Western Isles & Orkney

Leaving Edinburgh behind, we head through the rolling Lowlands, passing Stirling Castle on the way. Once we cross an age-old geological fault line, the level farmland changes to Highland scenery, where craggy summits and wooded glens mark the start of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.

Scotland’s first national park is celebrated for its scenery and the tales of Rob Roy, the legendary outlaw. Our driver-guide stops beside one of its lochs for a chance to take in the stillness and the clean Highland air. Further on, the landscape grows wilder as the sheer slopes of the Arrochar Alps rise around us, and we pause at the well-known Rest and Be Thankful viewpoint before carrying on to Inveraray.

We break for lunch in Inveraray, a handsome town on the shores of Loch Fyne, where local seafood comes with views over the loch and the hills beyond. Our route then continues to Oban, with possible stops depending on the weather and the group’s interests. Kilmartin Glen suits history lovers, with more than 350 prehistoric monuments, among them standing stones, stone circles and burial cairns over 5,000 years old. Alternatively, our driver-guide may stop at Loch Awe to see the ruins of Kilchurn Castle, a fortress set against mountains and calm water.

Late in the day, we reach Oban, known as the “Gateway to the Isles” and once the territory of rival clans. This harbour town is our base for the next two nights. The evening is yours to spend as you like, perhaps with a seafood dinner or a traditional Scottish meal at a local restaurant, followed by a walk along the waterfront to watch the sun set over the harbour.

Please note: Check-in closes at 08:45 (tour departs at 09:00) - Edinburgh Bus Station Pick Up, Gate J and Gate K, inside Edinburgh Bus Station, St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, EH1 3DQ.

An early start takes us to the ferry for Mull, an Inner Hebridean island known for its wild scenery, wildlife and pretty villages. On the approach, the outline of Duart Castle comes into view before we land at Craignure. Today is a day of island hopping, and our route crosses Mull’s green pastures, thick woodland and peat bog on the way to Fionnphort.

At Fionnphort, you can choose how to spend the next part of the day. One option is to take the small ferry to Iona, regarded as the birthplace of Celtic Christianity and the historic burial place of Scottish kings. Here, you can visit the abbey, with its finely carved crosses in the churchyard, or walk out to the sandy bays and rocky headlands. Alternatively, you can split your time between Iona and an optional trip to Staffa, where the basalt columns of Fingal’s Cave inspired Mendelssohn’s Hebridean Overture.

Whichever island you choose, whether you come away with a sense of Iona’s calm or Staffa’s remarkable geology, the group reunites on Mull afterwards. Our drive back crosses the island’s mountainous interior, a landscape of hills, still lochs and wide glens, to Craignure, where we catch the ferry back to Oban.

This is your second evening in Oban, so you could climb to McCaig’s Tower, a Colosseum-style landmark on Battery Hill with sweeping views over the town and nearby islands, or sample local whisky in one of the town’s pubs.

Leaving Oban, we follow the shores of Loch Linnhe through a region woven with stories of clans, battles and faeries.

Further along the loch, we stop at a viewpoint overlooking Castle Stalker, a 14th-century tower set on a tiny islet near Appin. First held by the Clan MacDougall and later by the Stewarts of Appin, it ranks among Scotland’s most photogenic castles and has a long past of clan feuds and intrigue. We then carry on to Glencoe, a valley famed for its steep slopes and turbulent past, and a frequent film location. You have time here for photos or a short walk to take in the views, and to hear about one of the darkest chapters in Scottish history.

Our route follows Loch Linnhe on to Fort William, a Highland town at the foot of Ben Nevis, where we stop for lunch. After a chance to try some local food and wander the town centre, we set off along the Great Glen, a natural fault line in the Earth’s crust that cuts across Scotland. Calm glens and glinting lochs line the way, along with mountain views that take in the Five Sisters of Kintail, and we pass Eilean Donan Castle, with chances for photo stops and short breaks as we go. We end the day in Plockton.

Your evening in Plockton is free, with views of the loch, woodland and mountains all around. You could walk along the harbour as the evening light settles, or enjoy a warming meal at one of the village’s inns or pubs.

This morning, we cross the Skye Bridge from Plockton onto the Isle of Skye, often called the Misty Isle, where striking scenery waits around every corner. Our driver-guide shapes the day around the weather to make the best use of our time on the island.

One option is to head north to the Trotternish Ridge and beyond, home to remarkable rock features including the Old Man of Storr, Kilt Rock and the Quiraing mountain pass. This corner of Skye is known for its otherworldly rock formations, sheer cliffs, wide open landscapes and a powerful feeling of wilderness.

Midway through the day, we stop for lunch in one of the island’s towns before continuing our exploration. Later in the afternoon, our driver-guide may share the legends and clan history linked to Dunvegan Castle, or take us to another lesser-known spot instead.

We then leave Skye behind and head back to Plockton. Your evening is free, perhaps for a walk along the shore or dinner at one of the village’s inns.

Heading south from Plockton, we make our way to Eilean Donan Castle for a closer look. Set on a tiny island, this much-photographed castle holds a long store of tales and has recently become well known as a film location. You can walk along the shore for a view of its walls, or step inside to explore chambers holding artefacts from the MacKenzie and MacRae clans.

Our route then passes glinting lochs set beneath craggy mountains to Fort Augustus, a village on the banks of Loch Ness, where we stop for lunch. You can try some regional dishes, wander down to the loch shore and keep an eye out for its famously shy monster. Further on, we stop at Spean Bridge to change vehicles and meet our new driver-guide, along with the other travellers joining us for the second part of the tour. From here, we head north to the Falls of Foyers, where a short walk leads to a waterfall that was a favourite of the poet Robert Burns.

