2024 - Scotlands Highlands & Islands - Private Departure. Self-guided - explore on your own.

Day 1 - Sunday 4^th August - Pre-night accommodation

Additional pre-night accommodation – Arriving late on the evening of Sunday 4th August

Overnight: Bruntsfield Hotel, Edinburgh

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 2 - Monday 5^th August - Edinburgh

After yesterdays late evening arrival in Edinburgh, you now have the opportunity to explore at your own pace.

We are happy to make suggestions, or simply have a relaxing afternoon in your hotel before an evening meal in this trendy city.

Overnight: Bruntsfield Hotel, Edinburgh 

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 3 - Tuesday 6^th August - Experience the buzz of the Edinburgh festival

Enjoy Edinburgh at your leisure and perhaps take a walking tour of Edinburgh’s Old Town, which is one of the main hubs during the Edinburgh Festival.

There will be plenty to see and do, with a real buzz with street performers from all over the world.

Overnight: Bruntsfield Hotel, Edinburgh 

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 4 - Wednesday 7^th August - Edinburgh to Inverness, then on to the Orkney Isles

Jump on a train from Edinburgh (Waverley) to Inverness.

Relax and enjoy the scenery roll by, with a journey time of approximately 3½ hours. Make sure to grab some refreshments for the journey.

We advise you to pre-book your preferred train departure time HERE.

Perhaps aim to leave Edinburgh no later than c.09:00.

Arrive in Inverness, the capital of the Highlands, and collect your pre-booked rental car.

Booking ref. 1565632821 (see below).

*When you collect the hire car, please text us (+44 (0)7766 794 640) with the car make/type and registration number. We will pass this on to the ferry company ahead of your traveling time*

Stretch the legs and get some refreshments before driving north to catch the evening ferry to Orkney.

The journey from Inverness to Gills Bay will take approximately 3 hours. Perhaps aim to leave Inverness no later than c.14:30.

18:45 – Ferry Gills Bay to St Margarets Hope – Check-in closes 30 minutes before departure time. The crossing takes about 1 hour.

Booking ref. 0334727.

Stay in Kirkwall, the largest town in Orkney, where there is plenty to see and do, with restaurants, pubs and hopefully some live music.

Overnight: Lynnfield, Orkney 

Meals included: Breakfast

The journey from Edinburgh to Inverness will take approximately 3 1/2 hours.

The journey from Inverness to Gills Bay will take approximately 3 hours.

Day 5 - Thursday 8^th August - Coastal Hike and Skara Brae Stone Age Village

Today explore on your own and visit Skara Brae.

Perhaps hike along the spectacular coast, then visit Skara Brae. Although this Stone Age village was occupied for around 600 years between 3200 BC and 2200 BC, the settlement was only discovered by chance in 1850 when a winter storm battered Orkney and stripped grass and sand away revealing the incredibly-preserved structures below.

You are able to pay the admission fee at the entrance and there should be no need to pre-book.

Round off the day with a visit to Highland Park Kirkwall Brand Home for a wee dram.

Hike: We can’t provide route notes for the trips regular hike and the trail is not very well marked, so today you would explore on your own. Eg. HERE

Overnight: Lynnfield, Orkney 

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 6 - Friday 9^th August - The island of Hoy

After a short drive past Scapa Flow, a world-renowned historic wreck site, arrive in Houton to catch the pre-booked ferry to the island of Hoy.

10:15 – Houton to Lyness – Check in closes 20 minutes before departure time. Booking ref. 2869196. The crossing takes about 3/4 hour.

A good option for today would be to hike to the famous sea stack called the “Old Man of Hoy”. This towering sea stack is 449 ft (137m) and was first climbed in 1966 in the world’s first live TV broadcast climb, led by famous mountaineers Sir Chris Bonington and Dougal Haston!

Hike: We can’t provide route notes for the trips regular hike and the trail is not very well marked, so today you would explore on your own. Eg. HERE

Overnight: Lynnfield, Orkney 

Meals included: Breakfast

Day 7 - Saturday 10^th August - Orkney to the West Highlands

Leave Orkney and take the pre-booked ferry back to the mainland.

