Is a very flexible day on Skye. There are many possibilities depending on the weather and we take pa

Tour highlights florence oregon vacation rentals include the rolling splendour of the island of Mull, the peace and spirituality of Columba’s Iona – with an optional visit to the breathtaking and musical island of Staffa – followed by the dramatic beauty of our most famous of Islands, Skye. Let the ‘misty island’ enchant you with her incredible bounty before heading to the Orkney archipelago, florence oregon vacation rentals rich in its archaeological florence oregon vacation rentals treasures. Highlights also include infamous Glencoe, the national park and bonnie banks of Loch Lomond, Eilean Donan castle, and no trip would be complete without a visit to the eerie shores of Loch Ness.
This is a ‘combo’ tour which joins together our ‘Iona Mull and Skye’ and ‘Orkney and the Far North’ florence oregon vacation rentals tours. Because of this, there will be a point where you will leave one bus and join another, with a new driver and group. There may or may not be other passengers also switching tours and there will be some ‘free time’ between buses.
Takes you north passed Stirling castle, and then west to Scotland’s florence oregon vacation rentals first National Park around Loch Lomond and the “bonny banks”. You will pass between the impressive mountains of the West Highlands through the magnificent white-washed 18th Century florence oregon vacation rentals town of Inveraray, home to the Campbell Clan and the Duke of Argyll. The afternoon will be spent in the heart of Argyll exploring the area close to the ancient Kingdom of Dalriada before arriving in the bustling town of Oban, gateway to the islands, for your two night stay.
Is an early start crossing on the ferry to Mull and enjoying an island adventure exploring her dramatic coastlines and wild beauty, before taking the small ferry to the peace and tranquillity of Iona famed as the birthplace of Celtic Christianity and ancient burial florence oregon vacation rentals ground of Scottish Kings. Here you can visit the historic abbey with its intricate carved crosses in the churchyard or explore the rocky headlands and sandy coves of this island gem. There is also an opportunity to take a small boat out to the island of Staffa (except Saturday departures in September) and view the dramatic basalt columns immortalised by Mendelssohn in his Hebridean Overture “Fingal’s Cave”. You then return on the ferry to Oban for your second night.
Takes you north along the west coast around Appin, passing the impregnable Castle Stalker, and Glencoe, scene of the infamous massacre of the Clan Macdonald florence oregon vacation rentals in 1692. You then pass through Fort William and take the historic road to the Isles to catch the ferry to Skye. You will travel through Glenfinnan, at the head of Loch Shiel, where the standard was raised to start the Jacobite rebellion. Glenfinnan is also home to a 100 year old viaduct, which was made famous when the Hogwarts Express steamed across florence oregon vacation rentals it in the Harry Potter films. From Glenfinnan the road crosses mountains and glens before reaching Arisaig and on through a spectacularly scenic stretch of coast with fantastic views of the islands of Rum, Eigg, Muck and Skye, This beautiful coastline is surrounded by a series of pearl white beaches and a turquoise sea, known as the white sands of Morar. The road ends at Mallaig where you take the short ferry crossing ‘over the sea to Skye’ where you arrive on the Sleat Peninsula, widely referred to the ‘Garden of Skye’ with great views of the Cuillin mountains. From here you travel north to the picturesque harbour town of Portree. You are then dropped off at your accommodation in the early evening.
Is a very flexible day on Skye. There are many possibilities depending on the weather and we take passengers preferences into account. For example it is possibly to travel north to the stunning Quiraing florence oregon vacation rentals mountain pass and enjoy a spectacular walk through some of Skye’s extraordinary geological scenery such as Kilt Rock, composed of basalt florence oregon vacation rentals columns (reminiscent of the pleats in a kilt) with its waterfall cascading over the cliffs and down into the sea below. After lunch you can go over to Neist Point for a walk out to the lighthouse that is the furthest point west on Skye. Alternatively, Dunvegan Castle, ancient ancestral seat of the Clan McLeod is a possibility. Talisker Distillery is also here, as are the famous Cuillin Hills. We return you to your accommodation in Portree in the early evening florence oregon vacation rentals for you to enjoy your second night in Portree.
You will be collected from your accommodation and travel south through the Cuillin Hills and back over to the mainland. You will stop to visit the famous florence oregon vacation rentals stronghold of Eilean Donan Castle, used in the film “Highlander”, set at the junction of three lochs as protection against Viking raiders, before travelling florence oregon vacation rentals east for stunning views over Loch Duich and the Five Sisters of Kintail. On to Loch Ness for lunch and the possibility of spotting “Nessie”. There is an optional boat trip (April-October only) available here that will get you that bit closer! Half an hour south of Loch Ness you will stop in the village of Spean Bridge and join a new bus for the continuation of your tour to Orkney. Your guides will help you transfer your luggage and introduce florence oregon vacation rentals you to your new travelling companions.
Is an early start, leaving behind the ‘Capital of the Highlands’, crossing over the Black Isle, and past Andrew Carnegie’s Skibo Castle. From here you drive through the northeast florence oregon vacation rentals Highland coastline, travelling into some of Scotland’s most dramatic scenery whilst enjoying florence oregon vacation rentals amazing views of some of Europe’s oldest landscapes. There may also be the chance to see wildlife such as golden eagles and red deer. Onwards through Scotland’s most northerly mainland village, John o’ Groats, and then to Gills Bay, where you board the ferry, crossing the Pentland Firth into the Orkney archipelago. From here you have a short drive to the Viking stronghold of Kirkwall, florence oregon vacation rentals Capital of Orkney, where you can visit the magnificent Viking Cathedral, and where you shall stay for two nights.
Is your chance to explore this fantastic, ancient island; a land of contrasts where fertile green pastures are fringed by shores of golden sands washed by waters of the North Sea and Atlantic ocean. You will visit the 5000 year old village of Skara Brae (older than the Pyramids of Egypt!), the mystical prehistoric stone circle at Brodgar and the Druidic standing stones of Stenness. We stop in Stromness, one of Scotland’s most picturesque seaboard villages, and then travel onto Maeshowe, where in the 12th century the Vikings left one of the largest collections of Norse runic inscriptions. Then its back to Kirkwall for our second night after what is sure to be a memorable florence oregon vacation rentals day.
Is a relaxed start to the day, as you leave Orkney and sail the Viking waters back to the mainland. From here you travel the old road right across the very top of Scotland, driving past the imposing Ben Loyal and Ben Hope mountains following the rocky cliffs and stunning golden sand beaches florence oregon vacation rentals of our northern coastline. We then visit the far northwest highlands and the grandeur, expanse and wilderness of the mountains of Assynt before stopping to view the 15th century ruins of Ardvreck Castle. From here we travel to Ullapool, situated at the mouth of Loch Broom, a beautiful whitewashed fishing village where we spend the last night of the tour.
Leaving Ullapool behind florence oregon vacation rentals you, you take in the drama of the River Dorma as it plunges 60m down into Corrieshalloch Gorge, before taking in the beautiful Loch Glascarnoch, on the way past the ‘Capital of the Highlands’ Inverness. You can then visit Culloden Moor, the site of The Battle of Culloden in 1746 – one of the bloodiest events in our history and the last battle to have been fought on the British mainland – before taking a short drive to the ancient standing stones at Clava Cairns. This prehistoric Bronze Age burial ground is one of the oldest in Scotland. From here you travel through the ancient Caledonian Pine Forest, hugging the Cairngorm mountain florence oregon vacation rentals range. Lunch will be spent in these beautiful surroundings before travelling through big tree country of Perthshire, through the Kingdom florence oregon vacation rentals of Fife, and back to Edinburgh for around 19:00.