Isle of Skye & Jacobite Steam Train: 3 Days from Inverness
Steam, Stone & Skye: Three Days Through the Scottish Highlands
You travel three days through the Scottish Highlands and Isle of Skye with a driver-guide handling all the logistics. You ride the Jacobite Steam Train over the Glenfinnan Viaduct, walk to the Fairy Pools and Old Man of Storr, visit Eilean Donan Castle and Culloden Battlefield, and stay two nights in Portree with B&B accommodation included. The steam train ticket and all transport are covered. Castle entries are paid on arrival.
Options for this experience
2 optionsStep-by-step itinerary
Day 1: Portree to Inverness via Jacobite Train
- Photo stop at Loch Ness
- Visit Commando Memorial
- Ride Jacobite Steam Train
- Lunch in Mallaig fishing village
- Travel to Isle of Skye
- Visit Sligachan Old Bridge
Day 2: Explore Isle of Skye Highlights
- Visit Fairy Pools
- Lunch stop in Dunvegan
- View Quiraing cliffs
- See Kilt Rock and Mealt Waterfall
- Visit Old Man of Storr
Day 3: Return to Inverness via Castles and Whisky
- Visit Eilean Donan Castle
- Explore Beauly village
- Highland whisky experience at Glen Ord
- Visit Culloden Battlefield
- See Clava Cairns standing stones
What’s included
- Your three days include Jacobite Steam Train ticket, air-conditioned transport throughout, and a driver-guide.
- You get two nights of B&B accommodation in Portree on the Isle of Skye.
- Stops at Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle, the Commando Memorial, Mallaig fishing village, Fairy Pools, Dunvegan, Quiraing, Kilt Rock, Old Man of Storr, Eilean Donan Castle, Beauly, Glen Ord whisky tasting, Culloden Battlefield, and Clava Cairns are all part of the itinerary.
- Entry fees for Eilean Donan Castle and Culloden Battlefield are paid separately on arrival.
- Meals beyond breakfast are not included.
Next departure: 2 Apr 2027
Information
Three-day tour from Inverness with Jacobite Steam Train, Eilean Donan Castle, Old Man of Storr and Fairy Pools. Includes driver-guide, accommodation and train ticket.
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The experience
The Glenfinnan Viaduct rises ahead of you: twenty-one stone arches carrying the Jacobite Steam Train across a landscape that hasn't changed in centuries. You're on the West Highland Line between Mallaig and Fort William, voted the most scenic rail journey in the world, and the engine's whistle echoes off Loch Shiel where Bonnie Prince Charlie landed in 1745. This is the centerpiece of a three-day Isle of Skye tour from Inverness, and it's the kind of moment that makes the whole trip feel less like sightseeing and more like stepping into something real.
Day one takes you from Inverness south through the Highlands: a photo stop at Loch Ness with views of the ruined 13th-century Urquhart Castle, then the Commando Memorial standing against Ben Nevis before you board the steam train itself. After the train pulls into Mallaig, a working fishing village, you'll have time for lunch (fish and chips are the thing here) before crossing the bridge to the Isle of Skye. Your driver-guide handles all the navigation and timing. You just watch the landscape shift from mainland to island. That first night you're based in Portree, a small harbor town on Skye's east coast, with B&B accommodation included.
Day two stays on Skye and covers the island's most recognizable landmarks. The Fairy Pools come first: crystal-clear water pooling beneath waterfalls, with your guide explaining the folklore that keeps the place alive in people's minds. Then Dunvegan for a lunch break, followed by the Quiraing, a landslip of dramatic cliffs and pinnacles that photographs don't quite capture. Kilt Rock comes next, a columnar cliff face with the Mealt Waterfall dropping straight into the ocean, and the day ends at the Old Man of Storr, a rock formation standing on Skye's ancient landslip that's often wrapped in mist. You return to Portree for the second night.
The final day loops back toward Inverness. Eilean Donan Castle (the most photographed castle in Scotland, sitting on an island where three lochs meet) is the first major stop (entry fee paid on arrival). Then Beauly, a highland village with a 13th-century priory at its center, followed by Glen Ord for a whisky tasting where your guide walks you through how it's made and what Scottish whisky history actually is. Before returning to Inverness, you stop at Culloden Battlefield, where the final Jacobite Uprising ended in 1746, and the Clava Cairns, Bronze Age standing stones ten feet tall that inspired scenes in Outlander. The whole three days moves at a pace that lets you absorb each place without rushing through it.
Your tour includes the Jacobite Steam Train ticket, air-conditioned transport throughout, and a driver-guide who knows the routes and the stories. You'll need to arrive 15 minutes early for check-in on day one, and the return to Inverness on day three is approximate: weather and road conditions can shift the timing, so plan any onward travel with at least three hours of buffer. Luggage is limited to one suitcase (33 lbs max) and one carry-on per person.
Top questions
How long is the Jacobite Steam Train ride?
The train runs the West Highland Line between Mallaig and Fort William. The full journey takes several hours with views of Loch Shiel and the Glenfinnan Viaduct. The exact duration depends on the day's itinerary and schedule.
Is the Jacobite Steam Train included in the tour price?
Yes, your Jacobite Steam Train ticket is included in the tour cost.
What's included in the accommodation?
You stay two nights in Portree in B&B (bed and breakfast) accommodation. Meals beyond breakfast are not included.
Do I need to pay extra for castle entries?
Yes. Eilean Donan Castle and Culloden Battlefield both charge entry fees that you pay on arrival. These are not included in the tour price.
How much luggage can I bring?
One suitcase (maximum 33 lbs / 15 kg) and one carry-on bag per person.
What time does the tour depart and return?
Exact departure times depend on your specific tour date. Arrive at least 15 minutes early for check-in. Return times are approximate and subject to weather and road conditions. Allow at least three hours of buffer for onward travel.
Is this tour suitable for families with children?
Yes, minimum age is 5 years old. Children aged 5–17 must be accompanied by an adult.
What happens if the Jacobite Steam Train is cancelled?
The train service may be altered or cancelled at short notice due to circumstances beyond the operator's control. Travel insurance is recommended.
Can I do this tour if I have mobility concerns?
Collapsible wheelchairs with removable wheels can be accommodated if the passenger is accompanied by someone who can assist with boarding and disembarking. The tour is not recommended for travelers with spinal injuries or poor cardiovascular health.
What's the best time of year to book this tour?
The tour operates year-round. Summer offers longer daylight hours. Winter brings fewer crowds but shorter days and colder weather. The Jacobite Steam Train typically runs April through October, with limited winter service.
Operated by Highland Explorer Tours Ltd. Explorevia does not run this tour: we compare it with similar options, and you book it with our booking partner.
Prices and times updated 13 days ago
Isle of Skye & Jacobite Steam Train: 3 Days from Inverness
3d · EN
from £ 575 per person
≈ US$ 774 in your currency
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