Winner of the Inaugural Scottish Thistle Award for Sustainable Tourism October 2007.

Take three days to explore some of the most dramatic and beautiful places in the Highlands and the second largest west coast island of Scotland. Highlights of the tour include Glencoe, the Lochaber region around Fort William, Eilean Donan Castle (set of "Highlander") and over the sea to Skye, staying in the picturesque harbor town of Portree.

The second day focuses on exploring Skye including the wild north of the island, Old Man of Storr, the mountain pass of the Quiraing and Skye's most westerly point at Neist.

The third day returns to the mainland, before travelling through the Five Sisters of Kintail, and on to eerie Loch Ness, the central highlands and Edinburgh.

Schedule Details

Departure Dates:

October 01, 2007 to April 30, 2008
Monday, Wednesday and Saturday

May 01, 2008 to April 30, 2009
Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday

Unavailable Dates:

• January 01 (New Years Day)
• December 25 (Christmas Day)

Departure Point:

207 High St, Edinburgh.

Departure Time:

9:00am

Return details:

Tour concludes at original point of departure at 7:30pm

Hotel Pickup:

Hotel pick ups are not available, however please specify the name of your hotel and contact telephone number during your stay in Edinburgh.

Itinerary:

Day 1: Edinburgh - Portree

Depart Edinburgh at 9:00am and travel west passing Linlithgow Palace, birthplace of Mary Queen of Scots and continue towards Stirling with its imposing castle and views to the Wallace Monument. Pass Doune Castle, the set of Monty Python's "Holy Grail" before stopping in Callander or Kilmahog for refreshments. Into the Highlands now and north past Loch Luibnaig, Loch Earn, Crianlarich and Tyndrum, stopping for lunch on the way. You then continue north through Glencoe, scene of the great massacre of the Clan Macdonald in 1692. Past Fort William and up to the Comowo visit the famous Eilean Donan Castle, used in the film Highlander, set at the junction of 3 lochs as protection against Viking raiders. Crossing over the bridge to Skye, you travel up to Portree, a picturesque working harbor town and your base for 2 nights. You are then dropped off at your accommodation in the early evening where you are free to explore the town.

Day 2: Portree

Today is a very flexible day on Skye. There are many possibilities depending on the weather and the dynamics of the group. Possibilities include travelling north to the stunning Quiraing Mountain pass and enjoy a spectacular walk through some of Skye's extraordinary geological scenery. Take photos of the Kilt Rock, composed of basalt columns (reminiscent of the pleats in a kilt) with its waterfall cascading over the cliffs and down into the sea below.

Travel over to Neist Point for a walk, and a chance to stand on the most westerly point on the island (out to the lighthouse that is the furthest point west on Skye). Or go over to Dunvegan Castle, ancient ancestral seat of the Clan McLeod. Talisker Distillery is also located on the island, as are the famous Cuillin Hills. We return you to your accommodation Portree in the early evening for you to enjoy a free night in Portree.

Day 3: Portree - Edinburgh

You will be collected from your accommodation and travel south past the Cuillin Hills to return to the mainland via the Skye bridge. Your journey continues eastwards through Glen Sheil to Glen Moriston and on to the shores of Loch Ness. Stopping at the southern tip of the Loch in the small village of Fort Augustus, you now have the chance to enjoy lunch (own expense), go for a walk or relax on a boat trip (summer only) to try and spot the monster!

After lunch you travel south via Spean Bridge, and Loch Laggan, home of the very popular T.V program, "Monarch of the Glen". Continuing south, pass by Dalwhinnie whisky distillery before stopping in Perthshire for a last walk and coffee stop in the fresh Highland air before crossing back into the Lowlands, passing by the fair city of Perth and one time capital of Scotland. The journey takes you over the Forth road bridge spanning the Firth of Forth, with fine view over to the world famous modern day wonder of the world, the Forth Rail Bridge opened in 1890, before reaching the city center of Edinburgh in the early evening.

Additional Information

Inclusions:

• Daily breakfast
• Professional driver / guide
• All ferry and bridge crossings
• Discount Card offering discounts off local restaurants, shopping and attractions
• Modern Mercedes minivan with forced air ventilation for a more personal service
• Two nights accommodation with private facilities in either a Bed and Breakfast or 3/4 star hotel

Exclusions:

• Optional gratuities
• Hotel pick up day 1
• Hotel drop off day 2
• Food and drinks, unless specified
• Boat Trip on Loch Ness (April to October only)
• Entrance fees (discount card offers reductions)

Hotel list:

For accommodation a variety of superior class bed and breakfasts, guesthouses and hotels are used. These offer excellent value for money and allows the benefits of tourism wealth to be distributed amongst a number of rural businesses, rather than being concentrated into one area.

Additional Info:

• This tour must be booked at least 48 hours in advance of your travel date.
• Confirmation for this product will be received at the time of booking unless booking within 14 days of travel, in which case confirmation will be received within 48 hours, subject to availability.
• Tour is operated in English unless otherwise stated.
• There are opportunities to take nature walks, it is recommended to bring suitable clothing and footwear. Scotland can be a wet place!
• The Scottish Highlands and Islands are Europe's last great wilderness! This personalized tour is as close as you can get to touring in your own car, with the added benefit of gaining intimate knowledge of Scotland. Traveling in a small group means you can take lots of stops and reach "out of the way" places, giving you more time off the bus to discover the real Scotland.
• The First Edinburgh tour operator to be awarded 5 star status by the Scottish Tourist Board.
• There is a maximum of 16 passengers on this tour.

Caring for the Environment:

The tour operator aims to leave the legacy of Scotland's beautiful landscape for future generations to enjoy. The tour is as close as you can get to touring in your own car, but with the added benefit of reducing your carbon footprint by 75% (based on 2 persons travelling the same distance in their own car). The operator's commitment to environmental excellence has been recognised with 2 top Gold awards from the Green Tourism scheme and Keep Edinburgh Clean awards.

Terms and Conditions:

Bookings cancelled within 14 days of travel date incur 100% cancellation penalties.

Local Operator Information:

Complete Operator information, including local telephone numbers at your destination, are included on your Confirmation Voucher. Our Product Managers select only the most experienced and reliable operators in each destination, removing the guesswork for you, and ensuring your peace of mind.

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