Hebrides, Skye & The Far West

Our tour will begin in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town before we travel to Glasgow - Scotland’s largest city and industrial capital - where the rest of your group will join for the first part of this tour. Our wide-ranging tour begins heading west through the beautiful scenery of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park. Loch Lomond and the surrounding national park contain some of Scotland’s most beautiful scenery, alongside some picture-postcard villages.

From here we will travel to Kilmartin Glen, an area rich archaeological legacy which is almost unrivalled in Scotland. With over 5,000 years of history laid out before us, we will walk in the footsteps of the first Scots and decipher the mysteries of an area soaked in history, visiting sites such as Dunadd Hill Fort, the Temple Wood Stone Circle and the extraordinary Neolithic rock art at Achnabreck.

To conclude your first day we will have a scenic journey to the picturesque seaside town of Oban, you first overnight stop, and home to Scotland’s best seafood! As we drive through it, your guide will provide you with an overview of the history of the town and its most famous sights

We begin our second day travelling over Connel Bridge through Appin to the haunting and dramatic landscape of Glen Coe where you will be able to hear more about of the terrible massacre of the MacDonald Clan. We’ll stop in Fort William; a town dominated by Ben Nevis, the tallest mountain in the UK.

In the afternoon, you will travel to the pretty fishing village of Mallaig following the route of the Jacobite Steam Train, this will take in the opportunity to admire the incredible mountainous and coastal scenery, as well as a chance to see the iconic Glenfinnan Viaduct, which famously featured in the Harry Potter films.

From Mallaig we will take the ferry to the Isle of Skye, where will be staying overnight for the second and third nights of this tour.

On the third day of your tour, you will have the opportunity to explore Skye’s mysteries and landscape with your knowledgeable driver-guide, who will be able ensure you get the most out of your time on the island based on the weather and group.

Stops often include the likes of Cuillin Mountains, Dun Beag Broch, the Black Houses, the Kilt Rock Waterfall, The Old Man of Storr and the Trotternish Peninsula, and of course the capital of the island, Portree.

It’s the perfect Scottish experience where you will be able to visit and walk amongst the dramatic and often other-worldly scenery of the Isle of Skye all whilst learning more about the fascinating history and legends of the Island.

Day 4 begins with a journey over the Skye Bridge, where we return to the mainland and travel to Eilean Donan Castle, one of Scotland’s most photographed locations. Eilean Donan is one of the greatest medieval castles in Scotland. With a history that dates back to the 13th century, this fortress will take you back in time to most troubled and times of Scottish history. You’ll have ample time to explore the Castle, which sits on its own Island on Loch Duich.

We then travel through the stunning mountains of Glenshiel to the pretty village of Drumnadrochit, which sits on the shores of Loch Ness for lunch. Here, you can choose taking a boat cruise on the world-famous Loch Ness, which would also include a visit to Urquhart Castle on the shore of the Loch. Alternatively, you would have the time to enjoy and explore the surroundings.

We’ll then head North to the capital of the Highlands, Inverness, where we will spend the fourth evening of the tour.

Day five of your tour begins in Inverness, where you will meet you new driver-guide and travel companions for the second half of your tour.

Then you will then travel through the remote landscapes of Sutherland to admire some of the most beautiful scenery in Scotland. Your journey through this wild part of the Highlands will then take you on to the beautiful seaside town of Ullapool, which is where you will catch the ferry to the Isle of Lewis and Harris.

You will arrive in the largest town on the Island, Stornoway, in the early afternoon. You will spend the afternoon visiting the Arnol Blackhouses, to learn more about the traditional lifestyle of Hebridean Crofting families. You will then return to Stornoway which is where you will be spending your two nights on Lewis and Harris.

From your base in Stornoway, you will spend this day of your tour exploring the Isle of Lewis and Harris. On your first day on the island, you will be able to explore Carloway Broch, an exceptionally well-preserved Iron Age structure located above Loch an Duin.

The day also features visits to the ancient Callanish Standing Stones, an ancient formation of standing stones constructed in the neolithic era, over 4000 years ago.

In the afternoon you can stroll along what is arguably Harris’ most beautiful beach, Lusekentyre, we’ll then continue down to the most southerly point of the island and Rodel Church, the ancient burial ground of the MacLeod family. Then it’s time for an exciting trip around the Golden Road before returning to Stornoway.

On your second morning on the island, you will begin your day by heading to the far north of Lewis to visit the Butt of Lewis lighthouse (the windiest place in the UK) before returning to Stornoway for lunch and a ferry journey back to the mainland.

Once back on the mainland, we’ll make our from Ullapool, through some more areas of the North West Highlands remote yet beautiful landscapes, to Inverness, our overnight stay on this final night of the tour.

As we leave Inverness behind to begin our journey south, our first stop of the day is at Culloden Battlefield, the site of the last stand of the Jacobite’s against the British government forces on 16 April 1746. You can learn more about the battle and the events which surrounded the Jacobite uprising in the impressive visitor centre and interactive exhibition, as well as having the chance to wander the land where the battle itself took place.

Our journey will continue south, heading to a local distillery for a wee dram. From here, we’ll then enjoy the magnificent scenery as you travel through the mountainous wilderness of the spectacular Cairngorms National Park, the largest National Park in Scotland. This large mountain range has five of the highest mountains in the UK within its limits.

Sit back, relax and enjoy the views before we arrive into the picturesque town of Pitlochry, the gateway to the highlands. Pitlochry has been a tourist centre since the 1860s thanks to being popularised as the gateway to the Highlands by Queen Victoria and Sir Walter Scott, the towns popularity as a tourist centre continued to increase as the railways made accessing the Highlands significantly easier than ever before 1870s.

Explore this quaint town before we head back to Edinburgh’s city centre, where your tour will end.