The West Highlands, Loch Ness & The Isle of Skye

Highlights / General details

Itinerary Day 1: Leaving Edinburgh, we travel via Stirling, Braveheart territory, where you will pass the Castle and wallace monument. Then on to the Highlands, and across the lonely Rannoch Moor, the largest moorland in Britain. Down through Glencoe we will stop to take in the atmosphere of an area where the MacDonalds were massacred on the orders of the Government. We then reach the West Coast, where we enter the near 100 mile long Great Glen. After lunch, we drive north up this lovely Glen to Loch Ness, where you have the option of taking a cruise or a stroll around the village of Fort Augustus. Then we drive the entire 23 mile length of this world famous water. Scanning the water for a brief sighting of Nessie, the most famous mystery in the World. With an overnight stay in Inverness, The Capital of the Highlands, you can enjoy an evening at your leisure in this pleasant city.

Day 2: Leaving Inverness, we head west and follow the famous train route to Kyle of Lochalsh, through vast lonely Strathcarron. Off the main tourist routes, this is a very pleasant scenic drive. After seeing the world famous Eilean Donan Castle, used as a film set in Highlander and Elizabeth the Golden Years amongst others, we cross the bridge to the mystical Isle of Skye, where Vikings, Macdonalds and MacLeods battled for many centuries. On Skye we are treated to some of the most magnificent craggie mountain scenery in Scotland.

Heading to the South off the Island we take the ferry crossing from Armadale to Mallaig on the mainland, and pass the lovely Silver Sands of Morar, also having a glimpse of the UK’s deepest lake, Loch Morar. Next is a stop at Glenfinnan, with its curved viaduct, famously used in the Harry Potter movies, and the monument erected to the landing of Bonnie Prince Charlie and the beginning of the 1745 Jacobite uprising. Surrounded by mountains, it can only be described as "awesome"!

Passing "Neptunes Staircase" you will get your final and most spectacular view of The Caledonian Canal which you will have crossed several times on the first 2 days. It stretches from Inverness all the way to Fort William which is where we spend our second night. Nesting on the shores of lovely Loch Linnhe, and in the shadow of Britain’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis, you will spend the evening at your leisure in this former garrison town.

Day 3: The day starts with a scenic drive down Loch Linnhe, a sea loch (fiord), we visit Oban, home to Oban Whisky, one of The Classic Malts of Scotland and the main terminal for the ferries to the Hebridean Islands. After Oban, if the tide is in our favour, we can see the remarkable Falls of Lora. We then pass along part of Scotland’s longest loch, Loch Awe, and stop for an iconic photo of the ruins of Kilchurn Castle, the former seat of Clan Campbell. Then we stop for Lunch in Inveraray, a pretty town on Loch Fyne, famous for salmon, where you can see the chateau-like Inveraray Castle, The present seat of the Clan Campbell. Next, we cross a lovely mountain pass, where Vikings dragged shortboats, over to another Scottish icon, Loch Lomond, the largest lake on the British mainland. We drive south all along it’s Bonnie Banks, Scotlands first National Park.

Having enjoyed a Scotland most people can only dream of, we will arrive in Edinburgh around 17:00, allowing you time to enjoy this vibrant City or continue on your travels.

Inclusion

Hotel pick-up (selected hotels only) and Guided tour.

Exclusion

Hotel drop-off, Accommodation, Meals & Snacks, Admission to Sites, and Gratuity.

Hours of operation

Departs at 9:00am.

Duration

Tour is 3 days, 2 nights.

Participant restrictions

Children under 4 are not permitted to travel on these tours. Children must be 4 years old to travel and between the ages of 4-14 for a child ticket.

Itinerary

Day 1: Leaving Edinburgh, we travel via Stirling, Braveheart territory, where you will pass the Castle and wallace monument. Then on to the Highlands, and across the lonely Rannoch Moor, the largest moorland in Britain. Down through Glencoe we will stop to take in the atmosphere of an area where the MacDonalds were massacred on the orders of the Government. We then reach the West Coast, where we enter the near 100 mile long Great Glen. After lunch, we drive north up this lovely Glen to Loch Ness, where you have the option of taking a cruise or a stroll around the village of Fort Augustus. Then we drive the entire 23 mile length of this world famous water. Scanning the water for a brief sighting of Nessie, the most famous mystery in the World. With an overnight stay in Inverness, The Capital of the Highlands, you can enjoy an evening at your leisure in this pleasant city.

Day 2:

Leaving Inverness, we head west and follow the famous train route to Kyle of Lochalsh, through vast lonely Strathcarron. Off the main tourist routes, this is a very pleasant scenic drive. After seeing the world famous Eilean Donan Castle, used as a film set in Highlander and Elizabeth the Golden Years amongst others, we cross the bridge to the mystical Isle of Skye, where Vikings, Macdonalds and MacLeods battled for many centuries. On Skye we are treated to some of the most magnificent craggie mountain scenery in Scotland.

Heading to the South off the Island we take the ferry crossing from Armadale to Mallaig on the mainland, and pass the lovely Silver Sands of Morar, also having a glimpse of the UK’s deepest lake, Loch Morar. Next is a stop at Glenfinnan, with its curved viaduct, famously used in the Harry Potter movies, and the monument erected to the landing of Bonnie Prince Charlie and the beginning of the 1745 Jacobite uprising. Surrounded by mountains, it can only be described as "awesome"!

Passing "Neptunes Staircase" you will get your final and most spectacular view of The Caledonian Canal which you will have crossed several times on the first 2 days. It stretches from Inverness all the way to Fort William which is where we spend our second night. Nesting on the shores of lovely Loch Linnhe, and in the shadow of Britain’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis, you will spend the evening at your leisure in this former garrison town.

Day 3:

The day starts with a scenic drive down Loch Linnhe, a sea loch (fiord), we visit Oban, home to Oban Whisky, one of The Classic Malts of Scotland and the main terminal for the ferries to the Hebridean Islands. After Oban, if the tide is in our favour, we can see the remarkable Falls of Lora. We then pass along part of Scotland’s longest loch, Loch Awe, and stop for an iconic photo of the ruins of Kilchurn Castle, the former seat of Clan Campbell. Then we stop for Lunch in Inveraray, a pretty town on Loch Fyne, famous for salmon, where you can see the chateau-like Inveraray Castle, The present seat of the Clan Campbell. Next, we cross a lovely mountain pass, where Vikings dragged shortboats, over to another Scottish icon, Loch Lomond, the largest lake on the British mainland. We drive south all along it’s Bonnie Banks, Scotlands first National Park.

Having enjoyed a Scotland most people can only dream of, we will arrive in Edinburgh around 17:00, allowing you time to enjoy this vibrant City or continue on your travels.

Inclusion Hotel pick-up (selected hotels only) and Guided tour.

Exclusion Hotel drop-off, Accommodation, Meals & Snacks, Admission to Sites, and Gratuity.

Hours of operation Departs at 9:00am.

Duration Tour is 3 days, 2 nights.

Participant restrictions Children under 4 are not permitted to travel on these tours. Children must be 4 years old to travel and between the ages of 4-14 for a child ticket.

Policies Complete information, including local telephone numbers at your destination, will be included on your Confirmation Voucher.

All information requested must be supplied or booking is subject to automatic cancellation