The Best of the Scottish Highlands

Best of the Scottish Highlands

Fly to Inverness, Scotland and enjoy a land of open skies, rugged mountains, sparkling lochs, romantic castles, culture and history. From the stunning Road to the Isles and legendary Loch Ness to the mysterious Black Isle, this holiday features a host of Highland highlights. Take a cruise on the Moray Firth, home to a wealth of marine and birdlife and discover the beauty, variety and warm welcomes that this very special part of the world has to offer in the company of our friendly, knowledgeable tour manager. The famed, mythical waters of the Loch Ness will be explored next, and a cruise allows you to take in views of the scenery and the ruins of Urquhart Castle. Balmoral Castle, the Scottish holiday home of the Royal Family will follow, with time to see Crathie Kirk, and the Victorian village of Ballater. Continue with a journey along the ‘Road to the Isles’ from Fort William to Mallaig, passing through charming villages and breath-taking landscapes, including the enchanting Isle of Skye. Conclude with a trip to the Victorian seaside town of Nairn and the poignant grounds of Culloden Battlefield.

Highlights

Spot wildlife on a cruise on the Moray Firth
Go mythical monster hunting on a boat trip on Loch Ness
Marvel at the dramatic, 13th-century Dunrobin Castle and wander around its Versailles-inspired gardens.
Stroll around the beautiful Victorian village of Ballater, located near Cairngorms National Park
A chance to visit the Victorian seaside town of Nairn
Set off on a tour of the beautiful Black Isle
Embrace Scotland's timeless beauty with a scenic coastal drive from Fort William to Mallaig and visit the enchanting Isle of Skye.

Inclusions

Six nights' dinner, bed and Scottish breakfast accommodation at the three-star Craiglynne Hotel
Visits to Inverness, Nairn and Culloden
A tour of the Black Isle
A wildlife cruise
An excursion to Dunrobin Castle
Visits to Balmoral Castle, Crathie Kirk and Ballater
A cruise on Loch Ness
Sightseeing opportunities of the Glenfinnan Viaduct and Monument
An excursion to the Isle of Skye
Drive along the Road to the Isles from Fort William to Mallaig
Return flights to Inverness, with coach travel and transfers throughout
Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager

Day 1

Fly to Inverness - Upon arrival at Inverness Airport, meet your friendly tour manager and transfer to the Craiglynne Hotel. Surrounded by Cairngorms National Park and within walking distance of the pretty neighbouring town, Grantown-on-Spey, this hotel is the perfect base from which to get acquainted with the local area. After checking in, you'll be free to enjoy the rest of the day at your own pace.

Day 2

Included full day visit to Dunrobin Castle - Today, you’ll travel to Dunrobin Castle, set on cliffs, overlooking the North Sea, and serving as the family seat of the Earl of Sutherland. Dating back to the early 1300s, this stately medieval structure also resembles a French chateau with spiralling towers and turrets. This castle was used as a naval hospital during WWI and as a boy’s boarding school. Surrounding the property, beautiful walled gardens, which were inspired by the Palace of Versailles in Paris, can be found. A self-guided tour of the estate will reveal that it’s one of the oldest inhabited houses in Scotland, and you can wander the lavish interior, viewing the fine art, historical artefacts, and collection of antique furnishings. During your time here, you can also see a falconry display, the museum, and pay a visit to the cosy tearoom and gift shop, too.

Day 3

Included visit to Inverness and the Black Isle, and wildlife cruise - Explore the capital of the Highlands today as we visit Inverness. This thriving city is home to a delightful Victorian Market, an excellent museum and art gallery, and some attractive riverside walks. We'll also enjoy a short tour of the Black Isle, which is neither black nor an island, but rather a delightful scenic peninsula surrounded by three bodies of water. We'll stop at Fortrose and the charming nautical town of Cromarty. Your day ends as you board the Spirit cruiser to enjoy a cruise around the inner Moray Firth to try to spot a variety of marine wildlife and birds, hopefully including seals, otters or porpoise. A specialist guide will give a full commentary, so that you don’t miss anything.

