Isle of Skye Explorer

After a short drive from Edinburgh and Glasgow, we leave the Lowlands behind and enter the beauty of the Scottish Highlands.

After enjoying a break in the village of Tyndrum, we make our way through sprawling Rannoch Moor, a wilderness of forbidding mountains and enveloping peat bogs. The natural desolation of the moor provided a safe refuge for the great Scottish freedom fighters - Robert the Bruce and William Wallace.

Awesome Glen Coe is known as the "Glen of Weeping" after the infamous massacre in 1692 of 38 MacDonalds for not forswearing the Jacobite cause. Today the glen is a much more peaceful place and is a popular venue for outdoor pursuits. We'll make a stop so you can enjoy a short walk amongst the stunning scenery surrounding us.

After a break for lunch in a Highland village, we will stop to enjoy the panorama of Ben Nevis, Britain's tallest mountain.

The Great Glen is a dramatic and picturesque valley famed for its fast-flowing rivers and deep lochs. This is a land of bitter clan disputes. As we enter the village of Invergarry, look for the "Well of the Seven Heads" monument commemorating a particularly gruesome incident!

Glen Shiel is flanked by a mountain range known as "The Five Sisters of Kintail", four of which are over 3,000 ft (915 m), and they provide a spectacular aperitif for our crossing "Over the sea to Skye". Portree, the island's main town, will be our home for the next two nights.

The Island of Skye is the largest of the Inner Hebrides and boasts some of the finest mountain scenery in Scotland. The island's history includes Viking invasions, bloody clan feuds and, of course, the sad tale of Bonnie Prince Charlie. Today we'll visit all the key sights, and you'll get insight into why this is such a special place.

After breakfast, enjoy some free time in Portree, which sits around its quaint harbour with its many multi-coloured buildings.

Later we board our coach and make our way to ancient Dunvegan Castle, the 800-year-old seat of the Macleods of Skye. There has been a castle on this site since the 13th Century, and its treasures include the famous Fairy Flag, said to bring good luck to the Clan in time of trouble. Dunvegan also has beautiful gardens, which provide a marvellous oasis.

The Cuillin hills are always part of the island's scenery and can be seen from almost everywhere on the island. But the pinnacles of the Black Cuillins and the great slabs of the Red Cuillins are only part of the fantastic scenery of Skye.

In the Trotternish Peninsula, our next destination, we'll find a ridge which runs for around 20 miles and creates an almost Jurassic landscape. Look out for the Old Man of Storr, a vast black monolith which stands on its own and is over 58 metres tall. Further on, we'll see Kilt Rock, which resembles the pleats on a kilt, as the name suggests!

During our drive, we will stop to visit the grave of Flora Macdonald, who famously helped Bonnie Prince Charlie escape from the Government troops that were searching for him.

After an enjoyable day of sightseeing, we'll return to Portree in time for dinner.

Our time on the Isle of Skye, sadly, comes to an end. As we make our way towards the mainland, we are rewarded with our last views of the stunningly beautiful Cuillin Hills.

Eilean Donan Castle must surely be one of the most photographed castles in the world. Sitting on a little island where three lochs merge, it presents a picture-postcard image. We'll make a stop so you can walk over the bridge and through the ornate gates to explore the castle and enjoy the beautiful views.

Loch Ness needs no introduction. We'll visit Fort Augustus, where, after lunch, you can take a stroll along the banks and gaze out over the mysterious waters that are said to be inhabited by the elusive Nessie, The Loch Ness Monster!

Our transit of picturesque Glen Spean will bring us to the ever-changing scenery of the Cairngorms National Park, then through the Drumochter Pass to Highland Perthshire, "big tree country". Our last stop of the day will be in Pitlochry, which just oozes Victorian charm.

The last part of our journey together will take us through the Kingdom of Fife, which has a long and rich history with many Royal connections.

Finally, we will cross the Forth Road Bridge, which affords stunning views of the iconic Forth Bridge and the new Queensferry Crossing. All too soon, we will arrive in Edinburgh and the end of this fabulous tour.

If you started your tour in Glasgow, the coach will pause at Edinburgh Waverley Station. Here you catch the express train back to Glasgow. The train operates every 30 minutes, and the journey is only 50 minutes. The fare is included in the cost of the tour.