DAY 1

We’ll start our journey north from Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, pausing along the way to admire the stunning Forth Railway Bridge.

Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, is well known for its history, culture, and festivals. Explore the Old Town and New Town World Heritage Sites, as well as all the local museums and art galleries, by taking a leisurely stroll around the center. Stop to refuel with tea and scones at one of the city’s quaint tearooms or meander into an old-fashioned bar. After that, venture out to one of Edinburgh’s numerous events, such as the renowned summer cultural festivals or the winter festivals of music, light, and ceilidhs.

When we arrive in the lovely Victorian town of Pitlochry, you will have time to stroll around and, if you like, enjoy a cup of coffee.

Pitlochry is famous for its dam and fish ladder, distilleries (there are two in the town), and Festival Theatre, one of the best theaters in Scotland, if not all of Britain. The Festival Theatre is also well-known for its rolling repertoire of six or seven summer plays, in addition to numerous other performances throughout the year.

We will travel further through the Cairngorms National Park before arriving at Fort Augustus for lunch.

The Cairngorms National Park, Scotland’s second National Park, is the largest in the UK and twice the size of the Lake District. It offers wildlife-rich scenery, walking and skiing opportunities, and a taste of Scottish culture through distilleries. Rothiemurchus, a Highland estate, offers adventure activities such as self-guided walks, bike rentals, pony trekking, quad biking, archery, tennis, and activities for kids and families. Wildlife watching and photography are also available, making it a perfect choice for groups.

Fort Augustus, located on the southern tip of Loch Ness, is a popular tourist destination with stunning views and beautiful walks. Visitors can explore the Caledonian Canal Heritage Centre, the Clansmen Centre, and the surrounding countryside. Nearby attractions include Loch Ness, the world-famous monster, and Urquhart Castle. Inverness, Fort William, and Eilean Donan Castle are all within an hour’s drive.

You’ll have time to try to locate the mythical monster Nessie in this charming settlement at the southern end of Loch Ness.

The Loch Ness monster, also known as Nessie, is a mythical marine creature in Scotland believed to inhabit the Loch Ness. The legend dates back to ancient times, with stone carvings from the Picts and a biography of St. Columba from ad 565. In 1933, a couple saw an enormous creature, comparing it to a “dragon or prehistoric monster.” However, zoologists later discovered the tracks were faked using a stuffed hippopotamus foot. Despite the lack of concrete evidence, the Loch Ness monster remains popular, drawing hundreds of thousands of tourists annually.

Before crossing the bridge to Skye, we first travel to Eilean Donan Castle, where we will spend some time.

Eilean Donan Castle, a Scottish icon and popular visitor attraction in the Highlands, is located on an island overlooking the Isle of Skye. The Conchra Charitable Trust, established in the 1980s by the MacRae family, operates the visitor center, which houses a ticket office, gift shop, and restaurant. The castle was first established in the 13th century by Alexander II to protect the area from Viking incursions. It was reconstructed between 1912 and 1932 by Lt. Col. John MacRae-Gilstrap, incorporating much of the ruins from the 1719 destruction. Visitors can explore the castle’s interior rooms and view period furniture, Jacobean artifacts, weapons displays, and fine art.

Stayed over the night in Skye.

DAY 2

Spend the entire day discovering Isle of Skye. Your skilled and experienced guide will make sure you get the most of your day and take in sights like The Kilt Rock, The Old Man of Storr, the stunning Trotternish Peninsula, and the jagged Cuillin Mountains.

Kilt Rock : Scotland’s Isle of Skye is home to the beautiful geological structure known as Kilt Rock. Kilt Rock is a well-liked tourist destination recognized for its impressive cliffs and uncanny resemblance to a pleated kilt, thus the name. There is a dinosaur museum at the Kilt Rock viewing area since there are some dinosaur prints in the region as well. But the Mealt Falls, where water cascades 90 meters straight down into the sea below, is undoubtedly what draws tourists to this location. It will provide a spellbinding sight and sound that reverberates across the neighborhood.

The Old Man of Storr is a 160-foot pinnacle rock formation located on Trotternish Ridge in the northeastern Isle of Skye. Named after its resemblance to an old man, it is believed to be a giant who resided on the ridge. Legend has it that his thumb, the “Old Man,” remained partially above ground when he was laid to rest. The Old Man of Storr towers over the Sound of Rasaay at an elevation of over 2,300 feet, offering panoramic views of the water and surrounding mainland.

The Trotternish peninsula in Skye is the northernmost section of the island and offers stunning landscapes. The coastal road, approximately 50 miles long, can be easily spent a full day exploring the island. Start your itinerary in Portree, the capital, and leave early to avoid crowds during high season. Some suggest doing the loop clockwise to avoid crowds, but the view is better going anti-clockwise. If you leave with a good Scottish breakfast, you’ll be hungry by the time you reach Uig. Start your Isle of Skye itinerary in Portree and plan to leave early to avoid crowds.

 You can stop at Portree for lunch and have delectable fish and chips adjacent to the harbor, but be careful of the seagulls overnight stay in Skye. 

DAY 3

We’ll resume our tour of Skye this morning, stopping at some of the island’s southern attractions.

After that, we’ll board a boat from Armadale to Mallaig, where we’ll have lunch. It could also be possible to sign up for a wildlife cruise here.

Our overnight stay in Fort William will be reached when we board the Jacobite Steam Train (or Hogwarts Express!) and experience the breathtaking 2-hour journey.

DAY 4

We will begin our drive south toward the magnificent Glen Coe after a well-deserved break at the gorgeous new Nevis Range Hotel. There will be plenty of time for us to see this magnificent valley and tour the valley Coe Visitor Centre.

Glen Coe, a stunning valley in Scotland, is a popular destination for visitors seeking stunning Scottish Highlands scenery. As a national nature reserve and part of a national scenic area, it offers a variety of outdoor activities such as hiking, mountain biking, and photography. The area is also a popular spot for visiting museums, historical attractions, kayaking, and skiing in winter.

The final truly wild area in Scotland, Rannoch Moor, will be passed as we continue our trip. This is the location to see the splendor of the Scottish Moor!

The Great Moor of Rannoch is a unique outdoor space in Europe, stretching north and west from Rannoch Station. It consists of blanket bogs, lochans, rivers, and rocky outcrops, offering diverse flora and fauna. Visitors can see plants, insects, birds, and animals like curlews, grouses, roes, and red deer. The famous West Highland Railway offers a 23-mile train journey through the moorland. Kinloch Rannoch was used as a filming location for Outlander. The moor offers challenging walks, cycling routes, and high mountains, but is best for experienced hillwalkers with excellent navigation skills. Lower-level paths from Rannoch Station include a 9-mile linear tramp to Corrour and Loch Ossian and a 7-mile circuit of Loch Ossain.

In Callander, which is on the River Teith, we will pause for lunch before continuing into the lowlands and bidding farewell to the Highlands.

The River Teith, originating from Callander, flows from the River Leny to the River Forth near Stirling. It is known for its fishing and is also used for the production of Deanston Distillery’s malt whisky. An arched bridge crosses the river, located half a mile south-west of Doune.

Before heading back to Edinburgh, we’ll make a pit stop to view the magnificent Kelpies, a pair of 30-meter-tall horse head sculptures.

• 3 nights’ standard accommodation
• Breakfast
• Jacobite steam train
• Ferry from Skye
• Driver/guide
• Photo opportunities