Highlands and Isle of Skye

6 Days & 5 Nights 4.7 Read 3 reviews

Discover the Scotland of your imagination on a tour through the rugged Highlands!
Feast on some of the finest seafood in the charming coastal town of Oban
Admire the jagged outcrops and magical fairy pools of Skye
Celebrate the warm and welcoming Highland hospitality with a wee dram
Drive up the magnificent Great Glen to the Highland capital Inverness

Explore the wonderful Scottish Highlands from Glencoe to Highland Perthshire! Discover the charming seaside town of Oban, and dine on some of the freshest seafood in Scotland. Stop off in the atmospheric Glen Coe, home to thousands of years of history, and spend a couple of amazing days in the wonderfully wild and rugged Isle of Skye. A drive up the Great Glen brings you to the capital of the Highlands, Inverness, before heading back to Edinburgh through the Cairngorms National Park and the rolling hills of Highland Perthshire. Staying in hand-selected characterful hotels and guesthouses, experience first-hand that famous Highland hospitality. Our carefully curated and personalised information packs will provide comprehensive information on all the best places to stop, eat and drink, so you are sure not to miss a thing!

What To Expect

Travel restrictions and resources, to and from any destination

This trip is perfect if you want an in-depth experience of the Scottish Highlands, including a couple of nights in both Skye and Inverness, the capital of the Highlands. Allow our local expertise to guide you on a hassle-free journey of cultural discovery around the Scottish Highlands and experience Scottish hospitality at it's finest.

Tour Type:

Discovery | Think of it as a ‘local’s guide’ to the best of the region. It includes a combination of activity and transportation to give you the freedom to explore and cover more ground at your own pace. We do all the research and organisation for you. All you have to do is turn up and enjoy!

Activity:

Self Drive | Take the wheel and explore an area at your own pace taking in places and highlights that our travel experts recommend.

This trip is suitable for:

Solo Travellers

As a guide, we would suggest that the minimum age of traveler this tour would be suitable for is: 5 Years

Ideal if you have an interest in:

Islands
Whisky
Coastal Walking
National Parks

Navigation

Your information pack will include a day-by-day itinerary, with recommended driving routes between overnight stops, as well as recommended detours and must-see sights and attractions. You can use Google maps to navigate the route on your phone, or your car's sat-nav. If you are hiring a car we recommend adding on a sat-nav as internet signal in the Highlands isn't always reliable.

Accommodations

You will stay overnight in hand-picked small hotels, B&B's and guesthouses, all of which have been chosen to ensure you experience warm Scottish hospitality at its best! We regularly use the properties listed on the website but may accommodate you elsewhere if these are unavailable.

Single Rooms

This holiday is available to solo travellers but as all our tours are priced per person based on two sharing there is a single supplement payable to cover the additional costs. If you require single rooms within your party we will, of course, try to accommodate your request subject to availability.

Meals

Breakfast is included each morning and normally consists of a continental buffet with tea and coffee, fresh fruits, yoghurt, cereals, eggs and bread with jams. Often also on the menu are cooked options like freshly made porridge, a traditional cooked Scottish breakfast and smoked fish with scrambled eggs.

We don't include lunch and dinner so you are free to choose from the available options. Your information pack includes details and recommendations of convenient lunch stops, cosy cafes and restaurants along the way. A couple of decades ago the food scene in Scotland was somewhat lacking, but now you'll find a range of high quality, varied options with everything from award-winning fish and chips to intimate Michelin-listed dining experiences, and casual restaurant menus showcasing delicious locally-sourced produce.

Additional Nights

You can add additional nights wherever you please on the route. Of course we highly recommend additional nights in the cities of Glasgow and Edinburgh at the start/end of your trip!

Included

Overnight in 3 and 4* B&B's, guesthouses and small hotels
Breakfasts
Ferry crossings as per your itinerary
Detailed information pack brimming with our local knowledge
Our daily recommendations for places to see and visit
Our daily recommendations for top places to eat and drink
24/7 Emergency support from our UK office

Excluded

Car hire (available as an optional extra)
Lunches, dinners, snacks and drinks
Travel Insurance
Personal equipment
Accommodation in Edinburgh or Glasgow
Entrance Fees

Extras

Car hire
Additional nights

When To Go

You can start this tour on any day of the week from March to October, subject to availability. The busiest times of the year are around Easter and May when accommodations fill up quickly, so book as early as possible if you are planning to travel then. If you travel before Easter, and after mid-October it is worth noting that some attractions may either be closed, have limited access (i.e. castle interiors may be closed but the gardens open), or may open later and close a little earlier in the day. We always recommend checking the links in our information pack for up-to-date opening times to avoid disappointment.

