Skye and the Scottish Highlands - 3 day tour
Skye and the Scottish Highlands
3 day / 2 night tour
No visit to Scotland is complete without a visit to the Isle of Skye and on this tour you’ll do it in style! Visit iconic sites like Rannoch Moor, Glen Coe and Loch Ness. Over the sea to Skye and you’ll see the towering peaks of the Cuillin Hillss then explore the famed Trotternish Peninsula to see Kilt Rock, The Quiraing and the Old Man of Storr. Spend time in colourful Portree then, back on the mainland, visit picturesque Eilean Donan Castle and emotive Culloden Moor.
Price range: £225 - £425
Loch Lomond - explore the village of Luss and enjoy the views of the “bonnie, bonnie banks”
Portree - relax in this attractive fishing port, the largest town on Skye
Trotternish - see the unique lunar landscape created by massive landslips centuries ago
Eilean Donan Castle - visit this iconic castle sitting on its little island
Culloden Moor - discover the story of Bonnie Prince Charlie and his attempt to capture the British Crown
Movie locations - The BFG, Braveheart and Rob Roy
Guest house accommodation included - hotel upgrade option available
Full Tour Itinerary
Select Day:
Day 1 - Edinburgh/Glasgow - Eilean Donan Castle - Isle of Skye
Departing Edinburgh and Glasgow our journey together starts as we make our way into the Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park. We’ll make a stop in the picturesque village of Luss to explore this delightful village and enjoy the views of the "bonnie, bonnie banks".
As our coach ascends the "Black Mount" there are wonderful views of Loch Tulla below. Soon we are amidst the remote beauty of Rannoch Moor. This unspoilt landscape extends over 50 square miles and is one of the great wildernesses of Europe! Spectacular and moody - Glen Coe is quite simply awesome! We will make a photo stop in Scotland's most famous glen. No matter the weather you are sure to be inspired by this very special place.
Fort William enjoys a scenic location overlooking the banks of Loch Linnhe. After a stop for lunch our next treat, hopefully, will be wonderful views of Ben Nevis, Britain's tallest mountain.
The Great Glen provides an impressive landscape of lochs and mountains that were formed many millions of years ago. Sit back and marvel at the impressive backdrop as we travel along the banks of Loch Lochy and Oich. In the village of Invergarry watch out for the "Well of the Seven Heads", a monument with a very bloody tale to tell!
Glen Shiel is home to the "Five Sisters of Kintail", a range of five mountains whose impressive peaks are over 3,000 feet high. Soon picturesque Eilean Donan Castle will come into view. 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.
Soon we travel "over the sea to Skye" by the modern road bridge and head to our accommodation for the next two nights.
Overnight: Isle of Skye (2 nights)
Day 2 - Exploring the Isle of Skye
It's an exciting day ahead as we explore the beauty of the Isle of Skye. The towering Cuillin Hills give Skye its breathtaking beauty. Considered by many to be amongst the finest hills in Britain the Cuillins present a vista that is simply unforgettable.
The picturesque town of Portree, the island's largest community. 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 as we shall discover.
The famed Trotternish Peninsula. We will travel northwards to the little 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 escape from the troops that were hunting him by sailing him "over the sea to Skye" disguised as her maid.
We'll stop to explore The Quiraing, a dramatic terrain formed by a massive landslide. Here you can walk through a landscape that dates from Jurassic times and as you do see if you can identify the rock formations whose descriptions are 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 - it's well worth the effort to snap an "I was there" photograph!
Dun Beag is an excellent example of a broch: a kind of Iron Age round stone tower only found in Scotland. It stands at the top of a rocky knoll commanding excellent views overlooking Loch Bracadale and the Cuillin Hills. It would have been built around 2,000–2,500 years ago and today it is ours to discover!
Day 3 - Isle of Skye - Culloden Moor - Edinburgh/Glasgow
We bid farewell to Skye as we return to the mainland and make our way to moody Loch Ness where you’ll have the chance to visit Urquhart Castle and enjoy a monster-spotting cruise.
Bustling Inverness, is known as the Capital of the Highlands. On the outskirts of this fast growing city lies notorious Culloden Moor. It was here in 1746 that Bonnie Prince Charlie's dreams of capturing the Crown for the Stuart dynasty came to a bloody end. His Jacobite army was routed by the Government troops under the command of the Duke of Cumberland. The aftermath was particularly brutal such that it changed life in the Highlands forever.
The next part of our journey takes us through the Cairngorm National Park. We'll pass the remote village of Dalwhinnie then descend through the Drumochter Pass, which has linked the Highlands to the Lowlands since the earliest of times.
Nestling amongst spectacular scenery, and overlooked by Ben-y-Vrackie mountain, the pretty Highland Perthshire town of Pitlochry has attracted visitors since the days of Queen Victoria. You're sure to be enthralled by it's charm.
