The NC500 – The Full Whistlestop (7 Days)

Options: 

• Scone Palace Home of the Earls of Mansfield, most famous as once the  Crowning Place of Scottish Kings. (Open April – October). 

• • Perth Museum  Highlighting 10,000 years of Scottish and world history. See The Stone of Destiny; an ancient symbol of Scotland.

• Dunkeld / Cathedral 

• Hike/walk in the Hermitage Forest / Ossians Cave and the Black Linn Falls.

• Blair Castle & Gardens The spectacular home of the Atholl family for over seven centuries. (Open April – October). 

• Malt Whisky Distillery Tour & Tasting

• Inverness for a walk along the River Ness.
• Culloden Battlefield & Museum. The battle that changed the highland way of life forever. Discover the true story from both the Jacobite and Government perspective. 
• Clava Cairns (prehistoric cairns and standing stones).  

Overnight: Dornoch

• Stop at Dunrobin Castle Seat of Clan Sutherland with Its spectacular gardens.  (Open April – October). 

•  Whaligoe Steps: A dramatic descent of 365 man-made steps to a historic natural harbour.

• • Take the 500 metre hike/walk to explore the dramatic ruins of Castle Sinclair Girnigoe.
  • Take a short walk to the Stacks of Duncansby to see these iconic sea stacks and for views of the Orkney islands.  Stop at John o’ Groats for the iconic signpost photo!  Stop at Dunnet Head, the most northerly point of mainland Britain for stunning cliff views. 

• Visit the Castle and Gardens of Mey (former home to King Charles’ Grandmother). (Open May – September (limited July/August)).

Overnight: Thurso

Options: 

• Smoo Cave in Durness is a massive sea cave with an internal waterfall. (Note: It’s quite a tough walk up and down the steps, but if you’re able to it’s worth doing. You can also walk along the top into the headlands which give great views). 
• Balnakeil Craft Village  an old military camp turned artists’ colony for handmade ceramics and the famous Cocoa Mountain chocolate. 
• Stop for the iconic photo of the Kylesku Bridge, a curved architectural marvel.

Overnight: Kylesku

Options: 

• • Drive through the North West Highlands UNESCO Geopark, home to some of the oldest rocks on earth. 

• Love Beaches? – Take a detour to Achmelvich Bay.

• Stop at the haunting ruins of Ardvreck Castle on the banks of Loch Assynt. 

• Enjoy a hike/walk in the Knockan Crag National Nature Reserve.

• Enjoy some fresh seafood at the Seafood Shack in Ullapool. 

• Corrieshalloch Gorge Cross the suspension bridge over a 150-foot waterfall. 
• Inverewe Gardens at Poolewe where the Gulf Stream allows lush, exotic plants to grow here despite the northern latitude.

Overnight:  Gairloch

Options: 

• Take a hike/walk in the Beinn Eighe & Loch Maree Islands National Nature Reserve.

• • The drive through Glen Torridon is arguably the most scenic in Scotland.
  • Seafood lunch at the Applecross Inn.  
  • Enjoy the epic drive over the Bealach na Bà, the steepest road in the UK with hairpin bends and alpine views across to the Isle of Skye. 
  • Lochcarron Weavers for a wonderful range of tartans, luxury knitwear, kilts and tweed clothing.

• Attadale Gardens is a hidden gem of the Scottish Highlands, offering a captivating blend of natural beauty and artistic design. (Private Tour with Owner can be arranged on request).

• Relax in Plockton – the peaceful coastal village known as the “Jewel of the Highlands”.
• Wildlife Boat Trip spot seals and look out for the more elusive otter and white-tailed eagle on Loch Carron.

Overnight:  Plockton (or if wished on the Isle of Skye). You can also if wished extend your tour and include some extra days on Skye.

Options: 

• Full Day Sea Kayaking in Plockton Bay (add an extra day for this). 
• Eilean Donan Castle, perhaps the most photographed castle in the world, as rightly so. Positioned at the meeting of the 3 waters it’s a special place. 
• Enjoy views of Ben Nevis; the UK’s highest mountain in Fort William.
• Stop off at Neptune’s Staircase, The Caledonian Canal.
• Take a hike/walk in Glencoe or enjoy the drive through the glen stopping at the Three Sisters viewpoint for some of Scotland’s most hauntingly beautiful mountain scenery. 

Overnight:  Ballachulish/Glencoe.

Options: 

• • Enjoy a hike/walk in Glen Etive 
  • Fort William and Caledonian Canal

• Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park

• Glasgow bound?  Stop off in the pretty village of Luss on the banks of Loch Lomond for a scenic walk before arriving in Glasgow for a tour of Scotland’s friendliest city. 

• Edinburgh bound?  Follow the route through The Trossachs with the chance to visit Doune Castle (Outlander fans will recognise this as Castle Leoch!) and/or Stirling Castle before arriving in Edinburgh. 

Return to your starting point, a location of your choice or continue your Scotland journey by adding one or more of our suggested tour itineraries. Bespoke tours can also be created.