Inverness, Northwest Highlands & Isle of Skye 5 Day Tour from Glasgow

Five days exploring Skye, Applecross, and Scotland’s wild Northwest Highlands

Departs from:
Glasgow
Duration:
5 Days
Departs / Returns
09:30 - 20:00
From
£379.00
per person
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Tour Overview

Experience the dramatic landscapes of the Scottish Highlands on our Inverness, Northwest Highlands & Isle of Skye 5 Day Tour from Glasgow.

This small-group tour takes you through some of Scotland’s most remote and spectacular scenery, from Glencoe and Loch Ness to the Isle of Skye, Applecross, Inverness and the wild landscapes of the Northwest Highlands.

After departing Glasgow, we travel along the shores of Loch Lomond, across Rannoch Moor and through Glencoe. From here, we journey north through Fort William and the Great Glen to Fort Augustus, where you’ll have time to enjoy views of Loch Ness and explore the village and locks of the Caledonian Canal before continuing west to the Isle of Skye.

You’ll spend two nights on Skye, with a full day to explore the Fairy Pools, Portree and the spectacular Trotternish Peninsula. Discover some of the island’s most iconic scenery, including the Quiraing, Kilt Rock, Mealt Falls, the Fairy Glen and the Old Man of Storr.

Leaving Skye, we visit Eilean Donan Castle before travelling across the legendary Bealach na Bà to Applecross. From here, the journey continues through the magnificent landscapes of Wester Ross to Inverness, where you’ll stay for two nights.

The next day takes you deep into the Northwest Highlands, where ruined castles, dramatic gorges, white-sand beaches and Highland waterfalls create one of the wildest landscapes in Britain. Highlights include Corrieshalloch Gorge, Ardvreck Castle, Lochinver, Achmelvich Beach and the Falls of Shin.

On the final day, we visit Culloden Battlefield and the ancient Clava Cairns before travelling through the Cairngorms National Park. We’ll make a short stop at Carrbridge, enjoy lunch in the Cairngorms, visit Ruthven Barracks and finish with time in Pitlochry before continuing south and returning to Glasgow.

Why Choose This Tour

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✔ Small Group Experience
Travel in a comfortable 16-seat mini coach for a more personal small-group journey through the Highlands and Skye.

✔ Skye, Applecross & the Northwest Highlands
Experience the Isle of Skye, Applecross, Wester Ross and some of Scotland’s most remote scenery.

✔ Iconic Landscapes & Historic Sites
Discover Loch Ness, Eilean Donan Castle, Achmelvich Beach, Culloden and the dramatic mountain scenery of the Cairngorms.

✔ Expert Driver-Guides
Our knowledgeable Scottish driver-guides bring the landscapes, history and stories to life.

Tour Highlights Gallery

Tour Route

Tour Itinerary

Day 1 – Loch Lomond → Glencoe → Loch Ness → Isle of Skye

Your tour begins in central Glasgow as we leave the city behind and travel north towards Loch Lomond and the Scottish Highlands.

We stop on the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond in the picturesque conservation village of Luss. You’ll have time to explore the village, enjoy the lochside views and take in the surrounding scenery before we continue north.

We then cross the wild landscapes of Rannoch Moor and travel into magnificent Glencoe. Here, we’ll make a longer stop, giving you time to enjoy some lunch and explore the glen surrounded by its dramatic mountain scenery.

Our journey then takes us north through Fort William beneath Ben Nevis and into the Great Glen before arriving at Fort Augustus at the southern end of Loch Ness.

Here, you’ll have time to enjoy views across Scotland’s most famous loch, explore the village and watch boats pass through the locks of the Caledonian Canal.

From Fort Augustus, we continue west through the mountains and glens towards the Isle of Skye, where we arrive at our accommodation for the first of two nights on the island.

Day 2 – Fairy Pools → Portree → Fairy Glen → Quiraing → Kilt Rock

Today is dedicated to exploring the enchanting Isle of Skye, with your driver-guide shaping the day to make the most of the weather and help you experience the very best of the island.

We’ll visit the beautiful Fairy Pools, set beneath the dramatic Black Cuillin mountains, before continuing to Portree, where you’ll have time for lunch and a stroll around its colourful harbour.

