Day 1: Following your home taxi collection, you will join our luxury tour coach and we will make our way north to Glasgow making suitable stops en route, to our overnight hotel, the Courtyard by Marriott on a dinner bed and breakfast basis.
Day 2: This morning we continue our journey north through Scotland’s ever changing scenery as we head for our first stop of the day in Pitlochry. Pitlochry is a walker's paradise, so why not enjoy an easy circular route taking in the woods and forests. Alternatively, explore the centre of town which is dotted with delightful shops, charming cafés and pubs. We then continue to Beauly and the Priory Hotel for a one night stay, arriving early evening, on a dinner bed and breakfast basis.
Day 3: This morning we begin our journey into the Highlands on Scotland’s Famous NC500, making time for a short stop in Dornoch. Sitting on the edge of the Dornoch Firth, the small historic town of Dornoch boasts a tranquil location, stunning scenery and sunny climate. The town is famed for its impressive cathedral. Founded in 1224, it was restored by the Countess of Sutherland in 1835. The town is also reputedly where the last witch in Scotland was burnt in 1722 - a fact commemorated by the Witch’s Stone.
We then continue to Dunrobin castle. Tucked away in the Northern Highlands, this impressive French chateâu style castle offers a fascinating peek into the past and is a feast for the senses thanks to its stunning architecture. Dunrobin has a history that spans more than 700 years and was even used as a naval hospital during the First World War.
Overlooking the North Sea and Dornoch Firth, Dunrobin Castle has lots of rooms and hidden chambers to explore. As you walk around the building, you’ll discover rooms tastefully decorated with period pieces of furniture, while the outside gardens inspired by the Palace of Versailles, offer lovely walks through manicured grounds that look across the North Sea.
We then continue to Castletown for our two night stay at the Castletown Hotel, on a dinner bed and breakfast basis.
Day 4: Todays excursion takes us to mainland Britain’s most northerly point, Dunnet Head. We have time for a photo stop before continuing to John ‘O’Groats. No visit to this region is complete without a visit to this famous landmark. This small coastal is the starting point for many embarking on the famous 'End to End' journey to Land's End in England, some 876 miles away. Situated in an extreme location, this Highland village combines dramatic, unspoilt scenery and fascinating wildlife, including a breathtaking array of birdlife on the local cliffs, as well as seals, dolphins, minke and killer whales in the surrounding waters.
This afternoon we make our way to the Castle and Gardens of Mey, once the much-adored home of the Queen Mother, who saved it from ruin in 1952. With glorious views across the Pentland Firth towards Orkney, the castle is kept as it was when the Queen Mother was in residence.
Day 5: This morning we depart Castletown and make our way to the Strathnaver Museum which is located in the heart of Mackay Country where people have lived for over 8,000 years! In 1819 almost 1,300 people were cleared from Strathnaver in 'the year of the burnings'. The museum tells this fascinating and at times brutal story within the wider perspective of the cultural and social history.
The Museum holds a diverse range of objects depicting life in the north Highlands from prehistoric to more modern times. Within the Museum you can discover the Bronze Age burial beaker unearthed by a Highland Council roadcrew in 1981 at Chealamy and marvel at the tools ancestors used to work their land in order to feed their families. Just outside the Museum you can also see the impressive and elaborately designed Pictish Farr Stone dated from around 800 to 850AD.
We then continue to Tongue for our lunchtime stop. Views from the village are dominated by the bulk of Ben Loyal to the south and by Caisteal Bharraigh and the truly beautiful Kyle of Tongue to the west.
Our day continues as we journey through Durness and Laxford Bridge to our next hotel in Ullapool. The Caledonian Hotel on a dinner bed and breakfast basis.
Day 6: Today we have a full day on the NC500 as we head from Ullapool to Skye. The NC500 is not an actual road like Route 66, but a series of existing roads that form a loop around the Northern Highlands. The full route itself is just over 500 miles long, hugging the northern coast road, starting and finishing in Inverness. Today, we touch parts of the route as we make our way to cross the Skye Bridge. We will take in the beautiful landscapes of this wonderful corner of Scotland on our way to our hotel for the next two nights, The Dunollie Hotel. Skye is the second largest of Scotland's islands and undoubtedly the most beautiful, where the jagged mountain peaks, deep lochs and stunning coastline have been attracting visitors for centuries.
Day 7: This morning we are joined by a local coach for a full day tour of The Isle of Skye. Famous for it’s breathtaking landscapes and colourful fishing villages, the island’s name originated from the Norse, meaning ‘the island of the clouds’, and is the largest of the Inner Hebrides and the second-largest of Scotland’s islands.
Whilst here, we will visit Dunvegan Castle, the ancestral seat of the Clan MacLeod of MacLeod. It commands a dramatic position on the northwest coast of the Isle of Skye, on the edge of a sea loch and is the oldest continuously occupied castle in Scotland. The current occupant, Clan Chief Hugh Magnus MacLeod of MacLeod, is the 30th person to hold the hereditary title, the castle, and 42,000 acres of Skye.
Dunvegan, as you see it today, was romantically restored between 1840 and 1850 by the 27th MacLeod of MacLeod (a traditional name for the clan chief). As you tour the castle, you will see the five different buildings within it, each expressing a different period of history. Internally the castle is much more luxuriously decorated than you might expect and it has obviously been modified through the years to make it a more comfortable country home rather than a defensive stronghold.
The castle is surrounded by 5 acres of gardens. They were planted in 1978 along the lines of earlier gardens created in the 18th century. The gardens, which include a rose garden, water garden and walled garden are triumphs of gardening skill over climate and are well worth a visit.
Day 8: This morning sadly we begin our journey south, firstly making our way to Spean Bridge where we stop for the opportunity to explore or grab a coffee. Around a mile west of the village is the famous Commando Memorial and panoramic viewpoint. Erected in 1952, it commemorates the elite soldiers who fell during the Second World War and who gained their Green Berets at the Commandos Basic Training Centre in nearby Achnacarry. (We will make a brief photo stop here)
We then continuethrough the breathtaking Glencoe valley. No description can re-create the impact of seeing Glencoe for the first time. It has long been one of the most loved places in Scotland, and what is Glencoe famous for? It’s known equally for its awe-inspiring views and sorrowful past – it is a place of history, wildlife, adventure and myth. Our journey then continues to our overnight hotel on the outskirts of Glasgow, The Courtyard by Marriott.
Day 9: This morning we continue our journey south as we head back to Norfolk, making suitable stops along the way. We arrive back early evening where we re-join our door to door taxi service who will be waiting to take you home.
Holiday Information:
8 Nights Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
Price: £1688pp
Single Supplement: £201
Insurance: TBC (Insurance not currently available)
Tour Reference: AWE5083
Deposit Required: £50pp
Balance Due: 10 weeks prior to departure