From Edinburgh: 5-day Hebridean Escape

Your tour will begin in heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town, before you start your journey North, with a first visit to the Kelpies, 30m tall horse-head sculptures, based on a Scottish mythological creature, said to live in the rivers and lochs of Scotland.We will then journey through the Trossachs towards Rannoch Moor and Glen Coe, where you will see the landscape begin to change as the dramatic scenery of the Highlands begins to emerge. Glen Coe is one of the most incredible places to see and visit in Scotland. Whilst passing through the awe-inspiring scenery, listen to your driver-guide tell the brutal story of the MacDonald Clan massacre and take in the weeping waterfalls that inhabit this incredible glen.As we drive through Glen Coe, we’ll make our way through the Highland town of Fort William. This town marks the end of Scotland’s oldest and most popular long-distance walks, The West Highland Way. There is a resting hiker statue looking out over Loch Linnhe, where you can take in views of Ben Nevis, the UK’s tallest peak, standing at 1,345 metres above sea level. Your tour will then continue through Scotland’s Great Glen, a geological fault line which cuts Scotland in tour, the bottom of the Glen is now filled by 4 lochs, including the famous Loch Ness, you will take in the sights of all these Lochs on your way to Inverness, the location of your first overnight stop on this tour.

Day two of your tour begins in Inverness, the capital of the Highlands. You will begin your travelling through the remote landscapes of Sutherland to admire some of Scotland's . Your journey through this wild part of the Highlands will then take you on to the beautiful seaside town of Ullapool, which is where you will catch the ferry to the Isle of Lewis and Harris.You will arrive in the largest town on the Island, Stornoway, before spending the afternoon visiting the Arnol Blackhouses, to learn more about the traditional crofting lifestyles of the people of the Hebrides.You will then return to Stornoway where you will spend the next two nights on the Isle of Lewis.

From your base in Stornoway, you will spend this day of your tour exploring the Isle of Lewis and Harris. On this full day on the island, you will be able to explore Carloway Broch, an exceptionally well-preserved Iron Age structure located above Loch an Duin.The day also features a visit to the ancient Callanish Standing Stones, an ancient formation of standing stones constructed in the neolithic era, over 4000 years ago. In the afternoon you can stroll along what is arguably Harris’ most beautiful beach, Lusekentyre, we’ll then continue down to the most southerly point of the island and Rodel Church, the ancient burial ground of the MacLeod family. Then it’s time for an exciting trip around the Golden Road before returning to Stornoway.

On your second morning on the island, you will begin your day by heading to the far north of Lewis to visit the Butt of Lewis lighthouse (the windiest place in the UK) before returning to Stornoway for lunch and a ferry journey back to the mainland. Once back on the mainland, we’ll make our way back to Inverness, our overnight stay on this final night of the tour.

As we leave Inverness behind to begin our journey south, our first stop of the day is at Culloden Battlefield, the site of the last stand of the Jacobite’s against the British government forces on 16 April 1746. You can learn more about the battle and the events which surrounded the Jacobite uprising in the impressive visitor centre and interactive exhibition, as well as having the chance to wander the land where the battle itself took place.Our journey will continue south, heading to a local distillery for a wee dram. From here, we’ll then enjoy the magnificent scenery as you travel through the mountainous wilderness of the spectacular Cairngorms National Park, the largest National Park in Scotland. This large mountain range has five of the highest mountains in the UK within its limits. Sit back, relax and enjoy the views before we arrive into the picturesque town of Pitlochry, the gateway to the highlands. Pitlochry has been a tourist centre since the 1860s thanks to being popularised as the gateway to the Highlands by Queen Victoria and Sir Walter Scott, the towns popularity as a tourist centre continued to increase as the railways made accessing the Highlands significantly easier than ever before 1870s. Explore this quaint town before we head back to Edinburgh’s city centre, where your tour will end.