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 it's 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-1900's. The town sits in the shadow of Ben Nevis, which, at 4,406 feet, is the tallest mountain in the UK.

Here we leave our tour coach and board the Jacobite Steam Train (see note below) for a journey of a life time on the famous West Highland Line – regarded by many as the most scenic in Britain! From Fort William the train travels along the banks of Loch Eil then crosses the famous Glenfinnan 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 wonderful 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 enjoy the views over the Sound of Sleat to the Magical Isle we board a ferry for our crossing "Over the sea to Skye”. A short drive brings us to our home for the next two nights.

Note: Departures of 11 May to 10 September, 2020 will travel on the Jacobite Steam Train. All other departures will include a cruise on Loch Ness and admission to Urquhart Castle instead.

Overnight: Isle of Skye (2 nights)

Day 3 - Isle of Skye Excursion

After breakfast we board our coach for a wonderful day of exploration. From the little villages and gentle scenery of the southern part of the island the views will change dramatically as the Cuillin Hills come into sight. Considered by many to be amongst the finest hills in Britain the Cuillins present a vista that is simply unforgettable.

Set round its natural harbour the picturesque town of Portree is the largest community on the Isle of Skye. The name of the town means the "King's Port" following a visit by King James V in 1540. Today the pretty painted houses which surround the harbour give Portree an old fashioned appeal. During our stop there will be time to explore the town and browse the interesting shops that surround Sumerled Square.

Later we tour the famed Trotternish Peninsula. From Portree we travel northwards to the little ferry port of Uig from where ferries sail to the Outer Herbrides. At little Kilmuir there is a monument to Flora MacDonald who, famously, assisted Bonnie Prince Charlie to escape the Government Troops who were hunting for him.

We'll stop to explore The Quiraing, a dramatic terrain formed by a landslide. We'll stop so you can 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!

Dun Beag is a well-preseved broch dating from the Iron Age that has 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 Portree.

Day 4 - Isle of Skye - Eilean Donan Castle - Loch Ness

We bid farewell to the Isle of Skye and return to the mainland.  We stop to visit picturesque Eilean Donan Castle. This is, without doubt, one of Scotland's most iconic sights. The castle stands on a little island situated at the confluence of Loch's Alsh and Duich. We'll have time to discover the castle for ourselves during our stop here.

Experience amazing scenery as we tour through Glen Shiel. Look out for the towering peaks of the mountain range known as the “Five Sisters of Kintail”. They make for an impressive sight.

From Invermoriston take a drive along the banks of mysterious Loch Ness. Enjoy time in the delightful village of Drumnadrochit then this afternoon why not mount a "Nessie" spotting cruise of your own or enjoy wonderful views of the lake from the battlements of mighty Urquhart Castle?

Overnight: Loch Ness

Day 5 - Loch Ness - Culloden Moor - Edinburgh/Glasgow

A short drive will take us to Inverness, the Capital of the Highlands, and then on to desolate Culloden Moor which was the site of the last battle ever fought on British soil. The Jacobite troops of Bonnie Prince Charlie and the British Army under the command of the Duke of Cumberland clashed here in a bloody battle. The Jacobites were routed and in the aftermath Highland life changed forever. We'll make a stop so that you can discover more about the battle and its dramatic consequences.

The Cairngorm 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. We’ll make a stop at a local Malt Whisky Distillery where you can enjoy an informative tour and have a tasting. Slàinte!

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

There are fine views of Blair Castle, the seat of the Dukes of Atholl – the only man allowed to have their own private army, The Atholl Highlanders. We’ll make a stop in the pretty town of Pitlochry, a gloriously colourful and vibrant Victorian town surrounded by the most resplendent mountain scenery in Europe. Its fame as a holiday resort dates from the 1860s and was a popular destination with Queen Victoria. We’ll spend time here so you soak up the atmosphere of this picturesque little town.

The final part of our journey together takes us through the heart of Highland Perthshire. As we travel southwards past the twin villages of Dunkeld and Birnam you will discover why this part of Scotland is called "Big Tree Country”! From Perth we travel through the Kingdom of Fife then cross the River Forth to reach to Edinburgh.

If the starting point of your tour was Glasgow the coach will make a stop at Edinburgh Waverley Station. Here 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.

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