Scotland’s Wild Highlands & Islands 8 Day Tour from Edinburgh

Day 1 – Loch Lomond → Inveraray → Oban → Ferry to Mull

Your adventure begins in Edinburgh, travelling west to Glasgow, where we collect additional passengers before continuing towards Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park. Our first stop is the conservation village of Luss, set on the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond, where you can enjoy the peaceful surroundings and admire views across Scotland’s most famous loch.

Continuing west, we stop at the famous Rest and Be Thankful viewpoint before arriving in Inveraray, Scotland’s first planned town. Here you’ll have time for lunch, a stroll through the town, or the chance to visit Inveraray Castle.

Later we continue to Oban, gateway to the Hebrides, where we board the ferry to the Isle of Mull. Arriving in Tobermory, you’ll settle in for the night in one of Scotland’s most colourful harbour towns.

Day 2 – Fionnphort → Ferry to Iona → Iona Abbey → Staffa

Today we travel across Mull to Fionnphort, where a short passenger ferry takes us to the peaceful island of Iona. This tiny island has been a place of Christian worship and pilgrimage since St Columba arrived here from Ireland in 563 AD.

On Iona you can visit Iona Abbey, walk up Torr an Aba, and explore St Oran’s Chapel and Reilig Òdhrain, said to be the burial place of ancient Scottish kings.

For an extra adventure, you can choose an optional boat trip to Staffa and Fingal’s Cave, famous for its hexagonal basalt columns, dramatic sea setting and wildlife. Depending on the season, you may also have the chance to spot puffins, dolphins, basking sharks or whales.

Day 3 – Standing Stones → Calgary Bay → Ulva → Tobermory

Today we discover more of the wild beauty of Mull. We begin at the Kilmore Standing Stones, located near the remains of an ancient fort and a Highland clearance village.

We then continue to Calgary Bay, where white sands and clear waters create one of the island’s most beautiful coastal settings. This is also one of the best places to look out for white-tailed sea eagles.

Later we explore Ulva, a peaceful and unspoilt island with woodland, beaches and fascinating island history. Back in Tobermory, you’ll have free time to shop, relax, or visit the Tobermory Distillery.

Day 4 – Glencoe → Fort Augustus & Loch Ness → Isle of Skye

After leaving Mull and returning to the mainland, we travel to Glencoe, where you’ll meet your new driver-guide and fellow travellers for the next stage of the tour.

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 5 – 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 6 – 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 7 – 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 8 – 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 to Edinburgh.

After eight memorable days exploring Scotland’s Highlands, islands and remote northwest, we return to Edinburgh in the evening.