Scottish Highlands Adventure

Arrive in Edinburgh, where you will be met by a car and driver. Drive through the stunning countryside to Cairngorms via Perthshire, the heart of Scotland, where you enjoy a short hike and visit the smallest whisky distillery in Scotland. Spend tonight and tomorrow night at a lovely little hotel in Cairngorms.

After breakfast, enjoy a short hike around Loch Garten.  You'll also visit the Loch Garten Osprey Centre, also known as Osprey Village, just outside the village of Boat of Garten (population around 600). These rare and beautiful birds migrate here from Africa each spring, make their nests, and raise their young over the course of the summer. You'll be able to view them from a blind on the site as well as learning more about these magnificent raptors. Overnight Cairngorms.

After breakfast, you'll drive west with a first stop near Inverness for a short walk. Capital of the Highlands, Inverness has a great site on picturesque River Ness at the north end of the Great Glen, a wonderful place for a hike.  Next, drive to nearby Loch Ness, deep, dark, and narrow, for another tranquil walk.  Afterward, drive to your hotel on the Isle of Skye, amidst beautiful mountain scenery, for a two-night stay.

Wake up on the mountainous, gorgeous Isle of Skye.  Named for the old Norse term for "cloud island", Skye has much to offer, from its often-misted-covered hills to deep, glimmering lochs to looming sea cliffs.  You'll have a full day of walking to explore parts of the island near Old Man (one of several weirdly-shaped rock pinnacles) and Quiraing (a scenic sight of an ancient landslide). When you're ready to leave the natural scenery at day's end, there are plenty of castles, museums, and cozy pubs and restauarants that beckon.

Awaken refreshed, have a hearty breakfast, and set out on your second full day of walking about the Isle of Skye.  On tap for today is a visit to Loch Coruisk, an inland freshwater loch at the Black Cuillins, a jagged mountain range often topped with a ring of clouds.  The loch is about two miles long, but only a few hundred feet wide, a fascinating and otherworldly day's walk.  Return to your hotel to relax at day's end, where the evening is also yours at leisure.

After breakfast at the hotel, set out for a day of sightseeing and hiking on your way to Spean Bridge.  Visit ancient Eilean Donan Castle, beautifully situated on Loch Duich near Dornie village, one of the most atmospheric and evocative castles in the entire country. You'll end up at charming village of Spean Bridge late in the day, where the balance of the day and the evening are yours at leisure.

Awaken refreshed, fuel up at the breakfast table, and head to Great Glen Way, where you'll have the option of hiking a section of this 73-mile-long footpath which stretches all the way from Inverness to Fort William, and which connects to the historic West Highland Way footpath. Return to Spean Bridge for the night.

Leaving Spean Bridge after breakfast, embark on one of our favorite short walks today as you hike up scenic Glen Nevis to spectacular Steall Meadows, a lush valley dominated by a 325-high bridal veil waterfall. In the afternoon, visit the Ben Nevis distillery or take the gondola up Aonach Mor for some stunning high level views. Then travel south down the coast to the peaceful waterfront town of Oban, where you'll stay near town in a 16th century castle (or a wonderful guest house if the castle is full), your base for the next two nights.

You'll have a leisurely day in the area, including a great short hike around the tiny island of Kerrera in the bay of Oban. One of the best walking options in the area is part or all of the six-mile circuit of the island, where you can see wildlife such as Soay sheep, wild goats, otters, golden eagles, peregrine falcons, seals, and porpoises. If you head to the southern end of the island, you'll see some interesting ruins. Return to the castle (or guest house) for the night.

Check out of your hotel after breakfast for a drive to Edinburgh.  You'll stop along the way at Inverary, a neatly-arrayed 18th century town of whitewashed buildings and nearby castle on the shores of Loch Fyne, and Loch Lomond, probably the most famous of Scotland's lochs (after Loch Ness). You'll spend the night in Edinburgh.

After breakfast at your hotel, depending on your flight time, you'll either head to the airport or perhaps have some free time for exploring and last minute shopping before heading to the airport for your trip home.