Scotland & the Highlands: Castles, Lochs & Skye

Today you explore magnificent Edinburgh in the company of an expert local guide. You climb to Edinburgh Castle, perched on its ancient crag high above the city, home to the Scottish crown jewels, the Stone of Destiny and the one o'clock gun, with sweeping views over the rooftops and the Firth of Forth. You walk the historic Royal Mile, past St Giles' Cathedral and down closes and wynds steeped in centuries of history, to the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the monarch's official residence in Scotland. You take in the Grassmarket, the elegant New Town, and the views from Calton Hill, and for the energetic there is a climb up Arthur's Seat. As the day ends, you return to your hotel. This evening, savour Scottish cuisine and perhaps a wee dram. Rest well, for tomorrow you head north to the Highlands.

Today you journey north from Edinburgh into the Highlands, with beautiful stops along the way. You may pause at mighty Stirling Castle, one of Scotland's grandest fortresses, set on its crag above the field of Bannockburn where Robert the Bruce won Scottish independence, and gaze up at the soaring Wallace Monument. You continue into the Cairngorms National Park, the largest national park in Britain, a magnificent land of rounded mountains, ancient Caledonian pine forest, heather moor and clear rivers, perhaps stopping in pretty Pitlochry or by a Speyside distillery. The scenery grows ever wilder and grander as you travel. As the day ends, you reach Inverness, the capital of the Highlands, on the banks of the River Ness. This evening, settle into your hotel and enjoy a Highland supper. Rest well, for tomorrow you explore Loch Ness.

Today you explore legendary Loch Ness and the moving history of the Highlands. You travel along the wooded shores of Loch Ness, deep, dark and mysterious, and take a cruise on its peaty waters, gazing into the depths where the legend of Nessie was born. You explore the romantic ruins of Urquhart Castle, dramatically set on a headland above the loch, once one of the largest strongholds in Scotland and fought over for centuries. You visit the poignant battlefield of Culloden, where the Jacobite cause finally fell in 1746, its story movingly told in the excellent visitor centre, and perhaps the ancient Clava Cairns nearby. The myth, beauty and history are captivating. As the day ends, you return to Inverness. This evening, savour a Highland dinner. Rest well, for tomorrow you cross to the Isle of Skye.

Today you journey west to the spectacular Isle of Skye through some of Scotland's finest scenery. You travel through the wild glens and past the shining lochs of the western Highlands, pausing at picture-perfect Eilean Donan Castle, romantically set on its own small island where three sea lochs meet, one of the most photographed castles in the world. You cross the bridge onto Skye, the largest and most beautiful of the Inner Hebrides, a world of jagged peaks, sea lochs and dramatic cliffs, with the towering Cuillin mountains rising ahead. You reach pretty Portree, the island capital, with its row of coloured houses around a sheltered harbour. As the day ends, you settle into your Skye accommodation. This evening, enjoy fresh Hebridean seafood. Rest well, ready to explore magical Skye tomorrow.

Today you explore the spectacular, otherworldly landscapes of the Isle of Skye. With your guide you take in the strange rock pinnacle of the Old Man of Storr, rising above the sea on the Trotternish ridge, and the extraordinary folded cliffs and hidden plateau of the Quiraing, one of the most dramatic landscapes in Britain. You visit Kilt Rock with its sea-cliff waterfall, and the clear, cascading Fairy Pools at the foot of the jagged Black Cuillin, where the hardy can swim in the icy water. You gaze at the towering Cuillin mountains, take in Neist Point lighthouse or Dunvegan Castle, and wander the harbour and shops of Portree. The wildness and beauty are breathtaking. As the day ends, you return to your accommodation. This evening, savour island hospitality. Rest well, for tomorrow you travel to Fort William.

Today you leave Skye and journey south to Fort William through magnificent scenery. You travel down the west coast through the wild and beautiful region of Lochaber, pausing at the graceful Glenfinnan viaduct, which curves across the hillside above Loch Shiel, made famous by the Jacobite steam train and the Hogwarts Express, above the monument where Bonnie Prince Charlie raised his standard in 1745. You reach Fort William, the outdoor capital of the Highlands, set beneath Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in Britain, on the shores of Loch Linnhe. You might ride part of the West Highland Line, walk by Neptune's Staircase on the Caledonian Canal, or stroll the town. As the day ends, you settle into your hotel. This evening, enjoy a hearty Highland dinner. Rest well, for tomorrow you head to Glasgow.

Today you journey south to Glasgow through dramatic Highland scenery, with a whisky tasting along the way. You drive through awe-inspiring Glencoe, one of the most beautiful and haunting glens in Scotland, walled by soaring peaks and streaked with waterfalls, steeped in the tragic history of the 1692 massacre. You visit a classic Highland single malt distillery for a guided tour and tasting, learning how the golden whisky is made and savouring smooth, smoky drams. You continue along the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond, the largest loch in Scotland, into the vibrant city of Glasgow. As the day ends, you settle into your Glasgow hotel. This evening, explore the city's lively dining and music scene, or simply relax. Rest well, for tomorrow you enjoy Glasgow before your departure.

After a final morning in vibrant Glasgow, perhaps exploring its grand Victorian architecture, the elegant Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, the medieval cathedral, or the design of Charles Rennie Mackintosh, you transfer to the airport for departure. You leave having experienced the very best of Scotland, magnificent Edinburgh with its castle and Royal Mile, legendary Loch Ness and Urquhart Castle, the poignant field of Culloden, the spectacular Isle of Skye, dramatic Glencoe and Fort William beneath Ben Nevis, a Highland malt, and lively Glasgow, all warmed by genuine Scottish hospitality. The images stay vivid long after you land, the castle on the crag, the dark waters of the loch, the peaks of the Cuillin, and the sweep of the Glenfinnan viaduct. Scotland offers romance, drama and beauty in abundance, and you depart already dreaming of return.