HAGGiS Adventures- Island Explorer 7-day by Radical Travel

Tour Itinerary

Day 1: Edinburgh to Carbisdale Castle

Heading north from Edinburgh, we pass through Perthshire - surrounded by mountains, forests and salmon packed rivers. First stop is at Dunkeld where you will hear tales of the Wolf of Badenoch at Dunkeld Cathedral . Lunch is in the small village of Kingussie, made famous by the 'Monarch of the Glen' TV show. Then it's off to lonely Culloden Battlefield, scene of the last major battle in Britain. Then it's on to world famous Loch Ness for a wee bit of monster spotting before heading for our lavish evening accommodation in a Haunted Highland Castle!*

Day 2: Carbisdale Castle to Loch Ness

We'll depart for our journey north over Bonar Bridge. On the way take in the views of Dornoch Firth, and Dornoch town's picturesque Cathedral. Frolic on the amazing sandy beaches at Dingwall and then make a stop at Glen Ord Distillery. We will take a walk at Glen Affric home to one of the largest remnants of the ancient Caledonian Pine Forest before passing through Drumnadrochit and back to Fort Augustus (on the banks of Loch Ness) for the night.

Day 3: Free Day Fort Augustus

Get amongst some spectacular Highland scenery and do your own thing. Hire bikes, take a boat trip on Scotland's most famous loch, play a round (of golf!) or chill out in Morag's Lodge with a nice local beer.

Day 4: Fort Augustus to Stornoway

This morning we take the Road to the Isles with a stop at the Corrieshalloch Gorge. A breath taking mile long gorge set amoungst the trees before arriving in the wee fishing village of Ullapool. This evening we will ferry to the Western Isles.

Day 5: Lewis & Harris

Today we visit the stunning Callanish Standing Stones, Neolithic in age and dating back more than 4000 years. Much quieter than Stonehenge, these are said to be some of the most impressive and inspiring of any of the ancient stones in Britain. These Hebridean islands are predominantly Gaelic speaking and have an unbroken culture dating back thousands of years.

Day 6: Harris to Skye

In the morning we explore the amazing beaches of Harris, famous for its clear blue waters, magnificent mountain backdrop and traditional crofting culture. These islands are home to the Clan MacLeod who lived here for over 1200 years. After exploring the wonders of Harris, we leave the MacLeod homeland and cross by Ferry to the 'winged island', the Isle of Skye. We explore the magical Isle of Skye with it's awesome scenery - the Quirang, Old Man of Storr, Kilt Rock adn the Cuillin plus legends and faerie stories.

Day 7: Skye to Edinburgh

Back on the mainland, we stop at Eilean Donan Castle and explore the Great Glen before passing Fort William and Ben Nevis - Britain's highest mountain. Discover 'The Weeping Glen', Glencoe, where we hear about the infamous massacre of the MacDonalds. Over the wilds of Rannoch Moor, we then pass Stirling with its famous Wallace Monument, where the true story of Braveheart is told, before returning to the capital City of Edinburgh!

* N.B. Another hostel may be substituted for Carbisdale Castle as an overnight stop