The Scottish Highlands Experience View Full Screen Itinerary

Today you will arrive in Edinburgh International Airport and be met by a Sandgrouse Travel & Expeditions representative. They will make sure you have all your luggage and are happy before walking you out to where your two Land Rover vehicles are waiting. You will have a luxury Land Rover Discovery 4 waiting for you as well as the iconic and rugged Land Rover Defender 110 County Station Wagon. These are the perfect vehicles in which to tour the Scottish Highlands and both come complete with GPS navigation units. After a short briefing it will be time to head north out of Edinburgh. 

We recommend travelling via Stirling, this route will mean you will enjoy views of the famous Stirling Castle which is Scotland's second largest castle. Your first call today is a lunch stop at the world famous Gleneagles Hotel and Golf Resort. We have booked a table for you at The Dormy Clubhouse where you can enjoy lunch. After lunch at 2:30pm you will have a private Falconry display at the Falconry centre on site at Gleneagles. This will be a one hour experience were you will be able to meet the beautiful birds of prey, learn all about them from the handler and even fly them within the grounds of the world famous hotel. Expect, Harris Hawks, Golden Eagles, Peregrine Falcons and more. 

After your experience at Gleneagles it will be time to head north deeper into Highland Perthshire. You are heading up to the Pitlochry area where you will be checking into your luxury hotel, a converted castle complete with spa. Fonab Castle will provide the perfect first night in Scotland. 

3x Double Castle Signature Rooms on a Bed & Breakfast basis

This morning you will wake up in the Highlands surrounded by majestic Scottish mountains and luxury castle interiors. Enjoy a traditional Scottish cooked breakfast before departing for a Highland wildlife safari like no other. You will be met by a wildlife ranger who will be taking you right up on top of the Scottish mountains following special Land Rover tracks up onto the moor. From here you will have a high chance of seeing the UK's largest mammal the Red stag, complete with females (hinds), if you are lucky you will see Red, and Black grouse, along with Eagles and even Mountain Hare. Your wildlife guide is a total expert in his passion and will bring to life not only the nature you enjoy seeing but also tell you about the history of the area. Lunch today will be in a hilltop mountain cabin, a delicious Scottish sharing platter will be served for you all to enjoy with a dram of local whisky followed by tea and coffees. 

After lunch and on decending the mountain you will drive the very short distance through the glen to Aberfeldy Distillery. Here you will have a 2-hour comprehensive whisky distillery tour complete with a tasting session to finish samplying over 6 whiskies throughout the tour. Aberfeldy is owned by Dewars and is one of Scotland's most famous and respected whisky brands. This tour will give you a much greater appreciation for the industry and the wide variety of whisky on offer. 

Once you have finished your tour, drivers will be able to take you and your Land Rover vehicles to your hotel on the West Coast of Scotland. Your route will wind its way across the mountains through the world famous Glencoe (Scotland's most dramatic and rugged Glen). Glencoe has a fascinating and bloody history and we will look to stop here for some photos and a refreshment. 

Your hotel this evening is a castle situated on a private island off the coast. The Isle of Eriska is renowned for great food and high levels of service and is one of the country's leading hotels. 

Isle of Eriska, 3x Standard Double Rooms Bed & Breakfast

Today you will enjoy something totally extraordinary. After an early breakfast it will be time to check out of your wonderful hotel on the the private island of Eriksa. You will be heading the short distance south to Easdale where you are heading out onto the water. A super powerful RIB boat is waiting at 9:30am to take you out on a 2.5-hour long marine safari. You will be able to see the Scottish landscape from the water from a whole new perspective, but also enjoy the amazing marine wildlife. Look out for seals, otters, whales even and eagles in the sky above you. Your ultimate goal this morning is of course to sail into the third largest marine whirlpool in the world. This is an exhilerating experience, and your experienced captain will thrill you all before the powerful RIB boat thrusts its way away from the turbulent waters. 

On returning to the mainland you will jump into the Land Rovers and head north towards Fort William one of the West Coast of Scotland's main towns. Fort William sits just below Ben Nevis, the UK's highest mountain at 4409ft. If it is a clear day you should be able to see the summit from the town itself, a fine climb it is too but that is for another trip. After some lunch locally in a restaurant of your choice, take the road out towards Mallaig known as 'The Road to the Isles'. This is one of the most beautiful drives in Scotland and follows the Jacobite Steam Trains route (made famous by the Harry Potter films). If you are lucky you may catch the afternoon steam train crossing the world famous Glenfinnan Viaduct bridge. Your destination today is Arisaig, a small and charming fishing village. Here you will check into a beautiful hotel called Arisaig House Hotel. 

Arisaig House Hotel for 2-nights, 3x King-size Bedrooms, Bed & Breakfast basis. 

Photo Credit Visit Scotland

Waking up looking out across the sea towards the Hebridean islands is something you will never forget! Hopefully the sun is out and you will be able to marvel at the breakfast table at the incredible views. After breakfast you will need to drive the short distance north further up the road to the small fishing harbour of Mallaig. Here you will meet your guide, a ex-fisherman with a passion for the waters around West Coast Scotland. He will be taking you out on an incredible day on the water. Today's tour will last a minimum of 5-hours, depending on the weather and how you as a group feel it could last well longer as the guide is happy to show you some of the areas most special and remote places. Look out for whales, (even Orca whales have been known to frequent these waters), seals, otters, seabirds, eagles (included Fish Eagles - the world's fourth largest bird of prey) and much more. Your guide will either catch some local fish or buy some fish from a local fishing boat whilst you're on the water - so your lunch today will be the most fresh and delicous Scottish seafood you could ever have. Lunch will either be on board or on shore at a beach (BBQ). The afternoon sailing will be back to Mallaig where your incredible marine safari ends. 

