Magical Skye and the Jacobite Steam Train Small Group Tour

Heading south from Inverness, our odyssey begins on the mysterious shores of Loch Ness. Here, we make a brief scenic stop to admire the atmospheric ruins of historic Urquhart Castle. 

Keep your eyes peeled for the legendary ‘Nessie’ as we pause at the dramatic ruins of Urquhart Castle, where sweeping panoramic views stretch across the loch.

Our journey continues through the beauty of the Great Glen, where we’ll stop at the Commando Memorial to see the towering bulk of Ben Nevis, Britain’s tallest mountain. 

More breathtaking views await as we board the famous Jacobite Steam Train (the real Hogwarts Express from the Harry Potter movies). Our journey on the West Highland Line is claimed to be one of the World’s best rail journeys, but we’ll let you be the judge!   (not available on April 07, April 28 or September 06 departures)

See Ben Nevis from a different angle as we leave Fort William, then travel over the famous Glenfinnan viaduct. Enjoy great views of Loch Eilt before the beautiful sands of Morar stretch out ahead of us as we make our way into Mallaig. 

There’s free time to enjoy lunch before catching the ferry “Over the sea to Skye”. Landfall is the port of Armadale on the Sleat Peninsula. Back aboard our coach, there are stunning views of the Cullin Hills as we head to the colourful harbour town of Portree, where accounts of feuds, folklore and faeries accompany the finest local seafood and whisky.

An enjoyable day of history and impressive scenery awaits. Our tour starts at the magical Fairy Pools. The 2.4 km walk is rewarded with a series of natural pools and waterfalls where the blue and green water provides a magical appearance.

Positioned at the head of Loch Dunvegan is the delightful village of Dunvegan, our lunchtime destination. After enjoying the local delicacies, there will be time to stroll around the village to admire the views and explore the local craft shops.

This afternoon we tour through the Jurassic scenery of the Trotternish Peninsula. 

History surrounds us at every turn – not least at Kilmuir and its moving memorial to Flora MacDonald. Here, you’ll hear the fascinating tale of how she disguised Bonnie Prince Charlie as her maid to help him flee Government troops in 1746 before escaping ‘o’er the sea to Skye’. 

Stop to enjoy a stimulating walk through The Quiraing to explore one of the most surprising and exciting rock formations in the British Isles. 

Our tour continues to Kilt Rock, whose cliff face is formed of black basalt columns that are said to resemble the folds of the garment that give this landmark its name. Later we’ll see the impressive 50m (165 ft) high pinnacle named The Old Man of Storr before returning to Portree.

A hearty Highland breakfast is an essential start to our last day of discovery. So after enjoying traditional Scottish fare, we return to the mainland and make the short journey to see Eilean Donan, one of Scotland’s most attractive castles. It sits on a little island at the head of Loch Duich and has been featured in several movies, including Highlander and James Bond.  

Our next visit is the attractive town of Beauly. It is thought that the town was named “Beau Lieu” - Beautiful Place, by the French monks who built a Priory here in the 13th Century. It was visited by Mary, Queen of Scots, in 1564 and still stands in the centre of the town, surrounded by trees. 

There’s a stop at a malt whisky distillery where we can discover how “uisge beatha” is made using time-honoured methods and enjoy a taste of the end product. 

After a short drive, there’s a brief stop at Culloden Battlefield, where you can learn about the famous battle, in 1746, between the Jacobite army of Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Government troops.  

Our last visit is to Clava Cairns, a group of three prehistoric burial cairns surrounded by standing stones. This scenic setting is thought to have inspired the Outlander author, Diana Gabaldon, to create the cleft stone of Craigh Na Dun, where Claire time-travels back to 1743. 

Our tour ends in the Highland Capital in the early evening.