> Stay in a real Highland castle*– if you dare!
> Discover over 4,000 years of human history on Orkney including Europe’s best preserved prehistoric village
> Explore the amazing Tomb of the Eagles where you can come face to face with our prehistoric ancestors
> See a traditional Hebridean blackhouse and soak up the atmosphere at the Callanish Standing Stones, predating Stonehenge!
> Wander along empty sandy beaches with turquoise waters on Harris
> Spend a free day exploring Loch Ness and its stunning surroundings
> Look out for dolphins and whales on the 4 ferry trips – included in the price!
> Cruise Loch Ness - Take an evening boat cruise on Loch Ness and hunt for Nessie
> FREE Highland clan show. Hear the bloody history of the clans, try on traditional Highland dress and see their weapons.
> FREE entry to the amazing Tomb of The Eagles
> Hire bikes for the day and discover Loch Ness or get onto the forest trails
> Try some haggis or the best black pudding in the world on Stornoway
> Have a round of golf on your free day. The Scots invented it!
> Walk around the village and canal of Fort Augustus (Loch Ness)
> Visit a Highland whisky distillery
>Accommodation is guaranteed on all trips - we reserve the beds and you pay as you go. The price is between £15 and £20 per person per night in shared dorm accommodation. For more information and upgrade options click here.
* N.B. Another hostel may be substituted for Carbisdale Castle as an overnight stop.
Day 1: Edinburgh to Inverness
Heading north from Edinburgh, it's over the River Forth and into the Kingdom of Fife before passing through Perthshire - surrounded by mountains, forests and salmon packed rivers. First stop is at Dunkeld with its glorious Cathedral. We then head over the lonesome Pass of Drumochter which links the southern and northern Highlands. Lunch is in the small village of Kingussie, made famous by the 'Monarch of the Glen' TV show. Then it's off through the Cairngorm National Park to lonely Culloden Battlefield, scene of the last major battle in Britain.
Day 2: Inverness to Orkney
We continue our journey north passing over the Moray Firth where we may even spot some dolphins or minke whale, then pass the Black Isle (home of the delicious Black Isle Beers). It's then onto John 'O' Groats, Britain's most north easterly point. We catch the ferry over the Pentland Firth to the Orkney Islands, home to more archaeological ruins in one area than anywhere else in Europe where we visit the Tomb of the Eagles.
Day 3: Orkney
Today we head off to explore Skara Brae, dating from the late Neolithic period and inhabited between 3200BC and 2200BC. This incredible stone village is made up of eight dwellings (some still containing original furniture) linked together by a series of low alleyways and is a marvel of ancient building techniques. You can also experience the magnificent standing stones at the Ring of Brodgar.
We also visit the 4,000 years old Maeshowe which is a Neolithic chambered cairn and passage grave.
Day 4: Orkney to Carbisdale Castle
This morning we visit an Italian chapel which was built as a place of worship by 550 Italian prisoners of war in World War 2. We bid farewell to Orkney and make the ferry crossing back to the mainland and journey south through Scotland’s rugged terrain. We travel through the sparsely populated wilderness of Sutherland and Caithness, via glens left deserted as a result of the Highland Clearances. Tonight you have a chance to spend the night in a haunted Highland castle* where you can explore the corriders and surrounding grounds looking for ghosts.
Day 5: Carbisdale to Loch Ness
After spending the night looking for ghosts, our first visit of the day is the town where the last witch was burnt at the stake in Scotland – Dornoch. It also houses a great cathedral and awesome beaches that await to be explored. From here we visit the Royal Burgh of Dingwall where you will hear the story of the legendary ‘Hector The Hero’ made famous in the well known bag pipe tune played the world over. We then head to Glen Ord whisky distillery to ‘wet your whistle'! After warming up on a wee dram of whisky it's time to visit the extremely pretty Glen Affric, famous for its natural forest, hills and lochs.
We then make our way to Urquhart Castle, one of Scotland's finest castles before driving along Loch Ness where you will learn about the legend of the monster - Nessie! Tonight you will stay at Morag's Lodge on the banks of Loch Ness.
Day 6: Free Day Loch Ness
Your day to explore the area around Loch Ness and the village of Fort Augustus. Hire bikes, take to the forest trails or walk by the canal. Have a game of golf or go monster spotting on a boat trip. Alternatively, chill out at Morag’s Lodge with a plate of haggis and a locally brewed beer…
Day 7: Loch Ness to Stornoway
Leaving Fort Augustus we take one of the UK’s most stunning drives – ‘The Road to The Isles’. We will pass some of the most spectacular scenery in Scotland and if you are lucky you may even spot some of the wild deer that are famed for living in these mountains. Heading north to Corrieshalloch Gorge and the Falls of Measach, created at the end of the last Ice Age. Our next stop is Ullapool – a fishing village that was founded in 1788 and from here we catch the evening ferry to Stornoway on the Isle of Lewis.
Day 8: Lewis & Harris
Today we visit the stunning Callanish Standing Stones, Neolithic in age and dating back more than 4000 years. Less busy than Stonehenge, these are said to be some of the most impressive and inspiring of any of the ancient stones in Britain. These Hebridean islands are predominantly Gaelic speaking and have an unbroken culture dating back thousands of years. We will also have the chance today to visit the old style housing known as ‘Black Houses’, learn about Harris Tweed, a luxury hand woven tweed exclusive to this islands and why not try some famous Stornoway black pudding!
Day 9: Lewis & Harris to Skye
In the morning we explore the amazing beaches of Harris, famous for its clear blue waters, magnificent mountain backdrop and traditional crofting culture. These islands are home to the Clan MacLeod who lived here for over 1200 years. After exploring the wonders of Harris, we leave the MacLeod homeland and cross by ferry to the 'winged island', the Isle of Skye. We explore the magical isle before heading to Eilean Donan Castle and then Kyleakin for the evening.
Day 10: Skye to Edinburgh
From Skye we explore the Great Glen before passing Fort William and Ben Nevis - Britain's highest mountain. Discover 'The Weeping Glen' - Glencoe, where we hear about the infamous massacre of the MacDonalds. Over the wilds of Rannoch Moor, we then pass Stirling with its famous Wallace Monument, where the true story of Braveheart is told, before returning to the capital City of Edinburgh!