Itinerary
- Day 1
Stirling to Oban
You'll head north from Glasgow, driving through Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park with the West Highlands stretching around you. The route takes you past Inveraray, a whitewashed 18th-century town that's worth a quick look as you pass through. After that, you'll continue on to Oban where you'll settle in for two nights. The drive itself is pretty scenic, so there's time to soak in the landscape and maybe grab lunch along the way.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Travel through Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park
- Pass Stirling Castle
- Visit Inveraray
Landmarks/POIs Stirling Castle Loch Lomond Trossachs National Park Inveraray - Day 2
Oban - Mull - Iona
Early morning ferry crossing takes you to Mull, and from there you'll explore the dramatic coastlines before hopping on a smaller ferry to Iona. This island holds real historical weight as the birthplace of Celtic Christianity and an ancient burial ground for Scottish Kings. The historic abbey has intricately carved crosses worth spending time with. If the weather cooperates, there's an optional boat trip to Staffa to see Fingal's Cave, though that depends on sea conditions. You'll head back to Oban by evening for your second night there.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Ferry crossing to Mull
- Visit Iona Abbey
- Explore Iona's rocky headlands and sandy coves
Optional Activities
- Small boat trip to Staffa island to view basalt columns and Fingal's Cave
Landmarks/POIs Mull Iona Abbey Staffa Fingal's Cave - Day 3
Oban to Plockton
Travel north along the west coast, and you'll pass Castle Stalker before reaching Glencoe, one of Scotland's most well-known natural landmarks with its dramatic valley and dark mountains. Fort William comes next, sitting under the shadow of Ben Nevis, which is the highest mountain in the British Isles. From there, you'll continue through the Great Glen to Plockton, a fishing village that's worth the drive. You'll stay overnight there, so it's a good chance to walk around the waterfront and get your bearings.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Drive through Glencoe
- Pass by Castle Stalker
- Pass under Ben Nevis
Landmarks/POIs Castle Stalker Glencoe Fort William Ben Nevis Great Glen Plockton - Day 4
Isle of Skye
This day is flexible, which means your driver-guide will adjust based on weather and what your group wants to do. You might climb Quiraing along Trotternish Ridge for views across the Sound of Raasay, or check out the scenery around Loch Corruisk, or drive through the Red Cuillin to Elgol. The beauty here is that it's tailored to conditions and interests rather than a fixed route. You'll head back to Plockton in the late afternoon, leaving the evening free to relax.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Explore Isle of Skye (flexible routing based on conditions and interests)
Optional Activities
- Ascend Quiraing along Trotternish Ridge
- Visit Loch Corruisk
- Drive through Red Cuillin to Elgol
Landmarks/POIs Isle of Skye Quiraing Trotternish Ridge Loch Corruisk Red Cuillin Elgol - Day 5
Plockton to Inverness
A short drive gets you to Eilean Donan Castle, one of Scotland's most recognizable castles sitting on a small island. From there, you'll travel east with views over Loch Duich and the Five Sisters of Kintail rising around you. Loch Ness is your lunch stop, so you'll have time to grab a bite and maybe scan the water for Nessie if you're feeling hopeful. You'll switch buses at Spean Bridge and meet new travelling companions. The route continues north through the Great Glen, passing Urquhart Castle, and you'll roll into Inverness, the Highland Capital, in the early evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Eilean Donan Castle
- View Five Sisters of Kintail
- Stop at Loch Ness
Landmarks/POIs Eilean Donan Castle Loch Duich Five Sisters of Kintail Loch Ness Urquhart Castle - Day 6
Inverness to Kirkwall
You'll start early from Inverness, crossing over the Black Isle and passing Dunrobin Castle along the way. The northeast Highland coastline is dramatic and worth paying attention to as you drive. John o' Groats, Scotland's most northerly mainland village, is your destination before the ferry crossing. You'll board a ferry across the Pentland Firth into the Orkney Archipelago. The Italian Chapel is a quick stop before continuing to Kirkwall, Orkney's capital, where you can walk through the historic winding streets and see the magnificent Viking Cathedral.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Italian Chapel
- Explore Kirkwall Viking Cathedral
- Walk through Kirkwall's historic streets
Landmarks/POIs Black Isle Dunrobin Castle John o' Groats Gills Bay Italian Chapel Kirkwall St Magnus Cathedral - Day 7
Orkney Islands
Today you'll explore Orkney's fertile green pastures and golden sandy shores. Skara Brae, a 5,000-year-old village, sits right on the coast and gives you a sense of how people lived thousands of years ago. Then you'll head to Brodgar, a mystical prehistoric stone circle, and Stenness with its Druidic standing stones. Maeshowe is where Vikings left one of the largest collections of Norse runic inscriptions back in the 12th century. You'll return to Kirkwall for your second night, so there's time in the evening to explore if you want.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Skara Brae
- Visit Brodgar stone circle
- Visit Stenness standing stones
- Visit Maeshowe
Landmarks/POIs Skara Brae Ring of Brodgar Stenness Standing Stones Maeshowe - Day 8
Orkney to Ullapool
You'll have a relaxed start before leaving Orkney on the ferry back to the mainland. The drive across the top of Scotland shows off Ben Loyal and Ben Hope mountains, rocky cliffs, and golden sand beaches. The far northwest Highlands and Assynt mountains are wild and remote. You'll stop to see the 15th-century ruins of Ardvreck Castle before ending in Ullapool, a whitewashed fishing village at the mouth of Loch Broom where you'll stay your last night on tour.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Sail from Orkney to mainland
- View Ben Loyal
- View Ben Hope
- Visit Ardvreck Castle
Landmarks/POIs Ben Loyal Ben Hope Assynt Ardvreck Castle Ullapool Loch Broom - Day 9
Ullapool to Edinburgh
Leaving Ullapool, you'll see the River Droma plunging 60 meters down into Corrieshalloch Gorge, then pass Loch Glascarnoch on the way back through Inverness. Culloden Moor is a sobering stop, the site of the 1746 Battle of Culloden, one of the bloodiest events in British history. You'll visit Clava Cairns with its ancient standing stones, made famous by the Outlander books. The drive through the ancient Caledonian Pine Forest follows the Cairngorm mountains, and lunch happens somewhere in these surroundings. From there, you'll head back through Perthshire and the Kingdom of Fife, arriving back in Edinburgh.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- View Corrieshalloch Gorge
- Visit Culloden Moor and Museum
- Visit Clava Cairns
Landmarks/POIs Corrieshalloch Gorge River Droma Loch Glascarnoch Inverness Culloden Battlefield Clava Cairns Caledonian Pine Forest Cairngorm Mountains Perthshire Kingdom of Fife
