Our three day tour to the Isle of Skye – recently voted 4th best island in the world – gives you time to relax and enjoy the island’s natural beauty, its unique culture and vast array of wildlife.
Guests taking our summer tour can even enjoy a trip on the Jacobite Steam Train (15th May to 15th September) as seen in Harry Potter and often described and one of the world’s great train journeys.
Day 1
It’s an early start in the cosmopolitan city of Edinburgh before we set off via Scotland’s largest city, Glasgow, for the picturesque highland village of Luss which is perched on the western shore of Loch Lomond.
There’s some time to explore this quaint little village before heading to Glencoe, spectacular setting for possibly the most shameful episode in Scottish history, The Glencoe Massacre. We stop here to soak up the stunning beauty and dramatic atmosphere of the Glen.
Sitting in the shadow of Britain’s highest peak, Ben Nevis, lies Fort William the perfect stop for a spot of lunch.
Movie fans will undoubtedly want to make the next leg of the tour on the Jacobite Steam Train (15th May to 15th September) which runs from Fort William, over the 21-arch Glenfinnan Viaduct of Harry Potter fame, to Mallaig where your Tour Leader will meet the train.
Guests who prefer to stay on the coach will travel by road to Glenfinnan taking in views of the Viaduct as well as Loch Eilt, where Hagrid was seen skimming stones in Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire. Glenfinnan is the place where, in 1745, Bonnie Prince Charlie raised his Standard in an ill-fated attempt to reinstate the exiled Stuarts to the throne of Great Britain and Ireland.
We take in the spell-binding Sands of Morar where guests can enjoy views over perfect turquoise seas to the islands of Eigg, Rum and north to our destination – Skye.
Enjoy the short ferry ride from Mallaig to Armadale (weather dependent) on the Isle of Skye before a 30-minute drive takes us to Kyleakin, where an early evening stroll around this traditional island village and your accommodation await.
Day 2
After breakfast we head off on a full-day tour of this incredibly diverse island. Guests can choose to enjoy a leisurely 1.5hr boat trip from Elgol or a more exhilarating, wind-in-your-hair, RIB ride (RIB ride has limited availability, please reserve in advance). Either way, you’ll see the jaw-dropping Cuillin Mountains up close as well as a rich variety of sea birds including, if you’re lucky, majestic Golden and Sea Eagles. There are regular sightings of dolphins, porpoise and sometimes whales, especially in the summer months and the large resident colony of harbour seals near to Loch Coruisk is guaranteed.
Next stop is Portree – the largest town on Skye. It’s the ideal opportunity to have some lunch and, time permitting, a stroll before we head in the direction of the breath-taking Trotternish Peninsula and its unique geology.
Our guests love the Skye Museum of Island Life where they get an incredible insight into how people lived on Skye around a century ago.
Skye’s landscapes never cease to thrill and the next stop – the Quiraing – is no different. Guests disembark here just to soak up the beautiful panoramas before we head to Kilt Rock – an enormous 90-metre-tall column of basalt. Finally, the tour passes the The Old Man of Storr, created by a massive ancient landslide, on our route to Kyleakin and a relaxing evening at your leisure.
Day 3
This morning we leave Skye via the controversial Skye Bridge which opened in 1995. Our first stop is at the iconic Eilean Donan Castle – possibly Scotland’s most photographed castle and location for many famous films including Highlander, The World is Not Enough and the Bollywood Blockbuster Kutch Kutch Hota Hai. It’s easy to see why film makers are so enthralled as the castle sits on an island where three great sea lochs meet and is surrounded by magnificent highland scenery.
Heading for home our lunch stop will be in Fort Augustus a charming highland village that sits at the southern tip of Loch Ness. Here you can either take in the Fort Augustus locks which are part of the Caledonian Canal (one of the greatest waterways of the world) or alternatively, if you’re feeling lucky, you can embark on a one-hour monster-spotting cruise.
The coach then heads over the Laggan and Grampian mountains, passing Blair Castle (the ancient seat of the Dukes of Atholl and home to Europe’s only remaining private army) until we reach the Victorian town of Pitlochry.
After a stop for refreshments in this bustling town, we return to Scotland’s Capital via the Forth Bridge and the iconic sight of the Forth Rail Bridge which has been in service since 1890.
Inclusions
Costs are for transportation by air-conditioned mini/midi coach and services of a professional driver-guide.
Exclusions
Accommodation, Meals & Refreshments
Tour Departure Point
Bus Stand ZE, Waterloo Place
Edinburgh
(opposite the Apex Hotel)
Tour Highlights
Day 1
Glasgow, Luss, Loch Lomond, Glencoe, Ben Nevis,Fort William, Glenfinnan, Loch Eilt, Silver Sands of Morar, Mallaig & Kyleakin.
