Best of the Scottish Highlands - 5 Day Tour from Edinburgh

You will be picked up at 09:00am and taken to the tour destinations in an air conditioned Mercedes minibus. Proceed to the north over the Forth Road Bridge to the charming highland village of Dunkeld on the banks of the River Tay. From here, head into the Cairngorm National Park. Stop here for a walk in the ancient pine forests of the Rothiemurchus estate. Enjoy lunch along the beautiful shores of Loch Insh and then take a short forest walk to see the ruins of Loch an Eilein castle. Admire the panoramic views of Loch Ness as you travel down to the banks of the famous loch and the village of Dores. Stop here for some "Nessie" spotting. Spend the night in the capital of the Highlands, Inverness in bed and breakfast accommodation. You will stay in a superior guest house with private facilities or 3/4 star hotel.

Visit the far northwest highlands and appreciate the grandeur, expanse and wildness of the mountains of Assynt. Admire the awe-inspiring view of the River Droma as it plunges 60metres down into the Corrieshalloch Gorge. Continue to the fishing village of Ullapool. Stop for lunch at Loch Glencoul. Here, you can take a boat trip to see Eas a' Chual Aluinn, the highest waterfall in Britain. Visit the 15th century ruins of Ardvreck Castle and take in the amazing views of some of Europe's oldest landscapes. Spend the night in the capital of the Highlands, Inverness in bed and breakfast accommodation. You will stay in a superior guest house with private facilities or 3/4 star hotel.

Leave Inverness and head west past the mountains of the Beinn Eighe National Nature Reserve and along the picturesque coastline of Loch Torridon. Stop for lunch in the tranquil setting of Applecross for lunch before taking one of the highest roads in Scotland, Bealach nam Bo (meaning the Cattle Pass). Admire the jaw-dropping views, hairpin bends and precipitous cliffs. In the afternoon, stop in tropical Plockton and then proceed to Loch Carron. You have some time to admire the natural scenic surroundings and enjoy the sheltered serenity. Head toward the sea to Skye and the delightful harbour town of Portree where you will receive a friendly welcome. Spend the night in Portree in bed and breakfast accommodation. You will stay in a superior guest house with private facilities or 3/4 star hotel.

Explore Skye at leisure. You can travel north to the stunning Quiraing Mountain Pass and enjoy a spectacular walk through some of Skye's extraordinary geological scenery. You can also see the Kilt Rock, composed of basalt columns with its waterfall cascading over the cliffs and down into the sea below. After lunch, you can travel to Neist Point and take a walk to the lighthouse that is the furthest point west on Skye. Alternatively, visit Dunvegan Castle, the ancient ancestral seat of the Clan McLeod. You can also visit Talisker Distillery, or the famous Cuillin Hills. You will be taken to your accommodation in Portree in the early evening. You can spend the rest of the evening exploring the picturesque town.

Proceed south from Skye and stop at the famous stronghold Eilean Donan Castle. Set at the head of 3 lochs, the purpose of the castle was to provide protection against Viking raiders. The castle was used in the film Highlander. Continue east through the rugged mountains of Kintail and admire the splendour of the Five Sisters. Drive down through Glen Garry past Britain's highest mountain, Ben Nevis, then onto Fort William for lunch. In the afternoon, explore the spectacular Glencoe, scene of the infamous massacre of the Clan Macdonald in 1692, before stopping in Killin for refreshments beside the Falls of Dochart. At the end of the tour, return to Edinburgh at 7:30pm approx. The drop off point is Waverley Bridge, Edinburgh.