Spectacular Skye Small Group Tour - 3 day tour
Scottish Highlands and Skye Small Group Tour
3 day/2 night tour
Skye is the most beautiful and romantic of Scotland’s islands as you will discover on this superb small-group tour. This tour is packed with highlights including remote Rannoch Moor, haunting Glen Coe and mysterious Loch Ness. Enjoy a comfortable two night stay on the Isle of Skye allowing relaxing touring of the islands many attractions. Why not up-grade your Skye tour experience?
Price range: £309-£565
Small Group Tour - travel in an intimate group of just 16 passengers
Eilean Donan Castle - visit one of the World’s most photographed castles
Portree - relax in this attractive fishing port and browse the many handcraft shops for a memorable souvenir
Fairy Glen - discover the magic of the fairies in this delightful glen
Fairy Pools - take a hike to see the magical bright blue pools and cascading waterfalls
Movie locations - The BFG, Braveheart and Rob Roy
Guest house accommodation included - hotel upgrade option available
Full Tour Itinerary
Select Day:
Day 1 - Edinburgh - Glen Coe - Isle of Skye
The time has come to join your fellow 15 passengers and set off on a journey of exploration. From Edinburgh we head westwards to the "bonnie, bonnie banks” of Loch Lomond. We’ll make a stop in the delightful village of Luss where you can enjoy the amazing loch-side views. The barren and desolate landscape of the great Moor of Rannoch extends as far as the eye can see. It won’t surprise you to learn that this is one of the remotest areas in Europe. We head onwards to Glen Coe where the grandeur of the mountain scenery belies the tragic events that took place here. In 1692 troops of the Campbell Clan murdered 40 MacDonalds in an infamous act. The sorry tale will be retold when we stop to savour this amazing landscape.
Fort William hugs the banks of Loch Linnhe and sits in the shadow of Ben Nevis, Britain’s tallest mountain. From here we enter The Great Glen which slices through Scotland and features a series of dark, narrow lochs. We’ll see Loch Lochy and Loch Oich before branching out through Glen Shiel which is dominated by the towering peaks of a mountain range known as The Five Sisters of Kintail.
Charming Eilean Donan Castle sits on an islet at the point where three lochs merge. The scene is iconic and is sure to be familiar to you. In real-life the scene is even more stunning than you could ever imagine. We’ll make stop so you can visit the castle and post images that are bound to impress your friends!
The modern road bridge will take us seamlessly onto the magical Isle of Skye and onwards to our accommodation.
Overnight: Isle of Skye (2 nights)
Day 2 - Discovering the Isle of Skye
After a restful nights sleep and a hearty breakfast we’re off to explore the beautiful Isle of Skye. Included in the itinerary today are the impressive mountain ranges of the Black and Red Cuillin Hills which dominate the landscape and make the island such a draw with mountaineers.
Spend free time in Portree, the island’s main town where brightly coloured houses sit overlooking a picturesque natural harbour. It makes a great backdrop for a selfie! The shops that surround the town’s main square are the ideal place to pick up a hand-crafted souvenir.
The Trotternish Peninsula is famous for its unusual rock formations and spectacular seascapes. We start our journey with a visit to the magical Fairy Glen with its strange cone shaped hills. Next we have breathtaking views of the impressive Trotternish Ridge and the Old Man of Storr, a black monolith that towers 50 metres high. Further on is Kilt Rock, where the formation is said to imitate the pleats in a kilt, and the Quiraing which resembles a mountain range in miniature.
An exciting option today is a hike to visit the famous Fairy Pools. Located at the foot of the Black Cuillin Hills, the magical blue waters are crystal clear and flow over a series of waterfalls that create the famous rock pools.
Day 3 - Isle of Skye - Loch Ness - Edinburgh
It’s farewell to island life so we head back to the mainland and make our way to the mysterious banks of Loch Ness. Will you see the elusive "Nessie”? Have your camera ready and why not get closer to any action by taking a monster-spotting cruise on the loch. Even if "Nessie” doesn’t make an appearance you’ll be rewarded with amazing views of Urquhart Castle, once one of Scotland’s finest.
