Skye, Loch Ness and Inverness

Good morning and welcome aboard! Our tour departs from Edinburgh and heads northwards, passing Stirling, where we will get great views of Stirling Castle and the impressive Wallace Monument. After leaving the pleasant town of Callander, we’ll enter the Highlands and head for Rannoch Moor, a unique wilderness that stretches as far as the eye can see. 

Glen Coe is famed for its dramatic scenery, and as we head into the Glen, we’ll hear the tragic tale of the infamous massacre of the MacDonald Clan in 1692. There’s a stop in the heart of the valley, so you can capture the scene. It makes a great post on social media.

Next, we travel along the banks of Loch Leven and head southwards to meander our way along the coastline. Look out for Castle Stalker scenically perched on the banks of Loch Laich. 

Oban is a thriving fishing and ferry port attractively set against a sheltered bay. It’s famed for the quality of the seafood which is landed daily, so whether you fancy some fish and chips alfresco or something more formal, you are in for a delicious treat!

After breakfast, head for Fort William on the banks of Loch Linnhe, where we board a Scotrail train for a spectacular journey on the West Highland Line. The trip includes crossing the famous Glenfinnan Viaduct, featured in the Harry Potter movies. 

From the train, enjoy panoramic views of Loch Shiel and the unspoilt sands of Morar. The end of the line is Mallaig, where we board the ferry to sail ‘Over the Sea to Skye’.

On arrival in Armadale, tour north through the Magical Isle to our accommodation in Portree.

Today we explore the magical Island of Skye. From Portree, head northwards to the very tip of the island to view the extraordinary scenery of the Trotternish Peninsula. Marvel at The Old Man of Storr, which towers 49 metres high. 

Next, see the mysterious rock formations of The Quiraing, which looks like a mountain range in miniature. 

The highlight must be Kilt Rock, which resembles the pleats on a kilt and has a dramatic waterfall cascading over the edge. 

Stop to view the impressive Cuillin mountain ranges, then enjoy striking coastal views as we head for the Skye Bridge.

We’ll make a photo stop at beautiful Eilean Donan Castle, then meander through Glen Moriston, stopping at the Dundreggan Rewilding Centre where we will discover the origins of the ancient Caledonian Pine Forest. 

The last part of the journey takes us along the banks of Loch Ness to reach Inverness, the Capital of the Highlands.

After a leisurely breakfast, head for the mysterious banks of Loch Ness, where there’s the chance to go on a monster-spotting cruise. Keep those cameras ready just in case Nessie makes an appearance! 

From the village of Drumnadrochit, head northwards through Glen Convinth to reach the ancient town of Beauly. The monks who built a priory here in the 13^th Century called it “Bea Lieu”, or beautiful place. We’ll soon find out why! 

In the afternoon, visit evocative Culloden Moor, the site of the last battle to take place on British soil. Here, in 1746, the dreams of Bonnie Prince Charlie to capture the Crown came to a bloody end. Tour the battlefield site and visit the award-winning visitor centre to learn more about the battle and its aftermath. 

Next, travel to the enigmatic chamber cairns of Clava Cairns, which inspired the popular Outlander books and subsequent TV series. Later we make our way back to Inverness.

On our last day together, head into the striking scenery of the Cairngorms National Park, whose wilderness contains five of Scotland’s tallest mountains. 

In Newtonmore, there is a stop at the fascinating Highland Folk Museum, where we experience what Highland life was like in past centuries. Next, head to a local whisky distillery to learn all about the production process and have a wee taste of the end product! 

After a scenic drive through the Pass of Drumochter, take a break in the pretty village of Dunkeld with its impressive cathedral situated on the banks of the River Tay. 

The last part of our journey takes us through the Kingdom of Fife and our approach to Edinburgh by way of the iconic Forth Bridges.