Scottish Highlights

Day 1 – Edinburgh

Arrive in Edinburgh and you have the rest of the day to explore the city sights. There is Edinburgh Castle, the Palace of Holyroodhouse to visit and the Royal Mile, Old Town and New Town to explore. Or take one of our guided walking tours to find out more about the city and its highlights and hidden gems.

Overnight in Edinburgh

Day 2 – Edinburgh to Inverness

From Edinburgh journey north to arrive at Inverness, the capital of the Highlands. On the way you will have time to enjoy the scenery and to stop at places of interest, perhaps to watch the salmon leap, or visit Blair Castle or take a tour of a distillery. Once in Inverness you can start to see the city sights.

Overnight in Inverness

Day 3 – Inverness

Take the day to explore more of the wonderful historic and scenic sights in and around Inverness. Nearby is Culloden Battlefield, site of the last battle fought on British soil, and there are ancient standing stones and burial cairns to explore. Don’t miss out Cawdor Castle a charming historic family-owned castle with beautiful gardens.

Overnight in Inverness

Day 4 – Inverness to the Isle of Skye

Travel through spectacular scenery and past Loch Ness and see if you can spot its famous inhabitant. There is Urquhart Castle to visit on your way and as your journey continues past other scenic lochs you can visit one of the most romantic and photogenic castles of them all, Eilean Donan Castle. Drive over the modern bridge onto the Isle of Skye, an island that is famed for its rugged beauty and folklore. Take the rest of the day to start uncovering some of Skye’s treasures.

Overnight on the Isle of Skye

Day 5 – Isle of Skye

There is so much to choose from to explore on Skye with its unsurpassed scenery of rugged mountains and fairy pools. Discover the impressive landscape of the Quirang and the Cuillin mountains, or visit Talisker distillery, historic Dunvegan castle to see its fairy flag, or discover dramatic cliffs and waterfalls or find yourself in a fairy glen.

Overnight on the Isle of Skye

Day 6 – Isle of Skye to Fort William

From the Isle of Skye it’s a short ferry crossing over to the mainland and you will travel along the stunning ‘Road to the Isles’ past beaches with beautiful silver sands, lochs and glens. Stop at Glenfinnan at the head of Loch Shiel to see the striking Glenfinnan Monument and learn about Bonnie Prince Charlie and the Jacobites. Arriving in Fort William at the foot of Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest mountain, you will have time to explore the town and some of its surrounding landscape.

Overnight Fort William

Day 7 – Fort William to The Trossachs

From Fort William journey south through Glencoe, one of Scotland’s most atmospheric and dramatic glens with a tragic history, stopping at the visitor centre if you wish. Arrive at the Trossachs National Park – an area of outstanding natural beauty. You will have time to start your discovery of this scenic National Park.

Overnight in the Callander area

Day 8 – The Trossachs

This scenic area is sometimes called Scotland in Miniature because it encompasses so many lochs and mountains. Take a cruise on lovely Loch Lomond or on Loch Katrine to see places associated with infamous Rob Roy MacGregor. Enjoy a hike up one of the mountains for unsurpassed views, visit a whisky distillery or nearby castles, such as historic Doune Castle which is more famous as being Castle Leoch in Outlander.

Overnight in the Callander area

Day 9 – Depart Edinburgh

Your tour finishes back in Edinburgh which is only a short drive of 1.5 hours away.

Throughout your self-drive tour of Scotland you will be staying in our hand-picked 4 and 5 star graded accommodations, or places that match that same high quality, so that you are guaranteed a very comfortable location to stay each night of your tour.

Each accommodation is very different from the other, from romantic garden hideaways, charming family houses, historic castles, to architect-designed modern homes, atmospheric inns and grand luxury country hotels and mansions surrounded by beautiful landscapes. There’s even a deluxe hotel on its own private island, just across a small private bridge from the mainland. Many of our lodgings are award-winning and we try as far as possible to make sure that you stay in family-run places, so you get an authentic Scottish experience and an opportunity to speak with locals, rather than a standard chain hotel where you could be anywhere in the world.

You can choose from Bed and Breakfasts and Guest houses where you stay in the hosts’ own homes, to small hotels and inns and we also offer the opportunity for you to stay in historic castles or impressive luxury country mansions too.

As there are some areas of the Highlands and Islands where places to stay are more limited, we may sometimes need to book alternative accommodation for you. This only happens occasionally, and depends on your individual itinerary, however you can rest assured that we always make sure you are in carefully selected accommodation with comfortable superior rooms where you will enjoy a unique experience and warm Scottish hospitality.

Your self-drive tour package includes:

• A personalised tour itinerary – planned for you and only finalised once you are completely happy with it.
• 4 or 5 star quality accommodation every night during your tour, booked by us for you.
• Breakfast each morning.
• Our own personal recommendations and tips.
• A map of Scotland