5-Day Isle of Skye Loch Ness and the Jacobite Steam Train from Edinburgh

5-Day Isle of Skye Loch Ness and the Jacobite Steam Train from Edinburgh

Explore the Highland beauty of Scotland's west coast and the Isle of Skye on a 5-day excursion from Edinburgh. This in-depth tour of Scotland’s classic locations includes visits to Stirlingshire, the Scottish Highlands, Isle of Skye, Eilean Donan Castle, Loch Ness and Culloden Battlefield, plus a ride on the ‘Jacobite Steam Train’ — a mode of transport made famous as ‘Hogwarts Express’ in the Harry Potter films. Choose from 3-star guesthouse or hotel accommodation with breakfasts in Oban, the Isle of Skye and Inverness.

Itinerary

Day 1: Edinburgh to Oban

Stop At: National Wallace Monument, Hillfoots Road Abbey Craig, Stirling FK9 5LF Scotland
Head north to Stirling and the towering Wallace Monument with stunning views of the Castle
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: The Green Welly Stop, Main Street, Tyndrum, Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park Scotland
Stop here for lunch
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Glencoe Visitor Centre, PH49 4HX Scotland
Our route takes us through the stunning rugged landscape of Glencoe, once used as a backdrop in James Bond Skyfall and the Harry Potter movies and the scene for 1692 massacre of the MacDonald Clan.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Deanston Distillery & Visitor Centre, Deanston Distillery Near Doune, Stirling FK16 6AG Scotland
We try a dram of the 'water of life' at a Highland Whisky Distillery before making our way further north.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

No meals included on this day.
Accommodation included: Overnight in the picturesque fishing port of Oban.

Day 2: Oban to the Isle of Skye

Stop At: Jacobite Train, Fort William PH33 6GD, UK
Take the steam train from Fort William and discover why this spectacular trip has been voted the best train journey in the world by Wanderlust Magazine. Cross the Glenfinnan viaduct featured in the Harry Potter movies and take in the sweeping views of Loch Shiel.
Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes

Stop At: Mallaig Harbour Authority, Harbour Offices, Harbour Road, Mallaig PH41 4QB, UK
We arrive in Mallaig and take the ferry ‘Over the Sea to Skye’.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Armadale Castle, Gardens & Museum of the Isles, Armadale Castle Armadale, Sleat, Isle, Armadale IV45 8RS Scotland
You can explore Armadale Castle and Gardens, the former home of the MacDonalds, before driving north to our overnight destination.
Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in Portree, the main settlement on the Isle of Skye

Day 3: Isle of Skye to Inverness

Stop At: The Old Man of Storr, Scotland
The 'Old Man' is a large pinnacle of rock that stands high and can be seen for miles around.
Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Lealt Falls, Portree Scotland
In lush surrounds, this waterfall cascades into a gorge with nearby cliffs overlooking the sea.
Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Kilt Rock, Scotland
The famous Kilt Rock is said to resemble a kilt, with vertical basalt columns to form the pleats and intruded sills of dolerite forming the pattern.
Duration: 15 minutes

Stop At: Eilean Donan Castle, Kyle of Lochalsh IV40 8DX Scotland
Eilean Donan Castle is one of the most easily recognised castles in Scotland and probably appears on more calendars than any other.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Invermoriston Falls, Village Hall Car Park, Invermoriston Scotland
Comfort break in this lovely highland town.
Duration: 15 minutes

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Overnight in Inverness, the 'capital of the Highlands'.

Day 4: Inverness & Highlands

Stop At: Loch Ness, Scotland
Hunt for the elusive monster with a cruise on Loch Ness
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Beauly Priory, Beauly IV4 7DY Beauly IV4, Beauly Scotland
Visit the stunning Beauly Priory, built in the 1200s for an order of monks. Spend time in the town as well.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Rogie Falls, Contin Scotland
It's into the rugged and isolated mountains that secure Scotland's place as one of the last great wilderness in Europe before heading back to Inverness for the evening.
Duration: 2 hours

Meals included:
• Breakfast
Accommodation included: Spend a second night in Inverness

Day 5: Inverness to Edinburgh

Stop At: Culloden Battlefield Visitor Centre, Culloden Moor IV2 5EU Scotland
Visit the powerfully moving site of the final Jacobite Rising – the last and most harrowing pitched battle to be fought on British soil.
Duration: 1 hour

Stop At: Clava Cairns, Balnuaran of Clava, IV2 5EU Scotland
Discover one of Scotland’s most evocative prehistoric sites – the exceptional remains of an ancient cemetery.
Duration: 30 minutes

Stop At: Highland Folk Museum, Aultlarie Croft Kingussie Road, Newtonmore PH20 1AY Scotland
We visit the Highland Folk Museum to get a real taste of Highland life from the past centuries.
Duration: 1 hour 30 minutes

Stop At: Dunkeld Cathedral, 1.5 hours drive north of Edinburgh, Dunkeld Scotland
Visit Dunkeld with its mighty cathedral.
Duration: 1 hour

Meals included:
• Breakfast
No accommodation included on this day.