This comprehensive five day tour will give you real insight into the spectacular Highlands of Scotland.

Day One
From Edinburgh and Glasgow we will make our way via lonely Rannoch Moor to the beauty of Glen Coe. There is a stop in the heart of the Glen before heading for Fort William. Drive through the Great Glen to Loch Ness, where you can visit Castle Urquhart and take a monster spotting cruise (optional). Our tour is based in Inverness, the capital of the Highlands for the next four nights.

The stay in Inverness is unescorted.

Day Two
Today we enjoy a full day excursion to the beautiful island of Skye. We’ll make a stop at Eilean Donan Castle, perched on its island at the head of Loch Duich. You will marvel at the views when we stop at this most picturesque of castles. Soon we’ll be crossing “over the sea to Skye” and driving in the shadow of the towering Cuillin Hills to Portree, a picturesque fishing port which is the island’s main town. After free time we will return to the mainland and return to Inverness.

Day Three
We leave Inverness and head across the Black Isle to the Cromarty Firth. High above the town of Golspie is an impressive statue, of the First Duke of Sutherland, whose agents were involved in the most notorious of the Clearances in the Highlands during the 19th Century. We can contrast the plight of the tenants with the opulence of Dunrobin Castle when we make a visit to the ancestral home of the Dukes of Sutherland. Later we will make a stop at John O’Groats for a souvenir photograph. A short drive will bring us to Duncansby Head. Here there are dramatic cliff-top vistas and a wide variety of birdlife to enjoy during our extended stop.

Day Four
Our day starts with a visit to handsome Grantown on Spey. Later we will join the whisky trail and after a scenic drive along the banks of the River Spey there is a stop at a malt whisky distillery. Our visit will unveil the secrets of the distillers art and at the end of our tour there will be the chance to sample a wee dram! Broomhill Station (also known as Glenbogle Station to viewers of the popular BBC program “Monarch of the Glen”) sits on the Speyside Railway (optional). We’ll make a stop here to give you the opportunity of taking a nostalgic trip by steam train on this attractive line. There’s free time in Aviemore, Scotland’s outdoor activity centre before returning to Inverness.

Day Five
This morning there is an excursion through the scenic Black Isle followed by free time in Inverness before joining our motor coach for the tour south. Our route will take us to the gentle Spey Valley then through the dramatic scenery of the Drumochter Pass. There’s a stop for afternoon tea in the heart of scenic Perthshire. The rolling Tayside countryside will guide us to Perth then we head homewards to journey’s end in Edinburgh or Glasgow.

Optional activities (payable locally):
Why not enhance your tour with the following options;

Loch Ness Package – admission to Urquhart Castle and 30 minute cruise on Loch Ness
Speyside Steam Railway – Single journey from Broomhill to Aviemore