Self drive: Basic Highland Tour Builder (3+ Days)
See what you want to see on a Highland Tour
This sample tour shows what is possible in three days, or more, leaving from Edinburgh.
Stirling - Glencoe - Fort William - Mallaig - Skye - Plockton - Inverness - Aviemore - Pitlochry
Your adventure starts from your hotel in Edinburgh...
The first leg of the journey is to Stirling, the Gateway to the Highlands. From there there are tantalising glimpses of the grandeur that awaits you. From Stirling, travel westwards towards Aberfoyle and enter the Queen Elizabeth Forest Park.From Aberfoyle, climb over the Dukes Pass to the Trossachs and visit the stunning Loch Katrine retracing the steps of Victorian artists, writers, poets and early pioneers of tourism. This is Rob Roy country! And it is here that "Romantic Scotland" was born. Then head towards Callander on route to Crianlarich and Tyndrum.
Where alternative routes are possible, I have shown the options and points where you holiday can be extended.
Perhaps you would rather stand on the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond by the beautiful village of Luss then climb to the 'Rest and be Thankful,' in the Arrochar Alps, and onwards to Inverary Castle, in Argyllshire, seat of the Dukes of Argyll, chief of the Clan Campbell, and rejoin the main road north at Tyndrum.
From this point the scenery changes as we travel across the Rannoch Moor plateau: 50 square miles of peat bogs, and streams; its surface is dotted with innumerable black lochans; surrounded by mountains that rise to over 3000ft.
Rannoch Moor and Glencoe
Descend into the magnificent Glencoe, the scene of the infamous massacre of the clan MacDonald in 1692. We you also visit the site where the James Bond film Skyfall was filmed.Leaving the glen, cross the Ballachulish Bridge and hug the coast of tidal sea Loch (Linnhe) through the Great Glen to Fort William, travelling in the shadow of Ben Nevis, Britain's highest Mountain.
To get an appreciation of the area take the Nevis Range ski resort gondola onto Aonach Mor with its panoramic views over Lochaber district and on a clear day, see as far as the Inner Hebrides.
Travel along the "Road to the Isles" by road or rail
Explore the Isle of Skye, Wester Ross or Loch Ness
Skye is a large Island with awe-inspiring scenery. If you wish, you can spend the rest of the day and add an extra night on the island. Take a boat trip into Loch Coruisk and see "Britain's favourite view" or visit the fascinating magical rock formations on the Trotternish Peninsula.
Return to the mainland over the Skye Bridge or take the Glenelg turntableferry (if you are feeling adventurous) and continue to the iconic Eilean Donan Castle (used in the film 'Highlander') and the picturesque village of Plockton where the television series 'Hamish Macbeth' was filmed.
Return to the mainland over the Skye Bridge or take the Glenelg turntableferry (if you are feeling adventurous) and continue to the iconic Eilean Donan Castle (used in the film 'Highlander') and the picturesque village of Plockton where the television series 'Hamish Macbeth' was filmed.
Either, drive north into Wester Ross and the Applecross Peninsula and over the Bealach na Ba (Pass of the Cattle), that rises 2053ft in height from sea level over into the awesome beauty of the Torridon Mountains.
Then make your way to Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness.
Or, if you wish to experience the full length of Loch Ness, south east via the Five Sisters of Kintail and Glen Garry to Fort Augustus, at the southern end of the loch, then travel its full length (23 Miles) stopping at Drumnadrochit and hunt for "Nessie."
Then make your way to Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness.
Or, if you wish to experience the full length of Loch Ness, south east via the Five Sisters of Kintail and Glen Garry to Fort Augustus, at the southern end of the loch, then travel its full length (23 Miles) stopping at Drumnadrochit and hunt for "Nessie."
Inverness
Inverness Castle
Nessie
Culloden Battlefield
Clava Cairns
After an early breakfast, travel to Culloden, the site of the last major battle on British soil and the nearby 4000 year old burial cairns and standing stone circles known as the Clava Cairns.
Choice of route back to Edinburgh: via the A9 and Aviemore or, Speyside and Balmoral
Travel back to Edinburgh via the A9, stopping at one of the many major visitor attractions on route. There is so much to see in this area you may consider making Aviemore or Grantown- on- Spey a base for a few days.
Return to Edinburgh via Speyside and Balmoral
Grantown on Spey and the whisky distilleries on Speyside
Continue south on the A939 from Tomintoul to Cockbridge over the Grampian mountains on Britain's most vulnerable road (2089ft at The Lecht) and descend into Royal Deeside passing the Balmoral Estate before climbing through Glenshee and heading towards Perth.
Continue south on the A939 from Tomintoul to Cockbridge over the Grampian mountains on Britain's most vulnerable road (2089ft at The Lecht) and descend into Royal Deeside passing the Balmoral Estate before climbing through Glenshee and heading towards Perth.
Or, spend an extra day exploring the whisky distilleries of Speyside
Probably Scotland's most famous export. If you are interested in whisky, there are distilleries across Scotland so no matter where you go, a visit a distillery can be included in your tour. Many of the distilleries have visitors centres and tours end in the tasting room!