Scotland: The Best of the West (Short) View Full Screen Itinerary

Today you will arrive at Edinburgh International Airport where you will be met in the arrivals terminal by a Sandgrouse Travel & Expeditions representative. They will make sure you are all set and ready to go before taking you out to your hire car. You will be collecting a rugged and iconic vehicle, the perfect touring vehicle for Scotland, a Land Rover Defender 110 complete with Sat Nav (GPS). These vehicles are synonamous with adventure and safari the world over and your Defender will make a trusty companion for your days in Scotland with plenty of space for all your gear. 

After a short vehicle breifing you will be free to hit the road! We recommend heading the short 20-minutes down the road to Linlithgow Palace. This is where Mary Queen of Scots was born and spend her childhood. The Palace is now a ruin, however a formiddale structure, we recommend visiting and taking a tour of the grounds and palace for a better understanding. The story will also ignite your interest further into Scotland's fascinating history!

Driving further north you will be on your way to lunch at the world famous Gleneagles Hotel & Golf Resort. Gleneagles has an array of great restaurants as well as more informal pub style food, but a wonder around here is a real experience. If you are particularly interested you could arrange an activity here such as an hour long Falconry display (please discuss with your travel planner). 

After lunch and a wonder around Gleneagles you will drive the short distance to the charming town of Callendar, nestled in the Trossachs National Park, below Ben Vorlich Callendar is a quaint Scottish town with an array of good cafes, pubs and interesting shops. Just outside Callander is the Scottish Antiques Centre, an amazing place to visit if not for some souvenir shopping yourself then just for a mooch, the centre is packed with amazing Scottish antiques from furniture to Jacobean trinkets! 

Not far from Callander you will find the village of Doune, here Doune Castle can be found. Doune Castle has been used in many TV show and films, such as Outlander, Monty Python's The Holy Grail and many more.

Accommodation: Lubnaig Guest House, 1x Twin Room, 2x Double Rooms - Bed & Breakfast Basis

Today you awake in the charming guest house at Callander. Your hosts will prepare a delicious home-cooked Scottish Breakfast including Haggis (should you wish!). After a great breakfast it will be time to jump in the Landy and push on. You will head through some of Scotland's most stunning scenery today, so make sure you have the camera charged and a pair of binoculars at the ready (you never know what you will see on the wildlife front whilst travelling through such amazing landscapes). 

Your journey initially takes you up and across Rannoch Moor, one of the UK's most inhospitable (at certain times of the year) places, Rannoch Moor is over 1000ft above sea-level and the road leads directly down into what is often referred to as Scotland's most dramatic glen, Glen Coe. The glen itself has a fascination history, once home to the famous MacDonald clan, who were brutally massacred by the Red Coat army (British Government troops). We recommend stopping here if the weather is good, park up the Land Rover and head on foot into the Lost Valley. This is a glen within the glen, hanging high on the southern side of Glen Coe you can walk up and into this special place, where the MacDonald's used to once hide the cattle they had stolen from neighbouring lands. It is reputed that the survivors of the famous massacred also head here to avoid capture. 

After exploring the incredible and dramatic Scottish scenery on-foot, it will be time to head off to find somewhere suitable for a cup of tea or coffee. Dropping out of the great and impressive glen you will find a number of options along the road for a pit-stop. If you prefer, then we recommend pushing on to Fort William for a pub lunch somewhere or a great alternative if the weather is great, would be to pop into the supermarket (Morrison's) at Fort William, here you can collect the ingrediants for a nice picnic. There are plenty of amazing places to head for a truly awe-inspiring setting to sit and have your lunch, whey not take the very short drive out the back of Fort William up the stunning Glen Nevis. Looming 4,000ft up, high above you will be Britain's tallest mountain, Ben Nevis. Look out for Golden Eagles whilst you are here taking lunch, they are often seen soaring in the glen. 

From Fort William it will be time to take the road towards Arisaig and Mallaig. This is known as 'The Road to the Isles' and is one of Scotland's most famous and most beautiful drives. Your hotel tonight is a real treat, infact you are here for the next two nights giving you time to explore the stunning beaches, rockpools, coves and even mountains in the surrounding, uninhabited area. Arisaig House serves amazing local seafood and has great rooms and service. 

