Skye and the Highlands
Start: 8:00 am
Available in: English, Italian, Spanish
Duration: 3 days
This 3-day tour is the perfect way to experience the best of the isle of Skye and the Highlands of Scotland. The perfect complement to a visit of Edinburgh.
Our journey will take you through the stunning Scottish Highlands, with its rugged mountains and lochs. We will explore the magical Isle of Skye where you will enjoy some of the most breath-taking views in the world. Some of the highlights of our trip will be sites such as Glen Coe, Rannoch Moor, Eilean Donan, Quiraing, Storr, Fairy Glen, and finally, Loch Ness.
An eco-friendly experience taking in all the best the North of Scotland has to offer.
WHAT YOU'LL SEE
End: 6:00 pm
3-day tour
Highlights:
TOUR ITINERARY
Travelling from Edinburgh, we will access the Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park first thing in the morning, where we will do a first stop for breakfast in Killin, where you will be able to enjoy the beautiful Dochart Falls.
Our journey continues through the rugged Trossachs mountains, stopping for photos at the beautiful viewpoint over Loch Tulla. From there, we will continue to Rannoch Moor, a vast and empty landscape filled with heather, bog and lochs that will leave you in awe. We will follow the same road where James Bond drove his iconic DB5 in Skyfall (2012). The moor will lead us straight into the most famous valley of Scotland - Glencoe. A breathtakingly beautiful glen with a rich history, filled with breath-taking views. There we will take a stop to take in the beauty of the iconic Three Sisters, background for countless movies and TV shows, including Harry Potter, Braveheart, and Outlander.
After a relaxing lunch stop in Fort William, our journey continues North bound; we will visit the Commando Memorial, the monument dedicated to some of the greatest WWII heroes - the Commandos. Here, you will be able to enjoy scenic views of the highest peak of Britain, Ben Nevis. The green forests around Ben Nevis will glide us into the beautiful Glen Shiel. Here you’ll get a chance to take a stroll down to the shore of the wild Loch Cluanie.
At the end of the beautiful road in Glen Shiel we will finally reach the sea where in a matter of minutes, we will be able to spot our next destination - Eilean Donan Castle. Set on an island where three sea lochs meet in the western Highlands of Scotland, the picturesque 13th-century castle is surrounded by majestic scenery and is a popular location for filming, having been featured in several film and television productions including Highlander, Elizabeth and The World Is Not Enough. The castle, first built in the early 13th century as a defence against Viking invasions, has a long and turbulent history, having been destroyed and rebuilt several times. Today it is a must-see attraction for anyone visiting the Scottish Highlands.
After visiting the iconic castle, we will finally reach the Isle of Skye, where we’ll spend the night. Here you will enjoy a free evening with the chance to explore the area and try the local cuisine.
DAY 1
DAY 2
Our second day will be fully dedicated to the Isle of Skye. The day will start with a visit of the oldest bridge of the island, Sligachan Bridge. The waters streaming under the bridge are said to possess rejuvenating powers! After a little anointing in the magical waters of Sligachan, we will head towards the Trotternish Peninsula.
Our exploration will begin with the Old Man of Storr, an iconic peak with sweeping views of the surrounding landscape, whose mysterious origins are enveloped in legend. From there, a panoramic drive along the coast will lead us to Kilt Rock, an impressive sea cliff, whose basalt columns resemble a kilt. The journey will then continue with a stop at the Quiraing. Words fail in describing the magical landscape you will be able to take once we drive to the top, where the dramatic cliffs and hidden valleys will take your breath away. The Quiraing inspired countless directors, such as Ridley Scott (Prometheus) and Lars Von Trier (Breaking the Waves). Before leaving the Trotternish, there will still be time for a last wonder, perhaps the most mystical of all: Fairy Glen. The valley of fairies is a hidden landscape of grassy hills and miniature lochs, it has you wonder whether Tolkien had it in mind while writing of Middle Earth. Here, just like in Quiraing, you will get a chance to hike at your own pace and explore this wonder.
For lunch, we will stop for some relaxing free time at the colourful harbour of Portree, the capital of the island. Here you will have time to try the local cuisine and do some shopping in the quirky and colourful shops of the town. In the afternoon we’ll head towards the west coast of Skye, where we’ll explore the Dunvengan area, enjoying the beautiful views of its castle, its white beaches and its seals(not always in sight). The day ends with a visit to Neist Point, a dramatic cliff-top vantage point with sweeping views of the rugged coastline.
DAY 3
The following morning, after a hearty Scottish breakfast, we will drive through the atmospheric Glen Shiel, heading towards Loch Ness. Here, you will be able to take a cruise down the loch to admire the stunning views and look out for the elusive Nessie. This mysterious lake is home to a wealth of awe-inspiring scenery, from the ruins of Urquhart Castle to the serene tranquillity of its lush forests and majestic mountains. The lake itself is over 20 miles long and over 700 feet deep, making it the second-deepest loch in all of Scotland. Its dark waters are often shrouded in mystery and legend, as many people claim to have seen the Loch Ness Monster lurking beneath the surface.
Once back on land, a 15 minutes’ drive will get us to Inverness, where you will have a relaxing couple of hours of free time for lunch and a stroll. The capital of the Highlands offers a rich Victorian architecture, with two peculiar pedestrian bridges over the river Ness, dominated by the gothic Victorian castle serving today as Inverness court. Remarkable is also the town hall, built in a rare Flemish Baronial style. In the afternoon we will cross the Cairngorms National Park, famous for its rich fauna and rugged landscapes. Our last stop will be in Pitlochry, a picturesque Victorian town with a unique atmosphere, where you can enjoy a pint of the local beer, a dram of whisky and some traditional Scottish food.
This three-day tour around the North-West of Scotland will give you all the best of the Highlands of Scotland and Isle of Skye while travelling in an eco-friendly way.