The Jacobite Highlander

Departing Edinburgh, we travel through the ancient Kingdom of Fife and enter Highland Perthshire, a land of scenic valleys, remote glens, rushing rivers, and peaceful lochs.

We will make a stop in Pitlochry, a tourist resort town on the River Tay that was a favourite of Queen Victoria.

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, before we start our ascent through the Drumochter Pass, the main route into the Highlands since the earliest of times.

The Cairngorms 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.

Our next stop is Clava Cairns, an ancient burial site dating back over 4,000 years. With its weathered stones and eerie atmosphere, this place makes history feel alive.

This historic cemetery is said to have inspired the famous scene in Outlander, where Claire touches the stone and travels back in time to the 1700s.

A short drive brings us to evocative Culloden Moor, the site of the last battle fought on British soil. In 1746, Bonnie Prince Charlie's Jacobite troops clashed with the British Army under the command of the Duke of Cumberland.

The Jacobites were routed in the bloody battle, and the aftermath changed Highland life forever.

We continue through Inverness to reach the mysterious waters of Loch Ness, where you can enjoy a short monster-spotting cruise and visit the imposing Urquhart Castle.

Our overnight stay is in the attractive village of Fort Augustus on the banks of Loch Ness.

After a hearty breakfast, we make the short drive to Fort William, where we board the Jacobite Steam Train for an unforgettable journey on the famed West Highland Line to Mallaig.

This is one of the World’s greatest train journeys and will take you past Britain’s highest mountain, deepest loch, shortest river and most westerly station.

A highlight is crossing the famous Glenfinnan viaduct, featured in the Harry Potter films, and seeing the monument commemorating the Highlanders who died in the 1745 Jacobite Uprising.

There’s time for lunch in Mallaig before we return to Fort William by coach.

The outstanding beauty of Glen Coe belies the tragic tale that we’ll hear next. Gather round as our guide tells the story of the Massacre of Glen Coe in 1692 when Campbell soldiers slaughtered 40 MacDonalds who had been their hosts.

This infamous deed remains controversial to this very day.

All too soon, Glen Coe is left behind, and we travel over remote and barren Rannoch Moor. This unspoilt landscape extends over 50 square miles and is one of the most unspoilt areas in Europe.

Our descent of the “Black Mount” provides excellent views over Loch Tulla before we stop in the little Highland village of Tyndrum.

The final part of our journey together will take us through Rob Roy McGregor country to the bonnie little village of Strathyre.

At the Pass of Leny, we return to the Lowlands once more and make our way to Stirling, where we join the motorway bound for Edinburgh.