3-Day Isle of Skye Inverness Highlands and Glenfinnan Viaduct Tour from Edinburgh

Itinerary

Day 1: Edinburgh to Inverness

Pass By: Stirling Castle, Castle Esplanade Upper Castle Hill, Old Town, Stirling FK8 1EJ Scotland
Stirling Castle is the most important castle in Scottish history due to its strategic location as gateway between the Central Lowlands and the imposing Scottish Highlands to the North.

Pass By: National Wallace Monument, Hillfoots Road Abbey Craig, Stirling FK9 5LF Scotland
Your guide will introduce you to our nation’s violent history with tales of William Wallace and Robert the Bruce

Stop At: Doune Castle, Castle Hill, Doune, Stirling FK16 6EA Scotland
The 14th century Doune Castle has been a filming location on ‘Outlander ‘(Castle Leoch), ‘Monty Python and the Holy Grail’ and ‘Game of Thrones’. Inside, you’ll witness one of the best preserved medieval Great Halls in Scotland.
Duration: 45 minutes

Pass By: Loch Lomond, Stirling Scotland
Enjoy your first taste of the Highlands as we drive along the banks of picturesque Loch Lubnaig within the rugged ‘Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park‘. Admire the scenery as your tour guide explains the fascinating tribal ‘Clan’ history of the Highlands, as you hear about the most famous Highlander of them all, ‘Rob Roy MacGregor’.

Stop At: The Glencoe Massacre Monument, 8 Upper Carnoch, Glencoe Village PH49 4HU Scotland
After a short lunch, you will follow in the footsteps of James Bond (‘Skyfall’) and Harry Potter (‘Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban’), as you discover the beautiful and haunting ‘Glencoe’, the most magnificent and famous valley in Scotland. The spectacular scenery will stay with you forever. Your guide will recount the tale of the infamous ‘Massacre of Glencoe’ that took place here in February 1692.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Glenfinnan Viaduct, Glenfinnan Scotland
You’ll then watch the Hogwarts Express (Jacobite Steam Train) crossing the magnificent Glenfinnan Viaduct. This stunning viewpoint also marks the spot where Prince Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie) raised his standard prior to the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion. Go to the top of the monument for the best views of the Glen, as your guide introduces you to the dramatic story of the ‘Young Pretender’ and how his actions changed the course of European history forever.
Duration: 30 minutes

Pass By: Fort Augustus Abbey, Fort Augustus Scotland
We travel through the Great Glen towards the Southern banks of Loch Ness and the charming village of Fort Augustus. Get your cameras ready to get some pictures of the infamous ‘Nessie’ Monster!

Stop At: Urquhart Castle, A82 Road, Drumnadrochit IV63 6XJ Scotland
One of Scotland's most picturesque castles
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Inverness Castle, Castle Street, Inverness IV2 3EG Scotland
You will arrive in Inverness at approximately 6:30pm. The evening is then your own to explore the city or meet up with your fellow travellers and enjoy a meal in a local restaurant or traditional Highland pub. Inverness has a huge variety of establishments to choose from, whether you’d like to try our national dish of Haggis, Neeps & Tatties, washed down with a wee dram of Scotch Whisky or a Local Organic Beer (try the Black Isle Brewery Bar!). During peak season, it is advisable to book a table ahead if you’re a larger group. After dinner, head to the world famous Hootenanny bar which has traditional Scottish musicians playing every night.
Duration: 14 hours

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: We’ve teamed up with some of the BEST accommodation providers in Inverness to suit ALL BUDGETS.

Day 2: Inverness to the Isle of Skye

Pass By: Black Cuillin, Scotland
The Sligachan River flows majestically from the Black Cuillin Mountains, a truly magical location for your guide to introduce you to the local folklore of the island’s Fairies and Giants!

