Best of the Scottish Highlands

Departing from Inverness Airport, you are instantly transported to the heart of the Highlands. It’s just a short journey to the beautiful village of Carrbridge, which will be our base for the next seven days. 

Nestling below the brooding Monadhliath Mountains, this traditional Scottish settlement is famous for its annual Golden Spurtle Competition, which sees enthusiasts from around the globe competing to be World Porridge Champion. 

After unpacking, why not spend the rest of the day exploring the village’s many delights in the lush Cairngorms National Park, including leafy forest walks and a stroll along the River Dulnain. 

Just a stone’s throw from your hotel is the famous 300-year-old Packhorse Bridge, with its dramatic, slender O-shape spanning the rushing river below. Built by local stonemason John Niccelsone in 1717, it’s the oldest stone bridge in the Highlands and has survived centuries of harsh Highland weather, despite its parapets being washed away by floods in 1839. 

After admiring this example of ancient craftsmanship, spend your evening relaxing over drinks and dinner and looking forward to the discoveries that lie ahead.

A hearty breakfast sets us up for what will be an exciting day as we prepare to explore our Highland playground. 

The first stop is the turreted splendour of Brodie Castle, home to a priceless collection of antiques and works of art. Surrounded by lush, rolling countryside, its distinctive rose-pink walls were the ancestral home of the prominent Brodie clan for more than 400 years. 

Why not take the opportunity to follow in their footsteps and enjoy a guided tour to discover more about its fascinating past? Explore the 16th-century guard chamber, with its thick stonework and formidable defences, then step into the neighbouring Victorian extension, complete with magnificent décor, fine furniture and dazzling array of paintings. The impressive library is worth the visit alone, with its towering shelves home to more than 6,000 volumes. 

Leaving this unforgettable landmark behind, our journey leads us along the Moray coast where we stop to discover the many delights of the historic town of Elgin, which is said to mean ‘beautiful place’ in Gaelic. 

Wander its maze of tiny alleys and admire the ruins of its famous cathedral, still standing after a fire in 1270. Known as the “Lantern of the North”, the cathedral is one of Scotland’s finest medieval buildings, famed for its ornate carved stonework. 

Later we wind our way home to our cosy hotel in time for dinner.

The capital of the Highlands is our first stop of the day as we discover the myriad delights of nearby Inverness. 

Explore this thriving city during our extended visit, browsing the charming Victorian Market and its numerous independent shops. 

Culture lovers will appreciate a tour of the city’s renowned Museum and Art Gallery, where the Highlands’ art, history, and heritage are displayed in all their glory. 

Leaving the city behind, we take a short jaunt to admire the scenic Black Isle, which despite its name, is a colourful peninsula surrounded by water on three sides. 

At its northernmost tip is the nautical town of Cromarty or “crooked bay” in Gaelic, where we can wander the beach under the watchful eye of its charming urban lighthouse. 

Our day ends on the waves as we board the Dolphin Spirit on a quest to spot the bottlenose dolphins that inhabit these waters. Cruising the Moray Firth, a guide will point out these elusive creatures and ensure we catch plenty of photographs if they appear. 

With our faces still tingling from the Firth spray, we head back to our hotel, where we can discuss the day’s many delights.

No tour of the Scottish Highlands is complete without a visit to its most famous body of water – the brooding and beautiful Loch Ness. 

Stretching 23 miles from top to toe, and 755ft at its deepest point, its icy surface is said to hide a mysterious monster affectionately known as ‘Nessie’ who has intrigued the world since her first sighting in 1933. 

Our monster hunt begins at the southern end of the loch, among the many small boats in the village of Fort Augustus, where the Caledonian Canal Centre gives an absorbing glimpse into the tributary that feeds Loch Ness via its series of locks. 

From here, we pass the ghostly ruins of Urquhart Castle, which has proudly stood guard over the surrounding area since medieval times. 

Arriving in Drumnadrochit, we’re now firmly in the middle of Nessie country, so a trip to the Loch Ness Exhibition Centre is essential. Here, we can find out more about the loch and its prehistoric resident and even take a boat trip to hunt for Nessie herself. Even if she doesn’t appear, there is still plenty of wildlife around, with an abundance of graceful cormorants and ospreys to watch before we head home.

All aboard! After talking to the water yesterday, we will today be making tracks on one of Scotland’s most famous railways. 

A generous breakfast sets us up nicely as we head south-east towards the busy resort of Aviemore, where we’ll take a ride into the past on the famous Strathspey Steam Railway. 

Climb aboard this beautifully restored vintage locomotive and enjoy the stunning scenery as we journey through the delights of the Cairngorms National Park. 

Steaming past five of Scotland’s highest peaks, we’ll take a magical 45-minute journey through the wonders of the Spey Valley, chuff-chuffing beside rich pine forests and moors alive with glorious purple heather. 

Keep your eyes peeled for the abundant wildlife that lives in these parts as we travel in style through the Highlands of yesteryear. 

The Strathspey region is also renowned for the production of whisky, so after we disembark, you’ll have the chance to make a pilgrimage to one of its finest distilleries. 

Here, you can take a guided tour to learn more about Uisge Beatha or the ‘water of life’ and sample a golden dram – or three! The charming village of Dalwhinnie itself is also worth a visit before we turn our eyes northwards and start for home.

After adventuring north and south, our compass is set for all points west today as we plot a course along the romantic Road to the Isles. 

Stretching from Fort William in the east to Mallaig on the far western coast, this 50-mile journey boasts some of the most spectacular scenery in the world, so remember to keep your camera handy! 

Leaving our hotel, we travel through Glen Spean, enjoying a variety of landscapes, from lush woodland to deserted white sands and moorland bursting with bright heather. 

Look out for fairy-tale Ardverikie House at the head of Loch Laggan. It recently played the part of Balmoral Castle in the Netflix series “The Crown”. 

Our first stop along the way is the Glenfinnan Visitor Centre, which stands in the shadow of the world-famous Glenfinnan Monument. Standing silently atop his 60ft high pillar, this proud Highlander looks out across the waters of Loch Shiel to the rolling mountains beyond. 

After pausing to absorb the history in this tranquil spot, it’s just a short uphill walk to another famous view – this time the Glenfinnan Viaduct. If you’re lucky, a train may be passing across its dramatic arches! 

Our adventure ends at the thriving fishing port of Mallaig, where a portion of its famous kippers are top of every visitor’s to-do list before returning eastwards.

Dawn breaks on our final day in the Scottish Highlands, but for some of us, the adventure is still not over. 

Your tour manager will advise the timings of the transfers back to Inverness Airport and the end of your tour. If your flight home departs later in the day you can stay a bit longer to enjoy a little more of the Highlands. 

If you plan to delay your departure, you can spend the morning in the ancient market town of Nairn. Once a popular Victorian seaside resort, the area is famed for its award-winning beaches and two championship golf courses, including Nairn Golf Club, home to ‘the Grand Old Man of Golf’ himself, Old Tom Morris. 

Nairn hosts an annual jazz jamboree and arts festival, as well as one of the biggest Highland games in Scotland. 

Stroll along the numerous riverside trails or take in the sweeping views across the Moray Firth while enjoying the seafront promenade. With three beaches to choose from, it’s the ideal opportunity to sample the clean Highland air before it’s time to leave. 

If you have time, why not pop into the town’s popular museum, where you can find out more about its famous visitors and residents, including King James VI of Scotland and Thomas Telford. 

The town’s charms are a fitting finale as you depart, reflecting on an unforgettable visit and returning home with cherished memories of the very best of the Highlands.