Highlands Explorer and Isle of Skye 5 days Tour.

General information

Destination	Category
Edinburgh, United Kingdom	Sightseeing Tours

Program details

A grand round-tour of breathtaking views and fascinating places throughout the Highlands of Scotland. Day 1. The tour takes north over the Forth road Bridge to the village of Dunkeld on the banks of the River Tay. From here we head into the Cairngorm national park and the ancient pine forests of the Rothiemurchus estate. Lunchtime will be spent on the beautiful shores of Loch Insh before a short forest walk takes us to the ruins of Loch an Eilean castle. Panoramic views of Loch Ness follow as we travel doen to the banks of the famous loch and village of Dores where do some "Nessie" spotting! Then it's on to the "Capital of the Highlands", Inverness, where we will spend two nights. Day 2. The tour visits the far northwest highlands and the mountains of Assynt. Leaving Inverness we take in the drama of the River Droma as it plunges 60m down into the Corrieshalloch Gorge followed by a visit to the fishing village of Ullapool. Lunch will be taken by Loch Glencoul from where an optional boat trip can be taken to see Eas a' Chual Aluinn, the highest waterfall in Britain at 200m high! With visits to the 15th century ruins of Ardvreck Castle, amazing views of some of Europe's oldest landscapes and the chance of seeing wildlife such as whales and red deers. Day 3. The tours leaves Inverness heading west past the mountains of the Beinn Eighe national nature reserve and along the picturesque coastline of Loch Torridon. The tranquil setting of Applecross is the destination for lunch before taking one of the highest roads in Scotland, Bealach nam Bo (meaning the Cattle Pass), with its jaw-dropping views hairpin bends and precipitous cliffs. In the afternoon we stop in "tropical" Plockton where you can see palm trees growing alongside Loch Carron. Then it's over the sea to Skye and the harbour town of Portree. Day 4. This is a very flexible day on Skye. Ask your driver/guide's for the best, for example: travel north to the stunning Quiraing mountain pass and enjoy a spectacular walk through some of Skye's extraordinary geological scenery. Kilt Rock, composed of basalt columns (reminiscent of the pleats of a kilt) with its waterfall cascading over the cliffs and down into the sea below. After lunch you have the opportunity to travel to Neist Point for a walk out to the lighthouse that is the furthest point west on Skye. Or a visit to Dunvegan castle, ancient ancestral seat of the Clan McLeod. Talisker Distillery is also on Skye, as are the famous Cuillin Hills. Your guide will then drop you back at your accommodation in Portree in the early evening. Day 5. The tour travels south from Skye stopping first at the famous stronghold Eilean Donan Castle, used in the film "Highlander", set at the head of 3 lochs as protection against Viking raiders. Continuing east through the rugged mountains of Kintail including the splendour of the Five Sisters, we drive down through Glen Garry past Britain's highest mountain, Ben Nevis, then onto Fort William for lunch. In the afternoon we will explore spectacular Glencoe, scene of the infamous massacre of the Clan Macdonald in 1692, before stopping in Killin for refreshments beside the Falls of Dochart, arriving into Edinburgh.