Venture through breath-taking landscapes, quaint villages, and epic castles on this journey to the ‘Misty Isle’.
Eilean Donan Castle* - An iconic and gorgeous 13th-century castle that once warded off Viking invasions.
Glencoe - Be moved by the sheer beauty and tragic tales of one of Scotland’s most famous landscapes.
Quiraing Mountain Pass - Skye’s outstanding geological stunner. These strange formations gave Skye its nickname, the ‘Winged Isle’.
The Old Man of Storr - Gaze upon this sharp pinnacle of rock that bursts out of the land and can be seen for miles around.
Five Sisters of Kintail - Legend says a local wizard turned five sisters into these mountains so he could preserve their beauty.
Loch Ness - This loch holds more fresh water than all of the lakes in England and Wales combined. But does it also contain the Loch Ness Monster?
Spend three days weaving through the landscapes, legends, and landmarks of Skye.
On your journey north, you’ll travel past the historic heart of Scotland, and learn about the battles between the Scottish and English.
In Skye, you’ll stay in the cute and cultural town of Portree, and explore the scenery that inspired countless myths and legends.
And by the time you’re home, you’ll understand why this little island deserves its large reputation.
Students, seniors over 60, and children between 5 and 15 (unfortunately, we don't carry children under 5 years old)
Departing Glasgow you travel north, crossing the ancient natural fault line that runs across Scotland. We travel into the majestic Highlands where the scenery changes quickly and dramatically - the flat fertile plains of the Lowlands give way to shimmering lochs, rugged mountain tops and forest-filled glens.
Next, we venture north through the splendid scenery of Loch Lomond & the Trossachs National Park up to the wild desolation of Rannoch Moor.
You continue through the spectacular mountain pass of Glencoe, scene of the great massacre of the Clan Macdonald in 1692. And after lunch we pass Britain’s highest mountain, Ben Nevis, and head into the Great Glen. Travelling west you head past the Five Sisters of Kintail.
You then stop to visit the famous Eilean Donan Castle*, one of Scotland’s most photographed castles. Crossing over the bridge to Skye, you follow the dramatic coastline, towards the island’s capital, Portree. And after all this breath-taking beauty, you’re dropped off at your accommodation in the early evening with enough time to go out and explore the town.
*Unfortunately, Eilean Donan Castle is closed on 5th and 6th November, 12th November, 20th November, 26th November, 14th December, 16th December. It'll also be closed from 23rd December 2022 to 31st January 2023. Although you can't visit the castle, you'll still be able to take photos from various viewpoints.
Today is a flexible day on Skye. Your driver-guide will ensure you have the best day out no matter what the weather.
North of Portree is the Trotternish ridge with spectacular cliffs and rock formations, such as the Old Man of Storr, Kilt Rock and the stunning mountain pass of the Quiraing. Or your guide may take you back in time and teach you about the legends and clan culture surrounding the 13th-century home of the Clan MacLeod, Dunvegan Castle.
You return to Portree in the evening.
You travel south through the Cuillin Hills and back over to the mainland for stunning views over Loch Duich and the Five Sisters of Kintail.
You visit Loch Ness for lunch and the chance to spot "Nessie"! Heading south through the Grampian mountains along Loch Laggan, famous now as "Monarch of the Glen Country" before passing Dalwhinnie and onwards past Blair Castle, stopping for refreshments before heading back to Glasgow.
You stay two nights in Portree* on the Isle of Skye.
*The restaurants can be busy in Portree. So, we advise you to reserve a table for your first evening on tour prior to your departure date. You'll arrive no later than 07:30pm at the overnight destination.
Your tour excludes accommodation; but when you book, you can ask us to reserve local accommodation for you, or you can choose to reserve your own accommodation in the overnight locations.
Once you've booked your tour, we'll reserve all your accommodation, and your driver will drop you off with your hosts.
We'll reserve your room(s) with one of our preferred accommodation suppliers and you'll pay them directly when you check-in. Most accommodation hosts don’t accept credit cards, so be prepared to pay cash.
You won't be able to choose which Hotel/B&B you stay in, but we will confirm the named property and exact prices on your first day of tour. If it's important for you to know where you're going to be staying in advance, or if you want to stay in a specific Hotel/B&B, we recommend that you select the option to book your own accommodation.
Plans can change, so we let you alter your accommodation choices for free within the first 48 hours of booking. After this time, amendments aren't guaranteed and carry a surcharge. Please contact rooms@rabbies.com if you have any questions.
