Skye, Loch Ness and Inverness Winter Small Group Tour

Leaving behind the busy streets of Edinburgh, we head for the motorway and the ancient city of Stirling. Enjoy the fine views of its magnificent castle and the imposing Wallace Monument.

Soon, we enter the Highlands and enjoy the views as we climb the Black Mount to reach the arresting bleakness of Rannoch Moor, a rugged landscape of peat bogs, lochs, and heather, where history, nature, and adventure await.

No Highland odyssey is complete without a pilgrimage to Scotland’s most famous – and haunting – valley. We’ll duly make a special stop in Glen Coe to learn about its bloody place in Scottish folklore, and hear how the MacDonald clan were put to the sword here in the infamous massacre of 1692, leading to the valley being dubbed ‘the glen of weeping’.

Our travels continue through Appin and Benderloch. Look out for the rushing Falls of Lora as we cross the Connel Bridge and make our way towards Oban, where we can walk its pier and sample freshly caught seafood.

With a traditional breakfast setting us up for the day, we leave the grand Victorian facades of Oban behind and head for the magical Isle of Skye.

Our travels take us to the popular resort of Fort William, which has attracted hikers, climbers and sightseers for nearly two centuries, drawn by its natural beauty and the mighty Ben Nevis, which towers above the town in all its 4,412ft glory.

Another giant landmark awaits us on the next leg of our journey as we meander along Thomas Telford’s Road to the Isles until we spy the 21 arches of the famous Glenfinnan Viaduct. Harry Potter fans will recognise it instantly from the films about the boy wizard!

Alongside the awe-inspiring bridge is the equally impressive Glenfinnan Monument, which serves as another solemn reminder of the area’s history, this time a tribute to the many 18^th-century Highlanders who fell in the Jacobite uprising.

The swooping peaks of The Great Glen make the perfect backdrop as we continue west ‘over the sea to Skye’ and arrive at our welcoming accommodation in the harbour town of Portree, with its cluster of colourful homes nestling snugly around the water’s edge. It’s here that we can rest and relax for the evening.

With excitement building, we’ll enjoy another hearty breakfast as we prepare to discover the many delights of the beautiful Isle of Skye.

Setting our sights north, we’ll soon start our tour of the spectacular Trotternish Peninsula, with its abundance of ancient riches.

On our visit to this fascinating coast, we see the colourful basalt columns of Kilt Rock, gently folded into the pleats that gave the unique landmark its name. A photo or two (or three) is an essential keepsake before we move on to visit the Old Man of Storr, a mighty 160ft column of rock pointing dramatically to the heavens.

Later, we’ll travel in the shadow of the magnificent Cuillin Hills, pausing at Sligachan to admire the sweeping views of the Black and Red Cuillins that have fascinated travellers for centuries.

Crossing the bridge back to the mainland, we will make a photo stop at magnificent Eilean Donan Castle. It has a stunning location on a tiny island where three great sea lochs converge. With the mountains of Kintail as a backdrop, your snaps will make a stunning souvenir of a true Highland experience!

Wonders of the natural kind are next on our agenda as we head north from a fairytale castle and travel through stunning Glen Shiel, watched all the way by the towering peaks of the Five Sisters of Kintail mountain range, which form an unforgettable backdrop.

Journey’s end is the Highland Capital of Inverness, our home for the next two nights.

After enjoying a Highland breakfast, anticipation builds as we reach the banks of mysterious Loch Ness, where its elusive inhabitant hides in the chilly depths. On the journey, your driver/guide will explain the legend of “Nessie”, the Loch Ness Monster.  

To get even closer to the fabled beast, there is the option to clamber aboard a boat and cruise the loch itself, with the proud ruins of Urquhart Castle another impressive sight.

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

Our day of sightseeing ends at Culloden Battlefield, where you can learn about the famous battle between the Jacobite army of Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Government troops. The outcome of this bloody clash was to change life in the Highlands forever.

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

With our appetite whetted for natural wonders, the delights of the Cairngorms National Park won’t disappoint as we wend our way southwards. Snaking a path through the beautiful Spey Valley, we’ll travel in the shadow of the majestic Cairngorm Mountains, which rise 4,000ft around us.

Our journey will pause so you can round off your adventure in style with a local distillery tour, where you can toast your five days of discovery by raising a glass of the ‘water of life’. Slàinte!

As we pass through the Drumochter Pass, watch for deer, eagles, and other wildlife that populate this ancient route between the Highlands and the Lowlands.

Reaching the heart of rural Perthshire, we’ll enjoy a break in one of its hidden gems for refreshments.

The final part of our journey takes us towards the ‘Fair City’ of Perth and then through the Kingdom of Fife. Our approach to Edinburgh will take us over the Firth of Forth, with panoramic views of the mighty Forth Bridge to enjoy. Our tour will end in Edinburgh City Centre.