7 Day Tour: St Andrews, Inverness, Isle of Skye & the Trossachs

Day 1: Edinburgh to St Andrews

We start at Edinburgh’s quaint Dean Village, swallowed up during the city’s Georgian and Victorian expansion, before visiting the medieval village of Falkland, famous as a filming location for Outlander.

Moving on, we reach the iconic St Andrews Old Town, where centuries of history and tradition are woven into the fabric of the town. Golfers can enjoy a round in the home of golf, and there’s time to explore the charming fishing villages that dot the coastline. Overnight in St Andrews.

Day 2: St Andrews to Inverness

We head north over the Tay Bridge at Dundee towards the Highlands. There is a stunning short waterfall walk at the Hermitage before a comfort break in the beautiful historic town of Dunkeld. For Outlander fans, a visit to the Highland Folk Museum at Newtonmore is a must, as it was used for many famous scenes.

A view of Ruthven Barracks before heading to Tomatin Distillery for a tour. Before arriving in Inverness we can visit the ancient stone circles and tombs of Clava Cairns. Overnight in Inverness.

Days 3 & 4: Inverness to the Isle of Skye

There are so many things to see and do on the Isle of Skye that it would be impossible to see all of the great sites. The island has a coastline 400 miles long, and highlights include the Fairy Glen, the Old Man of Storr, the Fairy Pools, Neist Point and much more. Your guide will chat to you on tour about how to get the best from your time there. Two nights on Skye.

Day 5: Isle of Skye to the Trossachs

We take a 30-minute ferry from Armadale to Mallaig and follow the route of the Jacobite Express (the Hogwarts Express in the Harry Potter movies), one of the most scenic railway journeys in the world. Along the way we’ll pop into Camusdarach Beach, whose white sands were ideal for filming ‘Local Hero’ with Burt Lancaster in the 1980s, and pass the wonderful Glenfinnan Viaduct on the way to Fort William. We continue through stunning Glencoe.

Day 6: The Trossachs Trail

Today we explore the amazing Trossachs Trail and all of its treasures, including the wonderful Duke’s Pass mountain drive. This day may be as relaxing or as busy as you wish—we can also arrange ancestral visits if you have family connections in Scotland.

At Loch Katrine, you may wish to hire bikes for a very safe ride on a traffic-free route around the loch—there are all sorts of bikes from electric to tandem. Alternatively, or as well, you may wish to climb a wonderful small mountain, Ben A’an.

Day 7: The Trossachs to Edinburgh

After breakfast we take a short walk to the Bracklinn Falls (think Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom!). Doune Castle awaits, used for many TV and movie scenes including Outlander, Game of Thrones, Outlaw King and a very silly film called Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

Visit the amazing Kelpies, a symbol of Scotland’s rich industrial heritage (best selfies ever!), and perhaps, if time allows, the medieval town of Culross. Arrive in Edinburgh at around 5pm.