Itinerary
Day 1 - Arrival in Edinburgh and Transfer to Inverness
On arrival at Edinburgh Airport you will receive a warm Scottish welcome from your kilted tour guide who will provide you with luxury coach transport to Inverness.
En-route you will travel through Highland Perthshire before stopping for lunch in the Victorian Spa town of Pitlochry, set amidst some of the most beautiful scenery in Europe.
You will then continue north through the Cairngorms National Park to arrive at Inverness, the Capital of the Highlands. Attractively set on the banks of the River Ness, Inverness is the gateway to the Great Glen and the brooding stillness of Loch Ness, ‘home’ of the Loch Ness Monster.
This will be your destination for your visit to the Highlands and in the evening you will dine at Abstract Restaurant, one of the finest restaurants in Scotland. The quality and style of Abstract’s unique blend of French culinary expertise and superb local produce has earned this fine dining restaurant a host of top awards, including three AA Rosettes.
Day 2 – A Jacobite Cruise on Loch Ness and visit to Urquhart Castle
We will arrange for you to go in search of ‘Nessie’, the Loch Ness Monster, with the ultimate 5* Jacobite cruise. We will charter a boat for you to maximise your comfort and enjoyment of this magical Loch Ness experience.
A cruise on the loch is a superb way to experience the magnificence of the loch and its stunning attractions, such as the ancient ruins of Urquhart Castle. The cruise will allow you to go ashore into the grounds so you can explore the castle ruins and exhibition centre. You will then be served lunch onboard with the mystery, legend and beauty of Loch Ness as a backdrop.
In the afternoon you will have the opportunity to explore Inverness, the main city and shopping centre of the Highlands. You may choose to have a stroll along the banks of the picturesque River Ness or visit Inverness Castle or the Museum and Art Gallery.
This evening we will transport you to Rocpool Reserve, an Italian inspired restaurant overlooking the River Ness. The menu boasts fabulously fresh and sensational seasonal produce and features wine specially chosen from small vineyards. Award winning chef Davey Aspin uses his skills to create fresh seasonal dishes that start with the best ingredients, cooked perfectly and presented dramatically to satisfy all senses.
Day 3 – A Tour of the Isle of Skye including a visit to Eilean Donan Castle
You will spend today touring the magical Isle of Skye, without doubt one of the most famous and popular destinations in Scotland, visited for its wild mountains and stunning seascapes.
You will travel to the north of the island to the stunning Quiraing mountain pass and enjoy a spectacular walk through some of Skye’s extraordinary geological scenery. You will visit Kilt Rock, composed of basalt columns reminiscent of the pleats in a kilt and with a waterfall that cascades over the cliffs and down into the sea below.
Your tour will continue to Dunvegan Castle, the ancient ancestral seat of the chiefs of MacLeod for over 850 years. Built on a Rock once surrounded entirely by salt water, it is unique in Scotland as the only house of such antiquity to have retained its family throughout the centuries.
After lunch at the award winning Loch Bay Seafood Restaurant you will travel past the Cuillins, the most dramatic mountain range in the British Isles. Crossing the Skye Bridge you will visit the most recognisable and photographed of Scotland’s Castles, Eilean Donan. Situated on an offshore islet and magically linked to the mainland with a stone-arched bridge, the first castle was built here in 1230.
It is then a journey back to Inverness via the Five Sisters of Kintail and the Great Glen before spending the evening on the banks of the River Ness. Here we will arrange dinner at The Kitchen, one of the most exciting restaurants in Inverness. The restaurant combines contemporary and sophisticated design with high quality produce creating a truly stunning experience.
Day 4 - Depart Inverness & visit Stirling Castle and the Trossachs National Park
As you journey south from the Highlands to the Lowlands you will pass through the beautiful Scottish Lakeland known as The Trossachs, which has been a major tourist destination since the early 19th Century when Sir Walter Scott’s historical novel Rob Roy, brought eager visitors to the region.
You will pay a visit to the historic city of Stirling, the home of William Wallace, “Braveheart” himself. The medieval Castle with its Renaissance Palace and Great Hall recalls the grandeur of the court of the Stewart monarchs of Scotland and the Old Town with its historic Tolbooth will give you a real sense of history as you wander its streets.
