from Edinburgh
Explore the stunning and dramatic scenery of the Isle of Skye and the Scottish Highlands with a seven day private tour from Edinburgh. The tour itinerary includes Culloden Battlefield, Clava Cairns, Cawdor Castle, Urquhart Castle, Loch Ness, Eilean Donan Castle, Portree, Kilt Rock, Quiraing, Dunvegan Castle, Glenfinnan, Fort William, Glencoe, Oban and Kilmartin Glen.
Departing from Edinburgh we travel north towards the village of Dunkeld and the ruins of its historic cathedral followed by visit to the Falls of Bruar. The afternoon takes us into the Cairngorms National Park where we drive up towards Cairngorm Mountain. If the weather is clear we take the funicular railway to near the summit or alternatively, we enjoy a meandering walk at the nearby Loch an Eilein with its island castle ruin. The day ends with a short drive to Inverness where we will overnight for the next two days.
Departing from Inverness, we visit the nearby Culloden Battlefield to explore the dramatic history of the Highland clans and the Jacobite uprisings. Next we explore the Bronze Age Clava Cairns, dating back over 4000 years, these standing stones offer a fascinating glimpse into the ancient past of the Highlands. The afternoon takes us east to the majestic ruins of Elgin Cathedral – even in its ruined state, it stands as one of Scotland’s most beautiful and historically significant medieval buildings. Our return to Inverness includes a stop at the Rodney Stone, a carved monument crafted over twelve hundred years ago by the Picts.
Departing Inverness, we follow the legendary banks of Loch Ness to Urquhart Castle, where you go inside the medieval ruins to explore its history and enjoy commanding views down the Great Glen. Our journey continues through the dramatic landscapes of Glen Moriston and Glen Shiel, arriving at the iconic Eilean Donan Castle to uncover its historic past. After crossing the bridge to Skye, we pause at the old bridge at Sligachan for a magnificent view of the Black Cuillin peaks before arriving in the picturesque harbour town of Portree, our base for the next two nights.
From Portree, we explore the Trotternish peninsula, pausing for views of the Old Man of Storr and the Kilt Rock coastal waterfall. We then ascend the old cattle pass to the Quiraing; looking out over the village of Staffin toward the Northwest Highlands, this remains a definitive highlight of the Isle of Skye. After a visit to the Museum of Island Life at Kilmuir, the afternoon is dedicated to Dunvegan Castle. As the ancestral seat of Clan Macleod and the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland, it offers grand history and beautiful gardens to explore before our return to Portree.
Departing Portree, we journey south to Armadale for a scenic ferry crossing across the Sound of Sleat to Mallaig. We follow the famous 'Road to the Isles' to Glenfinnan, where we explore the Jacobite monument and view the iconic railway viaduct. After passing through the shadow of Ben Nevis at Fort William, we enter the coastal beauty of Argyll. We pause for a vista of the tidal Castle Stalker before arriving in the picturesque harbour town of Oban, our home for the final two nights.
Today we journey through millennia of history in the Highlands, moving from prehistoric mysteries to grand clan seats. We head south to explore Kilmartin Glen, a mystical landscape home to an extraordinary concentration of Neolithic standing stones, burial cairns, and stone circles. After lunch, we follow the shores of Loch Fyne to Inveraray Castle, the grand ancestral home of the Clan Campbell. Our return to Oban includes a viewpoint stop at the evocative ruins of Kilchurn Castle on the banks of Loch Awe.
On our final day, we travel north to explore the haunting beauty of Glencoe. We delve into the chronicles of the 1692 massacre and visit a reconstructed traditional 17th-century turf house. We pause at the River Coe and Loch Achtriochtan for some of Scotland's most dramatic photography. The afternoon takes us on a beautiful journey by the Trossachs on our return to Edinburgh.
March to October: £5750
Depart Edinburgh
Return Edinburgh
(7 Days)
This tour can start on any day from Edinburgh, but please note that Inveraray Castle is typically open Thursday to Monday during the season. If visiting the castle is a priority, a Sunday to Thursday start is recommended.
Tours are exclusively for your private group only (up to 3 persons) and prices are per tour. I only offer private tours and do not combine individuals or separate groups – if your group size is less than 3 the advertised tour price still applies. Prices include ferry tickets, all taxes and an experienced driver/guide and historian (John Alasdair Macdonald).
Your accommodation costs, entrance fees and meals.
I recommend that you book accommodation in Inverness (Day 1 and 2), Portree (Day 3 and 4), Oban (Day 5 and 6) to make the most of your trip. Whilst I do not book accommodation for you I am happy to help with advice on where to stay and eat. The tour quote will include a list of accommodation recommendations and suggestions for overnight locations.
The tour itinerary is based on experience, previous clients feedback and timings. However, I have a little flexibility and the tour itinerary can be adapted (in advance) to suit specific requests if possible. Please let me know any requests through the 'Extra Information' section when completing a Tour Enquiry Form.
Ferry sailings are generally reliable in the summer months, but delays and cancellations can occasionally occur. However, the only ferry journey on the tour (Armadale to Mallaig on Day 4) has a road alternative option available in the event of cancellation, though there would be a slightly later arrival into Oban.
The Scottish Highlands and Islands are renowned for changeable weather and even in the summer months we are likely to experience some wet and windy weather conditions on tours. As such we always recommend a light waterproof jacket for all tours and decent footwear that you do not mind getting a little bit muddy or wet.
Please note that for tours in March, April and October, the weather can be more inclement with rain and wind more common. I may adapt the daily itineraries with earlier or later starts and finishes to suit weather and travel conditions and attraction opening and closing times. Most of the itinerary is still accessible during these months, though Dunvegan Castle is only open April to mid-October, Inveraray Castle from late-March to late-October and Eilean Donan Castle can occasionally be closed on certain days for private events outwith the summer months. On tours where an itinerary attraction is unavailable to explore we visit alternative locations.
