Departs Tuesday 1 May to 25 September 2012

- at 9am from 207 High St, Edinburgh
- Returns 7pm on day 5

Price includes:

• Accommodation as described in booking confirmation

• Transportation by top of the range Mercedes minicoach for a more personal experience with a maximum of 16 passengers on tour

• Services of a professional Rabbie's driver/guide

• All ferry and bridge crossings

• Rabbie's Customer Card - money off restaurants, shopping and attractions

Excludes:
- Lunch, dinner and refreshments
- Entrances to all visitor attractions
- All items of a personal nature: telephone calls etc

NB:
Because we believe in time off the bus and give you opportunities to take nature walks we recommend you bring suitable clothing and footwear for your tour. Scotland can be a wet place!!

Day 1
Depart Edinburgh and travel north into the Highlands. First stop will be the historic village of Dunkeld where you will take a short walk through the forest to some waterfalls. Continuing north the route passes through the Grampian Mountains to the Spey Valley where you will stop for lunch. In the afternoon you will visit the world famous Loch Ness then make a short stop in Inverness itself. There will be time for a visit to the impressive waterfalls at Corrieshalloch Gorge before you arrive in the West Coast fishing port of Ullapool for our overnight stay.

Day 2
Catch the morning ferry from Ullapool for the 2 hour sail along Loch Broom, past the Summer Isles then out across the Minch to Stornoway – the main town on Lewis and capital of the Outer Hebrides. Look out for dolphins, whales and seabirds during the crossing. In the afternoon explore the North West coast from Arnol with its historic old “blackhouse”, through traditional crofting townships to Port of Ness and the very north tip of the island – the Butt of Lewis. From the lighthouse here there is nothing between you and the Americas! Overnight in Stornoway.

Day 3
Today will be spent exploring some of the prehistoric remains on the island as well as its finest beaches.  The fascinating circular stone fort, or Broch, at Carloway will be our first stop followed by more traditional crofting communities such as Gearrannan and Shawbost. Then it’s on to Callanish with its mysterious ancient stone circle. In the afternoon you will head for the remote district of Uig with its fine, sandy beaches at Bhaltos, dramatic sea cliffs and rugged hills. This is the wilderness of the Western Isles at its finest. Overnight again in Stornoway

Day 4
Travelling south today from the wild moorlands of Lewis to the more mountainous Harris – almost but not quite an island on its own. Famous for the locally produced cloth, Harris Tweed, it is also home to the highest mountains in the Outer Hebrides and the stunning white sands of Luskentyre. After a morning of exploring South Harris you will stop for lunch in the small port of Tarbet from where you will catch the late afternoon ferry to Skye. Once on Skye it is less than hour to Portree, the island’s main town, and our overnight stay.

Day 5
Departing from Portree the return journey to Edinburgh has many highlights – the Cuillin Mountains, a visit to Eilean Donan Castle, Fort William and the dramatic scenery and dark history of Glencoe. Travelling back south through the Central Highland the last stop of the day will be in Killin beside the Falls of Dochart before returning to Edinburgh.