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Highland Highlights

from Edinburgh

INCLUDES: Five nights accommodation in rooms with private facilities; full Scottish breakfast; excursions as detailed below by superior air-conditioned mini-coach; admission to a malt whisky distillery and the Clan Donald Centre Gardens; transportation by air-conditioned luxury touring coach (to/from Inverness); services of a tour host; service charges and taxes.

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 where you can enjoy these spectacular surroundings. Next we head for Fort William before driving through the Great Glen to Loch Ness for some monster spotting. It’s a short drive to Inverness, the capital of the Highlands, and our home for tonight.

The stay in Inverness is unescorted.

Today we enjoy a full day excursion to the beautiful island of Skye. From Inverness we travel to lonely Achnasheen for our first stop of the day. Beautiful Glen Carron is next before we cross “over the sea to Skye” and make our way to Sleat, the Garden of Skye. The gentle scenery that we see in this part of the island contrasts with the rugged beauty of the Cuillin Hills that we will discover later on our tour. We will make a visit to the Clan Donald Centre where there is time to explore the fabulous gardens. Later there is a scenic drive to view the dramatic Cuillin Hills and enjoy some beach combing. Back on the mainland we’ll make a stop so that you can enjoy an optional visit to Eilean Donan Castle, perched on its island at the head of Loch Duich. You will marvel at the views when we stop at this most picturesque of castles.

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 stop at a malt whisky distillery to discover the secrets of the distillers art. Our distillery tour ends with the chance to sample a wee dram! We’ll make a stop at Broomhill Station on the Speyside Railway where you have the opportunity of taking a nostalgic trip by steam train on this attractive line (optional). There’s free time in Aviemore, Scotland’s outdoor centre before returning to Inverness.

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.

There is an excursion to the scenic village of Cromarty 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. As we travel through Glen Garry look out for imposing Blair Castle. There’s a stop for afternoon tea then the rolling Perthshire countryside will guide us to Perth then homewards to journey’s end in Edinburgh or Glasgow.

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