Day 2
Elgol Boat Cruise, The Cuillin Mountains, The Highland Museum of Life, The Quiraing, Kilt Rock, The Old Man of Storr, Portree
Day 3
Eilean Donan Castle, Five Sisters of Kintail, Telford’s Bridge, Fort Augustus, Loch Ness, Cairngorms National Park, Grampian Mountains, Blair Castle, & Pitlochry
Optional Extras
Jacobite Steam Train (15th May to 15th Sept)
Adults £30.00
Seniors £30.00
Students£30.00
Child £18.00
Elgol Boat Cruise
Adults £18.00
Seniors £17.00
Students £17.00 (with valid ID)
Child £12.00
Elgol RIB ride
Limited availability – please reserve in advance
Adults £26.00
Child £18.00
Eilean Donan Castle
Adults £7.00
Senior £6.00
Loch Ness Boat Cruise
Adults 14.00
Seniors £14.00
Students £14.00
Child £11.00
All payable in cash on the day
FAQs
Can I start my tour in Edinburgh and finish in Glasgow?
Yes, our tours always return via Glasgow so you are more than welcome to depart there.
Where does the tour stay overnight?
We stay in the village of Kyleakin for both nights of our tour (please note during peak season some of our passengers may be allocated accommodation in the villages nearby to Kyleakin).
The village has some restaurants for evening dining and a shop should you require any necessities.
Can you reserve my accommodation?
Yes, we can reserve both B&B & hostel accommodation for you. There is an option to request your preferred accommodation when booking. You will then receive a confirmation email containing details of your accommodation provider & the exact cost of your stay.
Payment is made directly to the accommodation provider in Skye.
What is the price for accommodation?
The guide price for accommodation is as follows:
- B&B double/twin room: £78.00 – £110.00 per room per night based on 2 people sharing.
- B&B single occupancy: £55.00 – £80.00 per room per night
- Hostel: £17.50 – £26.00 for a mixed dorm bed.
We provide a guide price as each establishment has their own pricing structure. Our accommodation is allocated on a first come first serve basis so an exact cost will not be known until you have booked and we can confirm what is available.
Can I book my own accommodation?
You can self-book your accommodation should you wish to. The accommodation must be in the village of Kyleakin and we ask that you let the accommodation provider know that you are travelling with us.
If you choose to book your own accommodation, please inform us where you are staying as soon as possible.
Will we be dropped off and picked up at our accommodation on Skye?
Yes while you are on Skye, your Tour Leader will drop you off each evening and collect you at a designated time each morning.
Please ensure you are ready in plenty of time each morning.
How much luggage can I bring?
Our luggage allowance is medium suitcase weighing no more than 10kg per person plus a small handbag/laptop bag which can be brought on to the coach. This allowance is set based on the overall weight limit of the coach and therefore can not be altered.
There are left luggage facilities in both Glasgow and Edinburgh Train Stations and Edinburgh Bus Station if you require to store luggage while you are on tour.
What can we do if we don’t want to participate in an optional extra?
All attractions are optional. Should you wish not to visit an attraction then your Tour Leader will provide you with information of any alternative options in the area, this may be local walks or the location of a nearby coffee shop.
Will I be able to pay by credit card while on tour?
In the Scottish Highlands many businesses do not accept card, particularly in rural areas where mobile signals are not very strong. Optional extras are also paid in cash to your driver. Therefore, it is best to bring cash with you.
There are cash machines on route should you require to take out money while on tour.
It is important that we are able to take the Jacobite Steam Train as part of our tour, is it guaranteed that we will be able to take the train?
We have tickets for each seat on our tour from May 15th until September 15th therefore as long as the ferry is running to Skye then tours within this time frame will have the opportunity to take the train.
If the ferry is cancelled then unfortunately we are unable to take the train.
Does the 3-day tour visit a Whisky Distillery?
Our 3-day tour doesn’t visit a whisky distillery.
We do visit a distillery on our one-day tour to Stirling Castle & Loch Lomond National Park.
Does this tour visit the Fairy Pools?
In the summer months we are unable to visit the Fairy Pools as the single track road to/from the pools is not suitable for coaches due to a large number of cars parked on either side.
During our winter schedule when Skye is quieter we may be able to visit the Fairy Pools. This is down to your Tour Leaders discretion and can’t be guaranteed.
Check in 07.00: Departs 07.15 – Returns 19.00
Bus Stand ZE, Waterloo Place – (opposite the Apex Hotel)
