Itinerary
- Day 1
Edinburgh to Oban
You'll head out from Edinburgh through the Lowlands, passing Stirling Castle as you enter the Highlands. The route takes you by Loch Lomond and through the Trossachs National Park, then continues west into more remote terrain toward Inveraray, an 18th-century town with character. From there you'll reach Oban where you're settled for two nights, giving you a chance to get oriented and rest before island excursions.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Travel through the Lowlands and Highlands passing Stirling Castle
- Explore Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park
- Visit Inveraray, the historic seat of the Campbell Clan
Landmarks/POIs Stirling Castle Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Inveraray - Day 2
Mull - Iona
An early ferry gets you to Mull, where you'll explore the island's rugged coastline and small villages. A short second ferry takes you to Iona, historically significant as the birthplace of Celtic Christianity. You can walk through the abbey, see carved crosses, and spend time on the rocky beaches. There's an optional boat trip available to Staffa to view the basalt columns and Fingal's Cave if conditions permit, then you return to Oban for your second night there.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Ferry ride to Mull
- Ferry ride to Iona
- Visit Iona Abbey and explore historic site
Optional Activities
- Small boat trip to Staffa and Fingal's Cave (extra charge, upon request, subject to availability)
Landmarks/POIs Mull Iona Abbey Staffa Fingal's Cave - Day 3
Oban to Balmacara
Leaving Oban, you'll travel along the coast to see Castle Stalker, a 14th-century tower sitting dramatically on a small island. Next comes Glencoe with its steep cliffs and historical significance, where you'll stop for photos. You pass beneath Ben Nevis (1,344 meters/4,406 feet), the British Isles' highest peak, near Fort William. The drive continues through the Great Glen to Balmacara, your overnight spot with loch and mountain views surrounding the area.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- View Castle Stalker from scenic spot
- Stop in Glencoe for photos
- Pass beneath Ben Nevis
Landmarks/POIs Castle Stalker Glencoe Fort William Ben Nevis Great Glen - Day 4
Isle of Skye
After crossing the Skye Bridge into the Misty Isle, your driver-guide adjusts the day's route based on weather conditions. You'll explore the Trotternish Ridge, seeing landmarks like the Old Man of Storr, Kilt Rock, and the Quiraing pass with its dramatic rock formations and cliffs. The landscape feels vast and wild, and you return to Balmacara by evening for a quiet night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Cross Skye Bridge to Isle of Skye
- Explore Trotternish Ridge
- Visit Old Man of Storr
- See Kilt Rock
- Drive through Quiraing pass
Landmarks/POIs Isle of Skye Trotternish Ridge Old Man of Storr Kilt Rock Quiraing - Day 5
Loch Ness - Edinburgh
From Balmacara you head east to Eilean Donan Castle for a closer look at this iconic location. The route continues past sparkling lochs and mountain peaks to a village on Loch Ness's banks, where you have free time to try local food, walk along the water's edge, and watch for the elusive monster. After lunch you travel south through Perthshire with a final stop before returning to Edinburgh.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- View Eilean Donan Castle
- Free time at Loch Ness village
Landmarks/POIs Eilean Donan Castle Loch Ness Perthshire - Day 6
Inverness to Kirkwall
Starting from Inverness, you cross the Black Isle and follow the North Coast 500 route, stopping briefly in Golspie. Dunrobin Castle comes next with its distinctive spires and grounds worth seeing. You then head along the historic coastline through villages and glens with several stops at dramatic cliff viewpoints, reaching John O'Groats around midday. A ferry crosses the Pentland Firth to Orkney, and after landing at St Margaret's Hope, you pass the Churchill Barriers and visit the Italian Chapel before settling in Kirkwall for the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Cross the Black Isle
- Stop at Golspie
- Visit Dunrobin Castle and gardens
- Explore North Sea coastline
- Reach John O'Groats
- Ferry crossing from Gills Bay to Orkney
- Cross Churchill Barriers
- Visit Italian Chapel
Landmarks/POIs Black Isle Golspie Dunrobin Castle John O'Groats Italian Chapel Churchill Barriers - Day 7
Heart of Neolithic Orkney
Your day focuses on Orkney's UNESCO World Heritage Heart of Neolithic Orkney sites. You'll visit Maeshowe, a 5,000-year-old chambered tomb featuring Viking graffiti, then see the Ring of Brodgar, an ancient stone circle. Skara Brae, a prehistoric village, comes next and shows how people lived thousands of years ago. Stromness offers free time for lunch and walking through the historic streets and harbour. Additional sites like Kirbuster Museum and possibly a tidal island are included before returning to Kirkwall for the evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Admission to Maeshowe
- Visit Ring of Brodgar
- Admission to Skara Brae
- Explore Kirbuster Museum
- Explore Heart of Neolithic Orkney UNESCO World Heritage site
Optional Activities
- Visit tidal island
Landmarks/POIs Heart of Neolithic Orkney Maeshowe Ring of Brodgar Skara Brae Stromness Kirbuster Museum - Day 8
Kirkwall to Ullapool
Leaving Kirkwall, you head to St Margaret's Hope ferry terminal, traveling past Scapa Flow. The Pentland Firth crossing keeps you watching for whales or dolphins. Back on the mainland, you follow the North Coast 500's northern section through dramatic terrain to Smoo Cave, then into the Assynt mountains. Ardvreck Castle appears during the drive, and by evening you're in Ullapool, a fishing village with free time to explore.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Ferry crossing from Orkney to mainland
- Travel along North Coast 500
- View Smoo Cave
- View Ardvreck Castle
Landmarks/POIs Scapa Flow Pentland Firth North Coast 500 Smoo Cave Assynt Mountains Ardvreck Castle Ullapool - Day 9
Ullapool to Edinburgh
Heading south, you reach Corrieshalloch Gorge and take a short forest walk to watch the River Droma drop 60 meters into the deep gorge. Continuing through the landscape, you stop at Culloden Battlefield, where the Jacobite Rising ended tragically. Clava Cairns comes next, a prehistoric site connected to the show Outlander. You then drive through the Cairngorms to Newtonmore's Highland Folk Museum, stop in Dunkeld to see its cathedral and streets, then return to Edinburgh via the Forth Rail Bridge.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Walk to view Corrieshalloch Gorge and River Droma
- Admission to Culloden Museum and Battlefield
- Visit Clava Cairns
- Visit Newtonmore Highland Folk Museum
- Explore Dunkeld Cathedral and streets
Landmarks/POIs Corrieshalloch Gorge River Droma Culloden Battlefield Clava Cairns Cairngorms Newtonmore Highland Folk Museum Dunkeld Cathedral Forth Rail Bridge
