Best of the Highlands - 4 day tour

Day 2 - Isle of Skye and Eilean Donan Castle Excursion

After breakfast we make our way to Garve then on through Strath Bran to the remote village of Achnasheen. From there we strike out through picturesque Glen Carron, stopping to enjoy the panoramic views over to the attractive village of Lochcarron which sits by the banks of a loch that shares its name.

We cross "over the sea to Skye” and follow the picturesque coastal route, enjoying the wonderful vista over the sea lochs to the Isle of Scalpay. There are grand views of the mighty Cuillin Hills too as we make our way to Portree, the island’s main town. We’ll make a stop here so you can discover the town on your own and enjoy time for lunch. The colourful houses that surround the harbour make a wonderful backdrop for an "I was there” selfie!

This afternoon we travel to Talisker, the only malt whisky distillery on the island. The whisky produced here has a unique peaty taste thanks to the natural spring water used in the production process. You can take an optional tour to discover more about the traditions of this famous whisky followed by a tutored tasting of the end product.

Later we make a stop to visit the Fairy Pools. After a 20 minute walk, we will reach the deep natural pools that are filled with the turquoise waters of the River Brittle after it cascades over a series of waterfalls. Local legend has it that the fairies use the pools for bathing.

Returning to the mainland we stop to photograph fairytale Eilean Donan Castle set on its little island on Loch Duich. Our return journey takes us through Glen Shiel, where the Five Sisters of Kintail will come into view. These soaring peaks are each over 3,000 feet (914 m) high!

The final part of our journey takes us through Glen Moriston to the timeless beauty of Loch Ness and onwards to Inverness.

Day 3 - John O’Groats and the Far North Excursion

Our destination today is the very edge of mainland Britain as we head for the Northern Highlands. We travel from Inverness over the Moray, Dornoch and Cromarty Firths to reach “Whisky Country”, a region home to several famous whiskies. These include Glenmorangie, which is produced in Tain, a town that can trace its history back to 1066.

On the outskirts of Golspie, we’ll stop to visit Carn Laith Broch, a well-preserved Iron-age broch which was built as a defensive settlement. With walls almost 4 metres high it makes an impressive sight overlooking the sea.

The Great North Road climbs “The Ord”, the gateway to the famous county of Caithness, where we reach picturesque Helmsdale, a village once the centre of a vast gold rush.

Historically, herring-fishing was the primary industry of Caithness. The importance of the “Silver Darlings”, as they were known, created little fishing villages such as Lybster and Dunbeath. Each has a natural harbour lying below the high and rugged cliffs. A stop here offers the opportunity to enjoy the seascapes.

After a souvenir photo stop in John O’Groats at the very tip of Scotland, it’s on to spectacular Duncansby Head to discover nature at its most striking. It’s well worth the short walk for the reward of beautiful views of the towering stacks, home to a large, varied, and noisy bird population.

We make a brief stop in Wick, before beginning the return journey to Inverness.

Day 4 - Inverness - Dolphin Spotting - Edinburgh

Our last day starts with a visit Clava Cairns, an ancient burial site surrounded by standing stones which date back over 4,000 years. Fans of the Outlander novels will be interested to know that this is where Diana Gabaldon is thought to have taken inspiration for Craigh Na Dun, the split-stone where Claire falls back in time to 1743.

Next, there is a brief stop at Culloden Moor, where you can take a walk on the battlefield site where the Jacobite army of Bonnie Prince Charlie was routed by the Government troops.

After a drive through Glen Convinth, we reach the attractive town of Beauly. The monks who built Beauly Priory in the 13th Century called it Beau Lieu or beautiful place. It's easy to see why.

Our tour continues through the Black Isle to reach Cromarty, a historic fishing port on the Cromarty Firth. After enjoying some free time make for Chanonry Point, a popular vantage point to spot the community of bottlenose dolphins that live in the Moray Firth.

On the outskirts of Inverness, join your motorcoach for the tour south. The route will take us into the spectacular Cairngorms National Park then the Spey Valley, for the best views of the Cairngorm Mountains. There’s dramatic scenery all around as we travel through the Pass of Drumochter and head for Highland Perthshire.

After a break in delightful Pitlochry, we continue through the rolling countryside to Perth. The final part of our journey is through the Kingdom of Fife then over the Firth of Forth to journey's end in Edinburgh.

The order in which excursions are operated may vary.

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