Scottish Islands & Highlands

Day 1 – Welcome to Edinburgh

We meet in Edinburgh for a welcome dinner and a 1-night stay. If you've never been to the capital, why not arrive a day or two early? There is so much to see, from the Medieval Old Town and the elegant Georgian New Town, both of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. We would be happy to arrange this for you.

Day 2 – Strathspey Railway & Culloden

Take a morning train to Aviemore where we enjoy a return steam-hauled journey with light lunch included on the Strathspey Railway. Continue by road to Culloden Battlefield – the moving site of the final Jacobite Rising. Here we have time to experience the atmospheric visitor centre. Continue to Inverness for a 3-night stay at our hotel situated on the River Ness.

Day 3 – Kyle of Lochalsh

Take the stunningly spectacular train ride out to Kyle of Lochalsh and back. This is one of the most breathtaking rail journeys in the world.

Day 4 – Inverness at Leisure

Enjoy a day exploring this pretty riverside today, the city has beautiful botanic gardens, as well as its own Castle. Book lovers will delight at Leakey's Bookshop – housed in an old church, and the Victorian Market is a great spot for lunch.

Day 5 – Over to Lewis

An early start as we transfer up to Ullapool for the mid-morning ferry over to Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis. On arrival, there should be a little free time before we board our local bus to transfer down to Tarbert on Harris for a 3-night stay.

Day 6 – Wild Harris

This day focuses on Harris, known for its stunning beaches and scenery – the roads wind up and down hills with views of lochs and coastal inlets. Enjoy a morning tour (with a local guide), followed by a leisurely afternoon – Sundays are very much family days on these islands and most businesses are closed.

Day 7 – Historical Lewis

Although part of the same landmass, Lewis and Harris have characters of their own. We head north to Lewis today, where the landscape is flatter, but we find some of the island's most famous ancient sites. We are joined by a local guide as we take in the mystical Callanish Standing Stones, the well-preserved broch at Carloway and a traditional Blackhouse site where we enjoy a soup and sandwich lunch (included).

Day 8 – South to Uist

Transfer to Leverburgh for the Sound of Harris ferry over to Berneray. We then take a scenic drive down through both Uist islands, stopping off en route to learn a little more about life here – including a tasting at the North Uist Distillery and a croft tour at Long Island Retreats. Our accommodation for the next 2 nights is nestled on Scotland’s Atlantic west coast.

Day 9 – Barra & Eriskay

A full day of sightseeing with a local guide. Visit the tiny island of Barra via the Sound of Barra ferry, home to Kisimul Castle – the 'Castle in the Sea'. Whilst the Castle is still closed at the time of writing, the Heritage Centre here provides a valuable insight into what island life used to be like. Back on Uist, we explore Eriskay – famous for being the site of 'Whisky Galore'.

Day 10 – Back to the Mainland

We visit Kildonan Museum – home to over 10,000 items related to the social, domestic and cultural history of South Uist. If the weather is amenable, there are also two nice beaches nearby. This afternoon, we take a ferry over to Mallaig on the mainland and travel by rail to Fort William for a 2-night stay.

Day 11 – Jacobite Steam

A return journey on the famous Jacobite Steam train today. This 84-mile round trip sees us cross the 21-arched Glenfinnan Viaduct which overlooks Loch Shiel and the Jacobite monument. There is time for lunch in Mallaig – derived from old Norse ‘Mel Vik’, meaning sand dune bay – before we return to Fort William for an evening at leisure.

Day 12 – Over to Mull

Transfer by road and ferry to colourful Tobermory on the Isle of Mull for a 2-night stay. On the way, we call at Duart Castle, seat of the Clan Maclean. There should also be some time to explore the town, which boasts a distillery, Mull Museum and a handful of independent shops.

Day 13 – Explore Iona

A day of exploration beginning with a bus transfer to Fionnphort for a ferry over to Iona. This small island is only 1.5 miles wide and 3 miles long – one of the reasons that vehicle access is strictly limited. We travel on foot and have a 2-hour guided walking tour with an islander; enabling us to really get a feel for what life is like here.

Day 14 – To Glasgow

Transfer to Craignure, where we take a morning ferry over to Oban and continue by rail to Glasgow. The West Highland railway line passes Kilchurn Castle, a 15th Century ruin at the head of Loch Awe, before journeying through pretty Glen Lochy and skirting the Clyde Sea Lochs. Afternoon arrival in Glasgow for a farewell dinner and 1-night stay.

Day 15 – Farewell

Travel home from Glasgow independently – or why not extend your stay? There is plenty to see in this bustling city.