Five days of ancient standing stones, west-coast harbours and Highland scenery, with two nights on Skye and a group of no more than 16.
Five days of ancient standing stones, west-coast harbours and Highland scenery, with two nights on Skye and a group of no more than 16.
Skye is worth the journey. With five days, you can make more of the places along the way, too. On this five-day Isle of Skye tour from Edinburgh, explore the standing stones and burial cairns of Kilmartin Glen, spend a night in Oban and travel through Glencoe before settling into Portree for two nights.
A full island day takes you to the Old Man of Storr, Kilt Rock, Dunvegan Castle and the Fairy Glen. Then it’s back to the mainland for Eilean Donan Castle, Loch Ness and a night in Inverness, with Culloden and the Cairngorms on the journey home. Short walks, coastal stops and your guide’s stories bring variety to each day, with time to discover both famous sights and the history beneath your feet.
At a glance
- Duration: 5 days (4 nights: Oban, Skye ×2, Inverness)
- Departs: Edinburgh, 7:30am (back approx. 7–8pm, Day 5)
- Group size: Max 16 (small scheduled group)
- Ages: 12+ (younger? ask about a private tour)
- Walking: Short walks (up to ~1 hour, uneven paths)
- Guide: Expert local guide (stories, history, folklore)
Itinerary
Day 1: Edinburgh to Oban — Loch Lomond · Luss · Inveraray · Kilmartin Glen · Oban
Travel west to Loch Lomond, stopping in the village of Luss for views across the loch, then on to Inveraray on the banks of Loch Fyne for time in the town.
At Kilmartin Glen, discover standing stones, burial cairns and stone circles spanning thousands of years, before the day ends in Oban, the Gateway to the Isles, for your first night.
Day 2: Oban to the Isle of Skye — Kilchurn Castle · Loch Awe · Glencoe · Skye Bridge · Portree
Begin at Kilchurn Castle, a ruined stronghold beside Loch Awe, then continue into Glencoe, where your guide introduces its landscapes and the story of the 1692 Glencoe Massacre.
Travel north through the western Highlands, cross the Skye Bridge and continue to Portree for the first of two nights on the island.
Day 3: A full day on the Isle of Skye — Dunvegan · Old Man of Storr · Kilt Rock · Duntulm · Fairy Glen
Begin at Dunvegan Castle, ancestral home of Clan MacLeod, then the Old Man of Storr and a loop of the Trotternish Peninsula to Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls, the ruins of Duntulm Castle above the Minch and the strange green hills of the Fairy Glen, before a second evening in Portree.
Dunvegan Castle normally opens April to mid-October and entry is paid separately. Weather, roads and local access can change the exact stops.
Day 4: Skye to Inverness via Loch Ness — Skye Bridge · Eilean Donan · Loch Ness · Urquhart Castle · Inverness
Cross back to the mainland for Eilean Donan Castle, then continue east to Loch Ness, with the chance to see the loch from the water on a cruise and explore the history around Urquhart Castle. The day ends in Inverness, the Highland capital, for your final night.
The Loch Ness cruise and Eilean Donan Castle entry are not included; availability can vary.
Day 5: Inverness to Edinburgh — Culloden · Cairngorms · Aviemore · Highland whisky
Start at Culloden Battlefield, site of the 1746 battle that ended the Jacobite Rising, then head south through the Cairngorms National Park with a stop in Aviemore. Later, there's a Highland whisky tasting before the journey back to Edinburgh.
Paid Culloden experiences and the whisky tasting are not included in the tour price.
The itinerary is a guide and can change with weather, road conditions, seasonal closures or attraction availability.
Accommodation — four nights in Oban, Skye and Inverness, not included
Four nights along the route: one in Oban, two in Portree on the Isle of Skye and one in Inverness. Accommodation is not included in the tour price, so you choose how to arrange it.
Included
- Expert Scotland's Wild guide and storyteller for all five days
- Transport in a comfortable, air-conditioned touring vehicle
- Guided short walks and active sightseeing stops
- A full touring day on the Isle of Skye
- Highland scenery, stories, myths and legends
- Small group — maximum 16 travellers
Not included
- Accommodation for the four nights
- Meals and snacks
- Loch Ness cruise (optional)
- Dunvegan Castle & Gardens and Eilean Donan Castle entry
- Optional paid attractions in Inveraray
- Paid Culloden experiences and the Highland whisky tasting
Departure
Outside The Jolly Botanist, 256–260 Morrison Street, Edinburgh, EH3 8DT
Please arrive by 7:15am so your guide can check everyone in before the 7:30am departure — scheduled tours can't wait for late guests. The tour returns to the same meeting point on Day 5. The meeting point is outside; the bar itself may not be open that early.
Check-in: 7:15am · Departs: 7:30am · Back: approx. 7–8pm
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