Day 4

Included visit to Loch Ness - No holiday to the Highlands would be complete without visiting beautiful, mysterious Loch Ness. We'll head to Fort Augustus, at the southern tip of the loch, where a series of locks join it to the Caledonian Canal, and the Caledonian Canal Heritage Centre gives a fascinating insight into the history and operation of the canal. From here, we'll head past the dramatic ruins of Urquhart Castle to Drumnadrochit, where you may like to visit the Loch Ness Exhibition Centre, which is packed with information about the loch, or perhaps take a boat trip (payable locally) to go monster hunting. Nature lovers are in for a treat as the wooded shores of the Loch are home to an abundance of wildlife, including cormorants and ospreys.

Day 5

Included visit to Balmoral Castle, Ballater and Crathie Kirk - Enjoy breakfast this morning before venturing on a morning drive to the famous Balmoral Castle, the Scottish holiday home of the Royal Family since 1852. You’ll get to enter the castle to see the ballroom (the largest room in the castle), view the exhibitions and wander the gardens. The castle’s ballroom is the only area open to the public and where many members of the Royal Family have been pictured hosting events. Near the castle is Crathie Kirk, a small parish church in the village of Crathie. Best known for being the regular place of worship of the Royal Family, this church was built in 1895 and looks over the Dee River. The tour will then continue to the beautiful Victorian village of Ballater, located near Cairngorms National Park. You can stroll around the speciality shops and seek out one of the delightful cafés for lunch (on your own account). This evening, you’ll have time for dinner and to relax.

Day 6

Journey along the Road to the Isles from Fort William to Mallaig - Head west today, following the evocatively named Road to the Isles from Fort William to Mallaig. On this wonderfully scenic day, you'll pass landscapes ranging from sandy beaches to flowering heather moors and dense woodland. Your first stop of the day will be the Glenfinnan Visitor Centre, where you can see the lone Highlander atop the Glenfinnan Monument looking out over Loch Shiel. With a short uphill walk, you can also enjoy wonderful views of the famous Glenfinnan Viaduct. The Isle of Skye is another highlight of today, and you'll be able to view the Cuillin Hills Mountain Range before heading to the thriving fishing port of Mallaig. Here, you can explore the heritage centre, showcasing the town's maritime history. If you’re fond of kippers, you’ll go a long way to find any that taste better than those found here. At the end of a long but incredibly scenic day, you'll return to the hotel. Please note: the journey from Armadale to Mallaig will be by ferry and coach.

Day 7

Fly back to your local airport - Today, you'll travel back to Inverness airport to catch your flight home at the end of a wonderful break in the Highlands. Those not flying until the afternoon will also enjoy a short visit to the Victorian seaside town of Nairn, where pretty walking trails run alongside the river, and a seafront promenade overlooks the Moray Firth.

Further Information

Hotel transfer times

The transfer time from the airport to your hotel is approximately 55 minutes.

Disabled access

The majority of our tours involve a certain amount of walking, including a short walk from the coach stop to the town, attraction or venue you're visiting. If you are bringing a wheelchair, please let us know at the time of booking so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

Combining hotel transfers

We sometimes need to combine transfers to and from your hotel. We always try to keep any wait to a minimum, but you may be asked to wait at the airport for up to an hour, while other incoming flights arrive, before the transfer to your hotel. Similarly, we may need to transfer you back to the airport up to three hours before your flight home departs.

Special requirements

If you have notified us of any special requirements, please check that they have been noted and acknowledged. This is especially important with any dietary needs you may have.

Itinerary changes

Occasionally, for operational reasons, we may have to change the order of the excursions on your holiday. The final day-by-day itinerary will be confirmed on your Final Travel Documents, which you will receive approximately three weeks prior to your departure.

Balmoral Castle

The Balmoral Castle and Estate is a Royal residence and can be closed without prior notice. In 2024, Balmoral was closed in the months of August and September; it has now been confirmed this is the case for 2025 - Balmoral Castle will be closed August and September 2025. A suitable replacement will be included as an alternative. For visitors in the month of October 2025, there will only be a visit to the grounds of Balmoral, with no access to the castle however there will still be access to the café and shop.

Dunrobin Castle

Please note that Dunrobin Castle is a historic building. As a consequence, there are a number of areas where access is not possible for visitors using a wheelchair or with limited mobility. Wheelchair access to the gardens can only be arranged on a request basis with the castle.