Island Explorer

Itinerary

Day 1: Edinburgh to Inverness Departs 8.15am. We leave our capital city, past the mighty Forth Bridge, on to the Fife coast and the university town of St. Andrews where golf was invented and Kate and Wills first met. Then we head north to the mountains and into the Cairngorms National Park. Time to sample a wee dram of Scotland’s favourite national drink at a Highland whisky distillery and see how this fine drop is made. Inverness, the capital of the Highlands is our home for the night.
Day 2: Inverness to Orkney We continue our journey north passing the Moray Firth, home to bottlenose dolphins and minke whales and on to the tip of the British mainland, John O’Groats. We board the ferry to sail over the Pentland Firth to Orkney with more archaeological ruins in one area than anywhere else in Europe.  We visit the local gem, Tomb of the Eagles, a Stone Age chamber filled with thousands of human bones and the remains of sea eagles from many millennia ago. 
Day 3: Orkney Today we head off to explore Skara Brae, dating from the late Neolithic period and inhabited between 3,200BC and 2,200BC. This incredible stone village is made up of eight dwellings (some still containing original furniture) linked together by a series of low alleyways and is a marvel of ancient building techniques. Then we visit the magnificent standing stones at the Ring of Brodgar and the Italian Chapel built by 550 Italian POW’s in the Second World War.
Day 4: Orkney to Loch Ness We bid Orkney farewell, make the ferry crossing back to the mainland and begin our journey south through Scotland’s rugged terrain. We travel through the sparsely populated wilderness of Sutherland and Caithness, via glens left deserted as a result of the Highland Clearances. Our journey takes us past the ruins of Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness and we take time to go monster spotting, just in case! Get ready for a big night in Mo’s Bar at Fort Augustus on the shores of Loch Ness.
Day 5: Isle of Skye Today we Stay Wild and visit HAGGiS Grove (weather permitting) to plant a tree and help restore our native forest. Then, passing Eilean Donan Castle, we head on to explore the Isle of Skye also known as the ‘winged isle’ or ‘Isle of Mist’. Ruined castles, awesome scenery and home to the legendary MacLeod and MacDonald Clans. Immersed in Celtic myths and Viking legends, hear tales abound with faeries and fights as we explore the windswept landscape and rugged coastline in the shadow of the stunning Cuillin mountain ranges.
Day 6: Skye to Oban A spectacular ferry journey from Skye back to the mainland and travel the amazing ‘Road to the Isles’ past Glenfinnan Monument and see the train as it also crosses the viaduct featured in the Harry Potter film. Alternatively, take the chance to travel on the steam train that inspired the ‘Hogwarts Express’ on a journey often voted the most spectacular train journey in the world.  From Fort William in the shadow of Ben Nevis, Britain’s highest mountain, we head to Oban known as the ‘Gateway to the Isles’ because of its amazing views over to Mull. Tonight, dance your tartan pants off with some traditional dancing at a ceilidh!
Day 7: Oban to Edinburgh We head for eerie Glencoe, home to some of Scotland’s most iconic scenery and setting of the infamous 1692 massacre, but more recently a backdrop in the movie ‘Skyfall’. Further south we enter Rob Roy country where the landscape changes from the Highlands to the Lowlands. Our journey back to Edinburgh takes in views of magnificent Stirling Castle and the mighty Wallace Monument. Returns approximately 5.00pm.