Iona, Mull & the Isle of Skye 5 Day Tour - 4 Island Magic

Day 1 Highlights include Loch Lomond National Park, Inveraray, seat of the Campbell clan, and the heart of the ancient Scots kingdom of Dalriada, before staying in the beautiful harbour town of Oban for 2 nights.

Day 2** is an island adventure exploring the dramatic southern coastlines of Hebridean Mull and the peace and tranquillity of Iona - birthplace of Celtic Christianity and traditional burial ground of Scottish Kings. It also gives you the option to take a boat trip to Staffa. 

Day 3 takes you north along the west coast, passing the impregnable Castle Stalker and visiting Glencoe. Then on to Fort William, where you will take the ‘Road to the Isles’ which passes Glenfinnan with its viaduct, made famous in the Harry Potter films and the white Sands of Morar before catching the ferry over the sea to Skye, where you stay in the picturesque harbour town of Portree for 2 nights. 

Day 4 focuses on exploring Skye including the wild north of the island, the Old Man of Storr, the mountain pass of the Quiraing and Skye’s most westerly point at Neist.

Day 5 returns you through the Cuillin Mountains to the mainland to Eilean Donan Castle (set of Highlander) and the dramatic mountain scenery of Glen Garry, past the 5 Sisters of Kintail and, on to eerie Loch Ness, the central Highlands, Pitlochry and Edinburgh. 

**Day 2 is an early start because there is so much to see and do, so you might miss your breakfast

 

Departure Point
207 High St, Edinburgh. Click here to see map. 

Return to Waverley Bridge opposite Waverley Train Station 

Inclusions 
Transportation by top of the range Mercedes minicoach for a more personal experience with a maximum of 16 passengers on tour. 
We believe a small group tour with a maximum of 16 passengers really does make a big difference to your trip. It allows us to give you a more personal service and remain the only 5 Star operator to offer this personal guarantee. Touring with a maximum of 16 passengers you get more for your money, more personal attention, more time with the locals, more time off the bus, more time on the back-roads and just more of an authentic, friendly experience. The smaller groups allow you to meet people from all over the world and make friends for life. 
Air Conditioning as standard. 
Services of a professional Rabbie's driver/guide. 
All ferry fares except the optional trip to Staffa
Rabbie's Discount Card - money off restaurants, shopping and attractions. 

Exclusions 
Meals and refreshments. 
All Visitor Attractions. 

Accommodation
Your tour does not include accommodation in the price. By giving you a choice of accommodation it allows you to choose your budget, stay in smaller places and get closer to the local people. This also means you help to sustain the communities you visit in the long term. Choose a hotel, B&B or a hostel and we will book it for you. 
For more information on accommodation and prices click here

*NB On occasions, when villages we stay in have events on, accommodation can be scarce and expensive so we may use other locations for your accommodation on the tour. We will always inform you of this when this is necessary. 

Discount Price 
Students, Seniors over 60 and Children between 5 and 16 (we regret we do not carry children under the age of 5)

Important Information
Because we believe in time off the bus and give you opportunities to take nature walks we recommend you bring suitable clothing and footwear for your tour. Scotland can be a wet place!! Accommodation on this tour is dispersed around Oban and Portree which are small but hilly! If you have mobility problems or special requirements please let us know when booking. Because there is so much to see and do on the 2nd day, we catch the early ferry which means you may miss your breakfast at your accommodation.

5 Days 4 Islands - Scotland At Its Best!! Enjoy the magic, ancient history and the undisturbed tranquillity of the islands of Mull, Iona and Staffa and the romantic beauty of the Isle of Skye. 

Day 1 takes you north past Stirling castle, and then west to Scotland's first National Park around Loch Lomond, and the bonny banks". You will travel through the impressive mountains of the West Highlands through the magnificent white-washed 18th Century town of Inveraray, home to the Campbell Clan and the Duke of Argyll. The afternoon will be spent in the heart of Argyll exploring the area close to the ancient Kingdom of Dalriada before arriving in bustling town of Oban, the gateway to the islands, for your 2 night stay.

Day 2 is an early start crossing on the ferry to Mull and enjoying an island adventure exploring her dramatic coastlines and wild beauty, before taking the small ferry to the peace and tranquillity of Iona - birthplace of Celtic Christianity and ancient burial ground of Scottish Kings. Here you can visit the historic abbey with its intricate carved crosses in the churchyard or explore the rocky headlands and sandy coves of this island gem. There is also an opportunity to take a small boat out to the island of Staffa (except Saturday departures in September) and view the dramatic basalt columns immortalised by Mendelssohn in his Hebridean Overture "Fingal's Cave". You then return on the ferry to Oban for your second night.

Day 3 takes you north along the west coast around Appin, passing the impregnable Castle Stalker, and Glencoe, scene of the infamous massacre of the Clan Macdonald in 1692. You then pass through Fort William and take the historic road to the Isles to catch the ferry to Skye. You will travel through Glenfinnan, at the head of Loch Shiel, this is where the standard was raised to start the Jacobite rebellion. Glenfinnan is also home to a 100year old viaduct, which was made famous when the Hogwarts Express steamed across it on the way to school in the Harry Potter film. From Glenfinnan the road crosses mountains and glens before reaching Arisaig and on through a spectacularly scenic stretch of coast with fantastic views of the islands of Rum, Eigg, Muck and Skye, This beautiful coastline is formed by a series of white beaches and a turquoise sea, known as the white sands of Morar. The road ends at Mallaig where you take the short ferry crossing ‘over the sea to Skye’ where you arrive on the Sleat Peninsula, commonly referred to the ‘Garden of Skye’ with great views of the Cuillin mountains. From here you travel north to the picturesque harbour town of Portree. You are then dropped off at your accommodation in the early evening. 

Day 4 is a very flexible day on Skye. There are many possibilities depending on the weather and your driver/guide's knowledge will come to the fore in developing the best day out for you. For example you might travel north to the stunning Quiraing mountain pass and enjoy a spectacular walk through some of Skye's extraordinary geological scenery or visit the Kilt Rock, composed of basalt columns (reminiscent of the pleats in a kilt) with its waterfall cascading over the cliffs and down into the sea below. After lunch you can travel to Neist Point for a walk out to the lighthouse at the most westerly point on Skye. Alternatively a visit to Dunvegan Castle, ancient ancestral seat of the Clan McLeod, may be possible. Talisker Distillery is also on Skye, as are the famous Cuillin Hills. We return you to your accommodation in Portree in the late afternoon for you to enjoy a free evening in the village.

Day 5 You will be collected from your accommodation and travel south through the Cuillin Hills and back over to the mainland. You stop to visit the famous stronghold Eilean Donan Castle, used in the film "Highlander", set at the junction of 3 lochs as protection against Viking raiders, before travelling east where you will take in the stunning views over Loch Duich and the 5 Sisters of Kintail.  Onto Loch Ness for lunch and the possibility of spotting "Nessie".  Heading south now through the Grampian mountains along Loch Laggan, made famous now as "Monarch of the Glen Country" before passing Dalwhinnie, home to Scotland's highest whisky Distillery, and onwards into Perthshire where we stop for refreshments before heading back to Edinburgh past Perth and over the Forth Road Bridge. Arriving at 19.00 approx.

Photography Credits: 
Visit Britain.
Visit Scotland.
Britainonview.
Mike Hasted, Luke Sheppard, Ingrid Rasmussen, Pawel Libera, Tony Pleavin, Craig Easton, David Angel, Martin Brent, Bob Berry, Paul Watts.