The bustling city of Inverness straddles the River Ness and is known affectionately as the Capital of the Highlands. On the outskirts lies Culloden Moor which was the site of the last battle fought on British Soil between the Jacobite forces of Bonnie Prince Charlie and the British Army under the command of the Duke of Cumberland. The brutal battle took a mere 40 minutes and brought a bloody end to the Jacobite uprising. The award winning Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre will tell you more about the battle and its aftermath.
We head southwards through the Spey Valley and the natural beauty of the Cairngorm National Park. Our descent of the Pass of Drumochter will bring us to the Victorian resort town of Pitlochry which sits amongst magnificent scenery in the valley of the River Tummel. There is time to relax here before we make the final part of our journey to Edinburgh through the ancient Kingdom of Fife.
Frequently Asked Questions
What can I expect on this Small Group Tour?
With an average of just 16 passengers (and never more than 20) a Small Group Tour will provide a more intimate and flexible travelling experience. These tours are carefully planned to travel off the highways so you’ll discover quaint villages and picturesque vistas that other tours just can’t access. All the small group tours that we feature are operated by purpose built luxury minicoaches that feature air-conditioning, panoramic windows, wifi, usb charging points and comfortable seating. Each group is led by an experienced driver/guide who will entertain and inform you with stories of our history, nature and folklore. Comfortable guest house accommodation with en-suite bathrooms, tv and other amenities is included in the price of all tours. You can choose to upgrade to hotel accommodation, at extra cost, if you wish. A delicious Scottish breakfast is included each morning of your stay. If you’ve got more time to spare a series of extraordinary itineraries has been created by combining one or more shorter tours. Seamless in operation these unique holidays allow you to discover even more of Scotland’s Highlands and Islands. A feature of these tours is that you will travel with a different driver/guide and fellow travellers for each portion of the itinerary.
Can you tell me more about the optional extras on this tour?
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.
Can I join the tour in Edinburgh and leave in Glasgow (or v.v.)?
Yes you can, but you need to book your transfer in advance. You can do this by sending an email to enquiries@scottishtours.co.uk no later than 24 hours after making your reservation. Please ensure you quote your booking reference in the email. We’ll be happy to make the arrangements for you and there is no extra charge for this service.
Tell me about my accommodation and which type of room should I choose?
The cost of accommodation is included in the price of your tour. On this tour you can choose between Guesthouse/B&B or Hotel accommodation: Guesthouse and B&B. The guesthouses and B&Bs are family run and offer comfortable accommodation in bedrooms that have en-suite bathrooms, tv, tea/coffee making facilities and other facilities. Bedding, towels and basic toiletries are provided. Some guesthouses and B&B’s offer enhanced facilities such as a resident’s lounge where you can relax with other guests. Hotel. We select comfortable hotels that are a minimum of 3 stars with bedrooms featuring en-suite bathrooms, television, tea and coffee making facilities and other amenities. Most have restaurants offering a selection of Scottish and international dishes as well as comfortable bars where you can relax and un-wind. Accommodation is spread throughout the communities that we stay in and are seldom more than a 10/15 minute walk from the town or village centre.
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 minicoach with wifi and usb charging points
- 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 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
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.
FAQ's
Please see the FAQ section for more information on this tour.
Product code
HEX 02865
Blogs and Guides - discover insider tips and ideas
Customer Reviews Overall Rating:
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Rating: 15 May 2018
I was told that there would be water and wifi on bus. No water. I would recommend that you guide people to make dinner reservations ahead of arriving on the Island. It was impossible to get anything on the first night and tricky the second night. Perhaps give a list of suggestions and emails so it could be done ahead. That was very stressful Russel was very good.
Gillian from TORONTO, Canada
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Rating: 15 May 2018
Absolute loved it! Our tour guide Steven couldn’t have been better. His endless stories and Scottish legends added so much. I was so impressed with his knowledge and memory! The music he played was an added bonus. I would highly recommend it!
Karen from Maple Grove, United States
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Rating: 14 May 2018
The tour was great! Beautiful scenery and lots to see and do. Made even better by the very entertaining tommy the tour guide
Conor from Picton, Canada
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