13-Nights Isles of Scotland Tour (Orkney, Lewis, Harris & Skye) with Private Driver/Guide — CALL

Itinerary Details

Edinburgh Arrival & Sightseeing
Private Transfer to Edinburgh Hotel
Welcome to Scotland! After landing at Edinburgh Airport, complete customs and immigration formalities. A private transfer will escort you and your luggage to the hotel.

Edinburgh Royal Ticket
Enjoy the sights of Edinburgh with the Royal Ticket!  This 48 hours pass includes fast track admission to three of the most popular attractions, Edinburgh Castle, The Royal Yacht Britannia, and Palace of Holyroodhouse.  It also comes with Hop On Hop Off Bus Passes with three different routes to help you get where you need to go. 

2 Night Stay: Apex Grassmarket Hotel, Edinburgh
The Apex Grassmarket Hotel is located in the Old Town of Edinburgh, within walking distance to many popular sights, such as Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Mile, and the Museum of Scotland. This warm and modern space features city views and an on-site brasserie featuring Scottish favorites with a creative twist, and seasonally rotating menus.

Edinburgh Sightseeing Day 2
Edinburgh Royal Ticket
Enjoy the sights of Edinburgh with the Royal Ticket!  This 48 hours pass includes fast track admission to three of the most popular attractions, Edinburgh Castle, The Royal Yacht Britannia, and Palace of Holyroodhouse.  It also comes with Hop On Hop Off Bus Passes with three different routes to help you get where you need to go. 

Meet Private Driver & Castles
Meet Private Driver
Today your private driver services start. Meet your private driver in the lobby of your hotel at 9:00 AM this morning. Enjoy your comfortable ride with your knowledgeable driver who will guide you through the popular and hidden gems of Scotland.

Glamis Castle
Travel through the lush countryside of Aberdeenshire to visit Glamis Castle, the legendary setting of the story, "Macbeth" and childhood home of the Queen Mother.

Dunnottar Castle
This dramatic and evocative ruined cliff top fortress was the home of the Earls Marischal, once one of the most powerful families in Scotland. Visit Dunnottar Castle and discover the importance of the castle that holds many rich secrets of Scotland’s colorful past.

Overnight: Norwood Hall, Aberdeen
Enjoy your stay at the traditional Macdonald Norwood Hall. A country house that features log fires, wooded grounds and secluded gardens. The Hotel retains many of its original Victorian features including sweeping staircases and colonnaded entrances. The Library is open to guests and there are seating areas in the garden. The Tapestry Restaurant features fresh seafood from nearby ports in the Highlands. It also has an extensive wine list. The Georgian Lounge serves a selection of malt whiskeys and light meals.

Highland Sightseeing
Johnstons of Elgin Visitor Center
Johnstons of Elgin has been creating the finest woolen and cashmere cloth, clothing and accessories since 1797. Take a guided tour around the mill to experience the production process and discover an outstanding quality in the making. You’ll be able to engage with experienced craftspeople producing luxury pieces, using traditional and trailblazing methods and techniques. Also browse their men’s, ladies’ and children’s collections alongside beautiful accessories and homewares in the mill shop.

Cawdor Castle
Travel east of Inverness to visit Cawdor Castle, which dates back to the 14th century. It is the reputed place where Duncan, Thane of Cawdor, was murdered and then immortalized in Shakespeare's play "Macbeth."

Culloden Visitor Centre
Travel to Culloden Moor to tour the Visitor Centre. Walk around the battlefield where, on April 16, 1746, British Government forces defeated the army of Prince Charles Edward Stuart in just one hour and ended hopes of restoring the Jacobite Stuarts to the British throne. The brutal measures imposed after the battle signaled the end of the distinctive Highland way of life and culture.

Overnight: Glenmoriston Hotel, Inverness
Located in the city center on a tree lined street overlooking the river bank, this hotel is close to various attractions such as Inverness Cathedral, along with Inverness Museum and Art Gallery. The Glenmoriston Hotel is also a great place to use as a base to explore the highlands.

Dunrobin Castle & Ferry to Orkney
Dunrobin Castle
Located on a prominent bluff in the northern Highlands off of white sand beaches, Dunrobin Castle looks like a fairytale come to life. This castle took inspiration from French chateaus with its conical spires, and is the largest in the northern Highlands with 189 rooms. It is one of the oldest, continuously inhibited houses in Britain, dating all the way back to the 1300s. Belonging to the Clan of Sutherland, in its lifetime it has been a naval hospital and a boy’s boarding school. Explore the castle room’s museum, or the beautiful formal garden.

Departure

Ferry from Scrabster to Stromness
Take the ferry from Scrabster to Stromness, which takes approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes.  

2 Night Stay: Ayre Hotel, Kirkwall
Stay at the Ayre Hotel overlooking Kirkwall harbor. The hotel's restaurant provides lunch, bar and evening menus. Local ingredients are used, including Orkney Lamb, steaks and freshly caught fish.