From here the afternoon is free for you to explore the stunning area. Head south slowly via the 'old road' stopping at Morar Sands, where if you walk barefoot the sand is so fine it will squeak beneath your feet. 

Arisaig House Hotel. 

Leaving Arisaig House Hotel will be with a heavy heart, a beautiful hotel in a paradise corner of the world. However today you are in for yet more Scottish treats. At Mallaig your car ferry will leave early aound 9am, you will need to get there early to avoid a delay. The ferry goes to Armadale on the southern shores of the Isle of Skye, one of Scotland's most dramatic and famous islands. Skye is a word from the Vikings when they once ruled this part of Scotland, it means cloudy. The high mountains on Skye known as the Cuillin are often in the clouds but hopefully today they will be visable. On arrival on Skye, you will drive the Land Rovers south west to your luxury hotel Kinloch Lodge. Kinloch Lodge is renowned for it's fantastic cuisine. 

At Kinloch Lodge you are meeting one of Skye's most famous and well respected guides. A wildlife guide, Mitchell has appeared on a number of UK TV shows and worked with many wildlife filming companies showing them the best wildlife to found on Skye. Not all about wildlife though, your tour will include some coastal foraging, and a really detailed overview of the history of Skye and the south western end of Skye, once overseen by the famous MacDonald clan. 

After a brilliant and informative tour (which will be part on-foot and part by vehicle), you will return to Kinloch Lodge for a very comfortable evening. Tonight, dinner is included in your stay. 

Kinloch Lodge, 3 King Rooms Dinner, Bed & Breakfast basis. 

Today you will leave the Isle of Skye, our suggestion is that you check out early and enjoy your day touring. If you have time you may want to explore a little more of Skye but this is a big island and be aware of time. We recommend leaving the island via the road bridge and heading towards Eilean Donan Castle, one of Scotland's most recognisable and iconic castles. This is well worth visiting if only for some photos. If you would like, we strongly recommend a tour. These are around 45 minutes long and take you through the entire castle which has a special feeling and is very authentic. 

Today is mostly about the journey, travelling across Scotland is a special experience, and should be savoured. Make sure you find a good spot for lunch before heading to Inverness. Just outside Inverness is a Tweed specialist called 'Campbells of Beauly'. We recommend visiting the shop which supplist over 100 Scottish sporting estates with the finest tweed. Here you can lean a little more about the importance of the tweed industry and buy yourself something quintessentially Scottish. 

Tonight you will be staying just by the Culloden battlefield. This is the site of the famous battle between the Jacobite army and the Hanovarian Army (British government troops) in 1746. The hotel you are staying in, Culloden House stands on the very site that Bonnie Prince Charlie of Scotland stayed at on the eve of the battle. 

Culloden House, 3x Garden Deluxe Rooms Bed & Breakfast basis. 

Today you will be meeting your battlefield tour guide outside the hotel at 10am. The tour will last all morning right up to lunch so enjoy a good Scottish breakfast so you can keep going. This is a private tour with an expert historian guide who will be able to bring to life the battle itself but also explain to you how influencial this battle was in forming the Scotland and United Kingdom we know today. Your will visit reenactment sites and buildlings but also the battlefield itself where you guide will explain how things played out on the day and where exactly various clans fell under fire. 

After an amazing experience with your guide it will be time to say goodbye and head south. We recommend taking the A9 south bound. On the way today you will pass by both Blair Atholl Castle which is well worth visiting.  Home to the Dukes of Atholl for hundreds of years this is one of Scotlands most beautiful highland castles and completely stunning inside with traditional decor. 

For lunch we recommend The House of Bruar - here you will find a luxury shopping experience like no other in the UK. Known as 'The Home of Country Clothing' the House of Bruar sells all things Scottish and luxury as well as fine local artisnal food. Grab lunch here before hitting the road in the Land Rovers and heading southbound to Edinburgh. 

The final part of your journey to Edinburgh will take you over the famous Forth Road bridge. On the left will be the world famous and iconic Forth Railway Bridge!

This evening your Land Rover vehicles will be collected by a Sandgrouse Travel & Expeditions representative at Prestonfields House Hotel. 

Prestonfield House, 3x Double Rooms, Bed & Breakfast. 

Photo Credit Visit Scotland

Today is your last day in Scotland. After checking out of your rooms at the amazing Prestonfields Hotel, you will be able to explore the city centre of Edinburgh at your own pace. Explore the Old Town, The Royal Mile and the Castle Esplanade before wandering down to the New Town and Princes Street Gardens. 

Getting out to the airport is very easy, simple and calm via the excellent tram from the city centre. It takes around 30 minutes and will cost around £5 per person. Once at Edinburgh Airport, check in to your flight. 

Thank you for visiting Scotland we hope you will be back soon! 

Photo Credit Visit Scotland