Stop At: Skye Bridge, Route A87, Kyle of Lochalsh Scotland
We stop at the Kyle of Lochalsh for morning coffee and a photograph opportunity of the famous Skye Bridge, with views of Skye’s Cuillin Mountain range providing a beautiful backdrop. Opened in 1995, this bridge has a remarkable history.
Duration: 10 minutes

Stop At: Portree Harbour, Off the Sound of Rassay, Portree Scotland
Enjoy lunch in the picturesque harbour town of Portree, the largest settlement on Skye. There are numerous cosy pubs, restaurants and bakeries for you to try seafood and other local dishes. Enjoy fish and chips by the harbour as the fishing boats deliver their latest catch!
Duration: 1 hour

Pass By: Trotternish Ridge, Scotland
We explore the dramatic Trotternish Peninsula, with iconic rock formations which have made this area the perfect backdrop for recent movies such as ‘BFG’, ‘Prometheus’ and ‘Stardust’.

Stop At: Quiraing Viewfield Road, Portree IV51 9ES Scotland
One of the best stops for an amazing picture - jaw dropping scenery
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Eilean Donan Castle, Kyle of Lochalsh IV40 8DX Scotland
Having explored Skye, we head back towards the mainland, arriving at Eilean Donan Castle, which is thought to be the most beautiful castle in Scotland! Built upon a rocky island at the head of three Sea Lochs (similar to Fjords), you will be impressed by this breathtaking Scottish landmark and the beautiful mountains and glistening waters that surround it.
Duration: 15 minutes

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: We’ve teamed up with some of the BEST accommodation providers in Inverness to suit ALL BUDGETS.

Day 3: Inverness to Edinburgh

Stop At: Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre, Culloden Moor IV2 5EU Scotland
Your guide will take you to the fields of Culloden Moor, where you will hear the story of the infamous battle which took place here in 1746, the very last battle to be fought on British soil. This marked the end of Bonnie Prince Charlie’s hopes of becoming King. Walking on one of the most sombre sites in the country where many thousands of Highlanders died, for many Scots, this is where “the old Scotland died”. The battle changed Scotland, Britain and Europe forever.
Duration: 45 minutes

Stop At: Clava Cairns, National Grid Reference: NH 757 444 off the B9006, 6 km from Inverness Scotland
After Culloden you’ll arrive at Clava Cairns where Diana Gabaldon found inspiration for ‘Craig Na Dun’ in the Outlander series. These fascinating Bronze-Age Standing-Stones and burial chambers are thought to be over 4,000 years old! Walk between the stones and hear about who built this intriguing place, and why.
Duration: 20 minutes

Stop At: Highland Folk Museum, Aultlarie Croft Kingussie Road, Newtonmore PH20 1AY Scotland
You’ll then have the opportunity to experience Highland life in the 18th century and visit authentic Highland black houses at the ‘Highland Folk Museum’ (free entry) in Newtonmore. You’ll see the simple homes people lived in 300 years ago, the clothes they wore and how they conducted their daily lives. The folk museum also has an on-site cafe where you can have lunch during our 90-minute visit. Also used as a filming location for ‘Outlander’, this place gives you a unique insight into the lives and struggles of the Highland people (summer only).
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: Dalwhinnie Distillery A885 Highland Village, Dalwhinnie PH19 1AA Scotland
After lunch, we travel to the Dalwhinnie Whisky Distillery, set almost 1151ft above sea-level in the heart of the Cairngorms National Park. This picturesque distillery, sitting amidst beautiful surroundings, produces one of the classic single-malt whiskies of Scotland. You’ll have the option of taking a tour around this working distillery, followed by a whisky-tasting experience.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Dunkeld Cathedral, 1.5 hours drive north of Edinburgh, Dunkeld Scotland
The final stop on our 3-day adventure is in the Highland village of Dunkeld, which sits on the longest river in Scotland, the River Tay. You’ll take a short walk to the town’s beautiful Dunkeld Cathedral. This cathedral, with a history stretching back over 1200 years, provides a final chance for photographs before we depart for Edinburgh, arriving back in the city-centre around 6.00pm.
Duration: 30 minutes

No meals included on this day.
No accommodation included on this day.