Start Your Story in Scotland

Where history meets breathtaking beauty, and every visit feels like an escape.

Inspiration for your trip

Step into a land steeped in history and legend, explore our dramatic landscapes and uncover our ancient Celtic roots. Vast lochs, glens and Munros - easily accessible from our vibrant cities and towns - make Scotland the perfect place to lose yourself.

Places to go

Things to do

Accommodation

Travel & planning

Discover unique experiences in Scotland

Discover hidden gems, plan your perfect trip, or find exactly what you need—from scenic hikes and cosy cottages to events and cultural experiences.

Discover Scotland's vibrant events and festivals

FIFA World Cup 2026

Cheer on Scotland at the FIFA World Cup 2026 and find information about fan zones in Scotland, stadium tours and more.

Scottish music festivals

Find out what’s happening in Scotland this year

Highland games in Scotland

From the tug o' war to the caber toss, Scotland's Highland games are not to be missed.

Edinburgh Festivals

Discover Edinburgh's summer festivals, including the world-famous Edinburgh International Festival and Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Countdown to Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games

Less than 100 days to go until 11 days of world-class action across the city, bringing 3,000 athletes from 74 nations together to compete across 10 sports.

Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games

Start planning your summer break

Witness Scotland step into summer, with warmer, longer days and plenty of experiences to enjoy.

Summer holidays & breaks in Scotland

Find ideas and inspiration, from family days out to top camping spots, walks and outdoor activities.

Scotland's islands

Find out about the hundreds of islands in Scotland including Arran, Lewis, Skye, Outer Hebrides and Shetland. Plan the perfect island getaway today.

The best tours of Scotland - luxury & scenic tours

Tour Scotland at your own pace with these fantastic ideas.

Your Scottish adventure starts here

Use our interactive map to explore wild landscapes, vibrant cities, rich culture, and hidden historic gems to craft your personal Scottish experience.

Map of Scotland

As seen on TV!

Be inspired by Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir's luxury Scotland itinerary as seen on NBC's Extra Mile Club or follow authentic suggestions from locals to see the highlights of Glasgow and Dumfries & Galloway like Fatiha El-Ghorri and John Tothill on the Channel 4 series Where to next? Plan your perfect trip to Scotland with these itineraries.

Tara & Johnny's luxury Scotland itinerary

Have you been inspired by Tara & Johnny's Scotland itinerary as seen on NBC's Extra Mile Club? Read on and plan your own Scottish adventure.

Channel 4's Where to next? Scotland itinerary

Follow in the footsteps of comedians Fatiha El-Ghorri and John Tothill on their unforgettable journey through Scotland.

Scotland trip itineraries

Plan your days in Scotland with the help of our suggested itineraries.

Your pictures of Scotland

Share your images by tagging @VisitScotland 

JavaScript needs to be enabled to see social media images for this place. You can turn this on in your browser settings.

Join our Newsletter Clan

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Eilean Donan Castle

© The Hebridean Explorer

Scottish Highlands

2 Day Highlands Private Tour

Journey through four thousand years of Highland history. Led by a local historian, this immersive discovery spans the ancient Bronze Age and mysterious Pictish kingdoms to grand medieval castles and the era of the Highland Clans.

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Day 1 — Inverness to the East

Departing from Inverness, we visit the nearby Culloden Battlefield to explore the dramatic history of the Highland clans and the Jacobite uprisings. After walking the battlefield where the 1745-6 Rising met its tragic end, we journey a short distance to the Bronze Age Clava Cairns. Dating back over 4000 years, these standing stones offer a fascinating glimpse into the ancient past of the Highlands. The afternoon takes us further east to explore the majestic ruins of Elgin Cathedral, known as the ‘Lantern of the North’. Even in its ruined state, it stands as one of Scotland’s most beautiful and historically significant medieval buildings. Our return to Inverness includes a stop at the Rodney Pictish Stone, a carved monument crafted over twelve hundred years ago by the Picts.


Day 2 — Inverness to the West

We follow the legendary banks of Loch Ness to explore the medieval ruins of Urquhart Castle, once one of the most formidable strongholds in the Highlands. Here you discover its ancient past from the Wars of Independence and English invaders to raiding Highland clans (the Macdonald Lords of the Isles) and its eventual demise after the first Jacobite uprising. We then journey through the spectacular mountain scenery of the West Highlands, wth a break at the stunning Loch Cluanie before we tour through Glen Shiel on the way to the iconic Eilean Donan Castle. We spend time uncovering its historic past and the restoration that saved it from ruin, while savouring the panoramic coastal views. Before returning to Inverness, we pause above Carrbrae for a final, breathtaking vista of the castle set against its dramatic Highland backdrop.

