Day 1

Edinburgh to St. Andrews

A day of regal experiences! From the showpiece palace of King James V at Linlithgow, the mighty Royal fortress of Stirling Castle and the Prince Regent’s home of Doune, we gather an understanding of how the past meets the present, visiting the film sets of modern epic dramas such as Monty Pythons “The Holy Grail” and the more recent “Outlander” and “Game of Thrones” We finish the day at the ancient university town of St Andrews, the Home of Golf and the Royal and Ancient Championship Course.

Day 2

St. Andrews to Inverness

Today our journey takes us through four of the counties of Scotland, the Kingdom of Fife, Angus, Perth-shire and Inverness-shire as we leave the Lowlands behind and climb into the Highlands proper. Much of the morning is spent driving along the River Tay from its Estuary at the old whaling city of Dundee, to Perth, one of the ancient capitals of Scotland. Tales of Battles from the Jacobite rebellions and a visit to Blair Castle, home of Clan Murray, are perhaps the highlights of the day. Fine dining and a dram are options on our way to the Highland Capital, Inverness.

Day 3

Inverness to Loch Ness

We begin today with a short tour of the Highland Capital’s landmarks, Inverness Castle, Flora MacDonald Statue, the River Ness and Saint Andrew’s Cathedral. Where historical fact meets modern fiction the “Outlander” connections are explained. A round trip of Loch Ness to facilitate some “monster hunting” is next. Learn how the Great Glen was fortified along its length and how our National Poet Robert Burns was moved to write a few verses about his visit to the cataract waterfall at Foyers village.

Day 4

Inverness East and the “Bonnie Black Isle”

Today we set out for a full day of touring in the stunning surrounds of Inverness and the Black Isle. The romantic but tragic events of Culloden in 1746, changed the Highland way of life forever. We visit the field of conflict. The Clava Stones and burial cairns are 4,000 years old. Built along lay lines, many visitors feel the energy from this “other-worldly” field of ceremonial. Fort George is a somber and formidable edifice built at a huge cost to keep Highland armies from “disturbing the peace” ever again. The afternoon is spent in the “Black Isle” across the Moray Firth. Dolphin spotting, Cathedral and Priory visits and a single malt whisky distillery tasting or tour are options.

Day 5

North to John O’ Groats

A day of contrasts today. From the rolling fields of Easter Ross and crossing, no less than 3 Firths, we travel to the Northernmost point of the UK Mainland. Along the way, we visit a fairy tale Castle with a dark history, a Cathedral which is not a Cathedral, a site where a witch was burned, a championship Golf Course designed by Old Tom Morris and a nature and wildlife reserve. We then climb precariously into Caithness where the seascapes and rugged clifftops are spectacular and fishing villages full of character.

Day 6

Orkney Islands

Orkney and Shetland, the Northern Isles, are very often, shown on maps together, in an inset frame. They are in fact very far apart. Orkney is a short sea crossing from mainland Scotland and is very much worth a visit. The Shetland Islands are as far from Orkney as Orkney is from Aberdeen. Both are fiercely independent and cling to their Viking roots. Orkney’s main orientation is farming, Shetland fishing. The people are famed for their unique dialect and friendliness. Today, we take the short crossing to the Orkney archipelago.

Day 7

Thurso To Lochinver

Today we cross the roof of Scotland driving through some of the most spectacular scenery the Highlands has to offer. Spectacular seascapes and deserted white sand beaches nestling in coves of sand dunes are alive with seabirds and wildlife. Our horizon changes dramatically from the high windswept rugged plains of Caithness to the moody and beautiful mountains of West Sutherland. No castles or battles today, just some of the most beautiful scenery in Europe, unspoiled and lovely.

Day 8

Lochinver to Torridon

The singer/songwriter, Dave Goulder writes and records these words of this area, “and, if I had a hundred homes, and could stay in each a while, I’d build them all along the coast from Sandwood, down to Kyle.”

Yesterday, and for the next two or three days, we will be traveling in what is probably, the last great unspoiled area of Europe. Much of it is now Nature Reserve, but in fact, has looked this way for millions of years. Superlatives are, frankly, inadequate to describe the Glory of Wester Ross. Every turn of the winding roads exposes a new and different vista of breath-taking countryside.

Day 9

Torridon to Isle of Skye

Having been well-rested in the “serenity lane” that is Torridon, in the shadow of Liathach mountain, it is well worthwhile to take a morning drive to the village of Diabeg on the Atlantic shore of the Inner Minch. This is a virtual lunar landscape of breath-taking beauty. Torridon Sandstone is thought to be amongst the oldest rock formations in the world, at least 500 million years old. The whole of the Western Seaboard and the North East end of Skye encompass formations up to 1,650 million years old. For much of today, we hold to the coast of the Inner Minch until after reaching Applecross we climb to the heights and descend to Lochcarron. A visit to the world-famous Eilean Donan Castle completes the day.

