3-Day Isle of Skye & Scottish Highlands Tour: Private Guide
Three days through the Highlands and Skye with a guide who knows every glen
A 3-day private guided tour of Isle of Skye and the Scottish Highlands with an English-speaking guide and private air-conditioned transport. Day one covers Doune Castle, Glencoe, Glenfinnan Viaduct and Eilean Donan Castle before crossing to Skye. Day two explores Skye's Trotternish Ridge, including Kilt Rock, Quiraing, Fairy Glen and the Old Man of Storr. Day three travels through Glen Shiel to Loch Ness, Fort Augustus and Cairngorms National Park, heading south through Highland Perthshire.
Step-by-step itinerary
Day 1: Loch Lomond, Glencoe, and Castles
- Photo stop at Doune Castle
- Coffee and snack in Callander
- Drive through Glencoe
- Lunch in Lochaber area
- Visit Glenfinnan Viaduct
- Visit Eilean Donan Castle
- Cross bridge to Isle of Skye
Day 2: Full Day Isle of Skye Tour
- Drive along Trotternish Ridge
- Stop at Lealt Waterfall
- Visit Kilt Rock cliffs
- Walk at Old Man of Storr (weather permitting)
- Explore Quiraing mountain pass
- Visit Fairy Glen
- See Staffa Beach and Fairy Pools
- Visit Neist Point Lighthouse
- Return for dinner
Day 3: Loch Ness and Cairngorms National Park
- Travel along Glen Shiel and 5 Sisters of Kintail
- Visit Loch Ness and Fort Augustus
- Optional boat trip on Loch Ness
- Pass Loch Laggan
- Explore Cairngorms National Park
- Travel to Highland Perthshire
What’s included
- Private guided tour with an English-speaking guide for all three days.
- private air-conditioned vehicle for your group.
- pickup included.
- all transport between stops and attractions.
- Every day 08:30
Information
Private 3-day guided tour of Isle of Skye, Glencoe, Loch Ness and Cairngorms with dedicated transport and English-speaking guide throughout.
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The experience
How do you see the Highlands without renting a car or joining a coach full of strangers? This tour runs as a private experience: you and your group travel in an air-conditioned vehicle with a single guide for all three days, someone raised in these mountains and trained to shape the route around what interests you most. Niall and his team of Scottish guides build each tour to fit your pace, whether you want to linger at a castle, walk to a viewpoint or move through more ground in a day.
The first day moves from Doune Castle through Loch Lomond National Park and Glencoe to Glenfinnan, where the railway viaduct sits framed by the glen. Eilean Donan Castle, the most photographed in Scotland, comes next, then the bridge over the sea to Skye. Day two stays on the island, driving the Trotternish Ridge with its sea cliffs and rock formations. Stops can include Kilt Rock, the Quiraing mountain pass, Fairy Glen, Lealt Waterfall and the Old Man of Storr pinnacle. Walks are possible depending on weather and your group's preference. The third day leaves Skye through Glen Shiel and the Five Sisters of Kintail, reaches Loch Ness at Fort Augustus (a boat trip on the loch is an optional add), then continues into Cairngorms National Park and south into Highland Perthshire.
Pickup is included, and the guide speaks English throughout. Your accommodation (hotels, B&Bs or hostels) is your own choice and booking. The vehicle is private to your group, which means the route can shift based on weather, your interests or how the light falls on a particular afternoon.
Top questions
What is the Old Man of Storr and can you walk to it?
The Old Man of Storr is a rock pinnacle on the Isle of Skye that rises from the Trotternish Ridge. A walk to it is possible depending on weather and your group's fitness, and the guide will assess conditions on the day.
Does the tour include a boat trip on Loch Ness?
A boat trip on Loch Ness from Fort Augustus is offered as an optional addition on day three, not included in the base tour.
What happens if the weather is bad on the Isle of Skye?
The guide adjusts stops based on weather conditions. Some walks may not be possible in poor conditions, but the drive along the Trotternish Ridge and the main viewpoints remain accessible.
Is this tour suitable for families with young children?
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller. The tour is suitable for all physical fitness levels, though some optional walks require mobility and interest in hiking.
Can the guide tailor the route to what we want to see?
Yes. Niall and his team build each tour as a bespoke experience tailored to your interests, time frame and needs, so the specific stops and pace can shift within the three-day framework.
Operated by Scottish Guided Tours.. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.
Prices and times updated 11 days ago
3-Day Isle of Skye & Scottish Highlands Tour: Private Guide
3d · EN · at your hotel
from £ 3,895 per group
≈ US$ 5,241 in your currency
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