You’ll need to contact us with your accommodation details. Please only reserve accommodation within the overnight towns that your tour stops in. Your driver will drop you off at your chosen accommodation as long as it’s relatively central.
You may be liable for the cost of your first nights’ accommodation for each separate accommodation booked. If you cancel less than three days before departure, you may be liable for all your accommodation costs.
We try to reserve accommodation that’s no more than a 20-minute walk from the town centre. We regularly check our accommodation suppliers to ensure they reach a certain standard.
The prices below are for guidance only and are based on 2022 rates. We’re working with suppliers to bring you the most up to date pricing for tours departing in 2023.
B&B (Bed and Breakfast) Standard
The toilet and showering facilities are shared with at least one other room in the house, and the price includes breakfast. The cost is £35 - £50 per person per night based on shared accommodation. A single standard room is £40 - £70 per night.
B&B En suite
The showering and toilet facilities are private, and breakfast is included in the price. The cost is £45 - £65 per person per night based on shared accommodation. A single en suite is £90 -£130 per night.
Hotels
Hotels have a bar or restaurant and provide evening meals. Breakfast is included in the price. The cost is £75 - £90 per person per night based on shared accommodation. A single is £90-£160 per night.
Hostels
Please note, we're unable to book hostels for this tour at the moment. You may still be able to book hostel accommodation yourself if you choose to the option to book your own accommodation for your tour.
A hostel consists of dormitory rooms with 4 to 16 bunk beds. The bathroom facilities are a short distance from the dorm room. Kitchen facilities are equipped so you can make your own meals. The cost based on dorm beds is £19 - £30 per person per night.
Please note that SYHA hostels only offer same gender dorms. Some independent hostels will offer mixed rooms (males and females together).
If you have any more questions, you can read our FAQs, call us on +44(0)131 226 3133, or email rooms@rabbies.com.
The UK and Ireland's historic city centres are full of narrow streets and winding roads. So, to speed up your departure, we only pick up from our central meeting points. What's more is leaving the city using the most direct route also reduces the carbon footprint of our tours.
We don't recommend bringing your car into the centre of our departure cities. It can be hard to find parking, and there are excellent public transportation services.
Arrive 15 minutes before your departure time. Due to waiting restrictions, we can't wait for you if you're late.
If you're late for your tour, our cancellation policy applies.
We have a cancellation period of 48 hours for our one day tours, 15 days for two to nine day tours, and 21 days for 10+ day tours. If cancelled outside this period, we'll give you a full refund minus a 10% admin charge. If you cancel inside this period, refunds are at our discretion. Click here to view full terms and conditions.
Your tour will always follow the itinerary as closely as possible. While there are ongoing coronavirus restrictions throughout the UK and Ireland, itineraries are more likely to change than usual as opening hours and capacities at many visitor attractions are reduced and subject to change. Your driver-guide will keep you up to up to date on the road, and we'll try to get in touch about any large changes prior to your departure.
Due to logistical reasons, we're unable to let you pre-book a seat on the bus. But our comfortable 16-seat mini-coaches have huge windows. So, you'll always get a good view.
Unfortunately, we have no on-board toilet facilities, but you'll have regular comfort breaks.
We aim to accommodate everyone. To read more information on how we do this, click here to go to our accessibility guide.
We regret we don't carry children under the age of five on our scheduled tours.
You can ask us about the tours we recommend for younger children. And if your child is less than 1.35m tall, you should let us know, so we can provide them with a suitable booster seat.
We want you to enjoy Britain and Ireland. And we believe the best way to do this is to get you off the mini-coach and out exploring. So, we give you plenty of time to take photos, go walking, and explore ancient ruins.
We exclude visitor attractions in your tour price because it lets you travel your way. It means you can pamper yourself with a luxury lunch or skip an attraction whenever you feel like it.
You don't need to. We stop in small towns, villages, and rural eateries where you can choose whatever meal pleases both your taste buds and your budget.
Let's be honest, our driver-guides would never refuse a cheeky bonus. But it's up to you, and the amount is entirely at your discretion.
We advise you take out travel insurance.
You're protected by ABTOT when you chose to let us reserve your accommodation on a multi-day tour. This means you can claim back anything you've paid us if we become bankrupt. Read our terms and conditions for more information.
If you have any more questions, call us on +44(0)131 226 3133, email tours@rabbies.com , or check out our full FAQs .
Travel the local way on small group tours of 16 people or fewer
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