Scottish Adventure - West Highlands

Arrival in Scotland. Collect your hire car and head towards Stirling before continuing on into Loch Lomond & The Trossachs National Park. If travelling from Edinburgh, look out for Scotland’s newest addition, the world’s largest equine sculptures – The Kelpies. The sculptures were designed by sculptor Andy Scott and were completed in October 2013. They form a gateway at the eastern entrance to the Forth and Clyde canal, and the new canal extension built as part of The Helix land transformation project. The Kelpies are a monument to horse powered heritage across Scotland.  

Overnight - Loch Lomond area B&B

Head north along Loch Lomond stopping off at Luss to visit this pretty little village on the loch banks. Continue west with the option of stopping for lunch at the Loch Fyne Oyster Bar to enjoy some of the fresh produce before heading through Inveraray visiting the castle and jail. Continue onto Oban, the “Gateway to the Western Isles”, a location which has been a major port to the islands for centuries. Visit Dunstaffnage Castle, located just outside of Oban. Built before 1275 on a huge rock overlooking the Firth of Lorn, Dunstaffnage was the mighty stronghold of the MacDougalls. The castle, with its huge curtain wall, was captured by Robert the Bruce in 1309 and remained in royal possession for some years. Dunstaffnage became the temporary prison of Flora MacDonald in 1746.  

Overnight - Oban area B&B

Today spend the day exploring Mull and Iona either by car or enjoy the sites from the sea and take a day boat trip to Mull Iona and Staffa. The tour leaves from Oban Harbour and is renowned as one of the best day tours in the UK, providing a scenic route through the beautiful island of Mull and a visit to the Isle of Iona where St Columba landed in 563 brought Christianity to Scotland from Ireland. You can also visit the famous Iona Abbey & Chapel founded by St Columba before you continue on to the uninhabited Island of Staffa, which is famous for its basaltic formations, the best know of which is Fingals Cave, immortalized in Mendelssohn’s Hebridean Overture.

Overnight - Oban area B&B

Today continue north from Oban through Glencoe with its spectacular landscape and onto Fort William. Journeying towards Mallaig, you will see the Glenfinnan Monument, the statue of a Highland Chieftain, which looks towards the Hills erected on the site where Bonnie Prince Charlie rallied the Highland Clans in preparation for the disastrous rebellion of 1745 fought at Culloden.

Overnight - Isle of Skye B&B

Enjoy a full day on the Isle of Skye. Head south towards the Cuillin Hills, the island's best-known feature. Though their tops are places only for experienced climbers, there are many viewpoints and island locations where excellent panoramas can be enjoyed. Head back to your accommodation via Glenbrittle and the famous Fairy Pools - beautifully crystal clear blue pools on the River Brittle, these make for some fabulous photos.  

Overnight - Isle of Skye B&B

This morning, journey south to Kyleakin where you will cross over the new “Skye Bridge” to the mainland enjoying a brief photo-stop at Eilean Donan Castle, the magnificent setting of the film “Highlander”. Before heading south, visit Glenelg Brochs: two broch towers, standing more than 10 metres high, with well preserved structural features set in the most beautiful surroundings. They are among the four best preserved brochs in Scotland, along with in Shetland and in Lewis. But whereas Mousa and Dun Carloway stand in splendid isolation, Dun Telve and Dun Troddan stand barely 500m apart. No one today knows why. Continue on towards Fort William, which nestles beneath the highest mountain in Great Britain – Ben Nevis.  

Overnight - Fort William area B&B

Heading south today to the heart of the Trossachs, known as the “gateway to the Highlands”. Follow the bonnie banks of Loch Lomond and then travel onto Stirling. Start the afternoon with a visit to Stirling Castle, which has played such an important role in much of Scotland’s vibrant history. The Visitor Centre has a very good audio-visual exhibition explaining much of the history. Don’t miss Argyll’s Lodging, a superb mansion built around an earlier core in about 1630 and further extended by the Earl of Argyll in the 1670’s. It is the most impressive town house of its period in Scotland. The principal rooms are now restored to their former glory.

Overnight - Stirling area B&B

Unfortunately it is now time to leave Scotland. Return your hire car and join your flight home.