5 Day Hunterston Clan & Highlands Tour

After pick-up, we head for the Ayrshire coast to spend some time exploring the history of Clan Hunter with a visit to Hunterston Castle - one of the oldest medieval castles still intact and still family owned. The Clan Hunter heritage spans over 900 years on the North-Ayrshire coast overlooking the picturesque Firth of Clyde. Dive into the history and discover why the Hunters left their native France to settle in Scotland. Later, we tour north to Scotland’s first National Park and the ‘bonnie banks’ of Loch Lomond. Overnight Strachur.

After breakfast we head out to visit the loch-side village of Inveraray with a visit to its famous Castle, home of the Duke and Duchess of Argyll. Located on the edge of Loch Fyne the castle is the jewel in Argyll’s crown. Explore the interior with fine furniture, and a vast array of arms and armoury on display. Outside the castle the formal gardens are well known for their rhododendrons and azaleas which thrive in the mild, Gulf Stream climate. Later, we tour through beautiful Glencoe steeped in history with dramatic scenery. Overnight Fort William.

This morning we head out on the spectacular ‘Road to the Isles’ providing wonderful views across the Sound of Arisaig to the Small Isles of Eigg and Rhum. On the way, we are afforded splendid views of our highest mountain, Ben Nevis and the onward journey follows the West Highland Railway, intended to help open up this rural and remote part of the Scottish Atlantic coast.  After a lovely lunch in the traditional fishing port of Mallaig we take the ferry “Over the Sea to Skye” and explore some of the Sleat Peninsula. Overnight Skye area.

Today begins with a visit to iconic Eilean Donan Castle before travelling through beautiful Glen Shiel to the charming village of Fort Augustus on the shores of Loch Ness - keep a look out for Nessie! After lunch, we travel east to spend the afternoon in the Creag Meagaidh National Nature Reserve, where we can have a short walk to enjoy its unique combination of woodland and open moorland. After a brisk walk and hopefully some wildlife spotting, we tour south into Perthshire. Overnight Dunkeld.

5 After breakfast, enjoy a leisurely morning in the quaint highland village of Dunkeld with its notable 17th and 18th century architecture and historic riverside Cathedral. Next, we head to Pitlochry for some free time in this charming town which has not changed much since Victorian times. After lunch, the journey south takes us to Stirling where we head for Stirling Castle for a tour to take in the long and turbulent history of this once favoured residence of Scotland’s Kings and Queens. Tour ends in Edinburgh.