Ultimate Skye, Orkney & Steam Train Odyssey

Once you have made your way to the meeting point in central Edinburgh, the group sets off at 8:30 am. We travel past the Forth Bridges and enter the Highlands through Perthshire, a land of forests, rivers and mountains.

We stop in the quaint village of Dunkeld, whose historic cathedral sits on the banks of the River Tay, then continue to the Highland Folk Museum, used as a filming location for Outlander. From here we make our way through the mountainous Cairngorms National Park.

The route brings us to Culloden Battlefield, site of the last battle fought on British soil, followed by the chambered cairns and standing stones of Clava Cairns, both of which also featured in Outlander.

Our home for the night is Inverness, the Capital of the Highlands. This evening you are free to seek out one of the town's live-music venues, or take a gentle stroll around the tranquil River Ness Isles.

Please note: The tour departs from the meeting point at 60 High Street (The Royal Mile), Edinburgh EH1 1TB, with check-in at 8:00 am for an 8:30 am departure.

We leave Inverness this morning and head north onto the North Coast 500, the road that traces Scotland's northeast coastline. Our first stop is Dunrobin Castle, one of Scotland's most northerly castles, dating back to the early 1300s. This fairytale castle resembles a French chateau, complete with spectacular gardens.

As we continue north, our guide shares stories of folklore and recounts the tragedy of the Highland Clearances, explaining how those events shaped the communities we pass through today. We also call in at a local whisky distillery for a taste of Scotland's national drink, known as the water of life.

An hour-long ferry then carries us across to Orkney, an archipelago of wide sea views. Keep watch on the crossing, as dolphins, whales and even orcas are sometimes seen. We arrive in Kirkwall, Orkney's largest town, for the night.

Please note: Some departures stay in Stromness rather than Kirkwall, depending on accommodation availability.

We set out from Kirkwall to the Italian Chapel, an ornate church built by prisoners of war during the Second World War. From there we turn to Orkney's Neolithic past, with stops at Skara Brae, the best-preserved Neolithic settlement in Western Europe, the towering Ring of Brodgar and the Stones of Stenness.

The afternoon is spent along the Yesnaby cliffs, home to puffins between April and July and one of the finest stretches of coastline on the islands. We return to Kirkwall in the late afternoon, where you have time to explore the town, visit St Magnus Cathedral or take a walk beside the Peedie Sea.

Please note: Some departures stay in Stromness rather than Kirkwall, depending on accommodation availability.

We say goodbye to Orkney and take the first ferry back to the mainland, rejoining the North Coast 500 along a particularly scenic stretch of coast. We make a stop at Smoo Cave, a large sea cave carved into the limestone cliffs of Sutherland.

From here we travel from east to west across the majestic Kylesku bridge, pausing for a stroll at Knockan Crag, the jewel in the crown of the North West Highlands Geopark. We reach Ullapool in the evening, where you can explore the harbour village, try some local ale and catch traditional live music.

We leave Ullapool and drive through some of Scotland's most dramatic scenery on the way to the Isle of Skye, a landscape of serene lochs, rugged mountains and cascading waterfalls. We pass the romantic Eilean Donan Castle before crossing the Skye Bridge onto the island.

Against the backdrop of the jagged Cuillin Mountains, our guide recounts the tale of Bonnie Prince Charlie's escape from the mainland and the folklore behind the Old Man of Storr. Our final stop of the day is Kilt Rock, with its waterfall spilling straight into the sea. We spend the night in Portree, the island's main hub.

This morning we explore a little more of the Isle of Skye, visiting the Sleat peninsula, known as the garden of Skye, and driving through the magnificent Cuillin Mountains. We then take the ferry across to Mallaig, a west coast fishing village, where there is time to enjoy a lunch of fresh Scottish seafood.

From Mallaig we board the Jacobite Steam Train, famous as the Hogwarts Express, for the run to Fort William. It is one of the most spectacular railway journeys in the world, crossing the Glenfinnan Viaduct where a monument to Bonnie Prince Charlie's campaign now stands.

After a stop in eerie Glen Coe, we follow the west coast to the fishing town of Oban, our base for the next two nights.

Please note: It is not possible to upgrade the steam train ticket to first class; all travellers are issued a standard class ticket.

After six days on the road, today is yours to spend as you like in and around Oban. You could take a ferry out to one of the Western Isles for the day, whether Mull, Iona, Staffa or Kerrera, or visit the local whisky distillery for a taste of the water of life. Another option is to climb Battery Hill to McCaig's Tower and watch the sun set over the town.

We leave Oban and travel through the Pass of Brander and alongside Loch Awe before crossing back into the Lowlands. Look out for the dramatic ruins of Kilchurn Castle and, a little further south, a glimpse of the Falls of Dochart.

The scenery shifts as we pass Stirling and the striking Wallace Monument. After lunch we make our way to the Kelpies, the world's largest equine sculptures, designed by a renowned Scottish sculptor as a tribute to the horse-powered heritage of central Scotland. We arrive back in Edinburgh in the early evening.