Highlights / General details Day 1: Depart Edinburgh and travel north into the Highlands. First stop will be the historic village of Dunkeld where you will take a short walk through the forest to some waterfalls. Continuing north the route passes through the Grampian Mountains to the Spey Valley where you will stop for lunch. In the afternoon you will visit the world famous Loch Ness then make a short stop in Inverness itself. There will be time for a visit to the impressive waterfalls at Corrieshalloch Gorge before you arrive in the West Coast fishing port of Ullapool for your overnight stay. Day 2: Catch the morning ferry from Ullapool for the 2 hour sail along Loch Broom, past the Summer Isles then out across the Minch to Stornoway – the main town on Lewis and capital of the Outer Hebrides. Look out for dolphins, whales and seabirds during the crossing. In the afternoon explore the North West coast from Arnol with its historic old “blackhouse”, through traditional crofting townships to Port of Ness and the very north tip of the island – the Butt of Lewis. From the lighthouse here there is nothing between you and the Americas! Overnight in Stornoway. Day 3: Today will be spent exploring some of the prehistoric remains on the island as well as its finest beaches. The fascinating circular stone fort, or Broch, at Carloway will be your first stop followed by more traditional crofting communities such as Gearrannan and Shawbost. Then it’s on to Callanish with its mysterious ancient stone circle. In the afternoon you will head for the remote district of Uig with its fine, sandy beaches at Bhaltos, dramatic sea cliffs and rugged hills. This is the wilderness of the Western Isles at its finest. Overnight again in Stornoway. Day 4: Travelling south today from the wild moorlands of Lewis to the more mountainous Harris almost but not quite an island on its own. Famous for the locally produced cloth, Harris Tweed, it is also home to the highest mountains in the Outer Hebrides and the stunning white sands of Luskentyre. After a morning of exploring South Harris you will stop for lunch in the small port of Tarbet. Here you will catch the late afternoon ferry to Skye and continue on to your overnight stay in the harbour town of Portree. Day 5: Is a very flexible day on Skye. There are many possibilities depending on the weather and your driver/guide’s knowledge will come to the fore in developing the best day out for you. For example you might travel north to the stunning Quiraing mountain pass and enjoy a spectacular walk through some of Skye’s extraordinary geological scenery or visit the Kilt Rock, composed of basalt columns (reminiscent of the pleats in a kilt) with its waterfall cascading over the cliffs and down into the sea below. Or, after lunch you could travel to Neist Point for a walk out to the lighthouse at the most westerly point on Skye. Alternatively a visit to Dunvegan Castle, ancient ancestral seat of the Clan McLeod, may be possible. Day 6: Departing from Plockton the return journey to Edinburgh has many highlights – a visit to Eilean Donan Castle, Fort William and the dramatic scenery and dark history of Glencoe. Travelling back south through the Central Highland the last stop of the day will be in Killin beside the Falls of Dochart before returning to Edinburgh. Inclusion Transportation by top of the range Mercedes minicoach for a more personal experience with a maximum of 16 passengers on tour. Air Conditioning as standard. Services of a professional Rabbie's driver/guide. All ferry and bridge crossings. Rabbie's Discount Card - money off restaurants, shopping and attractions. Exclusion Gratuity, All meals and refreshments, Entrance fees to all visitor attractions. Hours of operation Tuesdays: April – September. Sundays: May – September. Location Tours depart 6 Waterloo Place and return to Waverley Bridge. Return to Waverley Bridge opposite Waverley Train Station. Additional Information Clothing: we recommend to bring suitable clothing and footwear on the tours. Winter can be a spectacular time to travel around the Highlands. Sometimes the routes we take are altered a little depending on the conditions and tours may return about half an hour earlier. In winter (November to March), some castles are not open but can be viewed from outside. Participant restrictions No children under 5 are allowed in this tour. Policies If you are reserving for a single passenger, you must reserve a Single room. Double room can be booked ONLY if you are reserving for 2 or more. Child rate applies to children aged 5-15, based on 1 child sharing a room with parent(s) or 2 children in a twin room. **All information requested must be supplied or booking is subject to automatic cancellation**