Road to the Isles - 5 day tour

Day 2 - Oban - Glen Coe - Isle of Skye

We bid farewell to Oban and make our way to the Connel Bridge. As we cross Loch Etive look out for the Falls of Lora below. Glen Coe is arguably Scotland's most famous Glen partly because of its awe-inspiring beauty and, more sinisterly, because of the infamous massacre that took place here in 1692. The sad tale will be told as we make a short diversion to explore this special place for ourselves.

Fort William's glorious setting on the banks of Loch Linnhe has made it a popular tourist destination since the arrival of the steamships in the mid-1900s. The town sits in the shadow of Ben Nevis, which, at 4,406 feet, is the tallest mountain in the UK.

On selected tours* we leave our coach in Fort William and board the famous Jacobite Steam Train for an unforgettable trip on the scenic West Highland Line.

Chuffing out of the station, we follow the banks of Loch Eil to reach Glenfinnan, where the train crosses the famous Viaduct featured in the Harry Potter movies as part of the route to Hogwarts.

Look out for the Glenfinnan Monument, built to commemorate the ill-fated Jacobite up-rising of Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1745.

The scenic journey continues with beautiful views of Lochs Eilt, Ailort and nan Uamh before reaching the silver sands of Morar (made famous in the popular film Local Hero) and Mallaig.

After some free time to explore this historic fishing port, we board a ferry to cross “Over the sea to Skye”.

A short drive brings us to our island home for the next two nights.

* Departures from 6 May to 26 September 2024

All other departures will include a cruise on Loch Ness and a visit to Urquhart Castle instead. The journey between Mallaig and Fort William will be undertaken by road.

Overnight: Isle of Skye (2 nights)

Day 3 - Isle of Skye Excursion

We have an entire day to explore the magical Isle of Skye.

As we start our scenic tour, the Cuillin Hills come into sight. These towering peaks are considered by many to be amongst the finest hills in Britain.

There will be a stop at Sligachan, where the Black and Red Cuillins almost come together. It makes for a simply unforgettable vista.

Set round its natural harbour, the picturesque town of Portree is the largest community on the Isle of Skye and is our next stop. The town's name means the "King's Port" following a visit by King James V in 1540.

Today the pretty painted houses surrounding the harbour give Portree an old-fashioned appeal. There will be time to explore the town and browse the eclectic shops surrounding Somerled Square.

Later we will tour the famed Trotternish Peninsula, where our first stop will be at the Skye Museum of Island Life. Here we step back 100 years to visit some traditional thatched cottages to learn how islanders lived in times gone by.

When we visit The Quiraing, there's a chance to take a walk through a landscape that dates from Jurassic times! See if you can identify the rock formations that are known as the "Needle", "Table" and "Prison".

A short drive brings us to Kilt Rock, so named because the basalt columns of this rock fall to resemble the pleats of a kilt - we will stop so you can snap an "I was there" photograph!

Next, we come to The Old Man of Storr, a towering obelisk 49m (160 ft) tall. It's an iconic image that will almost certainly appear on your social media feed.

Dun Beag is a well-preserved broch dating from the Iron Age with a commanding position overlooking Loch Bracadale. This type of round stone tower is unique to Scotland and is thought to have been built as a small fort over 2,000 years ago.

After time to explore this ancient monument, we'll make our way back to our accommodation

Day 4 - Isle of Skye - Eilean Donan Castle - Inverness

We bid farewell to the Isle of Skye and return to the mainland.  

It's a short drive to our first stop at beautiful Eilean Donan Castle. The castle has, quite literally, a picture-postcard setting standing on a little island at the confluence of Loch's Alsh and Duich. We'll have time to visit this romantic fortress to discover its fascinating history.

Experience stunning scenery as we tour through Glen Shiel, where the towering peaks of the mountain range known as the "Five Sisters of Kintail" make an impressive sight.

From Invermoriston, drive along the banks of mysterious Loch Ness to reach the delightful village of Drumnadrochit. You can choose to relax here and maybe visit the famous Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition, which tells the story of Loch Ness and its famous inhabitant.

If you would like to increase your chances of spotting Nessie, why not take a short cruise on the loch to see the impressive ruins of Urquhart Castle?

Later, we head to the vibrant Highland capital of Inverness, our home for tonight.

Overnight: Inverness

Day 5 - Inverness - Culloden Moor - Edinburgh/Glasgow

A short drive will take us to desolate Culloden Moor, the site of the last battle ever fought on British soil. The Jacobite troops of Bonnie Prince Charlie met the British Army here in a bloody battle.

The Jacobites were routed, and Highland life changed forever in the aftermath. You can discover more about the battle and its dramatic consequences during our visit.

Close by sits Clava Cairns, an extensive group of standing stones and burial cairns. It's said that this Bronze Age site inspired Outlander author Diana Gabaldon to create the fictional stone circle, Craigh na Dun.

The Cairngorms National Park is an area of stunning natural beauty, as we will discover. As we journey through the Spey Valley, the Cairngorm Mountains, which rise to over 4000 feet, provide a striking backdrop.

Wild mountain vistas surround us as we descend the Drumochter Pass, the main route into the highlands since the earliest of times.

We'll stop in the pretty town of Pitlochry, a busy Victorian holiday resort in the heart of Highland Perthshire. We'll spend time here, so you soak up the atmosphere of this picturesque little town.

If you want, you can visit the local Malt Whisky Distillery, where you can enjoy an informative tour and have a tutored tasting of the end product. Slàinte!

The final part of our journey takes us through the Kingdom of Fife, then across the River Forth to reach Edinburgh.

If the starting point of your tour was Glasgow, the coach will stop at Edinburgh Waverley Station. You'll board an express train for the 50-minute journey back to Glasgow. The ticket price is included in the cost of the tour fare.