3 (or 4) Day Clan Macleod Private Tour

3 Day Clan Macleod Tour

Day 1 – Begins at Inverness where we visit Culloden Battlefield to explore the bloody history surrounding the final Jacobite Rising (though the Dunvegan chief followed the government, the Macleods of Raasay were active Jacobite supporters and fought at Culloden). We then follow the Great Glen down the banks of Loch Ness before turning west to Glen Shiel and the Five Sisters of Kintail mountains. At Eilean Donan Castle we enjoy a brief viewpoint break before we cross the bridge to the Isle of Skye and on to explore the magnificent Cuillin mountain range. Our journey takes us to the old bridge at Sligachan for a dramatic view of the peaks of the Black Cuillin in ancient Macleod lands, before our arrival in Portree for our overnight stay.

Day 2 – A full day on the Isle of Skye centred around the magnificent Dunvegan Castle, ancestral home of the clan Macleod of Dunvegan and Harris. The afternoon includes a visit to the ruined St Mary’s Church in Kilmuir, the final resting place of the last five chiefs of the Clan Macleod, along with short walk to explore the two thousand year old ruins of Dun Beag broch, a wonderful example of an Iron Age round house. Alternatively, instead of Dun Beag, we can visit the Talisker Distillery for a whisky tour (advance booking required) before we return to Portree for our overnight stay.

Day 3 – Departing from Portree we tour south through the Isle of Skye, passing the Isle of Raasay in the distance (ancestral home of the Macleods of Raasay) before crossing the bridge to the mainland. We then detour over Mam Ratagan – home to one of the best viewpoints in the Scottish Highlands – following the road to Glenelg, part of the Macleods traditional land-holdings throughout the Highlands. We explore this stunning glen and all its wonderful history (including the ancient broch ruins) before our final journey through the West Highlands to Inverness.

4 Day Clan Macleod Tour

Days 1 to 2 are based on the above itinerary.

Day 3 – An early start from Portree with a short drive to Uig where we catch the morning ferry (1¾ hour sailing) across to the Isle of Harris. Arrving in Tarbert, we drive south along the Atlantic coastline of Harris to Rodel to explore the beautiful medieval St Clement’s church, home to one of Scotland's most remarkable 16th century tombs – Alasdair Crotach Macleod, 8th chief of the Macleods of Dunvegan and Harris. The late afternoon takes us north to the Isle of Lewis for our overnight stay in Stornoway.

Day 4 – Our last morning in the Hebrides is spent around the Stornoway area. We visit to the medieval St Columba's church – home of the graveslab of Torquil Macleod, chief of the Macleods of Lewis in the late 15th century – followed by the Lewis Chessmen at the Museum nan Eilean in Lews Castle. We then board the early afternoon ferry for our return sailing across the Minch to Ullapool followed by a final drive through wonderful Highland scenery back to Inverness.