Later, we explore the spectacular Trotternish Peninsula, visiting the Fairy Glen, the Quiraing, Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls, with a photo stop at the famous Old Man of Storr.

We also stop at Sligachan Bridge, surrounded by the towering Cuillin mountains, before returning to our accommodation for our second night on Skye.

Day 3 – Eilean Donan → Bealach na Bà → Applecross → Benn Eighe

Leaving Skye, we cross back to the mainland and visit Eilean Donan Castle, one of Scotland’s most photographed landmarks.

Set on a small tidal island where three sea lochs meet, the castle enjoys a spectacular Highland setting. You’ll have the opportunity to visit the castle and discover more about its remarkable history.

We then continue towards Loch Carron before travelling across the legendary Bealach na Bà. This winding mountain road climbs through a series of dramatic hairpin bends and offers breathtaking views across the surrounding mountains and islands.

Descending into Applecross, we’ll stop for lunch before continuing north through the magnificent coastal scenery of the Applecross Peninsula towards Fearnmore. We then make a short stop in the picturesque village of Shieldaig before continuing to Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve, surrounded by some of the most impressive mountain scenery in Wester Ross.

In the evening, we arrive in Inverness for the first of two nights in the Highland capital.

Day 4 – Corrieshalloch Gorge → Ardvreck Castle → Achmelvich Beach

Today we head into the remote Northwest Highlands, where dramatic landscapes and wild coastlines define the journey.

We begin at Corrieshalloch Gorge, where a Victorian suspension bridge offers views over the impressive Falls of Measach. We then continue to the haunting ruins of Ardvreck Castle, beautifully set beside Loch Assynt.

Later, we visit the fishing village of Lochinver, the white sands of Achmelvich Beach and the Falls of Shin, one of the best places in Scotland to watch salmon leaping upstream in season.

After a full day exploring the far northwest, we return to Inverness for our second night.

Day 5 – Culloden → Clava Cairns → Cairngorms → Pitlochry

Following breakfast, we leave Inverness for Culloden Battlefield, the site of the last pitched battle fought on British soil. You’ll have time to explore the battlefield, see the memorial cairn and clan markers, and visit the Culloden Visitor Centre and exhibition if you wish.

Nearby, we visit Clava Cairns, a peaceful prehistoric site dating back approximately 4,000 years. Its burial cairns, stone circles and standing stones offer a fascinating glimpse into Scotland’s distant past, while fans of Outlander may recognise similarities to the fictional Craigh na Dun.

Turning south, we enter the Cairngorms National Park and make a short photo stop at Carrbridge to see its historic packhorse bridge before stopping for lunch amid the mountain scenery of the Cairngorms. We then continue to Ruthven Barracks, whose roofless ruins stand dramatically above the surrounding countryside and tell another chapter of Scotland’s Jacobite story.

Later, we stop in Pitlochry, an attractive Victorian town surrounded by the wooded hills of Highland Perthshire. You’ll have around an hour to explore the town, browse the shops and pick up some souvenirs before continuing south.

After dropping off our Edinburgh passengers, we continue west and return to Glasgow in the evening.

Your Tour at Glance

DAY 1

Journey to Isle of Skye

Loch Lomond • Glencoe • Loch Ness • Highland Scenery • Isle of Skye

Overnight: Isle of Skye (Kyleakin/Breakish/Broadford)

tour coast icon

DAY 2

Explore Skye

Fairy Pools • Portree • Trotternish Peninsula • Quiraing • Kilt Rock • Fairy Glen • Old Man of Storr

Overnight: Isle of Skye (Kyleakin/Breakish/Broadford)

DAY 3

Journey to Inverness

Eilean Donan Castle • Bealach n Bà • Applecross • Shieldaig • Benn Eighe

Overnight: Inverness

DAY 4

Explore the Northwest Highlands

Corrieshalloch Gorge • Ardvreck Castle • Lochinver • Achmelvich Beach • Falls of Shin

Overnight: Inverness

tour historic icon

DAY 5

Return to South

Culloden • Clava Cairns • Cairngorms • Ruthven Barracks • Pitlochry

Return to Glasgow

Good to Know

  • Eilean Donan Castle is optional and admission is payable locally.
  • Entry to the Culloden Visitor Centre and exhibition is optional and payable locally.