During the shoulder season - March to early April and after mid-October - the Scottish weather tends to be more unpredictable and is often colder and rainier. It is worth keeping in mind that the driving conditions can also be more challenging at this time. However, attractions and popular viewpoints will generally be quieter.

Weather and Climate

Scotland enjoys a temperate climate, meaning it's relatively mild all year, except in winter when temperatures occasionally dip below 0 degrees Celsius for short periods. The Highlands are renowned for variable weather so you should be prepared for everything; from 'dreich' days (a Scottish word for drizzly days that are a bit bleak) to days with beautiful blue skies and warmer weather. Whatever the weather it tends to be breezy so spare layers are always recommended.

From the end of April to October average daily temperatures vary from 9-15 degrees Celsius. Monthly rainfall varies from 10-16 mm per month on average. Generally, May to July is the driest and mildest months, but exploring later in the year from September to October is pleasant in cooler temperatures and the autumnal scenery is spectacular as the leaves begin to change colour.

Getting to the Start

Your trip begins in the well-connected city of Glasgow. If traveling in your own car from across the UK, or western Europe via the Channel Tunnel, you'll find the city is easily accessible and well-connected by the M8, M74, M80 and M77 motorways. If you are driving or traveling from further afield we recommend and extra night in Glasgow at the start of your trip so you can make the most of your first day of sight-seeing.

By Road: Glasgow is served by an excellent motorway network. It's a 1hr 15 min drive from Glasgow to Edinburgh on the east coast. Manchester is approx a 3.5 hour drive or Newcastle on the east coast is approx 3 hours.

If dropping off a rental car and continuing your onward journey by public transport we recommend breaking the journey by adding an extra night in Glasgow or Edinburgh. For specific information regarding public transport in Scotland, please see the excellent Traveline Scotland website for timetables and fares.

By Air: Located 8 miles west of Glasgow, the international airport is served by routes from around Britain and the world. A regular shuttle bus service runs from the city centre to the airport. Or if you wish to drop your car off in Glasgow and enjoy some time there before heading back to Edinburgh, regular bus and train services link the two cities, taking approx 1 hour.

For further information regarding public transport in Scotland, please see the excellent Traveline Scotland website for timetables and fares.

By Rail: Glasgow is also connected to central Scotland and England by good rail links. See the Scot Rail website for Scottish locations and National Rail for UK-wide locations.

By Bus: Services from UK destinations are operated by National Express. Services from Scottish destinations are operated by Scottish Citylink.

Getting from the End

By Road:

Edinburgh is served by an excellent motorway network. It's a 1h 15m drive from Glasgow on the west coast to Edinburgh on the M8 motorway. Newcastle is approximately a 2.5 hour drive from Edinburgh, and Manchester and Birmingham, 4 and 6 hours respectively.

By Air:

Located 8 miles east of the city of Edinburgh, the international airport is served by routes from around the UK and the world. From the city centre, there are regular shuttle bus and tram services running to the airport, with a journey time of around 30 minutes.

For further information regarding public transport in Scotland, please see the excellent Traveline Scotland website for timetables and fares.

By Coach:

Services from UK destinations are operated by National Express. Services from Scottish destinations are operated by Scottish Citylink.

General Information

On confirmation of your booking, you will receive a personalised itinerary and comprehensive information pack. This carefully curated pack, designed with our extensive local knowledge and expertise, will include recommended driving routes, personal recommendations for places and attractions to stop at enroute, and our recommendations for the best places to eat and drink.

Car Rental

We don't include car rental in the cost of our discovery tours to keep things flexible as we realise many people may wish to use their own car. If you decide to arrange car rental through us, we have a partnership with Europcar and can arrange this easily for you. As standard we book an Economy category car (suitable for up to 4 people) with included comprehensive insurance, prices are on a request basis. Please just let us know if you would like to upgrade your car.

Travel Insurance

It is a requirement of booking this tour with Macs Adventure that you have suitable travel insurance which covers you for the activity and emergency evacuation and hospital care.

How do I navigate?

Where can I stop off to visit?

Where can I eat?

What are the roads like?

Can I add extra nights?

Itinerary

Day 1 Seafood Capital Oban via Loch Lomond and Loch Fyne

Your trip starts from Glasgow, and if you have the time we highly recommend adding on additional nights in this bustling, vibrant city to make the very most out of your time in Scotland.

Heading north from Glasgow, one of the first places you will discover is the majestic Loch Lomond. Driving along the scenic A82 road, enjoy the lochside views and make sure you enjoy a stop for a cup of tea at the pretty Loch Lomond village of Luss. Continuing north, visit the 18th century Inverary Castle, home of the Duke of Argyll, and perhaps take a wander around the fascinating Inverary Jail, before continuing to the town of Oban, the seafood capital of Scotland and an attractive coastal town. If you have the time, we highly recommend booking some additional nights here which would allow you to visit the nearby islands of Mull & Iona.

