5 Day Tour – The Grand Tour of Scotland

Five days exploring the Highlands in a very small group

We continue to the picturesque village of Dunkeld with its quaint narrow streets and visit Dunkeld Cathedral (free of charge). Dedicated to St Columba and beautifully located beside the mighty River Tay, this historic church is a popular and accessible visitor attraction.

Surrounded by a stunning Perthshire landscape of mountains, woodland and water we drive a short distance to the lively Highland town of Pitlochry with its elegant main street packed with shops and restaurants. During our lunch break here you will also have time for souvenir shopping or a short stroll to the famous hydro electric dam/salmon ladder on the River Tummel.

We continue north through the Cairngorms National Park with sweeping views across the Spey Valley and the Central Highlands for a whisky tasting at Scotland’s highest distillery, Dalwhinnie.  Its dramatic location and eye-catching whitewashed buildings make it a perfect location to sample the ‘water of life’!

Our drive continues to the ruins of 15th century Ardvreck Castle on the shores of Loch Assynt before we finish this fabulous day at the dramatic Corrieshalloch Gorge.

Day 3

We say goodbye to Inverness and head to the Isle of Skye via the magic of Loch Ness and the rugged splendour of the Western Highlands.

First stop is the world’s most famous lake, best known for sightings of Nessie, the legendary Loch Ness monster!

There’s an option to take a 1 hour boat trip with views of Urquhart Castle or alternatively spend time at the loch-side village of Drumnadrochit for souvenir shopping and/or a visit to the Loch Ness Centre and Exhibition.

We continue to the southern end of the loch for lunch in the picturesque village of Fort Augustus.

Dramatic scenery unfolds as we drive west, stopping for photos at the famous viewpoint over Loch Garry and the wilderness of Knoydart beyond. We continue past the Five Sisters of Kintail – a high mountain ridge rising steeply from Glen Shiel – towards world-famous Eilean Donan Castle.

Perhaps the most iconic image of Highland Scotland the castle has been used as the backdrop for countless well-known movies. It is perfectly situated on a small island, surrounded by water and fabulous scenery – a ‘must-see’ Scottish landmark.

From here it’s only a short drive to the Skye Bridge and onwards to Sligachan for a stunning view of the Cuillin Mountains. Our final stop of the day is the small island capital of Portree where we will stay for two nights.

Day 4

Today is spent touring the Isle of Skye, a flexible itinerary at the discretion of your driver / guide * (see below).

We enjoy a half-day scenic drive along the dramatic Trotternish Ridge with its spectacular cliffs and rock formations. Stops can include Lealt Waterfall, Kilt Rock sea cliffs, the Old Man of Storr rock pinnacle and a walk at the Quiraing mountain pass. Another popular stop is the Fairy Glen, a delightful miniature Highland landscape and legendary home of the ‘wee people’!

'We spend a full day exploring the spectacular and dramatic Isle of Skye in the Wee Red Bus'

The second half of the day explores the stunning southern part of the island which includes well-known sights and some hidden gems we’ve discovered over the years.

Nestled under the Cuillin mountains is beautiful Glen Brittle. Rugged scenery surrounds us and there are several fantastic options for this section of the tour, including a short walk in the iconic mountain landscape to the famous Fairy Pools.

Another popular excursion is the drive to Neist Point lighthouse for spectacular views to the Western Isles.

The 13th century home of the famous Clan McLeod, Dunvegan Castle offers guided tours, a useful wet-weather option because of Skye’s famously changeable weather. It’s not called the ‘Misty Isle’ for nothing!

* Please note depending on weather and traffic conditions the itinerary is flexible to maximise our time on Skye.

Day 5

Our day begins with a scenic drive across Skye to the ferry terminal at Armadale for the 30 minute sea crossing to Mallaig (subject to availability).

With spectacular views to the Small Isles and Cuillin Mountains, the iconic black and red Caledonian Macbrayne ferry takes us back to mainland Scotland with wildlife spotting opportunities en route including seals, sea birds and the occasional whale, dolphin or otter.

On arrival in Mallaig we follow the beautiful ‘Road to the Isles’ to the Glenfinnan Viaduct which famously features in several Harry Potter movies as the Hogwarts Express train crosses the bridge. Historically this stunning viewpoint also marks the spot where Prince Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie) landed on mainland Scotland and raised his standard prior to the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion.

'Glenfinnan Viaduct features in several Harry Potter movies'

Mountains and lochs provide a dramatic backdrop as we continue to Glen Coe, perhaps the most famous of all Scotland’s glens.

This narrow valley is where the bloody massacre of the MacDonalds took place in 1692. You may even recognise this part of the Highlands, used as a backdrop for many movies including Skyfall.

Our Grand Tour concludes with a photo stop at 13th century Doune Castle. Protecting the gateway to the Highlands the medieval castle has recently been seen as Castle Leoch in Outlander, Winterfell in Game of Thrones but is probably most famous for featuring in the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail.