This comprehensive five day tour will give you real insight into the spectacular Highlands of Scotland.

From Edinburgh and Glasgow we will make our way via lonely Rannoch Moor to the beauty of Glen Coe. There is a stop in the heart of the Glen before heading for Fort William. Drive through the Great Glen to Loch Ness, where we can visit Urquhart Castle and take a monster spotting cruise (optional). Our tour is based in Inverness, the capital of the Highlands for the next four nights.

The stay in Inverness is unescorted.

We leave Inverness and head across the Black Isle to the Cromarty Firth where, depending on tide conditions, we may see our first seals. We will make a stop in the town of Golspie. High above the town is an astonishing statue, 27m (90') high. This is of the First Duke of Sutherland, whose agents were involved in the most notorious of the Clearances in the Highlands during the 19th century. We’ll hear more about this sad episode in the history of Scotland as we head North. Caithness grew rich with the development of the herring fishing industry in the 19th century and as a result there are many exceptionally beautiful harbours - as we will discover. There are telescopes available on-board our mini-coach to let you marvel at the wide range of birds & wildlife including Puffins (until early August) and red deer (the "Monarch of the Glen"), which are seen on almost all tours. There are several stops along the way to give you ample opportunity to relax and take a stroll amidst this beautiful scenery.

Our day starts with a visit to handsome Grantown on Spey. Later we will join the whisky trail and after a scenic drive along the banks of the River Spey there is a stop at a malt whisky distillery. Our visit will unveil the secrets of the distillers art and at the end of our tour there will be the chance to sample a wee dram! Broomhill Station (also known as Glenbogle Station to viewers of the popular BBC programme “Monarch of the Glen”) sits on the Speyside Railway (optional). We’ll make a stop here to give you the opportunity of taking a nostalgic trip by steam train on this attractive line. There’s free time in Aviemore, Scotland’s outdoor activity centre before returning to Inverness.

This morning there is an excursion through the scenic Black Isle followed by free time in Inverness before joining our motorcoach for the tour south. Our route will take us to the gentle Spey Valley then through the dramatic scenery of the Drumochter Pass. There’s a stop for afternoon tea in the heart of scenic Perthshire. The rolling Perthshire countryside will guide us to Perth then we head homewards to journey’s end in Edinburgh or Glasgow.