Wild Scotland Express
Take in the best of wild Scotland on this 5-day group tour. From Edinburgh, discover the shimmering waters of Loch Lomond and visit the remote islands of Mull, Iona and Skye, soaking up the dramatic scenery and keeping your eyes peeled for white-tailed eagles. Enjoy the natural beauty of Glencoe, explore the pretty towns of Oban and Plockton and search for the Loch Ness monster.
For a detailed itinerary and information about visas, money, weather and more download our Trip Notes
Tour overview
Itinerary
Day 1 Edinburgh to Oban
Day 1 Edinburgh to Oban
Edinburgh - Inveraray - Oban. Setting off from Edinburgh, we journey past Stirling Castle, stopping at Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park en route to the town of Inveraray. This town is known for its pretty whitewashed buildings and home to the Campbell Clan and Duke of Argyll. We spend the afternoon exploring the area before making our way to the coastal town of Oban, known for its whisky and seafood.
Please note: Check-in closes at 08:45 on day 1 (tour departs at 09:00) - Edinburgh Bus Station Pick Up, Gate J and Gate K, inside Edinburgh Bus Station, St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, EH1 3DQ.
Accommodation: Kathmore, Altavona or similar
Day 2 Mull & Iona
Day 2 Mull & Iona
Oban - Mull - Iona - Oban. It's an early start this morning as we take the ferry to the Isle of Mull. Take in dramatic coastlines and wild natural beauty, and keep your eyes on the skies for majestic white-tailed eagles, the UK's largest bird of prey.
We then take another ferry to Iona, the birthplace of Celtic Christianity and home to the ancient burial grounds of famed Scottish kings. We can see the historic abbey and take in more of the windswept coastline of the Scottish Isles.
There's an optional small boat trip to the uninhabited island of Staffa to see the basalt columns of Fingal's Cave. We then return to Oban on the ferry.
Accommodation: Kathmore, Altavona or similar
Day 3 Glencoe
Day 3 Glencoe
Oban - Glencoe - Fort William - Plockton. Driving north along the coast, we pass Castle Stalker and visit Glencoe, a truly beautiful location haunted by the 1692 Glencoe Massacre. Around 30 members of Clan MacDonald of Glencoe were slaughtered here for failing to pledge allegiance to King William III and Mary II.
We then pass through Fort William and past Ben Nevis, the highest peak in Great Britain. Continuing through the Great Glen, we arrive in Plockton, a small fishing village known for its palm trees! We overnight here.
Accommodation: Sabhal na Mara, Hillview, Haven Guest House or similar
Day 4 Exploring the Isle of Skye
Day 4 Exploring the Isle of Skye
Plockton - Skye - Plockton. Today we will be exploring the remote Isle of Skye, but there is no fixed itinerary for the day. The weather can be unpredictable, so your guide will choose the best highlights to show you in accordance with the conditions and any events that may be happening on the island during your visit. We are likely to be hiking, in order to enjoy the dramatic scenery of the island. Options include The Quiraing hill walk and the Old Man of Storr Walk, probably the most famous trail on the island. We can also see the Neist Point Lighthouse. Spend the day taking photos, sampling the view and enjoying everything this pristine environment has to offer. In the late afternoon, we return to our accommodation in Plockton.
Accommodation: Sabhal na Mara, Hillview, Haven Guest House or similar
Day 5 Loch Ness
Day 5 Loch Ness
Plockton - Loch Ness - Edinburgh. Today we visit Eilean Donan Castle, a 13th century fortress, located on an island. We then drive to Loch Duich and the Five Sisters of Kintail, taking in more of Scotland's dramatic scenery. There's a stop for lunch at Loch Ness, so keep your eyes peeled for 'Nessie', the Loch Ness monster!
We continue through the rugged Grampian Mountains and along Loch Laggan, passing Scotland's highest whisky distillery at Dalwhinnie. We make a short stop for refreshments before reaching Edinburgh, where our tour ends.
Please note: This tour ends at 19:00 - Edinburgh Bus Station Drop Off, Gate J and Gate K, Edinburgh Bus Station, St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, EH1 3DQ.
Tour Highlights
Included
Not Included
Prices & Dates
Accommodation
On this tour, you will stay in bed and breakfast properties (B&Bs). These are usually smaller residential properties, with just a handful of guest rooms. You’ll have a bedroom, bathroom and often, access to a communal dining room for breakfast. Rooms will always be clean and comfortable, with a private bathroom. Bathrooms are usually en-suite, but on rare occasions, access may be via a communal hallway. This means that the bathroom will still be private and only for your personal use, but it is not en-suite (located in the room). You will need to leave the room to use the bathroom.
This traditional family-run guesthouse is a 13-minute walk from the centre of Oban, 0.9 miles from McCaig's Tower, and 2.8 miles from the island of Kerrera. The bright and cosy rooms feature private bathrooms (some en suite), free Wi-Fi, and tea and coffee-making facilities. Guests can enjoy a complimentary full Scottish breakfast, as well as access to a guest lounge, free parking, and a garden patio.
This charming stone guesthouse is a 3-minute walk from Calum's Seal Trips, 11 km from Skye Bridge, and 35 km from Strome Castle. The straightforward rooms come with en suite bathrooms, flat-screen TVs, sitting areas, and tea and coffee-making facilities. A full English breakfast is served in a relaxed dining area, and there is also a cosy guest lounge with a wood-burning fireplace.
Tour Reviews
We were very impressed by our wild scotland tour until the last day when Billy our guide and driver decided to eliminate Loch Ness from the itinerary! Upon enquiring as to why Billy said "I asked everyone on the first day where you were looking forward to going and you didnt say." Well I would not have thought that you would have to specify an item on the itinerary to go there. He followed that up by saying it would be very busy at this time and was overrated .Loch Ness was our scheduled destination for lunch and also where I intended to buy souveniers for my four grand kids. LN is mentioned as one of six highlights on the itinerary and if you asked anyone in NewZealand what they thought of when asked about Scotland LN would be in the top three. There was no further discussion on the matter but Billy did mention several times that we`'d be back in Edinburgh at six instead of seven. I'd have rather have seen Loch Ness. We didn't complain at the time as we were due to go on another tour
Extras and add-ons
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