Price on Request

Departure days

  • Monday
  • Tuesday
  • Wednesday
  • Thursday
  • Friday
  • Saturday
  • Sunday

March — October

Book now

Contact details

The Hebridean Explorer

Inverness
Inverness-shire
Scotland
IV1 1HG
View tour provider details

Tour information

Starting

  • Inverness

Length

2 Days

Transport

  • Driver guide

Type

  • Bespoke
  • Private

Languages

  • English

Themes

  • Ancestry
  • Archaeology
  • Castles
  • History
  • Landscapes

Tour Stops

Tour gallery

The Hebridean Explorer

Tour company information

The Hebridean Explorer

John Alasdair Macdonald, PhD (The Hebridean Explorer) is a Scottish Highlands historian and a private tour guide with over eighteen years experience specialising in multi-day guided tours for small groups (up to 3) from Inverness to the Isle of Skye, Outer Hebrides, Orkney, Shetland and throughout the Scottish Highlands.

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Visit The Hebridean Explorer

Opening times

March to October, Monday to Sunday 9am to 5pm

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Start Your Story in Scotland

Where history meets breathtaking beauty, and every visit feels like an escape.

Inspiration for your trip

Step into a land steeped in history and legend, explore our dramatic landscapes and uncover our ancient Celtic roots. Vast lochs, glens and Munros - easily accessible from our vibrant cities and towns - make Scotland the perfect place to lose yourself.

Places to go

Things to do

Accommodation

Travel & planning

Discover unique experiences in Scotland

Discover hidden gems, plan your perfect trip, or find exactly what you need—from scenic hikes and cosy cottages to events and cultural experiences.

Discover Scotland's vibrant events and festivals

FIFA World Cup 2026

Cheer on Scotland at the FIFA World Cup 2026 and find information about fan zones in Scotland, stadium tours and more.

Scottish music festivals

Find out what’s happening in Scotland this year

Highland games in Scotland

From the tug o' war to the caber toss, Scotland's Highland games are not to be missed.

Edinburgh Festivals

Discover Edinburgh's summer festivals, including the world-famous Edinburgh International Festival and Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Countdown to Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games

Less than 100 days to go until 11 days of world-class action across the city, bringing 3,000 athletes from 74 nations together to compete across 10 sports.

Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games

Start planning your summer break

Witness Scotland step into summer, with warmer, longer days and plenty of experiences to enjoy.

Summer holidays & breaks in Scotland

Find ideas and inspiration, from family days out to top camping spots, walks and outdoor activities.

Scotland's islands

Find out about the hundreds of islands in Scotland including Arran, Lewis, Skye, Outer Hebrides and Shetland. Plan the perfect island getaway today.

The best tours of Scotland - luxury & scenic tours

Tour Scotland at your own pace with these fantastic ideas.

Your Scottish adventure starts here

Use our interactive map to explore wild landscapes, vibrant cities, rich culture, and hidden historic gems to craft your personal Scottish experience.

Map of Scotland

As seen on TV!

Be inspired by Tara Lipinski and Johnny Weir's luxury Scotland itinerary as seen on NBC's Extra Mile Club or follow authentic suggestions from locals to see the highlights of Glasgow and Dumfries & Galloway like Fatiha El-Ghorri and John Tothill on the Channel 4 series Where to next? Plan your perfect trip to Scotland with these itineraries.

Tara & Johnny's luxury Scotland itinerary

Have you been inspired by Tara & Johnny's Scotland itinerary as seen on NBC's Extra Mile Club? Read on and plan your own Scottish adventure.

Channel 4's Where to next? Scotland itinerary

Follow in the footsteps of comedians Fatiha El-Ghorri and John Tothill on their unforgettable journey through Scotland.

Scotland trip itineraries

Plan your days in Scotland with the help of our suggested itineraries.

Your pictures of Scotland

Share your images by tagging @VisitScotland 

JavaScript needs to be enabled to see social media images for this place. You can turn this on in your browser settings.

Join our Newsletter Clan

Get Scotland inspiration direct to your inbox. Don't miss the inside track from our Scotland experts on exciting trip ideas, unique attractions and hidden gems loved by locals.

Get the Scotland newsletter