Driving Time: Approx 2.5 hours

Overnight Oban

Accommodations

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Gramarvin B&B | Guest House

Gramarvin B&B has been fully refurbished over recent years and is tastefully decorated throughout. The bedrooms are individually designed with a bright attractive colour scheme and each with private bathroom facilities.

Barriemore B&B | Bed and breakfast

The Barriemore is a splendid example of a Victorian 3 storey town house. It is situated by the water on Oban’s sea front. With stunning views of the narrow shipping channel which passes alongside the patio at the front.

Argyll House Hotel | Hotel

Argyll House enjoys magnificent views standing in its own grounds, overlooking Oban Bay and the Sound of Kerrera. There are standard and spacious superior rooms, depending on your requirements. Free WI-FI fibre broadband internet access is included, and is available throughout most of the building; there is also a comfortable lounge where you can enjoy internet access and the company of your fellow guests.

Day 2 Follow the "Road to the Isles" to Skye via Glenfinnan

After a hearty Scottish breakfast, look forward to discovering the atmospheric valley of Glencoe this morning, famous for the tragic Massacre of Glencoe which took place in 1692. As you stand surrounded by brooding mountains and heather-clad fields, shivers are sure to pass down your spine here. Pass through Fort William, at the base of the mighty Ben Nevis and enjoy a beautiful drive on the "Road to the Isles" to reach the Glenfinnan Monument. Situated at the head of Loch Sheil, this is the place where Bonnie Prince Charlie raised his standard at the start of the Jacobite rebellion. Nearby is the iconic Glenfinnan Viaduct, spanning 1000ft across and 100ft across the ground - and also where the "Harry Potter" steam train (otherwise known as the Jacobite Express) passes over daily. You soon arrive at Mallaig and hop on the car ferry over to the Isle of Skye. Depending on availability you may overnight in either Broadford or Portree whilst in Skye.

Driving Time: Approx 2.5 hours

Overnight Broadford

Accommodations

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Otter Lodge | Bed and breakfast

Martin and Vanessa will give you a warm welcome at the Otter Lodge and make sure that you feel at home right away. The B&B has six bedrooms and a spacious lounge for guests. Most rooms enjoy views of the sea and the surrounding countryside – the rooms are a mixture of shared and ensuite facilities.

Broadford Hotel | Hotel

The Broadford is a 4* hotel that has been redecorated in contemporary style to offer a warm welcome and excellent service and food in beautiful settings. Each room is en-suite with free WIFI, flat screen TV, hairdryer and hospitality tray.

Hebridean Inn | Hotel

The Hebridean Inn is a simple small hotel with great views over Broadford Bay. Their comfortable en-suite rooms have all the amenities you require for a comfortable stay.

Day 3 Explore the magical Isle of Skye Day 4 Highland capital Inverness via the Great Glen and Loch Ness

You have time this morning to further explore Skye if you wish, before leaving the island by road and driving over the Skye Bridge to the Kyle of Lochalsh. It is here you will find the 13th century Eilean Donan Castle, Scotland's most photographed castle and a true icon of the country. Once you have filled your own camera, we recommend a scenic route on the A82 alongside the banks of Loch Ness, and up the Great Glen towards Inverness. Stop at Fort Augustus on the southern tip of Loch Ness and at the top of the Caledonian Canal, where you can enjoy lunch as you watch canal boats navigate the locks. Just before arriving in Inverness, visit the grand ruins of Urquhart Castle, with its impressive location right on Loch Ness. In the evening, enjoy some refreshments in one of the cities lively pubs, taking in some of that famous Highland hospitality!

Driving Time: Approx 3 hours

Overnight Inverness

Accommodations

A sample of our typical carefully chosen accommodation in this location. Where you stay will vary depending on availability, but will be a similar standard.

Ballifeary Guest House | Guest House

Ballifeary Guest House is an impressive Victorian Villa with many original features. It has a large private car park for guests use and a secured shed for those with bikes. It is ideally located only a matter of yards from Eden Court theatre and a short walk from the River Ness where many restaurants, the Cathedral and Castle can be found. The rooms have been recently refurbished to a high standard offering every comfort you would expect.

Ardross Glencairn Guest House | Guest House

Glencairn and Ardross Guest House is a family run guesthouse. The building is an elegant detached listed Victorian building situated in a quiet street close to the scenic River Ness. Room are comfortable and tastefully furnished and have all the amenities you require.

Adrian's Guest House | Guest House

This guesthouse features accommodations with a front garden, free car parking, motorcycle and bicycles parking garage, super speed Wifi guaranteed, and a true locally sourced Highland breakfast, along with a la carte Chef menu that includes vegetarian and vegan options too.

All rooms come with en-suite bathrooms.