Orkney Sightseeing
Scapa Flow
Enjoy the stunning scenery in the Scapa Flow area, with dramatic coasts capes, the scatter of islands and the sloping farmland with its lush grassland. This landscape is framed by the ever-present high Hills of Hoy, and the heather covered slopes of the hills of the West Mainland. The area from Stromness to the heights of Hoy is designated as a National Scenic Area in recognition of its dramatic beauty, but a diversity of wonderful views are found throughout the area. 

Ring of Brodgar
Visit one of the finest stone circles in the world. Dating back from 2,500 to 2,000 BC, the stone ring was built in a true circle, 104 meters wide and originally contained sixty megaliths; today only twenty-seven of these stones remain. The reason for the creation of the Ring of Brodgar, which would have been a considerable amount of work in that time, is not known for sure, perhaps as an astronomical observatory, religious shrine or rituals. 

Skara Brae
The Neolithic settlement of Skara Brae is one of the best preserved groups of prehistoric houses in Western Europe. Uncovered by a storm in 1850, Skara Brae gives a remarkable picture of life 5,000 years ago, before Stonehenge was built. Explore this prehistoric village and see ancient homes fitted with stone beds, dressers and seats. A replica house allows visitors to explore its interior, while the visitor center provides touch-screen presentations, fact-finding quizzes and an opportunity to see artifacts discovered during the archaeological excavations of the 1970s.

Maeshowe Visitor Centre
Maeshowe is the finest chambered tomb in north west Europe and is more than 5,000 years old. Viking crusaders broke into the cairn in the 12th century and carved graffiti runes on the walls of the main chamber. Maeshowe is part of the Heart of Neolithic Orkney World Heritage Site, along with Skara Brae, the Ring of Brodgar and the Stones of Stenness.

Ferry to Mainland & Castle May
Departure

Ferry From Stromness to Scrabster
Take the ferry back from Stromness to Scrabster.  The journey takes approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes.

Castle Mey
Originally the seat of the Earls of Caithness for over 100 years, this Scottish castle was to be abandoned until Queen Elizabeth decided to buy and restore it in 1952. She spent many of her summers here, and brought the gardens of the castle back to life in 2000. Today, visitors can enjoy the castle, gardens, tearoom, animal center, and gift shop.

Overnight: Melvich Hotel, Thurso
Located in the heart of the North Coast, the Melvich Hotel offers a bar and a restaurant overlooking Melvich Bay, and a few minutes’ walk from the Halladale River. The area surrounding the hotel is ideal for outdoor pursuits, including fishing, surfing, and cycling. Guests can relax in the residents’ lounge, which offers an extensive collection of whiskeys, along with coffees and liqueurs.

Journey to Isle of Lewis
Departure

Ferry from Ullapool to Stornoway
Take the ferry from Ullapool to Stornoway.  The journey takes approximately 2 hours and 35 minutes.

Lews Castle
Visit Lews Castle and discover the distinctiveness of the Outer Hebrides, shaped by a unique combination of land, sea and people. Hear from islanders about the Gaelic language, work, religion, emigration and community. 

2 Night Stay: The Royal Hotel, Stornoway
Stay at The Royal Hotel Stornoway, situated just a few steps from the town center, directly opposite the yacht marina. Dining is a special pleasure in the traditional and informal Boatshed restaurant. On the doorstep of the hotel, Stornoway has a wide range of facilities, including an interesting range of independent shops, harbors and the contemporary arts centre, An Lanntair.

Isle of Lewis Sightseeing
Calanais Standing Stones (Callanish)
Visit the world-famous Calanais Standing Stones, the Visitor Centre contains an interactive Story of the Stones exhibition, which explores how the standing stones were built and used and what they have meant to people through the centuries. The gift shop sells Harris Tweed accessories, books, music, postcards and a wide variety of gift items.

Carloway Broch
Visit Carloway Broch, located above Loch an Duin on a rocky knoll in a good defensive position. A Broch is an Iron Age structure designed to impress and defend, and were probably the homes of tribal leaders and important members of the community. They are built with two concentric walls of stone, with a stairway or gallery within the walls to the upper floors. The Broch at Carloway is one of the best preserved in the Hebrides and dates back over 2000 years.

Gearrannan Blackhouse
Visit the Gearrannan Blackhouse Village and experience the way of life in a typical crofting township of the last century. You can see traditional activities, including the weaving of the famous Harris Tweed. There is a small shop where you can buy mementos of your visit, and you can relax in the cafeteria where you can enjoy the best of home-made fare.

Harris & Ferry to Skye
Isle of Harris Distillery
Join your knowledgeable tour guide through the distillery as they teach you about how they make their spirits.  This tour appeals to all the senses, and will have you tasting whisky and gin and delving into jars of botanicals to further your understanding of flavours.  Explore the copper stills, private casks, and the warehouse. 

