Loch Ness, Skye and Orkney

It’s time to join our tour to discover the beautiful Highlands and Islands!

From Edinburgh we travel westwards to Glasgow, Scotland’s largest city then make our way towards our first treat – beautiful Loch Lomond. We’ll make a stop in the picturesque loch-side village of Luss so that you can enjoy the stunning views.

Our ascent of the Black Mount brings us to the wilds of Rannoch Moor, a landscape of peat-bogs, craggy rocks and tiny lochs. This wilderness covers an area of some 50 square miles making it one of the remotest areas in Britain. As we make our way through this dramatic scenery listen as your driver/guide tells the story of the infamous Massacre of Glen Coe. Soon we will make a spectacular entry into the glen and make a stop so you can savour the atmosphere and capture the beauty of Scotland’s most famous valley.

Next we make our way through The Great Glen and past the soaring peaks of the Five Sisters mountain range to reach picture-perfect Eilean Donan Castle. This beautiful castle sits on a little island at the head of Loch Duich. There is time for you to explore the castle and enjoy the views before we cross over to the Isle of Skye using the road bridge.

Good morning! After breakfast we join our fellow travellers to explore Scotland’s most romantic island - Skye!

Our first treat is the jagged peaks that make up the Black and Red Cuillin. These untamed mountains are famed the World over for their challenges to climbing enthusiasts. We’ll make a stop so you can capture the scene from a popular viewpoint.

Next we travel northwards to explore the fascinating geology of the Trotternish Peninsula. Here we’ll find the volcanic landscape of the Trotternish Ridge which includes impressive pinnacles known as the Old Man of Storr and The Quiraing. We’ll also see Kilt Rock with its striking waterfall freefalling 60 metres to the sea below!

Enjoy time for lunch in Portree, the largest town on the island. It’s set around a picturesque natural harbour which make a great spot to enjoy some freshly cooked fish and chips!

Afterwards we travel westwards to visit Dun Beag Broch. The name means little fort and experts think this was the home of a local Chieftain. It’s amazingly well preserved so it needs little imagination to visualise how life might have been lived here by early man.

We’ll end our day on the Sleat peninsula, known as the garden of Skye. At picturesque Eilean Iarmain we’ll find Praban Na Linne - The Gaelic Whiskies. There’s time to discover how they produce whisky in the traditional way as well as enjoying a wee tasting too!

We return to the mainland and make our way to the mysterious banks of Loch Ness. On arrival in Fort Augustus, a pleasant village at the southern end of the loch, we bid farewell to our fellow passengers. For us the remainder of today is at leisure so why not enjoy a short Nessie spotting cruise or relax watching the boats navigate the locks on the Caledonian Canal.

If you are feeling more energetic there are several walks you can enjoy in the surrounding countryside.

Please note you will leave the first part of your tour on arrival in Fort Augustus. You will join a new group of travelling companions and meet your new driver-guide tomorrow (day four).

Start today with a drive along the banks of Loch Ness all the way to Inverness, the Capital of the Highlands. We’ll make our way through the city then across the Moray and Cromarty Firths. This part of our journey takes us along the famous North Coast 500 (NC500) route, Scotland’s own Route 66! There are wonderful sea views to experience as we make our way through the little towns and villages that are dotted along the coastline.

At Gill’s Bay we join the modern ferry for the short sail to the Orkney Isles. During our crossing of the Pentland Firth there is the chance to see a wide range of local wildlife including porpoises, seals, killer whales, puffins and other seabirds.

On our arrival in the Orkney Islands we’ll travel over the Churchill Barriers, constructed during World War II by Italian Prisoners of War. We’ll make a stop so you can visit the ornate chapel that they transformed from a simple Nissen hut.

We end our travels in Kirkwall, a bustling seaport and our base for the next two nights.

The Orkneys are home to a remarkable number of archaeological sites.

Today we’ll experience 6,000 years of history when we visit some of the most significant sites. Skara Brae is a prehistoric village that was occupied before the Pyramids were even built! During our visit see the streets, houses and artifacts that were uncovered after a dramatic storm in 1850. The relics discovered here present a fascinating insight into how life was lived some 5,000 years ago.

Maeshowe is an amazing burial chamber constructed by Neolithic stonemasons and features a roof of faultlessly cut sandstone. This masterwork was already ancient when the Vikings ransacked it 1,000 years ago and left their graffiti behind.

The imposing Ring of Brodgar was once a circle of 60 stones that stood on a narrow strip of land between two lochs. Today only 27 megalith stones remain, but at up to 4 metres tall they continue to be an impressive sight, as we will discover.

12th Century St Magnus Cathedral stands in the heart of Kirkwall so on our return we’ll end our day of discovery by visiting this magnificent example of Norman architecture.

We have free time in Kirkwall before we bid goodbye to Orkney and we make our way to St Margaret’s Hope to board the ferry for our return crossing of the Pentland Firth. We disembark in Gill’s Bay and travel southwards along the famous North Coast 500 route.

At Golspie we’ll stop so you can visit Dunrobin Castle, Scotland’s most northerly castle and the seat of the Earls and Dukes of Sutherland. This impressive castle has 189 rooms and was built with a strong French influence. Inside you’ll find remarkable paintings and fine furniture then step outside to explore the formal gardens which play host to a daily falconry display!

Our scenic drive will take us over the Cromarty Firth and through the Black Isle. We’ll arrive in Inverness, our home for tonight by late afternoon.

Our first visit today is to visit poignant Culloden Moor, the site of the last battle ever fought on British soil. Experience the sights and sounds of the battle at the Visitor Centre or take a walk on the battlefield to see where the Jacobite forces of Bonnie Prince Charlie were crushed by government troops. The result of the battle changed Highland culture for ever!

Our journey southwards will take us through the natural beauty of the Cairngorms National Park then through the Grampian Mountains to the charming Victorian resort of Pitlochry. We’ll make a stop here before travelling the last part of our journey to Edinburgh.