Day 10

The Isle of Skye

Skye is breathtakingly beautiful. In any and all weather, it has a mystique that draws people from all over the world. An Island of contrasts. From the domed mountains of the Red and Black Cuillins to the flat-topped MacLeod Tables and the ancient crags of the North End, the variety is as endless as it is timeless. Its people have known, through the ages, the hardships of famine and emigration, both voluntary and enforced. If it is true to say, as is often said, that Scotland’s greatest export has been its sons and daughters, then this is particularly true of the indomitable folk from Skye. Poets, politicians, clergymen, explorers and soldiers of distinction have all left their mark on the world in a measure that belies the size of the population.

Day 11

The Isle of Skye to Fort William

Today we depart the “Misty Isle” by way of the Armadale to Mallaig Ferry. Depending on the time and availability of the ferry crossing we may have the opportunity of exploring the Ord/Tarskavaig loop on the Sleat peninsula. This is a one hour drive of breath-taking beauty, taking a winding single track road right into the depths of the island to little known, and less traveled, parts of the Island with spectacular views from beaches across Loch Eishort to Loch Slapin and the skyline of the Cuillin Hills. The Clan Donald Centre, Gardens and Museum are also well worth a visit. The short ferry journey to Mallaig brings us back to the West Coast mainland and the fishing village of Mallaig. From here, there is an option of boarding the Jacobite Steam train for a “going back in time” journey to Fort William with a stop at Glenfinnan.

Day 12

Fort William to Oban

Fort William was once home to one of three fortifications built along the length of the Great Glen between the lochs and some 33 miles each apart to create a barrier to Highland Armies from moving South. They were named after the King’s sons, George, Augustus and William. All were destroyed by the Jacobite Army and only the remnant of the sea wall in Fort William. It lies at the Western end of the Caledonian Canal where it enters the Atlantic by way of the sea estuary, Loch Linnhe. It is a little more than an hour’s drive along Loch Linnhe and the Atlantic shore from Fort William to Oban, but it would be foolish to embark on this beautiful trip without taking a detour into Glencoe. Created by ice flows millions of years ago this rugged and lonely place is a “must-see” for anyone visiting the Western Highlands. The area is known for waterfalls and trails that climb peaks such as Buachaille Etive Mor and Bidean nam Bian. In the village, Glencoe Folk Museum occupies 18th-century thatched cottages, with displays on local heritage. Wildlife in the area includes red deer and golden eagles.

Day 13

The Isle of Mull

Mull is the second-largest island of the Inner Hebrides and lies off the Argyll coast, a little under one hour sailing from Oban. Close to the landing Port of Craignure lies Duart Castle’s ancestral home of Clan MacLean. Whichever way we branch out from our landing stage this visit is a must. Steeped in the history of the Highlands the castle has also been a film venue. Having visited Duart our day can take us Northward through the Island to the picturesque main town of Tobermory with its painted houses around the Bay, much like Portree on Skye. The journey has wonderful views of the mainland across the Sound of Mull and passes through the villages of Salen and Aros. The other option is to continue South Westward on a somewhat longer trip to Fionnphort where a passenger ferry takes us on a short voyage to the sacred Isle of Iona and its ancient Abbey.

Day 14

Oban to Glasgow

Today we leave Oban and travel South along the shores of Loch Awe and Ben Cruachan where the Hydro Power Station is built into the mountain. Loch Awe is the longest freshwater loch in Scotland, some 25 miles long. In the Pass of Brander during the Independence wars Robert Bruce won a Battle against the MacDougalls of Lorne on his way to claiming the Scottish throne. Kilchurn Castle across the loch was a stronghold of Clan Campbell. We take a diversion at the head of the loch and head for Inveraray on Loch Fyne. The Castle here is the home of the Dukes of Argyll who features large in history. In recent times the castle was used in the filming of the Christmas holiday scenes for the family in “Downton Abbey.” We follow the road past Cairndow and climb the famous “Rest and be Thankful” hill viewing ahead of us the Arrochar Alps before rejoining the A82 at Tarbert on Loch Lomond’s “Bonnie Banks” A stop, perhaps for a meal, at the village of Luss is the last stop before our final destination of Glasgow. Time for some sightseeing or shopping before dropping off at your hotel or airport.