Before You Go

Your tour departs from Buchanan Bus Station in central Glasgow.

Bus Stances 23–32
Buchanan Bus Station
Killermont Street
Glasgow
G2 3NW

Your Inverness, Northwest Highlands & Isle of Skye 5 Day Tour from Glasgow departs at 09:30.

Please arrive in good time before departure. Final check-in closes at 09:15, 15 minutes before departure, to allow your driver-guide to complete the safety briefing. If you arrive after this time, we may not be able to accommodate you on the tour.

The tour returns to Glasgow at approximately 20:00.

You can choose to depart from Glasgow and return to Edinburgh when booking this tour, giving you extra flexibility when planning your trip. Guests returning to Edinburgh will arrive earlier, before the Glasgow drop-off, with an expected arrival time of around 19:00.

Please note that return times may vary slightly depending on traffic, weather and other circumstances beyond our control.

Accommodation is not included in the tour price. You’ll spend 2 nights on the Isle of Skye, staying in Broadford, Breakish, or Kyleakin, followed by 2 nights in Inverness.

At the accommodation stage of the booking process, you’ll arrange your Skye and Inverness accommodation separately. You can choose from any accommodation we have available for your dates or arrange your own. If arranging your own, you must stay in Broadford, Breakish, or Kyleakin on Skye and within Inverness City Centre in Inverness.

You don’t need to select accommodation through us for both parts of your stay. You can choose one of our available properties for one location and arrange your own accommodation for the other.

If you need help finding accommodation for either part of your stay, simply select “Please contact me about accommodation” and continue with your booking.

If you select accommodation through us, payment is made directly to the accommodation provider. As payment arrangements vary between properties, details of how and when to pay will be shown with each accommodation option during the booking process.

We’ll normally drop you off and collect you from your accommodation. Occasionally, a property may be somewhere our mini-coach cannot access directly. If this applies, your driver-guide will arrange a convenient meeting point close by.

Passengers may bring one piece of luggage similar to an airline cabin bag, with a maximum weight of 18kg.

Suggested maximum size:

65cm × 45cm × 30cm

(25in × 18in × 12in)

You may also bring a small personal bag for items needed during the journey.

Due to vehicle weight limits this policy cannot be adjusted.

We regret that we cannot carry children under the age of 5 years on our scheduled tours.

  • Travel in a comfortable 16-seat mini coach
  • Air-conditioned vehicle with onboard air purification system
  • Experienced local driver-guide sharing stories and local knowledge throughout the tour
  • Accommodation in Inverness and on Skye
  • Visitor Attraction Entry Fees
  • Meals and Refreshments

Scotland’s weather can change quickly, so we recommend bringing:

  • Waterproof jacket
  • Comfortable walking shoes
  • Layers of clothing
  • Sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat
  • A camera to capture the scenery

Most places we visit accept card payments, but we recommend bringing some cash for smaller purchases.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes. On day one, we stop at Fort Augustus at the southern end of Loch Ness, where you’ll have time to enjoy views of the loch, explore the village and see the locks of the Caledonian Canal. A Loch Ness cruise is not included on this tour.

Yes. On day three, we leave the Isle of Skye and visit Eilean Donan Castle, where you’ll have the opportunity to explore one of Scotland’s most photographed landmarks before continuing towards Applecross and Inverness. Castle admission is optional and payable locally.

Yes. The Fairy Pools are included in the itinerary, although the exact timing and order of stops may vary depending on weather and local conditions.

There are opportunities for short walks throughout the tour, including at places such as the Fairy Pools, Corrieshalloch Gorge and scenic viewpoints in the Highlands and on Skye. Some paths can be uneven, so comfortable walking shoes are recommended.

Yes. This tour operates in a comfortable 16-seat mini coach, providing a more personal small-group experience.

Yes. There are opportunities to purchase food and refreshments throughout the tour, including lunch stops, evening dining in Inverness and Skye and refreshment breaks along the route.

Scottish weather can change quickly, but the tour runs in most conditions. In fact, changing weather often makes the landscapes even more dramatic.

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