Five Day Minivan Highland Explorer from Edinburgh - Skye and the Far North |
Details A grand round-tour of breathtaking views and fascinating places throughout the Highlands of Scotland, from the ancient forests of the Cairngorms, vibrant Inverness - capital of the Highlands, to the majestic splendor of the mountains of Assynt, the romantic beauty of the Isle of Skye and the awe inspiring Glen Coe. Departure Dates: Seasonal May 26 to October 27, 2007 Saturday Departure Point: 207 High St, Edinburgh. Departure Time: 9:00am Return details: Tour concludes at original point of departure at approximately 7:30pm (Day 5) Hotel Pickup: Hotel pick ups are not available, however please specify the name of your hotel and contact telephone number during your stay in Edinburgh. Itinerary: Day 1: Edinburgh - Inverness Travel north over the Forth Road Bridge to the charming highland village of Dunkeld on the banks of the river Tay. From here you head into the Cairngorm national park and the ancient pine forests of the Rothiemurchus estate. Lunchtime will be spent on the beautiful shores of Loch Insh before a short forest walk takes us to the ruins of Loch an Eilean Castle. You can enjoy panoramic views of Loch Ness as you travel down its famous banks to the village of Dores where you can do some "Nessie" spotting! Then it's on to the "Capital of the Highlands", Inverness, where you will spend two nights. Day 2: Northwest Highlands Visit the far northwest Highlands and the expansive wildness and grandeur of the mountains of Assynt. Leaving Inverness, take in the drama of the River Droma as it plunges 60 meters down into the Corrieshalloch Gorge followed by a visit to the fishing village of Ullapool. Lunch will be taken by Loch Glencoul from where an optional boat trip can be taken to see Eas a' Chual Aluinn, the highest waterfall in Britain at 200 meters high! With visits to the 15th century ruins of Ardvreck Castle, amazing views of some of Europe's oldest landscapes and the chance of seeing wildlife such as whales and red deer this is sure to be a memorable day. Day 3: Portree Leave Inverness heading West past the mountains of Beinn Eighe national nature reserve and along the picturesque coastline of Loch Torridon. The tranquil setting of Applecross is your destination for lunch, then head-off for jaw-dropping views on one of Scotland's highest roads, Bealach nam Bo (meaning the Cattle Pass). In the afternoon you will stop in "tropical" Plockton where you can see palm trees growing alongside Loch Carron and take time to enjoy it's sheltered serenity. Then it's over the sea to Skye and the delightful harbor town of Portree with its friendly welcome. Day 4: Skye There are many possibilities depending on the weather and your driver/guide's knowledge will come to the fore in designing the best day out for you that particular day. For example: travel north to the stunning Quiraing mountain pass and enjoy a spectacular walk through some of Skye's extraordinary geological scenery. Kilt Rock, composed of basalt 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. Or go over to Dunvegan Castle, ancient ancestral seat of the Clan McLeod. Talisker Distillery is also on Skye, as are the famous Cuillin Hills. Return to your accommodation in Portree in the early evening where you are free to explore the town yourselves at leisure. Day 5: Skye - Edinburgh Travel south from Skye stopping first at the famous stronghold Eilean Donan Castle, used in the film "Highlander", set at the head of 3 lochs as protection against Viking raiders. Continuing east through the rugged mountains of Kintail including the splendor of the Five Sisters, drive down through Glen Garry past Britain's highest mountain, Ben Nevis, then on to Fort William for lunch. In the afternoon you can explore spectacular, awe-inspiring Glencoe, scene of the infamous massacre of the Clan Macdonald in 1692, before stopping in Killin for refreshments beside the beautiful Falls of Dochart and returning to Edinburgh. Inclusions: Daily breakfast Professional driver / guide Discount Card offering discounts off local restaurants, shopping and attractions Modern Mercedes minvan with forced air ventilation for a more personal service 4 nights accommodation with private facilities in either a Bed and Breakfast or 3/4 star hotel Exclusions: Optional gratuities Hotel pick up and drop off Food and drinks, unless specified Entrance fees (discount card offers reductions) Hotel list: For accommodation a variety of superior class bed and breakfasts, guesthouses and hotels are used. These offer excellent value for money and allows the benefits of tourism wealth to be distributed amongst a number of rural businesses, rather than being concentrated into one area. Additional Info: This tour must be booked at least 48 hours in advance of your travel date. Confirmation for this product will be received at the time of booking unless booking within 14 days of travel, in which case confirmation will be received within 24 hours, subject to availability. Tour is operated in English unless otherwise stated. Accommodation on this tour is dispersed around Inverness and Portree which are small but hilly! If you have mobility problems or special requirements please let us know when booking. There are opportunities to take nature walks, it is recommended to bring suitable clothing and footwear. Scotland can be a wet place! The Scottish Highlands and Islands are Europe's last great wilderness! This personalized tour is as close as you can get to touring in your own car, with the added benefit of gaining intimate knowledge of Scotland. Traveling in a small group means you can take lots of stops and reach "out of the way" places, giving you more time off the bus to discover the real Scotland. The First Edinburgh tour operator to be awarded 5 star status by the Scottish Tourist Board. There is a maximum of 16 passengers on this tour. Caring for the Environment: The tour operator aims to leave the legacy of Scotland's beautiful landscape for future generations to enjoy. The tour is as close as you can get to touring in your own car, but with the added benefit of reducing your carbon footprint by 75% (based on 2 persons travelling the same distance in their own car). The operator's commitment to environmental excellence has been recognised with 2 top Gold awards from the Green Tourism scheme and Keep Edinburgh Clean awards. Booking Details: This tour must be booked at least 48 hours in advance of your travel date. Confirmation for this product will be received at the time of booking unless booking within 14 days of travel, in which case confirmation will be received within 24 hours, subject to availability. Hotel pick ups are not available, however please specify the name of your hotel and contact telephone number during your stay in Edinburgh. The tour operator may require these details in case there are changes to tour departure times. Terms and Conditions: Bookings cancelled within 14 days of travel date incur 100% cancellation penalties. Local Operator Information: Complete Operator information, including local telephone numbers at your destination, are included on your Confirmation Voucher. Our Product Managers select only the most experienced and reliable operators in each destination, removing the guesswork for you, and ensuring your peace of mind. |
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