Day 1
From Edinburgh make your way via lonely Rannoch Moor to the beauty of Glen Coe. There is a stop in the heart of the Glen so you can enjoy the spectacular surroundings. Next head for Fort William before driving through the Great Glen to Loch Ness where you can visit Urquhart Castle* and take a monster spotting cruise* Your tour is based in Inverness, the capital of the Highlands, for the next 5 nights where you have a choice of either staying in a guest house or a 3* hotel. Your overnight stay in Inverness is unescorted.
Day 2
Leave Inverness and head across the Black Isle to the Cromarty Firth. High above the town of Golspie is an astonishing statue, 27m (90') high. This is of the First Duke of Sutherland, whose agents were involved in the most notorious of the Clearances in the Highlands during the 19th Century. You can contrast the plight of the tenants with the opulence of Dunrobin Castle during the stop at the ancestral home of the Dukes of Sutherland. There will be time to tour the castle and grounds. Later you will see the northern most point in Scotland - John O’Groats when you stop for a souvenir photograph. The tour continues to Duncansby Head, where you can view the dramatic cliff-top vistas and a wide variety of birdlife.
Day 3
Start the day with a visit to Grantown on Spey before you join the whisky trail along the banks of the River Spey where you will stop at a malt whisky distillery. Unveil the secrets of the distiller’s art and at the end of your tour, sample a wee dram! Broomhill Station (also known as Glenbogle Station to viewers of the popular BBC programme “Monarch of the Glen”) sits on the Speyside Railway*. There will be free time for you to take a nostalgic trip by steam train on this attractive line. There will be free time in Aviemore, Scotland’s outdoor activity centre before returning to Inverness.
Day 4
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 5
A relaxing day today as you can enjoy a cruise on Loch ness followed by free time for shopping or sightseeing in the capital of the Highlands.
Day 6
This morning enjoy an excursion to the Black Isle and the delightful village of Cromarty followed by free time in Inverness before heading southwards through the gentle Spey Valley, with views of the Cairngorm Mountains and the dramatic scenery of the Drumochter Pass . Keep an eye out for majestic and imposing Blair Castle. Stop for afternoon tea (not included) before continuing through the rolling Tayside countryside back to Edinburgh.
*Entrance fees not included.