Scottish Highlands & Isle of Skye: 5-Day Small Group Tour

Summary

Winding roads, ancient castles, and wild Highland air from Edinburgh to Skye

You’ll feel Scotland’s wild spirit on this 5-day tour from Edinburgh through the Highlands and Isle of Skye. Walk ruined castles, taste smoky soup in Ullapool pubs, hear ancient legends from your guide, and watch mist roll over mountain passes before cozy nights in Portree or Ullapool. It’s not just scenery — it gets under your skin.

What’s the experience like?

I didn’t expect to smell woodsmoke the first morning we rolled into Dunkeld — but there it was, drifting through the old stone streets as we stretched our legs. Our guide, Jamie (who had that dry Scottish humor I still can’t imitate), pointed out Dunkeld Cathedral half-hidden behind trees. We wandered inside, and I remember my boots echoing on the flagstones while someone quietly hummed a tune near the altar. It felt like time slowed down for a minute there.

The drive through Cairngorms was all shifting light and sudden bursts of green — sheep everywhere, sometimes right in the road. I kept thinking how different it felt compared to Edinburgh’s buzz; here, even the air tasted colder, sharper. We stopped in Ullapool for two nights — whitewashed houses along Loch Broom, gulls calling overhead. One evening I tried cullen skink at a tiny pub (smoky fish soup, way better than it sounds) and ended up chatting with a local fisherman about midges and weather superstitions. He said you could read tomorrow’s rain in the way clouds sit on the hills — maybe he was right.

The day trip up to Achmelvich Bay was wild — wind whipping off the sea so hard my hair basically gave up. The sand there is almost white, and when you walk barefoot it squeaks under your toes (I didn’t know sand could do that). Ardvreck Castle looked like something out of a storybook: just ruins now, but Jamie spun tales about clan feuds and betrayals until I started glancing over my shoulder for ghosts. The drive to Portree on Skye took us along Bealach na Ba — narrow switchbacks with those heart-in-your-throat drops. Applecross was our lunch stop; I ate fish pie looking out at rain streaking across glass.

Skye itself… well, it’s hard to explain without sounding dramatic. Kilt Rock’s cliffs drop straight into blue-grey sea; you can hear waterfalls before you see them. We hiked around The Old Man of Storr — mist rolling in so thick we lost sight of each other for a second (I might’ve panicked slightly). In Portree we stayed two nights, harbor lights reflecting off wet cobbles after rain. On our last day we stopped at Eilean Donan Castle; even with tourists around, it felt imposing against all that water and sky. Glencoe hit me hardest though — bleak beauty and stories of old betrayals that somehow stick with you long after.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Edinburgh to Ullapool via Dunkeld

• See Cairngorms National Park peaks
• Visit Dunkeld Cathedral ruins
• Travel to Ullapool fishing village

Day 2 — Explore Assynt and Lochinver

• Visit Ardvreck Castle ruins
• View Achmelvich Bay beach
• Explore Lochinver village

Day 3 — Ullapool to Portree via Applecross

• Stop for lunch in Applecross
• Drive Bealach na Ba road
• Visit Plockton village
• Arrive in Portree

Day 4 — Tour Isle of Skye highlights

• Photo stop at Old Man of Storr
• View Kilt Rock cliffs
• Learn about Dunvegan Castle

Day 5 — Return to Edinburgh via castles

• Visit Eilean Donan Castle
• Explore Glencoe landscape
• Travel back to Edinburgh

Top questions

How many people are on this Scottish Highlands & Isle of Skye tour?

The group is limited to a maximum of 16 travelers per tour.

Where do you stay during the tour?

You spend two nights in Ullapool (or sometimes Inverness) and two nights in Portree on the Isle of Skye.

Is breakfast included every day?

Yes, breakfast is included each morning at your accommodation.

Are entry tickets to Eilean Donan Castle included?

No, tickets are reserved but must be purchased separately during the tour if you want to enter.

How much luggage can I bring?

You’re allowed one medium suitcase (about airline carry-on size) plus a small bag for personal items.

Is this tour suitable for children?

The minimum age for travel on this tour is 5 years old.

Are public transport options nearby at pickup or drop-off points?

Yes, public transportation options are available near departure points in Edinburgh.

What’s included

Your journey includes transportation by comfortable Mercedes mini-coach with an experienced driver-guide leading the way; four nights’ en-suite accommodation in either a B&B or 3-star hotel (with daily breakfast); small group size for more personal attention; flexible stops at places like Dunkeld Cathedral, Cairngorms, Achmelvich Bay, Lochinver, Applecross, Plockton, Isle of Skye highlights including The Old Man of Storr and Kilt Rock; plus time at Eilean Donan Castle and Glencoe before returning to Edinburgh.