Our road then follows Loch Ness, whose deep, peat-stained waters contain more fresh water than every lake in England and Wales put together, making it an ideal hiding place for the Loch Ness Monster. We stop at Dores, a quiet village with wide views over the loch, and with luck, you might even catch a glimpse of the creature.

Later, we reach Inverness, known as the Capital of the Highlands. Your evening is free. You could try some local food, then stroll through the streets to Inverness Castle or out to the River Ness islands.

Setting off early, we leave Inverness, the Capital of the Highlands, and cross the Black Isle to join the North Coast 500 route, stopping briefly in Golspie. A short drive then brings us to Dunrobin Castle, a storybook residence of tall spires and landscaped gardens, where we pause for photos of the grand house. We then carry on along the coast, through land once home to the Picts and the Vikings.

Following the North Sea coastline, we stop at points of interest along the way, with views of sea cliffs, long sandy beaches and a sea that never looks the same twice. The road passes through pretty villages and little harbours, while moorland, soft glens and meandering rivers fill the landscape inland, giving a real flavour of the Highlands. Around midday, we arrive at John O’Groats, Scotland’s most northerly mainland village.

After exploring some of the finest stretches of this coast, we board the ferry at Gills Bay for an hour-long crossing of the Pentland Firth, a strait known for its powerful tides. Along the way, we look out for the first glimpse of Orkney, an archipelago of around 70 islands, only 20 of which are inhabited. We land at St Margaret’s Hope, a harbour village on South Ronaldsay, and cross the Churchill Barriers, built in the Second World War to guard the naval base at Scapa Flow. Our next stop is the Italian Chapel, a modest church decorated with detailed frescoes, before we continue to Kirkwall, Orkney’s capital and a former Viking stronghold.

Kirkwall, a town with deep historical and cultural roots, is our base for the next two nights. This evening is yours to enjoy. You might stroll to the Viking-era St Magnus Cathedral and explore the town’s old, narrow lanes as night falls.

Today is devoted to exploring Orkney, where rich pastures meet sandy shores washed by the North Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. Our route takes in sites from the Heart of Neolithic Orkney, a UNESCO World Heritage Site covering some of Europe’s most important and intact prehistoric monuments.

We start at Maeshowe, a vast chambered cairn and passage tomb built more than 5,000 years ago. It is aligned with the sun, and something remarkable happens here at the winter solstice. Inside, Norsemen who visited in the 12th century left Viking graffiti in the form of carved runes. Next comes the Ring of Brodgar, a stone circle wrapped in local legend and set against a backdrop of hills. Among its tall stones, more than 4,000 years old, it is easy to picture the rituals and ceremonies once held here.

Our journey into the distant past continues at Skara Brae, a 5,000-year-old village of stone-built homes, complete with furniture and even a concealed chamber, giving a vivid sense of how its first residents lived. We then head to Stromness for lunch. You can try local seafood or other traditional dishes, then wander its narrow streets and harbour. Later, our driver-guide takes us to more sites, such as the Kirbuster Museum, which shows Orkney’s rural past, and possibly a tidal island.

Back in Kirkwall by early evening, you are free to spend the rest of the day as you wish. You could have dinner and walk along the harbour, or find a pub or venue hosting a session of traditional Scottish music.

Leaving Kirkwall, we cross Orkney’s open, wind-scoured landscape and pass the still waters of Scapa Flow on the way to the ferry terminal at St Margaret’s Hope. Our hour-long crossing of the Pentland Firth, waters once sailed by the Vikings, is a good chance to look out for whales and dolphins.

Back on the mainland, we follow the northern part of the North Coast 500 through some of Scotland’s wildest and most isolated country, a landscape of sheer cliffs, exposed beaches and undulating hills. Our driver-guide picks out the best viewpoints along the way before we reach Smoo Cave, a huge sea cave carved by both seawater and fresh water over thousands of years, with a maze of chambers to explore.

From here, we continue into the far northwest Highlands and the wild Assynt mountains, stopping at the 15th-century ruins of Ardvreck Castle, which stand on the shore of a loch and are surrounded by legend.

The final stretch takes us past the outlines of high peaks and across open moorland and peat bog to Ullapool, a fishing village of whitewashed cottages on Loch Broom. Your evening is free to relax after a long day, perhaps with dinner near the harbour or a walk along the waterfront.

Our exploration of the Northwest Highlands continues as we head south to Corrieshalloch Gorge, where the River Droma drops 60 metres into the chasm below. A short walk through woodland leads to the falls. You can take in the view from one of the viewing platforms or cross the suspension bridge for a closer look.

Our route then passes high mountain ridges, sparkling lochs and wide panoramas, with stops at lesser-known Highland spots along the way. At Culloden Battlefield, where the Jacobite Rising came to its bloody end, you can walk across the bleak, level moorland and reflect on the last battle fought on British soil. Fans of Outlander will recognise it as a key setting in the series.

Next, we visit Clava Cairns, a prehistoric site of ring cairns and standing stones that inspired Craigh na Dun in Outlander, where centuries of history feel close at hand. Heading south, we pass Cairngorms National Park, with photo stops and comfort breaks amid quintessential Highland scenery. In Newtonmore, we visit the Highland Folk Museum, home to 18th-century blackhouses, a working croft and a 1930s schoolroom. Further on, the peaks give way to the green forests of Perthshire, and we make a final stop in Dunkeld to explore its cathedral and streets.

Leaving the Highlands behind, we travel south through the gentle hills and farmland of the Kingdom of Fife. A last view of the UNESCO-listed Forth Rail Bridge comes on the approach to Edinburgh, where we arrive at around 7 pm.

Please note: This tour ends at 19:00 - Edinburgh Bus Station Drop Off, Gate J and Gate K, Edinburgh Bus Station, St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, EH1 3DQ