Departure
Ferry from Tarbert to Uig
Take the ferry from Tarbert on the Isle of Harris to Uig on the Isle of Skye.  The journey takes approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes.

2 Night Stay: Skeabost Hotel, Isle of Skye
Located in a restored and refurbished 1870s hunting lodge, this small boutique hotel is sure to impress. Skeabost Hotel mixes contemporary pieces, pops of color, and Victorian grandeur to create a luxurious atmosphere. Rooms have their own unique characteristics, some being high ceilings, stained glass windows, and ornate cornicing. The on-site restaurant uses local produce to create delicious meals, and also offers afternoon tea.

Skye Sightseeing
Isle of Skye
Set off on a panoramic tour the Island of Skye. See some of Scotland's loveliest scenery. If time permits visit Portree town, Quiraing Summit, and Neist Point, which gives lovely views of the island. After your tour, return to your hotel where the remainder of the day is for independent activity and dining.

Kilt Rock & Mealt Falls
The famous Kilt Rock is a sea cliff in northeast Trotternish. It is said to resemble a kilt, with vertical basalt columns to form the pleats and intruded sills of dolerite forming the pattern. Closer by is the Mealt Waterfall, which free-falls off the cliff for 60 meters. 

The Quiraing
Explore the beautiful scenery of The Quiraing, one of the most spectacular landscapes in Scotland. Situated in the north of Skye in the area known as ‘Trotternish’, the ridge has been formed by a massive landslip which has created high cliffs, hidden plateaus and pinnacles of rock. 

Dunvegan Castle
Next, visit Dunvegan Castle, which has been the stronghold of the Chiefs of MacLeod for nearly 800 years. It is unique in Scotland as it is the only house of such antiquity to have retained its family throughout the centuries.

Eilean Donan & Ben Nevis Mountain Gondola
Eilean Donan Castle
Stop to visit the picturesque Eilean Donan Castle, one of the most iconic images of Scotland. Eilean Donan is situated on an island at the point where three great sea lochs meet, and is surrounded by some majestic scenery. At least four different versions of the castle have existed as the feudal history of Scotland unfolded through the centuries on this site.

Ben Nevis Mountain Gondola
Get beautiful views of Aonach Mòr, the eighth highest mountain in Britain, as you enjoy a scenic ride on the Nevis Mountain Gondola.  Although originally meant for skiers, this attraction can now be enjoyed by everyone.  The Gondola is actually the only one of its kind in Britain and reaches heights of 650 meters, or 2,132 feet! 

Overnight: The Moorings, Fort William
Located in the Scottish Highlands, The Moorings Hotel is sits next to the Caledonian Canal and near the famous Neptune's staircase. You can see fantastic views of Ben Nevis, Britain's highest mountain, and can take in scenery along the canal or on the Great Glen Way. This hotel offers a warm, Scottish welcome to all who stay here, and has individually designed rooms.

Loch Lomond & Glasgow
Loch Lomond Cruise
Near Glasgow, stop at the celebrated Loch Lomond, Scotland's longest loch. Upon arrival embark on cruise of the loch so you can see wonderful views, such as the many islands. One of the islands is the burial place of the Chiefs of the Clan MacGregor.

Glasgow at Leisure
Enjoy Glasgow at leisure. Glasgow is famed for its Victorian and art nouveau architecture, a rich legacy of the city's 18th–20th-century prosperity due to trade and shipbuilding. Today it's a national cultural hub, home to institutions including the Scottish Opera, Scottish Ballet and National Theatre of Scotland, as well as acclaimed museums and a thriving music scene. You may choose to visit the Gallery of Modern Art which is housed in the former townhouse of a wealthy tobacco merchant. You may also like to visit The Willow Tearoom which was established by Kate Cranston in 1903. You could also make your way to George Square, which is an Outlander filming sight. Glasgow is also a shopper’s paradise with over 1,500 stores located within the city.

Private Driver Services Conclude
Your private driver services will conclude at the end of the day. Ask your driver to reconfirm your return airport transfer, if applicable, before parting ways.

Overnight: Hotel Indigo, Glasgow
Originally built in the 1800s as one of the city’s very first power stations, Hotel Indigo today puts you close to a new kind of buzz—local cuisine, shopping, museums, theatres and sporting events. The hotel’s design mixes Victorian architecture, high ceilings, and original brown brick with modern comfort. Murals by local artists line the walls, while our restaurant serves local dishes prepared with fresh, locally sourced ingredients.

Departure Day
Private Transfer to Glasgow Airport
Your vacation ends after breakfast with a private transfer to Glasgow Airport. We hope you had a wonderful vacation, and wish you a safe flight on your journey home. We can’t wait to hear all about your trip! Check in with us on any of our social media and website to share your pictures and stories.