11:30 – Ferry St Margarets Hope to Gills Bay – Check in closes 30 minutes before departure time. Booking ref. 0334727. The crossing takes about 1 hour.

When you disembark the ferry, make sure to visit the famous signpost at John O’Groats.

Then wind your way through the Highlands towards the picture-perfect village of Plockton. There are lots of opportunities for a leg-stretching walk and photos along the way, but perhaps stop for a lovely cafe lunch at River Bothy, Berridale Braes.

If timing allows, you could maybe stop at the Singleton Distillery, Muir of Ord.

Arriving in Plockton, there is time to explore the waterfront, popular with artists, before checking into the Plockton Inn.

The Inn boasts comfortable accommodation, award winning seafood and a friendly pub where, if you’re lucky, you can listen to traditional music played by local musicians.

Overnight: Plockton Inn, Plockton 

Meals included: Breakfast

The journey from Gills Bay to Plockton will take approximately 4 hours.

Day 8 - Sunday 11^th August - Exploring the Isle of Skye

Today take inspiration from The Skye Boat Song and speed ‘over the sea to Skye’ to the tiny settlement of Elgol.

Here you take a pre-booked boat trip to the remote bay of Loch Scavaig, which is surrounded by the spectacular Black Cuillin Mountains. There is plenty of time ashore to enjoy some low level hiking.

10:45 – Boat trip, Bella Jane, Flexi pass. Board by 10:30. Return time can be flexible (1.5 to 4.5 hours ashore).

Hike: We can’t provide route notes for the trips regular hike and the trail is not very well marked, so today you would explore on your own. Eg. HERE

Overnight: Plockton Inn, Plockton 

Meals included: Breakfast

The journey from Plockton to Elgol will take approximately 1 hour.

Day 9 - Monday 12^th August - Plockton to Loch Ness

Today from your base in Plockton there are many opportunities for hikes to enjoy views towards the Torridon mountains, the Isle of Skye and the Applecross Peninsula.

After your hike you could visit Eilean Donan Castle, sitting proudly on its own island. The castle has been made famous by many appearances on TV and movies. You are able to pay the admission fee at the entrance and there should be no need to pre-book.

Afterwards make your way to your hotel in the village of Fort Augustus, on the banks of Loch Ness.

Hike: We can’t provide route notes for the trips regular hike and the trail is not very well marked, so today you would explore on your own. Eg. HERE

Overnight: Lovat Hotel, Fort Augustus 

Meals included: Breakfast

The journey from Plockton to Fort Augustus will take approximately 1.5 hours.

Day 10 - Tuesday 13^th August - Magnificent Glen Affric

Today is one of the most scenic days, in Glen Affric, widely regarded as one of Scotland’s most beautiful valleys.

Blanketed by Scots pines, the glen’s slopes reach up to resplendent peaks that overlook the pristine waters of Loch Affric.

There are countless options for great hikes in this glen, so you’re spoiled for choice.

Hike: We can’t provide route notes for the trips regular hike and the trail is not very well marked, so today you would explore on your own. Eg. HERE

Overnight: Lovat Hotel, Fort Augustus 

Meals included: Breakfast

The journey from Fort Augustus to Glen Affric will take approximately 1 hour.

Day 11 - Wednesday 14^th August - Loch Ness and return to Edinburgh

After a relaxed breakfast, return towards Inverness to drop off the rental car.

En route perhaps stop to monster-spot on Loch Ness and also visit Urquhart Castle, once a stronghold of Robert the Bruce.

You have options for the trip to end in Inverness, where the airport is only 20 minutes from the city center, or jump on a train and return back to Edinburgh.

If you are travelling back to Edinburgh via train, we advise you to pre-book your preferred train departure time HERE.

16:00 – Hire Car drop off in Inverness no later than 16:00

Meals included: Breakfast

The journey from Fort Augustus to Inverness will take approximately 1 hour.