Skye and The West Highlands of Scotland

Day-to-Day Itinerary

Below is a general look at our proposed itinerary for Skye and the West Highlands coast. Our final itinerary could change based on availabilities, opportunities, the interests of the group and of course the ever-changing weather in Scotland, but we will always maximize our days for the best photographic opportunities and experiences.

Pre-Adventure: Friday, September 4th      Welcome to Inverness

  • Arrive at the charming Inverness and take a taxi to your hotel of choice.
  • Pre-adventure group dinner at McBain’s by the River

Day 1: Saturday, September 5th    The Road to Skye

  •  Our expert local guides will pick us up from our various hotels and head our comfortable 8-seater vans towards Skye.
  • Traveling through the Ross-shire hills, we’ll visit the pretty village of Plockton. Our journey to Skye continues via the picturesque Eilean Donan Castle and the coastal village of Glenelg with its Iron Age brochs.
  • After a brief ride across the water aboard an historic turntable ferry, we arrive on Skye and our hotel on the island.
  • Overnight at the Toravaig House Hotel.

Day 2: Sunday, September 6th      Exploring Southern Skye

  • After a warm and heart breakfast at Toravaig,  we’ll head out to explore the southern end of Skye. Highlights include the ruined Dunscaith Castle on its rocky promontory, the spectacular Torrin Pools framed by the Cuillins, and a chance to meet one of the local clan chiefs.
  • Overnight at Toravaig House Hotel

 

Day 3: Monday, September 7th      Northern Skye

  • This morning, we leave Toravaig and head north to the Trotternish Peninsula with its extraordinary volcanic landscape.
  • Highlights of the day include a walk in the Quiraing, a visit to the remote Duntulm Castle, a stop at Flora Macdonald’s grave overlooking the Minch and a meeting with a local Gaelic singer. 
  • We then head to the island’s capital, Portree, before taking a very short ferry ride to our next base on the small isle of Raasay.
  • Overnight at Raasay House Hotel.

Day 4: Tuesday, September 8th      The Isle of Raasay

  • Today is a day to relax and explore this small and peaceful isle, famous for its lovely scenery, views of Skye and the mainland and its very own whisky distillery.
  • Overnight at Raasay House Hotel.

Day 5: Wednesday, September 9th      Northwest Skye

  • After a lovely breakfast at Raasay House Hotel, we’ll return to the isle of Skye and do a circuit of the northwest part of the island. We’ll stop at Dunvegan Castle, the oldest continuously inhabited castle in Scotland and hope of the chief of the Macleod clan, visit a local tweed weaver to see how how beautiful tweeds are crafted and then head our trusty vans towards the lovely coast road along Glenbrittle and the Cuillin Mountains. We’ll leave Skye via ferry and take a short ride to the fishing port of Mallaig.
  • Overnight at the West Highland Hotel.

Day 6: Thursday, September 10th      The West Highlands

  • Today we explore a remote part of the West Highlands. Among our planned stops are old crofting villages, lovely white sand beaches and the romantic Castle Tiorem on its half island.
  • Overnight at West Highland Hotel.

Day 7: Friday, September 11th    Glenfinnan 

  • Today we depart from our”normal” routine and take a train journey along the famous route through Glenfinnan to Fort William. We cross the viaduct by Loch Shiel made famous by the “Harry Potter” films and visit Achnacarry Castle (seat of Clan Cameron) and Neptune’s Staircase on the Caledonian Canal.
  • Overnight at the West Highland Hotel.

Day 8: Saturday, September 12th      Coastal West Highlands

  • Our next to last day is a day to expire the pretty coastline near Mallaig. The white sands of Arisaig, made famous by the film “Local Hero,” the ruined chapel where the Jacobite bard is buried, the remote Rhu and the Himalayan arboretum at Larach Mor are all on our planned itinerary.
  • Overnight at West Highland Hotel.

Day 9: Sunday, September 13th      The Road to Inverness

  • Today it’s time to turn our vans back to where we started…Inverness.
  • Along the way, we’ll have opportunities to stop at Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle and the pretty glens and ruined abbeys around Beauly and Cannich before our guides deposit us at our various hotels and say “farewell.”
  • Group dinner TBD
  • Overnight at your hotel of choice.

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