Iona, Mull and the Isle of Skye Tours – 5 Days

• Accommodation: overnight in Oban.
• Highlights: Stirling Views, Loch Lomond National Park, Inveraray, Argyll and Oban Town.

Day 2 – The Isle of Mull, Iona and Iona Abbey and Staffa
Today we take the early ferry crossing to the magical Isle of Mull and head through her wild landscapes, and natural beauty and along her dramatic coastlines to the most southerly point. Here we take the small passenger ferry to the peace and tranquillity of Iona – the birthplace of Celtic Christianity and the ancient burial ground of Scottish Kings. Here you can visit the historic abbey with its intricate carved crosses in the churchyard or explore this island gem’s rocky headlands and sandy coves. There is also an opportunity to take a small boat out to the island of Staffa (except for Saturday departures in September) and view the dramatic basalt columns immortalised by Mendelssohn in his Hebridean Overture “Fingal’s Cave”. You then return on the ferry to Oban for your second night.

• Accommodation: Overnight in Oban.
• Highlights: Isle of Mull, Isle of Iona and Iona Abbey.

Day 3 – The West Coast, Glencoe and Plockton Village
Today we travel north along the stunning west coast around Appin, passing the impregnable Castle Stalker, and Glencoe, scene of the infamous massacre of the Clan Macdonald in 1692. Passing along the Ballachulish coast and through the bustling town of Fort William we pass in the shadow of Ben Nevis which at 1344 meters is the highest mountain in the British Isles. We then continue our scenic route as we travel up the course of the Great Glen, a natural fault in the earth’s crust that runs through the heart of Scotland and on through to Ireland. From here we cross the Northern Highlands to the picturesque fishing village of Plockton on the far North West coast. You are then dropped off at your accommodation in the early evening.

• Accommodation: overnight in Plockton Village, Highlands.
• Highlights: Isle of Mull, Isle of Iona and Iona Abbey.

Day 4 – The Natural Beauty of the Isle of Skye
Today’s itinerary exploring this magical island is flexible dependent on the preferences of the group and the travel conditions of the day and your driver/guide’s local knowledge will come to the fore in developing the best day-out for you. A journey north to the stunning Quiraing mountain pass will offer spectacular walks through Skye’s extraordinary geological scenery such as Kilt Rock, composed of basalt columns (reminiscent of the pleats in a kilt) with its waterfall cascading over the cliffs or the “Old Man of Storr”. Travelling to the West of the Island you can see Neist Point for a stroll to the lighthouse at the islands most westerly point where you may catch a glimpse of whales or sharks in the waters below. Alternatively a visit to Dunvegan Castle, ancient ancestral seat of the Clan McLeod, or Talisker Distillery make excellent cultural stops. We return to your accommodation in Plockton in the late afternoon for you to enjoy a free evening in the village.

• Accommodation: overnight in Plockton Village, Highlands.
• Highlights: Portree Town, Isle of Skye, the Trotternish Peninsula, Neist Point, Dunvegan Castle and Talisker Distillery.

Day 5 – Loch Ness and the Grampian Mountains
You will be collected from your accommodation and travel east where you will take in the stunning views over Loch Duich and the 5 Sisters of Kintail. Continue on to Loch Ness for lunch and the possibility of spotting “Nessie”. Heading south now through the Grampian Mountains along Loch Laggan, made famous now as “Monarch of the Glen Country” before passing Dalwhinnie, home to Scotland’s highest whisky Distillery, and onwards into Highland Perthshire before heading back to Edinburgh over the Forth Road Bridge.

• Highlights: Eilean Donan Castle, Loch Ness, the Great Glen the Grampian Mountains and the Firth of Forth.