Accommodation: Arisaig House Hotel, 2x twin rooms for 2-nights. Bed & Breakfast basis. 

Today you will wake up in a paradise. Arisaig House Hotel has far reaching views across the the isles of Rum, Eigg and Muck and even beyond. The beaches in this area comprise pure white sand and call for wonderful walks with hours whiled away in peace.

We recommend taking the 'old road' north towards Mallaig today, enjoying all the beaches, with a stop at Silver Sands by Loch Morar, here the sand is so fine it squeaks under foot as you walk on it. If you like, you could hire a wee boat on Loch Morar and head for an exploratory cruise around the loch - said to be home to a monster called Morag.

In Mallaig you will find a number of seaside eateries which serve incredible local seafood, alternatively you may have decided to head south back along the road towards Glenfinnan. In Glenfinnan you will find the viaduct, here you can take a walk up the glen, under the viaduct and you could even time your walk to coincide with the Jacobite Steam Train which puffs it's way daily across the bridge. The train has in recent years become a global icon thanks to it's important role within the Harry Potter novels and it is quite something to see and hear this incredible train chug its way over such a special bridge. What ever you do today, grand memories shall be forged we are sure!

Today is a a day for you, explore wild and beautiful Scotland at it's best and fall in love with our country. 

Accommodation: Arisaig House Hotel, 2-Twin Rooms on Bed & Breakfast basis. 

Some images above are shown thanks to VisitScotland. 

Today is your fourth day in Scotland, you will be waking up for an early breakfast today to make the most of the time. An early ferry crossing from Mallaig to Amadale on the southern tip of the Isle of Skye will see you arrive with plenty of time to enjoy exploring your new surroundings. The Isle of Skye is a large island, with a tremendous amount to get to grips with. We recommend you select only a handful of must-do experiences to savour whilst here and factor in very well, the larger distances to travel. 

Head north up to the heart of Skye, you will pass-by incredible scenery and mountains, today is a day of marvelling at Skye's incredible landscapes and ticking off some of your dream sites and locations before catching the evening ferry across to the neighbouring island of Raasay. 

Accommodation: 2x Economy Twin Rooms on Bed & Breakfast basis.

Today you wake up on the isle of Raasay overlooking Skye. You have a free day on a Scottish island. You are able to either explore the amazing island of Raasay which is often overlooked by it's more famous neighbour Skye, or you can take the ferry back across to Skye and continue your exploration of this world famous destination. 

You will need to make sure you catch an afternoon ferry back to Raasay for your final night at Raasay House Hotel 

Today try your hand at Sea Kayaking or sailing a traditional Hebridean Sailing Boat?

Sea Kayak Video from Raasay House on Vimeo.

Accommodation: Raasay House Hotel: 2x Economy Twin Rooms Bed & Breakfast.

Today you will depart the island of Raasay for the final time, heading back to the mighty Isle of Skye. From here it is a short drive aross the road bridge back to the mainland. Heading south along the road to Fort William you will pass by the iconic 'shortbread tin' Eilean Donan Castle. We recommend stopping here for a wonder around, taking some photos of the magnificent castle and if you like, arranging to join one of the excellent guided tours. The castle is amazing, to visit the rooms inside will give you a full appreciation of this amazing place and of course the history. 

Heading south you will be able to follow the road back towards Fort William, the road itself passes by the Five Sisters of Kintail, iconic mountains that loom high above the winding road, lower down are lochs that look like they have some straight out a Lord of The Rings novel. 

Today is a long journey travelling through much of Scotland's finest highland landscapes, you will be heading via the Laggan Road from Spean Bridge to the A9, the main arterial route North to South through the Cairngorms. This road will lead you pass the stunning Blair Atholl Castle, and the House of Bruar, the home of country clohthing. We thoroughly recommend stopping off at either or both of these suggestions (time permitting). 

Your final destination for today is of course, Edinburgh Airport. Here you will be met by your Sandgrouse Travel & Expeditions representative who will collect the Land Rover keys form you. 

We hope you have enjoyed your time in Scotland, and we thank you for visiting our amazing country!