems  a  man  may  attempt  according  to  his  ability…  never hopeless for the lesser player  nor  failing  to  concern  and  interest the  expert.”

In the afternoon enjoy a private tour of Scone Palace, seat of the Earl and Countess of Mansfield whose family have lived there for over 400 years. Fifteen hundred years ago it was the capital of the Pictish Kingdom and centre of the ancient Celtic church and in the intervening centuries it has been the home of Parliaments, the crowning place of kings and immortalised in Shakespeare’s Macbeth

Refreshments will be served privately in the former private apartments of the Earl of Mansfield prior to returning to Gleneagles.

This morning, enjoy your first Scottish links course as you travel east and play Carnoustie Golf Links, reputed to be one of the toughest courses in Scotland. It has provided The Open Championship with many of its most notable winners. At its first Open, in 1931, the winner was Tommy Armour, a First World War veteran who was blind in one eye; in 1937, Henry Cotton won the second of his three Opens in horrendous weather conditions.

Then enjoy a private guided tour of magical Glamis Castle. It has been the ancestral home of the Strathmore family for over 600 years but it is perhaps best known as the childhood home of Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother. Highlights include the Royal Apartments which are unique to Glamis as they include the suite of rooms arranged by the 13th Countess of Strathmore following the marriage of her daughter, Lady Elizabeth Bowes Lyon to Albert Duke of York in 1923. In 1936 the couple ascended the throne as HRH King George VI and HRH Queen Elizabeth.

Play either the oldest “new” course in the world, set out in 1895 by Old Tom Morris, or the Jubilee Course, which was named in honour of Queen Victoria for her Diamond Jubilee. It is widely regarded to be the most challenging and toughest of the courses in St Andrews. Then, explore the town. Browse the Tom Morris Store opened by the golfing great himself in 1866, making it the oldest golf shop in the world. Explore the British Golfing Museum’s unsurpassed collection of memorabilia, which tells the story of golf from the Middles Ages through to the present day.

The fourth and final tee is the Old Course. To play the hallowed grounds of what is affectionately called the “Old Lady” is often viewed as the pinnacle in any golfer’s history. The course remains essentially unchanged from the days of Old Tom Morris. The double fairways, double greens and natural bunkering combine to produce a set of strategic demands on the golfer which are unmatched and completely unique.

“I fell in love with it the first day I played it. There’s just no other golf course that is even remotely close” Jack Nicklaus

Depart St Andrews and travel south to Edinburgh, pausing to admire the iconic Forth Railway Bridge. Built in 1890, it is a much celebrated Scottish landmark and a milestone in the development of railway civil engineering. Such is its importance that the bridge was recently awarded UNESCO World Heritage status.

Your final accommodation, The Caledonian – a Waldorf Astoria Hotel is converted from a Victorian railway hotel and nestles under the shadow of Edinburgh Castle. Affectionately known as “The Caley”by locals, it has embodied the very best in Scottish hospitality for over a hundred years.

This morning, an early start is required for your pre-opening private guided tour and breakfast at Edinburgh Castle. From its volcanic rock, it towers over the city. Highlights start as soon as you find yourself on the cobbled Esplanade. Step inside the ancient walls and learn of the royalty who lived and died here and the struggles for control of the nation. Take time to explore the Royal Mile. It lies at the heart of the Old Town and is arguably one of the most famous streets in the world. Delving into the Old Town is like leafing through the pages of a dusty historical novel as each era unfolds with its own legends and characters.

At the end of the day, perhaps saving the best for last, see the former Royal Yacht Britannia. Opened exclusively, your VIP experience commences with a “quayside arrival” and from here, you will see the ship in all her splendour. Board via a red carpet on the Royal Brow, a practice previously reserved for members of the Royal Family and visiting dignitaries.

Spend time final sight-seeing or shopping for souvenirs before our chauffeur transfers you to Edinburgh Airport for your onward flight.