Highland Explorer Tours- 5 Day Skye & Loch Ness by Radical Travel

Tour Itinerary

Day 1- Edinburgh to Oban

We head north to the ancient capital of Stirling and the site of the Battle of Stirling Bridge. Here there are stunning views towards the impressive Castle and towering Wallace Monument. Next stop is Doune with an optional visit to its Castle, famously featured in the movie 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail'. We enter the Trossachs, where the Highlands begin. Our journey takes us through wild Rannoch Moor and into brooding Glencoe, site of the massacre of 1692. We head through some beautiful scenery and onto Oban, a stunning west coast fishing port. (Overnight: Oban)

Day 2- Oban to Skye

This morning there's the option to take the steam train from Fort William (voted by Wanderlust Magazine as the 'Top Rail Journey in the World'), crossing the viaduct made famous in the Harry Potter films. Alternatively, you can enjoy a trip along the Road to the Isles including Glenfinnan, where Bonnie Prince Charlie raised his standard. We take the ferry to the Isle of Skye full of awe-inspiring mountains, myths and legends. Here, we have the chance to explore the Gardens and Castle of the Clan Donald Skye before driving north to the island's capital, Portree. (Overnight: Isle of Skye).

Day 3- Skye

The start of the day is spent exploring Skye. Highlights include the mysterious Quiraing, Kilt Rock and some of Skye's extraordinary scenery. Returning to the mainland, we cross the Skye Bridge and visit the most photographed castle in Scotland, Eilean Donan Castle (used in the film 'Highlander'). We wind our way along the Great Glen to infamous Loch Ness. Here you can hop on board a boat cruise where you can look for the monster before arriving in Inverness, our home for the night. (Overnight: Inverness).

Day 4- Skye to Inverness

The morning is free to explore Inverness, capital of the Highlands, with beautiful river views and shops to buy some unique Scottish souvenirs. Onward bound we head into the heart of the country and stop at a whisky distillery to discover how the 'water of life' is made. Have a wee dram after an optional guided tour then it's on to Beauly, with its 13th Century priory. We return to Inverness for our final night. (Overnight: Inverness).

Day 5- Inverness to Edinburgh

We explore the atmospheric Culloden Battlefield, scene of Bonnie Prince Charlie's defeat and the end of the Jacobite Rebellion. After travelling through the Cairngorms National Park, we make a visit to the Museum of Highland Life to learn how Scotland's clans lived and their traditional ways. Heading south into Perthshire, a land of forests, rivers and mountains, we stop at the quaint village of Dunkeld on the banks of the River Tay and visit its stunning historic cathedral. Finally, we return to Edinburgh with one last view of the Forth Bridge.

*Optional Extras: Steam Train: £28 - Once you have confirmed your booking please contact our Reservations team directly on info@highlandexplorertours.com to add this to your booking.

IMPORTANT ACCOMMODATION INFORMATION

The tour price does not include the cost of accommodation. This is because we want to give you the choice of accommodation to suit your requirements, preferences and budget. Once you've confirmed a booking we will contact you directly for your preference of B&B, hotel or hostel accommodation, and we will book this on your behalf. All of our accommodation providers are approved by VisitScotland's Quality Assurance scheme.