From Perth we’ll make our way through the ancient Kingdom of Fife then across the River Forth to reach Edinburgh
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 time is only 50 minutes or so. The fare is included in the cost of the tour.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I expect on this Signature Multi-Day Tour
For the discerning traveller a Signature Multi-day Tour offers amazing value for money, comfortable accommodation, well-paced sightseeing and luxury travel. All of this combines to create the definitive Scottish experience. Each tour is hosted by a professional driver/guide, who has been chosen for their extensive knowledge as well as their driving skills. And being locals you are sure to get that extra insight. If you should have any problems during your stay, they’ll go out of their way to help. You will want to see as much as possible, but you don’t want to be rushed. Our tours are carefully planned to strike the right balance, and as well as comfortable mini/midicoach travel many feature memorable railway or ferry journeys. Having somewhere pleasant to stay after an exciting day of discovery is an important part of your holiday experience. Comfortable guest house accommodation with en-suite bathrooms, tv and other amenities is included in the price of all tours. On many tours you can choose to upgrade to hotel accommodation, at extra cost, if you wish. A tasty Scottish breakfast is included each morning of your stay.
What are the optional extras on this tour and how much do they cost?
To give you maximum flexibility the cost of admission fees and other optional extras are not included in the tour price. This gives you complete freedom to choose as the mood takes you. On this tour the optional visits are:
Eilean Donan Castle
Loch Ness Cruise
Culloden Moor Visitor Centre
Following the links above will give you more information on each attraction including current admission prices. At some locations a special discount is offered to tour participants, your driver/guide will give you more information if this applies. Credit/debit cards are not always accepted so you should plan to have sufficient cash with you should you wish to make any visits.
Tell me more about the optional Loch Ness Cruise?
Mount your very own Nessie adventure by taking a one hour cruise to explore the deep, dark and mysterious waters of Loch Ness. The cruise boat is equipped with on-board sonar, comfortable seating inside and out as well as toilets. Refreshments are available for purchase or you can bring packed food. You can purchase a ticket from your driver/guide on the day of the tour and payment is in cash only.
What type of room should I choose?
There are different bedrooms types to choose from, here is what you can expect: Single room - one person sleeping in a single bed. Twin room - two people sleeping in two separate beds. Double room - two people sharing one large bed. Family room - three people sharing a room sleeping in one large bed (2 people) and one single bed (1 person). Please note that a family room can be a standard double room with either a sofa bed or a rollaway bed.
How many people will be in the group?
The group size is normally between 16 and 29 passengers.
Inclusions
Accommodation
- 2 nights guest house or hotel accommodation
- Location: Isle of Skye (2)
Meals
- Scottish/Continental breakfast (2)
Tour Essentials
- Transportation by luxury air-conditioned mini/midi coach
- Live commentary in English
- Services of an experienced driver/guide
- Service charges and taxes
Exclusions
- Admission charges
- Meals, snacks or items of a personal nature
- Gratuity to your driver/guide
Departure information
From Glasgow
From Parish Hall Coach Tour Stop
266 George Street
Glasgow G1 1QX
Check-in: 09:30 hrs
Tour Departs: 09:45 hrs
Tour Returns: 20:00 hrs
From Edinburgh
From 1 Parliament Square
Royal Mile/High Street
Edinburgh EH1 1RE
Check-in: 08:15 hrs
Tour Departs: 08:30 hrs
Tour Returns: 19:00 hrs
Child details
Concession discount applies to adults aged 60 years and above; students and children aged 3 to 15 years inclusive.
We’re really sorry but children aged under 3 years cannot travel on this tour.
Photo-ID may be requested to confirm discount entitlement.
Price Notes
Book Assured
Book by paying a 20% deposit. Make date changes or get a full refund with 8 days notice before travel. Click here for more information.
Accommodation
The price of this tour includes guest house accommodation with en-suite bathroom. You can up-grade to hotel accommodation at extra cost during the booking process.
Luggage Allowance
One medium sized suitcase/bag per person (maximum weight: 15 kilos)
Admission Prices
In order to give you maximum flexibility admission fees are not included in the cost of this tour.
Flexi-tour
This tour departs from Edinburgh and Glasgow. You can choose to return to either city at no extra charge! Please make your selection during the booking process.
FAQs
Please see the FAQ section for more information on this tour.
Product code
HEX 00173
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Customer Reviews Overall Rating:
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Rating: 17 Mar 2020
We really enjoy our trip. Our guide, Kelly, was really fantastic and took real care of us. Great experience!
from Alcala de Henares, ES
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Rating: 29 Dec 2019
Brilliant tour - excellent locations, good services and a brilliant guide. Well worth it!
from London, GB
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Rating: 21 Dec 2019
Thoroughly enjoyed the trip, amazing scenery, great tour guide with an awesome bunch of people!
from Manchester, NZ
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